LORD GANESHA WOODEN SCULPTURES AND WALL HANGINGS

Ganesha is granted sovereignty over the Ganas, a composite word for all types of entities, from animals and humans to ethereal and heavenly beings. Everywhere from natural forces like earthquakes and hurricanes to fundamental characteristics like fire and water to the functioning of the internal tissues and processes, these many beings all participate in the administration of the Creation. If we don't honor the Ganas, then everything we do is unlawful and therefore larceny. Therefore, we bow to their Lord, Sri Ganesha, instead of offering atonement to each Gana in order to obtain their blessings. We get the grace of everyone when we accept His grace. He takes away any potential barriers, allowing our efforts to be successful. 

Shiva giving Ganesha new life and giving him an elephant's head denotes that the Lord should first replace our petty ego with a "vast" or universal ego before we are able to transcend the physical body. This does not indicate that we achieve higher grandiosity. Consequently, we now associate with the enormous universal Self instead of the restricted human self. Our life is renewed in this way, producing one that can actually help Creation. However, it is simply a practical ego, comparable to the ones Krishna and Buddha possessed.

The marital status of Ganesha, which has been the topic of extensive academic studies, obviously varies throughout mythological tales. Ganesha is depicted in one set of mythology as an unmarried brahmachari. In regions of southern and northern India, this viewpoint is prevalent. The concepts of Buddhi (intellect), Siddhi (spiritual force), and Riddhi (prosperity), which are personified as goddesses and are thought to be Ganesha's brides, are three other widely accepted mainstream patterns that relate him to these ideas. Additionally, he can be depicted with a lone consort or a nameless servant (daşi in Sanskrit).

Present in this gallery are wood carvings of Lord Ganesha from all over India. Here you will find wood statues of Ganesha from workshops attached to temples in Tamil Nadu. The wood sculptures of Tamil Nadu are carved out of Vangai wood, a fine timber from Kalakorchi region in the state, used for wood-carving now for centuries.

Lord Ganesha’s blessings

Ganesha is the Lord of Obstacles of the Material and Spiritual Orders, Vighneshvara. Though traditionally he also puts barriers in the way of people who have to be examined, he is renowned for his capability to remove barriers. As a consequence, before commencing anything new, the people regularly worship him. The God of knowledge and the written word, Ganesha, is highly regarded. The word "buddhi'' is an active noun that can denote wisdom, insight, or intelligence. Ganesha's persona and the concept of buddhi are strongly intertwined, especially during the Puranic period, when various stories highlight his intelligence and love of knowledge.

Buddhipriya is one of Ganesha's names and appears in both the Ganesha Sahasranama and the Ganesha Purana. According to legend, Ganesha resides in the first chakra, which in Kundalini yoga is referred to as Muladhara (muladhara). Adhara means "premise, foundation," while mula means "primary, principal." The cornerstone for the fundamental Divine Force's expression or outward expansion is the muladhara chakra. The Ganapati Atharvashirsa also acknowledges this relationship. You continuously dwell in the spinal column at the base of the spine (muladhara chakra), as according Courtright's interpretation. As a result, at the Muladhara, Ganesha enjoys a legal residency in every being. Ganesha rules the forces which propel the circle of existence" by maintaining, directing, and sustaining the other chakras.

Then there are wooden statues of Ganesha from Jaipur, which use the wood of the Kadmaba tree. Statues of Ganesha from Mysore use the Shivani wood, a type of cedar, and also sometimes Rosewood.

FAQ

Q1. What are the texts where Ganesha has been mentioned?

• Ganesha Purana, The Mudgala Purana, Ganapati Atharvasirsha.

Q2. How is Ganesha linked to Vinayaka?

Ganesha is referred to as Vinayaka in the Puranas and Buddhist Tantras. The eight well-known Ganesha temples in Maharashtra that go by the name Ashtavinayak bear this nomenclature. Ganapati or Ganesha is the god of wisdom, who is also called Vighnesvara (“the lord presiding over obstacles”). In sculptures, Ganesha is always shown with a plump human body topped by the head of an elephant.

Q3. How many Ganesh idols can be kept at home?

As per Vastu, one can keep any number of Ganesha idols in the home (as the showpiece). But in the Puja room, there should not be more than one Ganesha murti in the pooja ghar of the house.  Vastu suggests that while it is a personal choice, it is always better to have one Ganpati murti. They say that having two or more idols negates the flow of positive energy and overwhelms Riddhi Siddhi.