This is Ganesha, and he does not need introductions. Ganesha is possibly the most beloved deity of the Hindu Pantheon and is recognized by his trademark, the elephant head.

What makes this bronze a collectable is that he is riding two lions. It is common knowledge that Ganesha’s vahana is a mouse, and most often it is. Ganesha is also known to have a lion (as in this case), peacock, and horse as his vahana. Some sources link the vahana to the Yugas. Such discussions are beyond the scope of this blog site.

It is not uncommon to see a lion as part of the deities’ throne, especially in sculptures from the Kashmir region. The examples include Buddha, Maitreya, Durga, Vishnu, and, of course, Ganesha.

There is a form of Ganesha with five heads and riding a lion. In that for he is Heramba Ganesha. But this one is different. Here, Ganesha is riding the two lions. Is it a rodeo show with the lions? Amazing conceptualisation.

The stiff trunk, the lions and straight arms suggest that this Vigraha is from a region where Kashmir influence was strong. That includes Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Western Uttar Pradesh.

This Vigraha may be dated to the eighteenth century or earlier. It is about 6.5 cm in height.

This is another coveted addition to my collection.