11.5'' Dancing Ganesha | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai

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The ‘madhuchista vidhana’ technique in which the sculpture is executed presents the god of beginnings (and the remover of obstacles) with four arms that carry a ‘pasha’ or noose and an ‘ankusha’ or elephant goad – being used not only as tools of subjugation but presenting them as guiding aids to lead the devotees of Ganesha closer to the righteous path – and a ‘modaka’ or sweet and his own ‘danta’ or broken tooth. The ‘ek danta’ nature of Ganesha is related to the incident where the god broke off his own tooth to write the Mahabharata, when his quill began wearing away during Ved Vyasa’s narration. Another interesting aspect of this Ganesha figure here is the iconography of the left-facing trunk, which alludes to the feminine energy present in the universe, and serves as a calming aspect of the god, invoking peace and relaxation. Ganesha’s dance is performed on a raised lotus plinth with minute layering of green patina deposits over his body.