Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c9.26

v1.c9.26

Vighnēśvara may be represented as sitting or standing. The seat may be a *padmāsana* or a mouse or in rare instances, a lion. If the figure is a standing one, it should have a few bends in the body so as to be of the *dvibhaṅga* or *tribhaṅga* type. The standing image of Gaṇapati, may also be of the *samabhaṅga* type without any bend whatsoever. In the case of the sitting image, the rule laid down is that it should have its left leg folded and resting on a seat, while the right leg has to be crossed so as to rest on the left thigh, (see Pl. X fig. 1). Owing, however, to the sculptors generally making the belly a little too big, the legs cannot be shown to cross each other in front. Therefore, they simply show the right leg as bent and make it rest vertically on a seat, (see Pl. X, fig. 2).