plaque of god Ganesha; square plaque-shaped with raised relief of elephant figure; ceramic, painted and glazed. 54 cm length; 36 cm width
Donor:
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Ready, Jr. Fund
Collection place:
Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India
Verbatim coll. place:
India, Rajasthan, Udaipur district
Culture or time period:
Hindu
Collector:
Renaldo "Ronald" Maduro
Collection date:
July 1969
Materials:
Ceramic (material) (painted and glazed)
Person depicted:
Ganesha (Hindu deity)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Plaques (flat objects)
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Accession date:
November 11, 1970
Context of use:
Placed in shrine for worship by men and women; daily worship, esp. Wednesday. Text from India ex. (1975): "Ganesh, locally called Ganpat, son of Shiva and Parvati, is the Hindu god of wisdom and prosperity. Plaques representing Ganesh are generally produced in time for Divali, the festival of lights held in October or November. At this time he is generally worshipped in conjunction with Laxmi, consort of Vishnu and goddess of wealth. [over] [on back of card] In his four hands he holds a shell, a discus, a club or goad, a rosary, probably of the 'rudraksha' beads, which signify the worship of Shiva. This hand is sometimes seen holding a waterlily." Made by men of the potter caste.
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Dimensions:
length 54 centimeters and width 36 centimeters
Loans:
S1979-1980 #20: California State University, East Bay (November 5, 1979–July 31, 1980)