May 2006
Wit and Wisdom
Ganesha, regarded as the remover of obstacles, is one of the most popular and beloved deities in Hinduism. The myths of his beginnings relate how he was formed out of dirt from the goddess Parvati's skin; she created him to serve as her doorkeeper during her bath while her husband, the god Shiva, was away. When Shiva returned home unexpectedly to find an unfamiliar boy barring his way, Shiva cut off his head in anger. Seeing Parvati distraught at the death of her son, Shiva replaced his head with one from the first animal he saw-an elephant.
Ganesha is often shown with multiple arms, and in each hand he holds symbolic attributes, including an axe to strike down false teaching and deception. Ganesha's vehicle is the mouse, which appears twice next to the two attendants.
October 16, 1965
A perfectly marvelous "CAMP" picture. For this kind of thing they don't come any better. it is "so awful, it's good!" Iconographically it is also superb.
Last Updated: 9/5/2017