Pottery figure of Ganesha [Inscribed in Devanagari/Sanskrit and English].

Height: 21cm, Width: 20cm, Depth: 16cm.

No apparent chips or cracks, which I find amazing given the age of the piece.

Ganesha (/ɡəˈneɪʃə/; गणेश, Gaṇeśa, or Ganesh, and also known as Ganapati and Vinayaka, is an elephant-headed deity in the Hindu pantheon, widely revered regardless of sectarian affiliations as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences and the deva of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies.

In sculpture the position of Lord Ganesh’s trunk has a symbolic meaning.  If the trunk turns to the Ganesh’s left, that is the direction for success in the world.  It is a position associated with grihastas, or householders.  To his right, the trunk represents moksha, good for renouncing the world.  When one chooses a Ganesh sculpture that is proper for their own spiritual path the trunk position is one thing that is good to keep in mind.

“His four arms stand for His immense power in helping humanity.  The noose and goad borne in two of His hands stand for His all-pervasiveness and grace.  The broken tusk held in the right hand shows that He is the refuge for all.  His huge belly is indicative of His tolerance and also signifies that all things, the entire Universe, are contained in Him.  His feet stand for the bestowal of siddhi and buddhi, attainment of desires and knowledge.  The modak (sweet goody) in His hand is symbolic of jnana, conferring bliss.  His mount, the shrew, represents the worldly desires which are to be overcome.”