5'' Four Face Ganesha | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai

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Ganesha’s manifestation as a twice born is different from the general notion of the same which is attributed to Brahmans – who are born a second time when they wear the sacred thread ‘janeu’ and take on the responsibilities of performing holy rituals. For Ganesha, being twice born is being incarnated as Lord Brahma, and this is visible in the manner of the Ganapati’s depiction, as he is presented with four heads and arms, and visually, shown in pure white. Ganesha’s four hands hold a ‘kamandalam’ or a water vessel from which sprouts all creation, a ‘dhandam’ or an ascetic’s staff, ancient scriptures, and a hand raised in the ‘vitarka mudra’ holding a rudraksha mala. At the base of the pedestal, we also see Ganesha’s faithful mount or ‘vahana,’ Mooshak, looking up to the god.

Today, the worship of the Dwija Ganapati – which is spread across places like the Ballaleshwar temple in Pali and the temples in Chamarajanagar and Nanjangud in Mysore – is sought by the faithful to take care of monetary problems and secure a good standing in the material world of things. The Dwija Ganapati is also portrayed in a painting in the Pazhavangadi temple in Thiruvananthapuram.