Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c9.54

v1.c9.54

*Nṛitta-Gaṇapati*. This is a representation of Gaṇēśa as dancing. This image should have eight hands in seven of which should be held the *pāśa*, the *aṅkuśa*, cakes, the *kuṭhāra* (a kind of axe), the *danta*, the *valaya* (a quoit), and the *aṅgulīya* (a ring); the remaining hand should be freely hanging so as to be helpful to the various movements of the dance. The colour of the body of this Gaṇēśa has to be golden yellow. To show that it is a dancing figure it is scupltured with the left leg slightly bent, resting on the *padmāsana*, and the right leg also bent and held up in the air. The sculptures of this figure have generally only four hands, but not eight as in the description given above.