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sabha-maṇḍapa. Originally, there might have been six such panels fitted together to complete hexagonal balcony projecting inside. This is quite evident from the slanting cuts made on either side of each panel which can fit together to form hexagonal balcony. Out of these panels only three reached Baroda Museum and now they are transferred to the Junagadh Museum along with other pieces of derasara.
Frieze 1: 23 x 46 x 5 cms.
This frieze depicts Gaṇeśa-sthāpană, which is a very popular theme in the art of Gujarat. We also find this in embroidery, bead-work and applique work as well as in stone carving. Every religious ceremony begins with the propitiation of Ganesa who is the God of auspicious. The panels of this type are always placed at the main entrance of the shrine or a house."
JAIN JOURNAL
The central figure of this panel is of Lord Gaṇeśa seated in godohana pose. Generally, we do find such a pose in sculptures but the purpose of introducing it here is probably to show Gaṇeśa seated on his vehicle, mouse. He is holding rosary (rudrākṣa-mālā) in his front right hand, battle-axe (paraśu) in the rear right hand, the rear left hand holds lotus (kamala) and the front left hand grasps a sweet-ball (laddoo) a favourite of God Gaṇeśa, which he is trying to lift with his trunk.
His bulging eyes are very small and round in shape befitting that of an elephant rather than a human being. His crown is of kirițamukuta type with conical 'A' shaped moulding all around on sirṣapaṭṭa with tetragonal designs on it. The traces of sacred-thread (yajñopavita) are seen over the protruded pot-belly of the God. Both the teeth are broken at the tips. The trunk of Gaṇeśa is shown turned to left right from its root. There are traces of an ornament with trifoil design covering almost entire forehead and reaching upto the root of the trunk.
A dhoti which he wears has a beaded border. A fluted fan-like formation below belly is a part of dhoti which is generally kept hanging in front between the legs. Underneath that there is a figure of a small elongated mouse carved in stylised form. It seems as if Lord Gaṇeśa is riding on his vehicle.
3 Ibid., p. 41.
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