Earliest reference to Ganesha is in the Rig Veda 2.23.1
ग॒णानां॑ त्वा ग॒णप॑तिं हवामहे क॒विं क॑वी॒नामु॑प॒मश्र॑वस्तमम्। ज्ये॒ष्ठ॒राजं॒ ब्रह्म॑णां ब्रह्मणस्पत॒ आ नः॑ शृ॒ण्वन्नू॒तिभिः॑ सीद॒ साद॑नम्॥
World's tallest (bronze) Ganesha Vigraha is in Khlong Khuean, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand at 39 m, installed by Thai Princess Soamsawali Phravararajatinuddamat. Popular with Thai Buddhists, worshipped as "Phra Phikanet" (Shri Vignesha). Ganesha is on the logo of Thailand's department of fine arts.
One of the earliest Kushan Ganesha vigrahas in Mathura, holding & eating laddoo/modaka.
Another early Ganesha from Mathura.
Afghanistan's 7th century Ganesha in Gardez. Inscription: This "great and beautiful image of Mahavinayaka" was consecrated by the Shahi King Khingala (the 1st Shahi king). Now at Dargah Pir Rattan Nath, Kabul.
Pedestal says: My lord, the ever beautiful, the magnificent and the handsome little boy of his loving parents.
4th century Ganesha
Chaturbhuja marble Shahi Ganesha, 600-800 ACE.
9th century, Punjab Hills
The ancient Ganpatyar temple in Kashmir, India mentioned in Kalhana's Rajataringini. During a raid by Ahmed Shah Abdali Durrani, saved by priests by hiding the Murti in the Vitasta river. Retrieved & consecrated later. Attacked multiple times and continues to be defended, most recently by the CRPF against a stone throwing mob.
Ganesh, 8th century, found at Verinag, Kashmir, India near the source of the Vitasta (Jhelum) river.
Ancient 1100 year old hidden granite Ganesha in Lalitasana at 13000 ft in Dholkal hill, Dantewada, Chattisgarh, India. Discovered in 2012. When tourism increased, was toppled & destroyed into 62 pieces by Maoist Communists in Jan 2017. Restored by ASI.
Sandstone Ganesha, Singhasari era, Java 12th c. CE
Ganesha installed as the presiding deity of Unryuin Temple ( Kyoto, Japan) in 1372.CE by Japanese Emperor Gokogon. Ganesha worshipped by Buddhists in Japan for thousands of years and he was the family deity of Emperors of Northern court. He is also known in Japan by the name 'Kangiten' or 'Vinayakaten'.
Dual-bodied Kangiten:
Benzaiten, Kangiten, Tamonten in a Buddhist temple in Japan; left to right - corresponding to Saraswati, Ganesha, Kubera
Gupta Ganesha:
5th century Gupta Ganesha from central India, auctioned off in England:
Ganesha protecting at the edge of Mount Bromo Volcano Crater, Indonesia
Ganesha in Sanggar Agung Temple, Surabaya, Indonesia:
Prambanam temple, Indonesia
Ganesha on Indonesian Rupiah:
3rd century Ganesha sold at Christie's:
Tibet Ganesha. Maha Rakta avatara of Avalokiteshvara
Ganesha in Ta Prohm, Angkor, Cambodia
Sandstone Ganesha from Prasat Bak, Koh Ker, Cambodia smuggled to USA & being returned.
Thilatharpanapuri Adi NaraMukha Vinayakar temple (rare Ganesha with a human head), Tamizh Nadu, India:
Thiruvalanchuzhi Sri Swetha Vinayakar (Vellai Nurai Pillaiyaar) of foam:
14th century ivory Ganesha, central India:
15th century ivory Ganesha with broken tusk in hand, Odisha, now in Met Museum, NY:
Ivory comb Ganesha by Gajapati Maharaja Purusottama Deba, Odisha, now in Museum of Fine Arts, Houston:
1836 Ganesha in MahishasuraMardhini, Berhampur, Bengal, India, auctioned off by Christie's:
AshtaVinayaka temples in Maharashtra, India
Ivory Coast Ganesha coin issued in 2013:
Kukri knife with ivory Ganesha, 18th century, Nepal:
Ritual Nepal necklace with Ganesha.
Research: TrueIndology, FirstInHistory, HinduAfghan, Manasatarangini, Aswapati & others
Further reading:
