Ganesha, Central India, 11th-12th Century, sandstone

Hindus are encouraged to practice puja, worship and devotion, to a god because it can lead to deeper understanding of the spiritual self. The sculpture of Ganesha has symbolic representations to a aid the viewer: large ears-listen more, big head-think big, small mouth-talk less, trunk-efficiency and adaptability, large stomach-peacefully digest all that is good and bad, one tusk-keep the good and throw away the bad.