Central India, Madhya Pradesh / c. 1000
Dancing Ganesha
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Dancing Ganesha as sculpture (Central India, Madhya Pradesh · c. 1000).
Ganesha's mount is the rat, which evokes full granaries and the prosperity and abundance that they imply.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this sculpture as sandstone.
The museum's collection notes: The name Ganesha means "lord ( isha ) of the demonic dwarfs ( gana )," part of Shiva's entourage. They dance and imitate Shiva in humorous ways that inspire his followers' affection. In this sculpture Ganesha's dance mimics the dance of Shiva. Ganesha has six arms instead of four, and he holds a bowl of sweet cakes and a radish instead of a tongue of flame.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtDancing GaneshaOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.