sandstone carving - ganesha

This is an intricately carved figure of Ganesha, the elephant headed god Ganesha made in the temple town of Puri, Orissa.

Ganesha is one of the most auspicious Indian gods who is invoked and worshiped prior to the initiation of any new endeavor. In this statue, he is shown as having eight hands and carries a shanka or shell, a part of his broken tusk, a mace, a string of flowers, a snake, a bowl of laddoos, a bell and an ax. He has a snake wound around his waist and is finely attired.

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