Description
Chola theme based South Indian idol of Ganesha dressed as a Tamilian bridegroom. Mappillai Ganesha or bridegroom Ganesha is an invention of Tamil artists where Ganesha is conceived as a Tamilian bridegroom. This was imagined probably as an amusing event at the time of Ganesha’s marriage with sage Narada’s sisters Siddhi (achievement) and Buddhi (intellect).
There is an amusing ritual in Tamil marriages where the bridegroom threatens to become a monk and prepares to go to Varanasi to lead the life of a renunciate. He even dresses up for this and gets ready to leave carrying an umbrella and a water pot for the journey. He is then pacified to return by the bride’s father who ties him up in marital life by offering him his daughter.
Lord Ganesha is imagined to be the bridegroom acting out this ritual at the time of his marriage. Therefore he is named Mappillai Ganesha or Ganesha as bridegroom. Even though imagined, this is a beautiful form. Ganesha is adorned with a long garland, carrying an umbrella and kamandalu (sacred water pot). He wears wooden slippers meant for ascetics and is walking away. Very nicely executed idol, standing gracefully on a double pedestal.
Special Comments
Mappillai Ganesha or bridegroom Ganesha is an invention of Tamil artists where Ganesha is conceived as a Tamilian bridegroom.