Seated Ganesha

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Place of Origin: India | Karnataka state Style or Ware: Hoysala Date: 1200-1300 Medium: Schist Credit Line: Gift of the de Young Museum Society Auxiliary Label: With majestic presence befitting his revered status as one of India's most cherished gods, Ganesha is depicted confidently grasping objects deeply associated with him: a battle axe, a lotus (now broken), a bowl filled with his favorite sweets, and a tusk. Ganesha's powerful elephant head, like his multiple arms, distinctly marks his divine nature, and various myths explain the story of how he acquired it. The most widely known recounts how the goddess Parvati desired a child and single-handedly created Ganesha. Her husband, the god Shiva, mistakenly beheaded Ganesha but miraculously restored him to life by replacing his human head with that of an elephant. Elephants carry profound symbolism in the Indian cultural world. Because they are thought to resemble rain clouds in color and shape, they have long been associated with fertility, prosperity, and spiritual growth.