Eight-Armed Dancing God Ganesha: Famous Sculpture

This wooden sculpture from the Kathmandu Valley depicts Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu deity, in a dynamic dancing pose with eight arms. The dancing form, known as Nritya Ganapati, represents the joy and enthusiasm of spiritual realization. Eight arms signify the deity's superhuman capacity for purposeful action. In Hindu iconography, deities are never shown with just two hands. The figure is surrounded by smaller human figures in animated poses.

Ganesha is one of the most widely worshipped Hindu gods, known as the remover of obstacles and the patron of beginnings, arts, and sciences. The dancing pose connects him to the cosmic dance of creation and destruction. This piece dates to the 17th-18th century and stands about 35 inches tall. It's at the Art Institute of Chicago, a gift from Marilynn B. Alsdorf.

The dancing form (Nritya Ganapati) represents the joy of spiritual realization and the cosmic rhythm of creation and destruction. It balances both vigorous masculine energy (Tandava) and graceful feminine energy (Lasya).

Superhuman capacity for simultaneous purposeful action. Each hand typically holds a specific attribute or forms a gesture (mudra) with doctrinal meaning. Hindu deities are never depicted with only two hands.

He's the remover of obstacles and patron of beginnings, arts, and sciences. Hindus invoke him before starting new efforts: journeys, business ventures, exams, or religious ceremonies.

At the Art Institute of Chicago. About 35 inches tall, carved from wood. A gift from Marilynn B. Alsdorf.

He's the remover of obstacles and patron of beginnings, arts, and sciences. Hindus invoke him before starting new efforts: journeys, business ventures, exams, or religious ceremonies.

At the Art Institute of Chicago. About 35 inches tall, carved from wood. A gift from Marilynn B. Alsdorf.

Artwork Details

Details

Where to See It

Cite or Embed This Work

Also at Art Institute of Chicago

The Solitude of the Soul

Walking Buddha

Architectural Fragment with Relief Carving

Allegory of Science

Related Works

Twenty-Armed Dancing God Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles

Six-Armed God Ganesha

Four-Armed Dancing God Ganesha with His Rat Mount

God Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles

Four-Armed Seated God Ganesha

Fragment of a Plaque with Dancing Ganesha and the Mother Goddesses Brahmani and Maheshvari

Bodhisattva Amoghapasha Lokeshvara

Dancing God Shiva (Natesha)

Shiva as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja)

Walking Elephant with Floral Caparison

God Krishna Dancing on the Head of the Snake Demon Kaliya (Kaliyadamana)

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte

About Eight-Armed Dancing God Ganesha

Own Art Like This