Ganesha

[Guest guest]

Hello,

 

On Sep 7, 2008, at 4:13 PM, rahula_80 wrote:

 

> Is this true?

>

> " China, the land through which the Elephant-headed divinity entered

> Japan has Ganesha Sculptures dating back to the fourth century, which

> surprisingly predates any depiction of Ganesh in India. "

>

> http://www.uniyatra.com/uniyatra_blog/2005/08/hindu-symbolism-in-

> miyajima.html

 

This is an interesting page, but not always really accurate.

 

One of the best books on the cult of Ganesh in a Pan-Asian

perspective is the collective volume edited by Robert Brown, Ganesh:

Studies of an Asian God, SUNY Press, 1991. In the chapter entitled

" Ga.ne'sa in China: Methods of Transforming the Demonic " , by Lewis

Lancaster, p. 277, we read:

 

" One painting of the elephant-headed deity is found in Cave 285 at

Tun-huang, a chamber that was excavated in the Northern Wei dynasty,

although some of the decorations in it date to the T'ang dynasty.

Pelliot suggests a date of the first part of the sixth century for

this representation of Ga.ne'sa. A stone sculpture of the deity is to

be found at Kung-hsien, and this image carries an inscription dating

it to the year 531 A.D. Both of these are of special interest because

they predate any image of this figure in India. "

 

So, the " fourth century " is very probably wrong. It may be true that

these Chinese images are very early, but at the end of the quoted

passage, a note (n. 4) is added, which says (p. 285):

 

" Alice Getty, Ga.ne'sa: A Monography of the Elephant-faced God, 1936,

reprint ed., Delhi, Munshiram Manoharlai, 1971, p. 69. But see the

essays in this volume by Brown and Dhavalikar. "

 

I think that dating of Ganesh's images in India is very difficult.

The referred passage in Brown's essay in this volume is probably at

page 6, where he says:

 

" Ga.ne'sa's earliest depictions are controversial in their dating.

Alice Getty, writing in 1936, argued that the earliest images of

Ga.ne'sa date only to the fifth century, the date at which she

suggests the Ga.ne'sa cult also began... "

 

And he continues reporting the arguments of A. K. Narain and M. K.

Dhavalikar in the same volumes where these authors argue that Ganesh

cult began earlier than that...

 

So, it is possible that Lancaster's statement itself was not really

exact (I don't have Getty's book, and cannot verify). Anyway, it

seems the first part of the sixth century is not *SO* early for this

kind of images.

 

By the way, we can find in the Cave 8 of Yungang, which is before the

end of the fifth century, an image of four armed (?) 'Siva, and

another of four armed (?) Vi.s.nu -- which are certainly very early

images of these gods with multiple arms. So the Chinese art history

is an important source for the study of Indian (Hindu) religious art

history.

 

Best regard,

 

Nobumi Iyanaga

Tokyo,

Japan

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

> " One painting of the elephant-headed deity is found in Cave 285

at

> Tun-huang, a chamber that was excavated in the Northern Wei

dynasty,

> although some of the decorations in it date to the T'ang dynasty.

> Pelliot suggests a date of the first part of the sixth century

for

> this representation of Ga.ne'sa. A stone sculpture of the deity is

to

> be found at Kung-hsien, and this image carries an inscription

dating

> it to the year 531 A.D. Both of these are of special interest

because

> they predate any image of this figure in India. "

 

But, Wikipedia says:

 

" Images of Ganesha first appeared in Sri Lanka at least as early as

the 2nd century CE. The earliest known image occurs at the Kantaka

Cetiya in Mihintale, which is dated to earlier than the 1st century

BC. "

 

Is it possible to verify?

 

Thanks,

Rahula

[Guest guest]

Dear Rahula,

Jay Jinendra

 

Wikipedia is hardly an academic source! It is not reliable as anyone can

edit and changes its contents.

M

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Ganesha

 

 

 

 

 

Characteristics :

 

Knowledge, Eradicator of obstacles.

 

 

Other Names :

 

Ganapati, Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vighneshawar, Pillaiyar

 

 

Principal Scriptures :

 

Ganesha Purana, Mudgala Purana and Ganapati Atharvashirsa

 

 

Consort :

 

Riddhi (affluence) Buddhi (knowledge) Siddhi (perfection)

 

 

Vahana (Vehicle) :

 

Mouse

 

 

Mula Mantra :

 

Om Gan Ganpatye Namah

 

 

 

Lord Ganesha is the god of beginnings, knowledge, wisdom, intellect and eradicator of obstacles. Lord Ganesha is the child of lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. He is the elder brother of lord Kartikay (Skanda/ Murugana). Ganesha is the most extensively worshipped god in Hindu way of life. Each sort of worship whether tantric or spiritual starts with the prayers of Ganesha in Hinduism as he is known as the eradicator of obstacles (Vighneshawar). He is worshipped in the starting of any propitious event for blessings and hassle-free work. Lord Ganesha is invoked as the "Patron of Letters" at the beginning of any writing.Ganesha ImageGanesha figures show extensive variation with dissimilar patterns changing over ages. A different mixture of his elephant-like head, a pot belly and a small mouse makes him different from all other Hindu gods in appearance. Many a times, he is represented standing, sitting, dancing, like a warrior in heroic action against demons, playing with his family as a boy, sitting down, or in a significant range of contemporary situations when depicted in festival displays. Ganesha has four hands, holding an axe in the right upper arm, while the left upper arm holds a noose, signs of his ability to cut through obstacles or to create them as required. In the third one he carries laddoo (a sweet delicacy) and the fourth hand's palm is always there to bless people. His vahana is a tiny mouse which represents the dominated demon of pride and impertinence.

 

Ganapati Gayatri MantraAum Ekdantaya VidmaheVakratundaya DheemahiTanno Danti Prachodayat

 

Ganesha ChalisaShri Ganesh Chalisa is a "forty verse" prayer. Verses are recited or chanted by groups. The acts and deeds of Lord Ganesha are recalled in these verses to aid the devotee to meditate on virtuous and noble qualities. Names of GaneshaLord Ganesha is considered as the remover of obstacles and the lord of beginnings. Shri Ganesh is one of the most popular gods among the followers of Hindu religion. Ganesha is also known as the Elephant God. Lord Ganesha is the primary god, one who is worshipped at the beginning of any propitious event. Ganesha is the lord of intellect and knowledge.Legends of GaneshaThere are many stories of Lord Ganesha regarding his origin and various others which tell about the nature and traits of his character. Ganesha is known as the god of wisdom, literature and worldly success. He is known as the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Parvati (Uma), younger brother being Kartikay.Ganesha MantraGanesha Mantras are known as Siddhi Mantra (the one with perfection). Each and every mantra is full of energy and power of Lord Ganesha. It is believed that mantras of Ganesha, when chanted with genuine devotion, give positive results. These mantras ward off all trials and troubles gracing the devotee with every success.

 

http://www.iloveindia.com/spirituality/gods/ganesha/index.html