Tag Archives: elephant

Ganesha and Kali

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An interesting sculpture of Ganesha with Kali on the back at our resort in Gujarat, India.

Ganesha, also spelled Ganesh, also called Ganapati, elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings, who is traditionally worshipped before any major enterprise. Lord Ganesha clears the obstacles and paves the way for us to move forward in life. 

On the back side of Ganesha is the depiction of Kali. Alongside being the Goddess of darkness, destruction, and death, Kali is also a symbol of Mother Nature because she is believed to be timeless and formless, representing the creation of life and the universe as well.

Ganesh in the Garden
Kali Behind Ganesh

Elephant Sculptures at Brookgreen Gardens

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With my interest in elephants, I was pleased to see elephant art at Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet.

“Trumpeting Elephant” by Alexander Phimister Proctor is an elephant striding forward, head raised trumpeting.

Raising Its Trunk

“Elephant” by Paul Troubetzkoy is an elephant without tusks standing quietly, one forefoot behind the other, back humped and trunk lowered.

Elephant Statue

Row of Elephants at the Temple

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The water feature at BAPS Temple in Atlanta, Georgia is decorated with a row of elephant sculptures.

In India the elephant is a symbol for power, dignity, intelligence and peace. Elephants in Hinduism and the Indian Culture are a symbol of intellectual strength, and sturdy earthy mental strength. Elephants, in general, symbolize the qualities of wisdom, strength, courage, longevity, patience, honor, and stature.

Row of Elephants at the Temple

A Multi-faced Ganesha

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Heramba Ganapati at Shilparamam, Hyderabad. The elephant-headed Ganesha, remover of obstacles and god of good fortune, is one of the most beloved of Hindu gods. Also known as Ganapati, he is invoked before the start of any action or endeavor.
In Tantric tradition there are as many as thirty-two manifestations of Ganesha, each with its own name and iconography. One of the most popular of these is Heramba Ganapati, who has five heads and ten arms. A beautiful wood piece, intricately carved, of this form is shown below.

A Multi-faced Ganesha

Heramba Ganesh