Ganesha - A Study in Paper and Mixed Media

The many names of Lord Ganesha,
Pen, Ink on Handmade paper

“He is worshiped with red flowers.
 Unfailing, merciful, the origin of the worlds,
 He appears at the beginning of creation, alone, beyond Nature, beyond the Cosmic Person.
 He who meditates on His form
 becomes great among the yogis”

Ganapati Upanishad

Lord Ganesh, known by many names such as Ganapati, Atman, Vighnaraja, is worshipped in India at the beginning of any auspicious religious ceremony. Since childhood, I have a loved the happy, abundant form of Lord Ganesha.  I remember making little garlands out of flowers for worshipping him alongside my Grandmother and offering laddus to him, and wondering how his big form would fit on a small mouse that is his 

vehicle of choice..

But there is a lot of symbolism attached to this physical form of Lord Ganapati. He is the elephant God, portraying the main characteristic of the elephant, namely wisdom and effortlessness. An elephant does not let anything obstruct his path, he simply walks over it and removes it and moves ahead. That is why we worship Lord Ganesha before any important rite of passage.His big belly represents generosity and acceptance.  The mouse nibbles away at the ropes that bind us and obstruct our spiritual growth, making him the perfect vehicle for this God of All Beginnings.

So here is a humble attempt at studying his from in pen and ink and mixed media including pastels and water colors.

Dancing Ganesha - Pen, ink and pastels

Lord Ganesha relaxing - Pen, ink and pastels 

Lord Ganapati

Pen, Ink and pastel

Pen, Ink and Water Color on Handmade paper