Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra85861922roya).pdf/271

 "Indian images of Ganesa are found seated in three different postures: (a) cross-legged, (b) one of the knees upraised and the other lying on the throne; (c) the right foot overhanging from the throne and resting on the ground and the left leg lying on the throne (sukhasana). In Archaeologisch Onderzoek of Java en Madura, Vol. II, Plates 40-42 are reproduced photographs of an image of Ganesa from Singasari in Java (now in the Ethnographical Museum of Leiden) which is seated with the right knee upraised and the left leg lying on the seat (surrounded by skulls). But in the Indian Museum there are two (Ja. 5 and 19) images of Ganesa from Java that are seated with the soles of the two feet joined. Photograph of Ja. 19 is enclosed herewith. This posture is un-Indian and appears to indicate a period of time when the Javanese image-makers had outlived the trammels of Indian tradition. In the photograph of the Borneo image the feet are not clear and probably mutilated. But there cannot be any doubt about the posture being the same as that of the two Javanese images of Ganesha in the Indian Museum. that is to say, seated with the soles of the two feet joined. The trunk (sunda) hangs down in a manner which suggests that, as in the Indian examples. it presumably rested on a bowl of sweets. The head-dress appears to be an elaborate conventional form of the jatā, the "matted locks" which Siva wears despite the incongruity in the case of Ganesha. If it is a Jatā, the image must represent Ganesha in an ascetic aspect, seated in meditation. This would explain the contemplative expression. But ascetic and contemplative Ganeshas are not known in India.

"The Javanese images are assignable to the thirteenth century A. D., the age of the Brahmanic temples of Brambanan and Singasari. The Borneo image, which in its posture seems to disclose Javanese influence, is probably to be assigned to about the same epoch but may be somewhat earlier. The earliest Brahmanic inscriptions found in Borneo (published by Vogel in a Dutch Journal of 1917 or 1918) are assigned to the fifth century A. D. This image of Ganesha shows that Brahmanic culture flourished in Borneo for a long period. For further particulars about the types of Ganesha images reference may be made to H. Krishna Sastri's South-Indian Images, pp. 165-176, and T. A. Gopinath Rao's Elements of Hindu Iconography, Vol. I, Part I, pp. 35-67."

The discovery of this image created great interest in Sarawak. Thousands flocked to the Sarawak Museum to see it. The Museum attendants had the time of their lives seeing that the god disposed of all the offerings made to it.

The accompanying illustration is from an enlarged photograph by Mrs. F. F. Boult, who tells me that she gave another one to the Sikhs in Kuching, at their request, for their Temple.