Ganesh at Thai Artisan

New at Thai Artisan, Ganesh statues, in wood & metal

Contact info@thai-artisan.com for more details on materials, sizes & shipping
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Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles

Ganesha (Sanskrit) also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most widely worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations.^[Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains Buddhists, and beyond India

Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him easy to identify.Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha, Vighneshvara),^[patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom

Ganesha is a popular figure in Indian Art. Unlike those of some deities, representations of Ganesha show wide variations and distinct patterns changing over time.He may be portrayed standing, dancing, heroically taking action against demons, playing with his family as a boy, sitting down, or engaging in a range of contemporary situations.

Images of Ganesha first appeared in Sri Lanka at least as early as the 2nd century CE. The earliest known image occurs at the Kantaka Cetiya in Mihintale, which is dated to earlier than the 1st century BC. The figure is a one-tusked Gana (dwarf) attended by other ganas, who hold the various attributes of the deity

Ganesha images were prevalent in many parts of India by the 6th century.

New at Thai Artisan, Ganesh statues, in wood & metal

Contact info@thai-artisan.com for more details on materials, sizes & shipping
Thanks!



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha

Ghost House

Living on Koh Samui I get to absorb the Thai culture & the sometimes crazy island life!

There are a great many mysteries here, which are fun to explore. I am not going to elaborate on the subject of the difference between beautiful girls & beautiful ladyboys, or the Thai alchohol purchasing laws, although they are both worth further consideration!

I am fascinated by the ghost house known here as Spirit Houses, so much so that I sell little replicas of them! Raised above the ground on a high platforms, outside of homes & businesses here on the island. Even business like Thai airlines, Thai restaurants and bars. Some elaborate & very ornate with mirrors, lights, & lots of glittery decoration, others much simpler. The one outside my Thai house is painted in bright cheerful colours,covered in tiny figures, and vases with flowers.

These Spirit Houses are believed to provide a special shelter for the spirits,or celestial beings, who would otherwise reside in the heavens, so this is the home of the spiritual guardian of the property.

Spirit Worship is traced back in history to when Tai's migrated from the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam to all parts of Southeast Asia. Buddhism also came to Southeast Asia, these beliefs developed side by side. Some of the old animistic beliefs are intertwined with Buddhism and some animistic practices still exist in Thailand. One practiced by every Thai is the Spirit House


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Spirits watch over and protect the home
Spirits can be good or evil
Most are mischevious
Spirit houses are built by only Expert Spirit House Builders, who must exercise all necessary rituals so that the invited spirits will find it an acceptable earthly abode.
Offerings to the resident spirit may include flowers, food such as meat, fruit and rice. Candles and incense are also seen, the incense lit daily.

Now we can appreciate why the spirit houses need to be treated with care! If a new spirit house is created, to replace an old one. there is a ceremony to ensure that the spirit moves from the old house to the new. Once this is all completed the old spirit house will be discarded, at, or near a temple or Wat.
This explains the old, rickity and abandoned looking spirit houses all piled together, on the side of the road. It seems that when a spirt house is discarded it is put with others which have suffered the same fate! Yes, those piles of spirit houses are deliberate.