A Red Sandstone Figure of Ganga

Sotheby's London, April 27, 1995, lot 379

Wear and accretion overall. Losses to decorative elements around torana at left and right shoulder-height; to proper right hand and right thigh; to head and hair on right as visible in catalogue illustration.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The voluptuous river goddess is shown standing under a cascade of river water that seconds as a stylized canopy. She is holding up a kalash or water pot in her left hand, signifying her bountiful nature. Elaborate jewelry highlights her feminine form. She is wearing a stylized headdress, necklaces, armbands, bangles, a lavish girdle and ornaments on her feet. The tassel from her necklace playfully falls over her torso, both of which are dynamically modeled. The manner in which her beaded girdle drapes her waist and falls over her legs accentuates the curvaceous bends in her form. Next to her left foot is a makara, the designated vehicle of the river goddess Ganga.

The personification of the river gods and goddesses can be traced to prehistoric time, both in surviving texts and material culture. The river Ganga holds a special venerated status among Hindus, as the location of several sacred sites. The Ganga is associated with both purification and death. Believers immerse themselves in the holy water to wash away their sins and liberate themselves from the cycle of life and death. Human ashes are also immersed in the river for the same reason. Over time different Hindu traditions and texts assimilated the river into their belief system by appropriating it in the form of a Goddess, whose legends are extant in Hindu mythology.