Different Ways to Make Ganesh Statues

Posted by CraftVatika on November 20th, 2015

There are many ways to make Ganesh idols and statues, the most common of which is sculpting china clay or mud—a technique that is far superior to merely using molds to form the images. Some statue-makers even promote eco-friendly techniques. The way a Ganesh statue is made and sculpted generates a great deal of spiritual emotion towards the craft, making them more beneficial and ideal for both the sculptor/craftsman and the eventual owner. When a Ganesh sculpture is made with the science and principles behind the character and qualities of Shri Ganesh, the image attracts more of his essence, which benefits the worshipper greatly.

Making a Ganesh statue out of china clay or mud is the traditional way of sculpting these images. However, many idols nowadays are made out of plaster of Paris, which makes them more lightweight and attractive. Others are hand-carved out of wood, while some artisans form them out of gold and other precious metals.

For ritualistic worship, Ganesh statues should ideally be made out of mud or china clay only as materials like plaster of Paris don't dissolve easily in water after immersion. Sometimes, remains of idols that haven't dissolved in water stay there for long periods, only to be collected and bulldozed, which amounts to a great denigration of the deity. For other purposes such as home worship, display, and blessing, Ganesh statues made out of wood, brass, marble stone, turquoise, and other precious metals are ideal, especially if you want to pass them on for generations.

Sculpting Ganesh idols is considered as a holy mission/art. Idol makers who hand-craft Ganesh statues don't only get a great opportunity to showcase their artistic skill. They also get to obtain satisfaction and a complete spiritual experience because sculpting a Ganesh idol generates bhav or Spiritual emotion in them. Idols made this way are also more Sattva-predominant (sattvik). From the viewpoint of the sculptor, the amount of bhav generated by handcrafting the idol is the most important (even more important than how artistic or attractive the result is). This is why idol makers still prefer to craft them manually.

Moreover, the form of a Ganesh idol should be based on the character and qualities of the deity as well as the principles he represents. Ganesh statues should also be created in such a way that the bhav (spiritual emotion) and bhakti (devotion) towards him is awakened instantly upon seeing it.

About the Author:

This article was written by Krishna Kumar Bansal, owner of CraftVatika. CraftVatika is an online store for authentic Indian handicraft and other Indian products like clothing and jewellery. All of our products are handmade by the expert artisans from across India. We sell jewellery made up of silver and stone, marble decoration item, Indian gifts, brass statues, sculptures and other Indian handicraft.