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God Ganesh
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Ganesha, also known as Vinayaka (the prominent leader), is the elephant-headed Hindu god of wisdom, literature and worldly success. Ganesha is one of the most popularly worshiped forms of divinity - as a remover of obstacles and the embodiment of good luck, in the Vedic system of beliefs and practices. Ganesh is known (by various names in different parts of Nepal and India and on different occasions) as the Remover of Obstacles, the god of domestic harmony and of success. He is the most beloved and revered of all the Hindu gods, and is always invoked first in any Hindu ceremony or festival.

People mostly worship Him asking for siddhi, success in undertakings, and buddhi, intelligence. He is worshiped before any venture is started. He is also the God of education, knowledge & wisdom, literature, and the fine arts. In south India, Ganesha is worshiped as Pillaiyar.

In fact, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the Panchayatana Puja.

Ganesha “the elephant-deity riding a mouse” has become one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. This not only suggests the importance of Ganesha, but also shows how popular and pervasive this deity is in the minds of the masses.

Philosophical significance of Ganesha’s form:

There have been many interpretations of Ganesha body. Mugdala Purana explains that Ganesha’s human body represents “tvam”. His elephantine countenance representing “tat” and their joining together signifies the non difference of “tvam” (You) and “tat”(Brahman). Thus the body of Ganesha is the visible representation of the highest reality, Brahman, realised from “tat tvam ast”

Ganesha is represented as a short, pot-bellied man with an elephant’s head with one tusk, four arms and a yellow skin. His vehicle is a tiny mouse. In his hand he holds a conch shell, a discus, a club/axe and a lotus.

Ganesha, also called Ganapati, is a god of wisdom, prudence and salvation. Ga means “knowledge”, na means salvation”, isa and pati mean “lord”. Ganesha is also said to mean “lord of the ganas”, Shiva’s multitude of attendants. He is also called Vinayak (knowledgeable) or Vigneshwar (God to remove obstacles)

Significance of the Ganesha Form

Ganesha’s head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality. In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesha’s left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.

The broken tusk that Ganesha holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata. The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.

In mythology:

The elephant symbolises devotion, patience and truth. The Modaka or cake he holds in his trunk indicates that, beneath the outer layer of sordid self, lies the Atman which is sweet and which must be discovered by everyone. His corpulent figure conveys prosperity. The laddoo's are meant to reward devotees for spiritual activity. Ganesha rides on a mouse, signifying the unity of the small with the big. Ganesha’s mouse, by gnawing its way through everything, is said to symbolize the god’s ability to destroy all obstacles. Ganesha is also known as Ekdanta, or the one with one tooth, because one of his tusks is broken. In his upper hands he holds a hook and a noose. The noose is for pulling man along the right path, the hook is for goading forward the recalcitrant. In this manner Ganesha helps us in overcoming obstacles and ensures success. The fourth hand’s palm is always extended to bless people. Ganesha’s ears, which appear like large winnowing baskets, have a philosophical significance too. Just as one uses a winnowing basket to separate grains from dirt, one must use discrimination (viveka) to separate the real (Brahman) from the unreal (Maya). The snake that runs round his hip is indicative of Energy in all forms.

A unique combination of his elephant - like head and a quick moving tiny mouse vehicle represents tremendous wisdom, intelligence and presence of mind. Ganapati meaning leader of the ganas (public) represents the qualities that a leader should have.

A leader should listen to everybody, therefore the large ears.

He should have nose to scent out the smallest problem; which a large trunk does with sensitivity.

A large forehead is an indicator of a brilliant mind.

It is important for a leader not to let out all that he knows or all that he has been told; that is why Lord Ganapati has a large stomach.

Also, his corpulent body, awkward gait, broken tusk and guffaw tell us that outward beauty has no relation to inner perfection.

The devotees of Ganesha are known as ‘Ganapatyas’, and the festival to celebrate and glorify him is called Ganesh Chaturthi.

He is the Lord of Riddhis and Siddhis and is worshiped foremost on every auspicious occasion. His presence itself removes the obstacles and hurdles in one’s way.

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