Ganesh, the Lord of Beginnings

Lord Ganesh is one of the 5 major deities of Hinduism, along with Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durga. All Hindu sects worship him and this even goes far to Buddhism and outside India. According to history, he was first recognized in the 4th century then rapidly became famous, which earned him the privilege to become one of the prime deities in the 9th century. At the same time, his devotees, called the Ganapatya, rose in number.

The Many Names

Ganesh is known in many names. While Ganesha is preferred by the north, in southern India he is better known as Ganapati. Both names mean the same though, that is “Lord of Hosts”. Another name for him is Vinayaka, meaning “without master”. This is not a representation of not wanting to have a master, but of his excellence, being a master of his own. He is also known as Vighnaharta, meaning the remover of obstacles. However, his task is not restricted to that. He removes and creates obstacles, both for purposes that will lighten ones loads as well as check someone’s faith. It is a common belief in Hinduism that this is his main role, the reason why he came into being. Through the years, his roles have evolved the way devotees worships him. He is revered as the god of wealth, wisdom, and knowledge. He is also the destroyer of vanity and pride. He is made as the magnificent symbolism of the universe, which signifies his importance in the Hindu faith. A portion of the Purana is attributed for his veneration, called the Ganesha Purana.

The Picture and Adoration

Ganesh statues are present in temples. They show a picture of a pot-bellied man, usually with a yellow hue, whose head is that of an elephant, and having four arms. The human body represents his connection with the earth, while his elephant head signifies wisdom. His trunk represents OM or AUM, which is a symbol of cosmic reality. This is often used in the beginning of mantras as an invocation to reach for the Divine. A Ganesh mantra is always uttered in the start of ceremonies to honor him. There are different mantras, each having a specific purpose. Some are for love and devotion, others for healing, and some for wisdom. In his upper right hand is a goad, which he uses to bring men to eternal path. He also uses the noose on his left hand to remove all obstacles along the way. On his lower right hand is a broken tusk that symbolizes sacrifice, on the left is a rosary, which means a never-ending pursuit to knowledge. The large ears tell his followers that he is ready to listen to all their petitions and prayers. He also shows humility by choosing a lowly animal, a mouse, which he has ridden.

The Story of Ganesh

There are many stories surrounding the birth of Ganesh. He is the son of Parvati and Shiva. According to one story, Parvati asked the boy to stand guard while she took a bath. When Shiva came to enter the bathroom, the boy denied him entrance and this drove Shiva to cut off his head. Parvati was so grief-stricken that Shiva decided to replace the boy’s head with the first living creature that he finds, which happened to be an elephant.

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