Me and Ganesha

Sunday, May 22, 2011. I visited a museum in central Jakarta, the National Museum. The National Museum is more also known as “Museum Gajah”. It is characterized by the presence of the King of Thailand's elephant statue to President Soekarno, who mounted the front page of the museum.

The museum is located at Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat 12, Jakarta Pusat. The Museum was officially opened in 1868. It collected about 141.899 pieces collection. The National Museum is a museum which is mainly filled with a variety of archaeological heritage of Indonesia. Tens and even hundreds of statues of various sizes from wallet-sized to larger than a human is there. This sculpture is a collection of various discoveries arkeologies at several places in the country. For the third task of this history, I will discuss one of the statues found at the National Museum, Ganesha.

In Hindu, statues known antropomorsis term, is a depiction of a half-beast. Ganesha is one of the statues antropomorsis. Particular characteristic is described as a human-headed elephant (half elephant). Ganesha is described with an assortment, some sitting, some standing, and sometimes depicted dancing. If in a sitting position, can not cross-legged ganesha, Ganesha is always portrayed as paunchy. Ganesha has a bun of hair resembling a crown. Crown-shaped crescent and a crescent moon on top of there skull called Ardhacandrakapala, as a sign that the son of Lord Shiva. Another characteristic is trinetra, which is only possessed by Shiva and Ganesha. His has an elephant ears, with its trunk. Trunk always to the left to suck honey in a bowl in his left hand symbolizes the childish character in Ganesha, who stated that he was a child. Bowl is sometimes described as the cranium, the skull is cut open. Symbol depicting Ganesha was absorbing the brain (head). Is called the god Ganesh. Ganesha described science as being absorbing the brain, where the brain is described as the source of origin of the human mind which is the source of knowledge.

Ganesha has four hands or also called chess biuja. This is what distinguishes man from the gods. Of the four hands, hands in front of the right to bring a broken tusk (ekadanta). There is also a statue that depicted intact and there is also depicted broken. Fault that can be used ganesha ivory to kill his enemies.

Right hand rear carrying prayer beads, while the rear left hand carrying an ax. As the depiction of other gods statues, Ganesha statues have a sacred circle or light behind his head, in Sanskrit called Sirascakra (sira means head, chakra means wheel or circle). However, there is the statue of Ganesha is depicted with backrest and without backrest. When placed in the middle of the temple niches usually do not have a backrest. Ganesha also has a strap caste or Upawita snake, but it also comes with a necklace, brown shoulder, wrist-strap and ankle bracelet.

Another depicted Ganesha statues are standing and lift one leg. It is depicted dancing Ganesha, therefore also called the king of dance. His father, Lord Shiva is actually called the king of dance. Ganesha dance's called "tarian jenaka", because of his fat body. Ganesha much preferred because of the playful behavior. Ganesha is also known as repellent barrier. In addition ganapatya Ganesha is also called, the leader of the gana, the disciples of Lord Shiva. Ganesha is considered as high among the ranks of the army commander of Lord Shiva. Therefore Ganesha is also known also as the god of war. The vehicle of Ganesha is a mouse.

* Birth *

Although Ganesha known as the son of Shiva and Parvati, the myths

in the Puranas have uncertainty about the birth. He could have been created by Shiva, or by Parvati, or by Shiva and Parvati, or appeared mysteriously and was discovered by Shiva and Parvati. There are various versions about the birth of Ganesha, but the most famous stories from the book Siwapurana.

Siwapurana narrated in the book, one day Parvati (wife of Lord Shiva)

want to take a shower. Not wanting to be disturbed, it creates a son. He ordered that the child does not allow anyone into his house while Goddess Parvati bathing and should only be carried out the orders

Goddess Parvati alone. The order was executed the children well.

Once when Lord Shiva was about to go into his house, he could not enter because it was blocked by small children who keep her home. The boy was banned because he wanted to carry out orders properly Parvati. Shiva explained that he was Parvati's husband and the house that kept the boy is his home too. But the boy did not want to listen to the command of Shiva, according to her mother's command to not hear any orders. Shiva eventually run out of patience and fighting with his own son. The battle is very fierce until finally Shiva using trident and cut off the boy's head. When Parvati out of the shower, she found her son's lifeless. she was angry with her husband and demanded that her son was revived. Shiva aware of his actions and he complied with the request of his wife.

On the advice of Brahma, Shiva sent his servant, that is the gana, to chop off the head of any creature was first seen facing north.

When it comes down to earth, gana find an elephant was facing north. Elephant's head was cut to replace the head of Ganesha. Ganesha finally revived by Lord Shiva and has since been given the title of Gods Salvation.

* Family and wife *

In the family, Ganesha brother named Skanda, also called Kartikeya, Murugan, and others. Regional differences provide a different version of the level of their birth. In North India, Skanda is generally considered an older, while in South India, Ganesha is considered the first born. Skanda is the god of war who famous around the year 500 SM to 600 M, when the cult against him was reduced significantly in North India. Along with the waning of Skanda, Ganesha began to flourish. Some stories tell the rivalry between the brothers, and may reflect the tension between the sect (cult devotee of Ganesha and Skanda). Parental status of Ganesha, a broad subject for scholars, has various versions of the stories of myth. One pattern in myths identifies Ganesha as an unmarried brahmacarya. This view is commonly found in South India and in some areas of North India. In another example, it is associated with the concept of Buddhi (intellect), Siddhi (spiritual power), and Riddhi (prosperity); three qualities are sometimes personified as the goddess, who

Ganesha is said to be his wife. He can also be described with one's spouse or a nameless servant (Sanskrit: a tie). In another example, it is associated with the goddess of culture and art, namely Saraswati or Sarda (mostly in Maharashtra). He also grab the goddess of fortune and prosperity, Lakshmi. Other examples, especially prominent in the Bengal region, connecting Ganesa with banana tree, Kala Bo. Book Siwapurana said that Ganesha had two sons: Ksema (prosperity) and earnings (profits). According to the North Indian version of the story, his son often called Suba (safety) and Profit. Hindi-language film in 1975 titled Jai Santoshi Maa shows Ganesha married to Riddhi and Siddhi and having daughter named Santoshi Ma, the goddess of satisfaction. This story has no basis from the Puranas.

* The appearance of the first *

Ganesha appeared in his classic form as the god that is easily recognizable with the attributes that reflected well in the beginning of the 4th century until the 5th century. Shanti Lal Nagar says that the statue of the earliest, which is known as a form of Ganesha is in a niche in the temple of Shiva in Bhumra, which is interpreted from the time of Gupta empire. The cult itself against him appeared around the 10th century. Narain summarizes the controversy between devotees of Ganesha and academic views on the development of Ganesha as follows:

What has been unexpected is the appearance of Ganesha are somewhat

dramatic point of view of history. Vanguard is not clear. Openness and extensive fame, which transcend territorial boundaries and schools of, it's amazing. On the one hand there is the trust for the people of the orthodox against the origin of Ganesha from the time of the Vedas and the Puranas there is a confusing explanation, but it is a mythology that was quite interesting. On the other hand there are doubts about the idea and the statue of this god before the fourth to the fifth century AD.

* Beyond India and Hinduism *

Trade and cultural relations have been expanding Indian influence in West Asia and Southeast Asia. Ganesha is one of the many Hindu deities who touched foreign lands as a result. Ganesha is worshiped particularly by merchants and his entourage, who went out to malakukan India trade relations. The period from about the 10th century

onwards was marked by the development of new networks of exchange terms, the formation of trade unions, and the rise of financial circulation. During this time, Ganesha became the main deity associated with traders. The earliest writings that contain an appeal to Ganesha before calling other deities associated with a community group of merchants. Hindus migrated to the archipelago and took their culture, including Ganesha with them.