A Javanese bronze from the 8th century CE of the Hindu god, Ganesh. Ganesh, also known as Ganapati, is a widely revered Hindu deity easily recognized by his elephant head and human body. He is considered the lord of beginnings, the remover of obstacles, and the patron of arts, sciences, and wisdom. Ganesh is also a significant figure in Jainism and Buddhism, and he is the Supreme God for the Hindu Ganapatya sect. He is often depicted with an elephant head, a pot belly, a single broken tusk, and multiple arms holding symbolic items like a noose and an elephant goad. Ganesh is famously fond of sweets, especially modaks, which are often offered to him. A famous myth describes him as the scribe who wrote the epic Mahabharata on the condition that the sage Vyasa would recite it without stopping; when his pen broke, he broke off one of his tusks to continue writing, earning him the name "Vignahara" (remover of obstacles). The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates his birth and involves creating clay idols of him, which are worshipped for up to 10 days before being immersed in water in a ritual called Visarjan.

The Hindu god, Ganesh aka Ganesha aka Ganapati, the Remover of Obstacles, the God of Beginnings, the patron of the Arts, Sciences, and Wisdom - this bronze is from Central Java circa 8th century CE.

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