Expressions of divinity

There is something about the countenance of the elephant god, Ganesh, that appeals so much to Nargis Madan that various statues and figur...

There is something about the countenance of the elephant god, Ganesh, that appeals so much to Nargis Madan that various statues and figurines of the deity adorn every other nook and corner of her home. Though modest in size, the 25-odd piece collection has been accumulated painstakingly, the aesthetic value of each idol being the primary consideration.

Captured in different poses, avatars and expressions, the items in Madan’s collection have mostly been purchased in the city itself. Ranging from a tiny idol in silver just about an inch in height to another in bronze standing about two feet high, the pieces are unique for their moods rather than materials used. The bulk sculpted and carved in brass, there are a handful in crystal, silver, wood and soapstone.

Even before one enters the Madan residence, the wall-piece of a Ganesh in granite by the door serves as the prelude to Madan’s story of collecting such artefacts. The moment you step in, a one-and-a-half-feet-tall brass idol of the god writing the pothi catches your attention. “I got this particular item from Moradabad. One interpretation of the writing of the Ramayana states that it was Ganesh who encrypted the epic that Valmiki dictated. While writing, his quill broke. But since he did not wish to interrupt Valmiki’s dictation, he broke his tusk and continued writing. with it That is why the statue shows one broken tusk,” explains Madan.

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Another unusual unit is a set of five idols procured from Tulshibaug – all in a standing pose and playing different musical instruments – the harmonium, shehnai, veena, taal and dholak. “I have been advised by some not to purchase an idol that shows Ganesh standing. But I am not too particular about such considerations,” says Madan. Her collection reflects Ganesh in avatars of other deities like that of Vishnu (reclining in the typical pose of the preserver of the universe, his palm raised in blessing), Lakshmi (sitting in a lotus flower), Waman (with his parasol) and Balkrishna (crawling like an infant).

Her conscious attempts to add to her collection began only about six years ago; till then they were just gifts and stray purchases. “My parents worship Shiva. I was introduced to Lord Ganesh only after my wedding, but since then I’ve kept the chaturthi and sankashti fasts, though I am not overtly religious. The Ganesh festival in Pune caught my fancy, just as everything about this deity – his pot belly, his eyes,” she laughs. A look at an acquaintance’s collection prompted her towards efforts on a similar line.

“The look of the piece is what matters more to me than any religious connotation. Which is why I have been careful to select a range of postures. So enamoured am I of the face and its expression, that I pay special attention to the eyes. They instill in me a sense of peace and well-being.” Serenity, that’s what Ganesh says to Nargis Madan!