The protector of the weak and the harbinger of destruction upon the enemies of dharma – this is the sculptural image of that Tantric form of the god Ganesha, called Heramba. Literally translated as ‘Mother’s Beloved Son,’ Heramba’s worship is popularly witnessed in Nepal, and is detailed in the Mudgala Purana, Skanda Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, amongst other texts.
This ‘panchaloha’ idol perfected in the ‘madhuchista vidhana’ fashion of lost wax presents the unique iconography of a five-headed Ganesha. While four of his heads face the cardinal directions, the fifth head is placed on the top, looking upwards. Royina Grewal, writing in ‘Book of Ganesha’ mentions that the five heads are symbolic of the power absorbed from the five aspects of Shiva: Ishana, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva, and Sadyojata.
Heramba’s ‘vahana’ or mount is the fearsome lion that is said to have been given to him by his mother, Parvati. The lion’s symbolism attests to the notion of divine royalty, just as what Garuda characterises for Vishnu. Gracefully sitting on its back with his right leg pendent in the ‘lalitasana,’ Heramba’s ten hands carry the usual attributes of Ganesha. These include the ‘ankusha’ or goad, the ‘pasha’ or noose, the ‘japamala,’ the ‘parashu’ or battle-axe, a ‘modak,’ a ‘mudgara’ or a three-headed mallet, his own broken tooth, and the hand gestures of ‘abhaya’ and ‘varada,’ dispelling fear and granting boons.
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