As the lord of obstacles, Ganesha is worshiped at the beginning of every new undertaking, ritual, or journey. His elephant head attests to the absorption of an elephant cult into mainstream Hinduism and reflects his mythological origin. According to religious lore, his mother Parvati, without Shiva's knowledge, created Ganesha created him from the sweat of her brow to guard her while Shiva was away. When Shiva returned and demanded access to Parvati's chamber, Ganesha, not recognizing his father, blocked his path. Angry, and unaware that the boy was his son, Shiva shot flames from his third eye, cutting off Ganesha's head and sending it spinning into the heavens. Parvati was inconsolable. Shiva vowed to replace Ganesha's head, and he searched the entire universe to no avail. Out of desperation, he took the head of a baby elephant that had sinned by lying with its head pointed to the north (considered an inauspicious direction) and returned home with it to restore Ganesha to life. Ganesha holds a battle axe in his upper right hand, his broken tusk in his lower right, a noose in his upper left hand, and a sweetmeat in his lower left that he is about to pick up with his trunk. The sculpture has a dark patina on his belly from being rubbed for good fortune. The backside of Ganesha’s body is fully articulated and has a pronounced swayback.

• El Universo de la India: Obras Maestras del Museo de Arte del Condado de Los Angeles. Santiago: Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda, 2012.

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