Hindu deities are often portrayed with their “vehicle,” an animal or bird that symbolizes an attribute of the god. Within the Buddhist world, Hindu deities such as Ganesha hold a significant amount of popularity. In this charming sculpture, the elephant-headed Hindu god has his mount, the rat, behind the lotus pedestal and his right leg. The bowl of laddus in his lower left hand emphasizes his infamous love of sweets. Often revered as the “remover of obstacles,” he is surrounded by other celestial figures. To his right sits a three-headed Brahma, the creator god of the Hindu pantheon; on his left is a seated Vishnu, who holds a conch shell and a disk. Above the niche over Ganesha’s head stands his father, Shiva, flanked by celestial beings.

The sculpture would have been located on the outer wall of a Hindu monument. While the striations are naturally part of the sandstone, rain also played a role in dissolving the calcium rich portions of the stone.