Symbolism of Ganesha

Ganesha is the formless Divinity - encapsulated in a magnificent form, for the benefit of the devotee.

Gan means group. The universe is a group of atoms and different energies. This universe would be in chaos if there was no supreme law governing these diverse groups of entities.

The Lord of all these groups of atoms and energies is Ganesha. He is the supreme consciousness that pervades all and brings order in this universe.

The essence of Ganesha is brought out beautifully by Adi Shankara.

Though Ganesha is worshiped as the elephant-headed God, the form (swaroop) is just to bring out the formless (parabrahma roopa). He is, ‘Ajam Nirvikalpam Niraakaaramekam.' This means Ganesha is Ajam (unborn), he is Nirvikalpa (attributeless), he is Niraakaar (formless) and he symbolizes the consciousness which is omnipresent.

Ganesha is the same energy which is the reason for this universe. It is the energy from which everything manifests and into which everything will dissolve.

We are all familiar with the story of how Ganesha became the elephant-headed God.

Parvati became dirty when she was celebrating with Shiva. When she realized this, she removed the dirt from her body and created a boy out of it. She then asked him to keep guard while she bathed.

When Shiva returned, the boy did not recognize him and obstructed his passage. So Shiva chopped off the boy’s head and entered.

Parvati was shocked when she saw this. She explained to Shiva that the boy was their son and pleaded with Shiva to save him at all costs.

Shiva then instructed his helpers to go and get the head of someone who was sleeping with their head pointing to the north. The helpers then got the head of an elephant, which Shiva affixed to the boy’s torso and Ganesha was born!

Does this story sound strange?

Why should Parvati have dirt on her body?

Didn’t the all-knowing Shiva recognize His own son?

Was Shiva, the epitome of peace, so short-tempered that he cut off the head of his own son? And why an elephant head on Ganesha?

There is a deeper meaning to all this.

Parvati is symbolic of festive energy. Her becoming dirty signifies that celebration can easily become Rajasik, or feverish and can take you away from your center.

Dirt is symbolic of ignorance, and Shiva is symbolic of the Supreme Innocence, Peace and Knowledge.

So when Ganesha obstructs the path of Shiva, this means that ignorance, which is an attribute of the head, does not recognize knowledge. Then knowledge has to overcome ignorance. This is the symbolism behind Shiva chopping off the boy’s head.

And why the elephant head?

Elephant represents both gyan shakti and karma shakti.

The principle qualities of the elephant are wisdom and effortlessness. The enormous head of the elephant signifies Wisdom and Knowledge.

Elephants don't walk around obstacles, neither are they stopped by them. They just remove them and walk ahead – signifying effortlessness.

So, when we worship Lord Ganesha these elephant qualities within us are kindled and we take on these qualities.

Ganesha's big belly represents generosity and total acceptance. Ganesha's upraised hand, depicting protection, means, 'Fear not, I am with you', and his lowered hand, palm facing outwards means endless giving as well as an invitation to bow down, this is symbolic of the fact that we will all dissolve into earth one day.

Ganesha also has a single tusk which signifies one-pointedness. Even the implements Ganesha wields are symbolic. He carries in his hands, the ‘Ankusa’ (signifying awakening) and the ‘Paasa’ (signifying control). With awakening, a lot of energy is released, which without proper control, can go haywire.

And why does Ganesha, the elephant-headed God travel on something as small as a mouse? Isn’t that so incongruous? Again there is symbolism that runs deep.

The mouse snips and nibbles away at ropes that bind. The mouse is like the mantra which can cut through sheaths and sheaths of ignorance, leading to the ultimate knowledge represented by Ganesha!

Our ancient Rishis were so deeply intelligent that they chose to express Divinity in terms of symbols rather than words, since words change over time, but symbols remain unchanged.

Let us keep the deep symbolism in mind as we experience the omnipresent in the form of the elephant God, yet be fully aware that Ganesha is very much within us. This is the wisdom we should carry as we celebrate Ganesh Chaturti.

Ganesha Rahasya (secret)

The ultimate truth in this existing world is that it is nothing but a collection of molecules. This is called as ‘Gana’ (collective form). Our own body is a ‘Gana’. It is made up of flesh, blood and bone marrow. Thus the Lord of all ‘Ganas’ is ‘GANESHA’.

Ganesha is ‘Achintya’, ‘Avyakta’ and ‘Ananta’. That is beyond thought, beyond expression and is eternal. Thus no other is as beautiful as Him and He is omnipresent.

Now the question arises that why this one-consciousness and one supreme power is depicted in the form of an elephant? The elephant is endowed with peculiar qualities, like its fearless and royal walk. It proudly destroys any obstacle on its path. An elephant is also a symbol of authority, endurance, strength and courage. We are thus, able to imbibe all these qualities into our consciousness.

The long trunk of the elephant symbolizes that true enlightenment is a good balance between ‘knowledge’ and its implementation (in action). Ganesha has only one tooth that stands for ‘one consciousness’.

We are often struck by the question that why does a big Ganesha sit on a small mouse? This is because the mouse is ‘Logic’ and the ‘Knowledge of self’ and over it sits the symbol of ‘supreme knowledge’ Ganesha.

The ‘Modak’ in Ganesha’s hand is the attainment of ‘Ultimate Bliss’. Also his one hand showers blessings on those who have faith and have surrendered to him. In one hand, Ganesha holds a ‘Pash’ or a string that is to tie down oneself in discipline. The other hand of Ganesha holds an ‘Ankush’ or a spear, showing self-control.

Always, the belly of Ganesha is enormous with a snake around it. This stands for acceptance with awareness. Also we surrender all our dreams of woe and distress to Ganesha in the form of ‘Durva’ grass.

We are aware of the story of Ganesha’s birth. Ganesha was born out of the collection of dirt from Parvati’s body. ‘Parvati’ is the high energy of a celebration or festival, and there always is some aspect of negativity in this high energy. This is symbolized by the dirt. When this body of dirt encountered the ‘Shiva element’, the ‘Advait Tatva’ its head, that is ego, fell apart and was then replaced by the head of an elephant. Ganesha was blessed by Lord Shiva himself that he would be worshipped at the out start of any auspicious occasion or puja.

Ganesha Om

Science has discovered that within a single human DNA strand there can also be found the DNA of every other species on the planet. Therefore, we also carry the quality of every animal in us, in fact this has been known since the ancient days.

The principal qualities of the elephant are wisdom and effortlessness. Elephants don’t walk around obstacles, neither do they stop at them – they just remove them and keep walking straight on. For instance, if there are trees in their path, they will just uproot those trees and proceed. So, when we worship Lord Ganesha, these elephant qualities within us, are kindled and we take on those qualities. The reason being that whatever you keep your attention on, you take on those qualities. So if you meditate on Ganesha, who has the head of an elephant, you will get the qualities of an elephant. You will overcome all obstacles.

The ancient rishis were so deeply intelligent that they chose to express Divinity in terms of symbols rather than words, since words change over time, but symbols remain unchanged. For instance, in any language, a skull and two cross bones indicate danger. Similarly, Ganesha signifies ‘Shubti’ (auspiciousness) and ‘Laabha’ (prosperity).

The elephant has special qualities. It has an enormous head, which signifies Knowledge and Wisdom, it has large ears that fan, small eyes which convey that it is wiser to follow that which you hear and understand rather than to follow appearances. So what you see must be co-related with what you hear. Also the elephant used its trunk for dual functions – it smells and acts through its trunk. Likewise in wisdom we smell and then act. With the merest hint of something (like smelling smoke, of course!), a wise person will take immediate action, that is the wise act as soon as they smell something. The elephant also possesses tusks that are visible for all to see while its teeth for grinding purposes are not as they are in its mouth.

So what is the significance of Ganesha? - Shiva and Parvati (this is where the word ‘Power’ comes from; (Parvati represents power) had been celebrating with great enthusiasm and Parvati had become dirty – signifying that celebration can easily become Rajasic or feverish and take you away from your centre, so she removed all the dirt (symbolic of ignorance) from her body and created a boy – doll from this. She gave the doll life and asked him to keep guard at the door while she bathed. When Shiva (representative of Supreme Innocence, Peace and Knowledge) returned to Kailasha the boy could not recognize him and so obstructed his passage preventing him from entering. This signifies that Ignorance (dirt) does not recognize wisdom or innocence, however, truth can be stopped by ignorance and so Shiva chopped off the boy’s head – the head of ignorance and entered. But when Parvati realized what had happened she explained to Shiva that the boy was their son and Shiva had to save him. So he instructed his helpers to go and find someone with his head pointing to the North, someone in tune with the natural flow of energy and to bring back his head. They searched far and wide and were only able to find an elephant in such a state. So they brought back the head of the elephant and this became Ganesha.

Now Ganesha is always depicted with a big stomach, his big belly represents generosity and total acceptance. The story goes that one day Ganesha drank so much milk that his belly burst, so he grabbed a Cobra and tied it around his stomach. This signifies that the acceptance of people and situations (big belly) without deep awareness is of no great value (akin to accepting people when we are sleeping! That is easy!) However, when there is awareness – the Cobra is symbolic of great alertness, and then there is ….or that is true acceptance and love. Ganesha’s upraised hand (in ‘Abhaya’ mudra, depicting protection) means ‘fear not – I am with you’ and his lowered hand, palm facing outwards (in ‘Varada’ mudra, symbolic of giving boons) means – unending giving as well as an invitation to bow down. (Bowing down signifies merging with the earth again, recognising the truth that we will return to the earth. In the womb our position is one where our heads are bowed, our body is in a circle. Even at birth we come into the world head down. It is our nature to bow down). Ganesha also has a single tusk which implies single-pointedness.

One also sees very often, the pasteurization of the moon laughing at Ganesha as he tries to do the ‘Saastanga Danda Pranaam’ to his parents. Here the moon signifies the mind – the mind laughs at wisdom.

Ganesha is mostly seen sitting on a lotus, now an elephant supporting on a lotus is kind of odd! This signifies that he is very sensitive; also Ganesha is always seen riding on a mouse. This is the most unexpected mode of travel, imaginable –an elephant on a mouse! However, the significance runs deeper, the mouse snips nibbling away at ropes that bind. The mouse who gradually nibbles through things is like mantra which can cut through sheets and sheets of ignorance and carry even an elephant. There can be nothing but absolute darkness and all that is required is a single tiny ray of ray that can illuminate us – free us from our ignorance. Not much is required at all – just this tiny persistent awareness. Even the implements Ganesha wields are symbolic, He carries in His hands ‘the Ankusha’ (the goad/stick that is used to prod an elephant awake; this signifies ‘awakening’) and the ‘Paasa’ (the noose which signifies control) now with awakening a lot of energy is released which without proper guidance can go haywire.

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Meaning of Ganesha

Gurudev's talk on Ganesh Chaturthi

Wed Sep 19, 2007 1:24 am (PST)

Gurudev's talk on Ganesh Chaturti
(Translated from HIS original Hindi talk)

From the viewpoint of Sadhana(spiritual practices), Lord Ganesha is the
ruler of Mooladhara Chakra (Primordial base centre). Adi
Shankaracharya' s description of Lord Ganesha is unique and amazing. The
form of Lord Ganesha that Adi Shankaracharya has projected to us is that
of Parabramha–Supreme Brahman. "Ajam Nirvikalpam Nirakaram Ekam" -
Lord Ganesh is verily the "Parabrahma – Supreme Brahman – Beyond
Birth (Ajam), Beyond Imagination (Nirvikalpam) and Beyond Form
(Nirakaram) and Ekam (Absolute) – the power of consciousness is
Absolute. This power is absolute which is Omnipresent (Sarvavyapi) when
extended and sought to experience towards Mooladhara is Lord Ganesha.
From this perspective, irrespective of the externally depicted form of
Ganesha., like Elephant faced, there is a big secret behind this
depiction – as the Ruler of Knowledge and Education. And Knowledge
and Education for a person can happen only when there is Awareness. When
there is Inertia or lack of awareness - Knowledge, education or progress
in life is not possible. Therefore if you want to awaken this power of
consciousness, then the ruler of this power, Lord Ganesha is to be
invoked. And instead of treating Lord Ganesh as an external power or
outside element, we consider HIM as a centre (Chakra) of our own power.
We pray and meditate on Lord Ganesha by installing Lord Ganesha within
ourselves, at the first or primary chakra (Mooladhara) .

"Dhyanam Nirvishayam" meaning, in meditation there is nothing in our
thoughts – nothing external or useless thoughts anyway but focusing
on no particular deliberate thought. Then we experience a formless yet a
manifest form of Ganesha in our thoughts during the prayer composed
sweetly yet precisely by Adi Shankaracharya,

"Ajam Nirvikalpam Nirakaram Ekam;
Niranandam Anandam Advaita Purnam;
Param Nirgunam Nirvishesham Nireeham;
Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema"

Those who can't experience of the formless, over a period of sustained
experience of manifested form reaches the formless Brahman. In India,
there is this amazing and unique art of reaching formless Paramatma
called Lord Ganesh by repeated worship of the manifest form of Ganesha,
who is Gajavadhana. Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema – worship
that form of Ganesh that is Omnipresent.

"Jagatkaranam Karanam Jnaana Roopam;
Suradhim Sukhadim Gunesham Ganesham;
Jagatvyapinam Vishwavandyam Suresham;
Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema."

This Absolute power which is the very cause of the whole universe from
which everything originated, that which keeps things going, the same
power into which everything would be dissolved, this Causal Absolute
Power is Paramatma (Supreme Soul) Ganesha to whom we prostrate and
worship. Even the study of the cause of the whole universe itself is
supreme knowledge, which is Ganesha embodied – who is the knower and
knowledge Himself. Ganesha thus is Knower, Knowledge and the Goal
itself. We also begin worshipping Ganesha as a Goal which is not a
superior form of worship. Any worship based on external materialistic
object like Goal or aim, means there is not identification with self and
a separation is seen. Therefore Ganesha is the cause as well as the
knowledge of the reasons for that cause, the seer, and the Absolute
– that is the power of Ganesha. These things are not understood by
many of us but Rishis and Munis (Saints) who realized this, created
different kinds of myths and stories for making it easily comprehensible
and thus beneficial to everyone. When we make an Idol of Ganesha, we
infuse life in it (Prana Pratishta) – it means let my life be
infused in Ganesha. Let, the Ganesha manifested within my life force
(Prana) go and get installed in this Idol so that we can play with this
Idol and worship (puja). Puja is a game. If you carefully notice, Puja
is an artful expression of our inner feelings (Bhaav). Thus a devotee
always yearns to play with the God and never desires anything. If a
devotee desires something, then this desire becomes bigger than
devotion. Thus, a devotee desires God itself, to play with God for a
while. The luminescence called God which is formless, beyond imagination
and eternal power embedded within ourselves, is invoked, invited and
infused into Manifest in the form an idol for us devotees to play is
Ganesha Puja. During Prana Pratishta, we state that Ganesha's life power
is my life power and then we pray, "O God! Who is within me always,
please manifest and stay in this Idol for a while because I wish to play
with you. Whatever I have been given is a great favour from you, which I
wish to offer it back to you" So we offer Water, fruits, flowers which
is God's bestowment to us in any case. We are perpetually given sun,
moon which revolves around us which I offer it back in the form of
Camphor lit fire taken round the Idol (Arti). In this manner, a devotee
displays his inner feelings during the act of Puja. After the puja, a
devotee says O Lord! Now you may go back to my heart which is your
abode. This process is called Visarjan. The specific process of
restoring and re-creating the Lord to HIS abode is Visarjan. Kindly go
back to my heart from where you came out to manifest in this idol just
like how we take out the ornaments from the safe during festivals, wear
it and return it back to the safe after the celebrations. This
celebration where an invaluable, precious knowledge and divine power is
manifested for us to play games, enjoy and find fulfillment is Ganesha
Festival. In this manner, after the puja we go and immerse the idol into
water. It is pertinent now to realize that God is not just in the Idol.
He is omnipresent, present everywhere and this power which is given a
form and celebrated is Ganesh Chaturti. These forms of celebrations
helps us in increasing enthusiasm and devotion (gratefulness) in our
life. Sage Narada, who is a symbol of devotion in his Bhakti Sutras
says, "As per Parasharya, displaying interest and enthusiasm in Puja
(worship) is a sign of devotion" Thus, when we perform a worship, it
should not be with anyone or to any person, it is with love and
devotion. Mental Worship (worshipping in our minds) is a better form
than External symbolic worship. As Adi Shankaracharya says, during
mental worship, Non-dual absolute is deemed as Ganesha. And this
Absolute power called Ganapati is the very "Cause of Universe" Jagat
karanam karana jnana roopam, suradhim, sukhadim – The very origin of
happiness (Sukhadim) is in this Absolute power. When each atom of our
being is filled with this power, enthusiasm and happiness just overflows
and bubbles in us. It is not necessarily to show off outside. This
display of enthusiasm, smile or happiness is useless. The inner
blossoming is the Origin of Happiness – the love, enthusiasm and
playfulness emanates from this space. He is the lord of all Qualities
(guna). The absolute power of Self is also the lord of all gunas. We
think that we can obtain good gunas with practice. This is impossible.
We have to start from the premise that "All the good qualities pre-exist
in us. Bad qualities that we possess has been acquired from external
source" With sadhana (Spiritual practices) these bad qualities is
expelled and the good qualities which anyway is our true nature is
unveiled and starts glowing. In Daivartha Sampat Vidayog, Lord Sri
Krishna says, "Arjun, you already have divine qualities is already
within you from the very beginning. So start from this premise that all
good qualities are already in you. These lord of these qualities which
is hidden is Ganapati. So worship Lord Ganesha so that all these good
qualities blossom and prosper in us.

Jagatvyapinam Vishwavandyam Suresham;
Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema

Lord Ganesha, you are omnipresent, your reach extends the whole
universe, who is worshipped by everyone, who is accepted in all the
corners of the world, every country accepts the God as formless, as the
Ruler of qualities, one who is worshipped and greeted across the world,
we worship you the Parabrahma (The Supreme Brahman).

"Gunathithamanam Chidanandaroopam;
Chidabasakam Sarvgam Gyanagamyam;
Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam Paresham;
Parabrahmaroopam Ganesham Bhajema"

Gunathithamanam – One who is beyond intellectual description of
Quality (beyond attributes) Chidanandaroopam, what is the form of Lord
Ganesha? It is Satchitananda roopa (Supreme Blissful form), playfulness,
Blissful form.

Gunathithamanam Chidanandaroopam Chidabasakam Sarvgam Gyanagamyam - only
if we have this Absolute power can Ganapati be experienced. If we have
even an iota of awareness, then we can recognize this. This cannot be
recognized by those from Intellectual level. Chidabasakam Sarvgam
Gyanagamyam – Everywhere you are known and accepted as Knowledge
itself. It is for this reason that Ganapati is considered as Ruler of
Vidya (education) or knowledge. Perform worship of Ganapati before
proceeding to any other worship. Imbibe the essence (Tatva) of Ganesha
into oneself. We have to progress from Tamo guna (Attribute of being at
Gross level) towards Satva guna (Attribute of being at Subtle level).
This is the first phase/part of Worship.
Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam Paresham – what is your form? The form
that Saints and the learned meditate upon which is like formless,
unimaginable Space (Chidakash) is verily you, Lord Ganesha. You are not
an object, nor a person but infinite space. Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam
– You form is that which the Sages have learnt, which is omnipresent
and infinite Space. Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam This is your actual form.
Parabrahmaroopam Ganesham Bhajema, this form of Absolute and Supreme
Brahman, Lord Ganesh, here is me worshipping and praying to you
repeatedly. Therefore, install the Idol in front of you, worship with
infinite love, meditate and experience Lord Ganesha from within. This is
the symbolic essence of Ganesh Chaturti festival, to awaken the Ganesha
Tatva(essence) which is masked inside ourselves.

Jai Gurudev