Lord Ganesha On Miniscule Lotus Pedestal Lamp -

The lamp occupies pride of place in any Indian home. The multi-dia installation that you see on this page is a uniquely Indian home decor phenomenon and an object of art since time immemorial. A long stem fitted with multiple lamp-trays, topped off by a symbolic motif. This one comprises three trays of five to nine lamps each, with none other than Lord Ganesha gracing the top.

Lamplight itself has great significance in Indian culture. As the dispeller of avidya-roopi darkness (‘avidya’ is Sanskrt for ignorance; ‘roopa’, for form), the flame of the dia stands for vidya (knowledge) and enlightenment (awareness). Imagine the beauty of a lamp such as this one, placed at a strategic corner in your home or office, the dias filled in with freshly made clarified butter and the wicks lit up all at once. This would make for the perfect picture of vidya shining bright, cutting through the dark recesses of avidya.

Zoom in on the Ganeshamurti at the zenith of this lamp. It is a chaturbhujadhari trishool-tilaka form of the son of Shiva, which adds to the auspiciousness of the composition. The curvaceous, long-stemmed lamp stands on a four-legged pedestal, each of which resembles a wide, gracious sprig of thickly curving vine.