Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Ganapati (Indian God & Buddhist Deity) - Red (12 hands)

ཚོགས་བདག། ནང་ལྷ། 象鼻天(佛教本尊)
(item no. 37766)
Origin Location Mongolia
Date Range 1900 - 1959
Lineages Gelug and Buddhist
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection SRG Archives
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Animal-Feature

Gender: Male

Summary: This form of Ganapati is an emanation of Lokeshvara.

Interpretation / Description

"...beside a lapis lazuli rock mountain is a red lotus with eight petals, in the middle a blue rat expelling various jewels, [above] Shri Ganapati with a body red in colour, having an elephant face with sharp white tusks and possessing three eyes, black hair tied in a topknot with a wishing-gem and a red silk ribbon [all] in a bundle on the crown of the head. With twelve hands, the six right hold an axe, arrow, hook, vajra, sword and spear. The six left [hold] a pestle, bow, katvanga, skullcup filled with blood, skullcup filled with human flesh and a shield together with a spear and banner. The peaceful right and left hands are signified by the vajra and skullcup filled with blood held to the heart. The remaining hands are displayed in a threatening manner. Wearing various silks as a lower garment and adorned with a variety of jewel ornaments, the left foot is extended in a dancing manner, standing in the middle of the bright rays of red flickering light." (Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrub, 1497-1557. Translated by Jeff Watt).

Jeff Watt [updated 6-2019]

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Buddhist Deity: Lokeshvara (Related Deities)
Buddhist Deity: Ganapati Art History
Buddhist Deity: Ganapati Main Page
Subject: Monkey Imagery Page
Buddhist Deity: Ganapati, Maharakta Main Page
Buddhist Deity: Ganapati Masterworks
Mongolia: Winter Palace, Paintings (SRG Archive)