Ganesh Janani

The depictions of the Hindu goddesses Parvati and Durga, considered to be two manifestations of the same eternal Feminine Energy, are often intertwined in the art of the Bengal region in India. In this artwork, the identity of Ganesh Janani (the mother of Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god), originally given to Parvati, is transposed upon Durga, as suggested by the presence of the third eye. The infant Ganesh, painted traditionally with a white head and rubicund body, sits on her lap, possibly breastfeeding. The artist, B.C. Law, has emphasised the characters’ divine appearances by painting glowing yellow halos around their heads.