In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is one of the most well-known and venerated
god. Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati with an
elephantine countenance with a curved trunk, big ears and a plump belly.
'Ga' symbolizes Buddhi (intellect) and 'Na' symbolizes Vidnyana
(wisdom). Therefore, Ganesha is considered the master of intellect and
wisdom. Lord Ganesha rides on or is attended by a mouse. He is most
commonly represented sitting down, with one leg raised in the air and
bent over the other.He is regarded as the Lord of success, wisdom prosperity and the destroyer of evils and obstacles. Lord Ganesha is invoked at the beginning of any journey, wedding ceremony and enterprise.
The consort of Ganesha is Riddhi (material abundance) and Siddhi (intellectual and spiritual power).
Ganesha idols are crafted out of various materials including :
- Stone
- Wood
- Ashtadhatu
- Brass
- Sphatik/Crystal
- Parad/Mercury
There are various styles of Ganesha idols including :
Deepak Ganesha Idol : In this type of idol, Lord Ganesha is represented as wearing a crown. The base of the idol has five cups or diyas where oil lamps can be lit. These idols are mainly made of brass and look very beautiful with an antique finish.
Panchmukha Ganesha Idol : Panchmukhi means having five faces. In some ancient scriptures, Ganesha is depicted as having five heads. This type of Ganesha idol is very popular in South India and is mainly worshipped for good luck and prosperity. These idols are also carved in brass.
Jhoola Lakshmi Ganesha Idol : This type of idol is mainly crafted in brass, sphatik and parad and depicts Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi together in a jhoola (swing). The idol of Lakshmi Ganesha is worshipped on Diwali nights. Lakshmi is regarded as the Goddess of wealth and Ganesha is regarded as the Lord of prosperity and good luck. The idol of Lakshmi Ganesha looks antique and also serves as an excellent gift item on Diwali and other festivals.