A panchamukha Lord Ganesha, after the style of South Indian temple architecture. ‘Pancha’ is Sanskrt for five, ‘mukha’ for faces.
The panchamukha roopa (manifestation) of Lord Ganesha deviates from His usual iconography as a baala-deva (child-deity) whose personality is marked by childlike innocence and wisdom.
Instead, the pancha mukha of the Lord Ganesha that you see on this page are the five faces of a well-rounded warrior, son of the destructive Shiva and the powerful Durga, the all-powerful prince of paraloka (heavenly realm of existence).
A murti as grand as this occupies pride of place in a South Indian temple of yore. It depicts Lord Ganesha with ten arms - He is dashabhujadhari, the one possessed of (‘dhari’) ten (‘dasha’) arms (‘bhuja’) - eight of them wielding weapons that reiterate His status as divine warrior. In His anteriormost hands are the broken tusk and a freshly made laddoo, which are indicative of His scholarly authorship of the Mahabharata and His childlike predilection for dessert.
A lotus of richly coloured pedestals is His throne. The silver of His sashes and jewellery that descend upon it serves to bring out its gorgeous colour. The same is flanked by the mouse-vahana and a bowlful of golden laddoos. A broad-based platform of an upturned silver lotus, and an aureole of gold lotus petals trimmed with red and green pastel tones. A beady-eyed Kirtimukham at its zenith completes the composition.
How to care for Wood Statues?
Wood is extensively used in sculpting especially in countries like China, Germany, and Japan. One feature that makes the wood extremely suitable for making statues and sculptures is that it is light and can take very fine detail. It is easier for artists to work with wood than with other materials such as metal or stone. Both hardwoods, as well as softwood, are used for making sculptures. Wood is mainly used for indoor sculptures because it is not as durable as stone. Changes in weather cause wooden sculptures to split or be attacked by insects or fungus. The principal woods for making sculptures and statues are cedar, pine, walnut, oak, and mahogany. The most common technique that sculptors use to make sculptures out of wood is carving with a chisel and a mallet. Since wooden statues are prone to damage, fire, and rot, they require proper care and maintenance.
It is extremely important to preserve and protect wooden sculptures with proper care. A little carelessness and negligence can lead to their decay, resulting in losing all their beauty and strength. Therefore, a regular clean-up of the sculptures is a must to prolong their age and to maintain their shine and luster.
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist