Lord Ganesha, popularly known and easily recognized asthe Elephant-God, is one of the most important deitiesof the Hindu patheon.Before every undertaking, be it laying of the foundation of a house, or opening of astore or beginning any other work, Lord Ganesha isfirst worshipped so at to invoke his blessings.
Ganesha has many names. The main ones are Ganapati(lord of the ganas, or attendants), Vighneshwara(controller of all obstacles), Vinayaka (the prominentleader), Gajaanana (elephant-faced), Lambodara(pendant-bellied), and Ekdanta (having one tusk).
The complex form of the Ganesh idol is said to havebeen wrought by ancient sages to symbolise universaltruths as revealed to them by divine inspiration. Eachattribute of the icon conveys meanings on many different planes to which everyone can relate at anindividual level.
The rotund body of Ganesh represents the Cosmos.
The elephant head denotes the serenity of wisdom and thepower of gentle strength.
The broken tusk is the markof the intellectual who inscribed the epic Mahabharataand then shed his ego on completion of the successfultask.
On his forehead is the symbol " 3Õ " - 'OM',which is the Life Force that God breathed into hisCreation;
hence it is said that the chant of "OM" indaily prayer, is the consent of man to let God enter him.
Thus the chant of "OM Ganesh' became synonymous withthe start of every Hindu endeavour;
murmured by the housewife as she begins the day with rituals in her little altar at home,
the revered sound is echoed by the husband opening the shutters of his workplace;
it can be heard reverberating in the hallowed walls ofancient temples or resounding at the consecration of anew temple;
at the commencement of wedding nuptials ornaming of a new-born child;
when laying the foundationof a new building or founding a new political party,on starting on a journey or starting a new business.
Even rituals for the glory or invocation to other gods begin with the first invocation to Lord Ganesh..
In each of his four hands Ganesh holds an emblem of benediction.
The Lotus flower symbolises the gift of wealth, beauty and purity;
the Rosary denotes thespiritual and inspirational in prayer and meditation.
The Swastika, the true meaning of which isauspiciousness, attracts positive energies from alldirections and brings divine blessing upon humanendeavour.
The sweet laddu held in one handdemonstrates the joy of sharing the "sweets of life"with those around us.
The Sacred Thread worn across the left shoulderconsists of three strands symbolising the HolyTrinity,
the three dimensons of time - Past, Presentand Future, the three domains of Heaven, Earth and theUnderworld, and the three tellers A, U, M of the soundof "OM" the cosmic Life Force.
The snake encircling the waist represents cosmic energy called Kundalini which lies coiled at the base of the spine and whenawakened through yoga energises the dormant powerwithin all of us. The mouse is the chosen mount of Lord Ganesh to carry the divine light into the darkest corners of the world and the narrowest of human hearts.
Ganesh's seat is the lotus flower - the symbol ofpurity and detachment; blossoming to the sunshineabove even as its roots remain in the mire itrepresents the awakening of consciousness to receivethe divine light even as one is rooted in thematerialistic world.
Source: Internet
