Ganas
Historical background
Semi-divine beings attendants of Shiva, whose lord is Ganesha. They are generally depicted as lively, pot-bellied dwarfs dancing and playing musical instruments.
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Aspects of Shiva; Chandeshanugrahamurti; Shiva, shown in three-quarter profile, faces a devotee generally identified with Chandesha. Near the deity is a diminutive gana blowing a long trumpet. Shiva holds in the lower right hand the axe that he bestows on Chandesha.
Bhikashatanamurti; Accompanied by a gana carrying a large container on his head, and a leaping deer, Shiva walks through the Daruka forest, suggested by two trees. In the lower left hand Shiva holds a capacious bowl, in which one of the two richly attired rishipatnis, on the right, pours a ladle of rice. The end piece of her white sari is shown slipping from her shoulder to reveal her breast and abdomen. Two rishis witness the scene.
Hariharamurti. This composite figure stands straight, framed by two trees. The right half of the body. i. e.Shiva, is fair complexioned, with a crown of dreadlocks. The left half of the body, which is dark-complexioned, is Vishnu.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Colonnaded verandah, north bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Aspects of Shiva; Shiva, shown in three-quarter profile, faces a devotee generally identified with Chandesha. Near the deity is a diminutive gana blowing a long trumpet. Shiva holds in the lower right hand the axe that he bestows on Chandesha.
Bhikashatanamurti; Accompanied by a gana carrying a large container on his head, and a leaping deer, Shiva walks through the Daruka forest, suggested by two trees. In the lower left hand Shiva holds a capacious bowl, in which one of the two richly attired rishipatnis, on the right, pours a ladle of rice. The end piece of her white sari is shown slipping from her shoulder to reveal her breast and abdomen. Two rishis witness the scene.
Hariharamurti; This composite figure stands straight, framed by two trees. The right half of the body, i.e.Shiva, is fair complexioned, with a crown of dreadlocks. The left half of the body, which is dark-complexioned, is Vishnu.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Colonnaded verandah, north bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Aspects of Shiva; Bhikashatanamurti; Accompanied by a gana carrying a large container on his head, and a leaping deer, Shiva walks through the Daruka forest, suggested by two trees. In the lower left hand Shiva holds a capacious bowl, in which one of the two richly attired rishipatnis, on the right, pours a ladle of rice. The end piece of her white sari is shown slipping from her shoulder to reveal her breast and abdomen. Two rishis witness the scene.
Hariharamurti; This composite figure stands straight framed by two trees. The right half of the body, i.e. Shiva, is fair complexioned, with a crown of dreadlocks. The left half of the body, which is dark-complexioned, is Vishnu.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Colonnaded verandah, north bay
Date: Late 1990s incomplete; Artist, T. Vinoth
Description: Tatatakai fights against a gana; She fights against Shiva’s army; Nandi reports to Shiva; Shiva himself enters the battlefield; Tatatakai’s third breast disappears; She is defeated; Shiva tells her to return to Madurai where their wedding will be celebrated.(TP 5)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple;Madurai
Positioning: Potramarai tank, north side
Date: Second half of the 17th century
Description: View of the Kashi Vishvanatha Temple at Varanasi, showing Vishvanatha and his consort. The series of miniature lingas shown on the left may refer to the lingas set in the court of the temple. They represent the ganas who came to Varanasi along with Shiva.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kailasanathar Temple;Nattam
Positioning: Open mandapa, celiing, north portion
Date: Second half of the 17th century
Description: View of the Kashi Vishvanatha Temple at Varanasi, showing Vishvanatha and his consort. The series of miniature lingas shown on the left may refer to the lingas set in the court of the temple. They represent the ganas who came to Varanasi along with Shiva.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kailasanathar Temple;Nattam
Positioning: Ceiling of the open mandapa, north section
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Shiva Nataraja flanked by Shivakami, ganas and rishis; On the right, near the prabhavali kneels Karaikkal Ammaiyar playing the cymbals. On the left: Vyaghrapada and Patanjali in reverent attitude. Further ascetics and ganas making music are shown beneath the main scene.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, second tier, transept, north west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Shiva Nataraja flanked by Shivakami, ganas and rishis; On the right, near the prabhavali kneels Karaikkal Ammaiyar playing the cymbals. Further ascetics and ganas making music are shown beneath the main scene.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, second tier, transept, north west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Shiva Nataraja flanked by Shivakami, ganas and rishis; On the right, near the prabhavali kneels Karaikkal Ammaiyar playing the cymbals. On the left Vyaghrapada and Patantjali stand in respectful attitude. Further ascetics and ganas making music are shown beneath the main scene.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, second tier, transept, north west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Top: Ganesha; Bottom: Nandikeshvara, a rishi, a gana, and a devotee.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, second tier, transept, north west corner
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Top row: The wedding of Minakshi and Sundarar; Second row (left): The shrine of Sundarar at Madurai; Sundarar dances in the Silver Hall for the benefit of Patanjali; (right) Nandikeshvara and a gana? playing the drum; Third row Gundodara is fed; Fourth row (left): Gundodara’s thirst is quenched; (right): Flowers. (TP 5-8)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: A gana under a tree, with club resting on his shoulders.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura fourth tier, transept, north west corner
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