The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha with the elephant head, the twisted trunk, the big ears, and the huge pot-bellied body of a human being, is the Lord of success and the destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also known and celebrated as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.
The myth
“Once, goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his squad (gana) to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader (pati) of his troops. Hence his name 'Ganapati'. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.”
By Subhamoy Das
Hinduism Expert
The Symbolisms
Ganesha's head symbolizes the soul (atman), which is the ultimate reality of human existence. His human body signifies the existence of human beings on earth (maya). The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the universal sound of cosmic reality. In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him move mankind forward on the eternal path, whilst removing obstacles on the way. The noose in Ganesha's left hand is a tool to overcome 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 great Hindu epic. The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) that he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of his own soul. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our questions and demands, and the snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. He is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.
Ganesha is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. He is the personification of material universe in all its numerous forms.
Ganesha lives in the root chakra (Muladhara), his colour is red, and his scent is sandalwood.
Use Ganesha’s help for:
Call upon the great cosmic energy of Ganesha, trust in his divine light to bathe you with the qualities that you need in your life at any given moment.
-to help you listen deeply
-to meet your obstacles with a fresh perspective
-to bring you luck at the beginning of new endeavours
-in asana practice to detox your organs and create suppleness in the spine, with the help of the lord of twisting poses
-in meditation practice, inhale, exhale and chant the mantra “Om gam ganapataye namahah”, at least eleven times. After reciting this mantra, stay calm and feel the changes in your mind and body.