Goddess Ganga, the manifestation of the heavenly stream of the same name has been a part of Hindu iconography since the beginning of the construction of the first temple structures. As a purifying divine presence, goddess Ganga and her imagery were included in the art of Hindu shrines, where she is seen at the gateways, standing between the sacred and the profane as a holy and superb female form.
This bronze Panchaloha Maa Ganga statue from the temple town of Swamimalai depicts the river goddess as a young maiden, standing gracefully atop her “vahana” or mount “Makara”- a mythical animal, who is an amalgamation of crocodile, elephant, lion and some aquatic creature.
Goddess in this bronze representation is adorned with a tiara made by the hoods of seven snakes, queenly ornaments, and a sheer dhoti (lower body garment). The features of Maa Ganga are especially elongated- from her extended face to her slim physique, this goddess Ganga bronze shows her as a slender, young woman.
Devi’s left hand is in the elegant “Lolahastha” mudra, while her right hand is raised in the “Katakhastha” mudra, presumably for holding a floral offering. The aureole of the mother goddess is formed by the “Kalpavriksha” or the wish-fulfilling tree, whose ability to bestow life-affirming boons mirrors the powers of goddess Ganga, who is the primal source of enrichment for all life forms.
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