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Ganesha

late 7th–8th century
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
This four-armed form of the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati is among the most sophisticated early Cham sculptures. Ganesha is represented as the embodiment of the asceticism exemplified by his father, displaying the third eye on his forehead and wearing the tiger skin of an ascetic sage (rishi). It was recovered from a temple at My Son; the original pedestal remains on site. My Son served as the religious center of the Cham city of Simhapura (Tra Kieu). The scale of this work bears witness to a cult that assumed a prominence not seen in Ganesha’s native India.

cat. no. 100

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Ganesha
  • Date: late 7th–8th century
  • Culture: Central Vietnam
  • Medium: Sandstone
  • Dimensions: H. 37 13/16 in. (96 cm); W. 19 1/8 in. (48.5 cm); D. 13 in. (33 cm); Wt. 271 lbs (122.9 kg)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Lent by Museum of Cham Sculpture, Da Nang, Vietnam (5.1)
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art