God is not just a particle in our life. It is a product of belief and reason for a belief at the same time. We humans are very particular about our beliefs in the Supreme and look up to them for remedies. The question here is not of being a theist or atheist.
The attributes of anyone who is idealized and idolized must be of a higher order. We see that in Hinduism we have a number of deities who represent an immense amount of values, powers, skills and capabilities that we also crave for. Some of us work to earn these some just wait for the divine intervention which actually never happens. We worship Saraswati as the Goddess of Knowledge and Learning and we see Ram as the supreme source of Values and Dharma. We have Shiva as the Absolute Artist and we move to Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity.
We have made an organised system. It cannot be debated for the presence of God or No God. But we can certainly see that our civilisation has inhabited some of the ‘desirable and must-have’ virtues in the deities we worship. We may go only religious and ignore that they carry a certain amount of humane virtues and competencies that are of utmost significance for all of us. These attributes, if earned by a human, lead to success in life and career, for sure.
Who is the one invoked as the FIRST GOD in our tradition? Who is the one who leads all the Ganas (group, troops and tribes)? Who is Ganesha?
Lord Ganesha is (Source: Art of Living)
- Achintya – beyond thought
- Avyakta – beyond expression
- Ananta – eternal
Ganesh is the Indian deity who is worshipped as the first one in celebrations and festivals. There are mythological stories about his rise to that designation of being the first one to be worshipped. We can recall them or get to know them anytime. But, there is one aspect of ‘Knowing Ganesha’ that we sometimes miss. There are scholars who have been suggesting that the images of Gods are creations of the mind of humans. They seem to have designed their divinities out of some defined imagination. The faces, powers, weapons and other artefacts, the vehicles and even the place they reside or sit on. These creation guide us to learn much more than the rituals we follow, sometimes even blindly.
Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, symbolizes the supreme. His appearance and the subsequent decoding of his physical attributes lead us to one of the most interesting analogies we can cite in life, classrooms, community lectures and even in motivational talks. In the domain of Management, Ganesha is featured as the Perfect Manager. The Ganesha Symbolism is quite popular and attracts readers and listeners.
We can see that image and the connotations attached to that feature:
- Ganesha has a large belly which can store a large amount of ‘food’.
- His eyes are ‘sharp’ and do not miss the details. It guides us to see beyond what we see!
- His single tusk points out One-Pointedness.
- The mouse has things to tell us. One is that it can cut the ropes of all diversions and bondages. It lets us walk to our goal without getting disturbed by the ‘criticisms’. Another symbolling learning is that the mouse is the most ‘naughty’ creatures who keep on jumping from one spot to another and spreads disturbance. Keeping it under check is like keeping your MIND under control. Mastering the Mind is the attribute of a great being.
The Rishis who have defined and designed our civilisation were filled with intelligence and could see the future of mankind. They have implanted Divinity in symbols rather than words or books. We are allowed to decode their messages and see what the meanings of the symbols are:
- His small mouth suggests that we should talk less. Better to speak when we can improve the silence.
- His ears are unusually big and help him to ‘Listen More’. Listening remains the best of skills.
- His axe is a weapon against the bondages that keep us backwards.
- He holds a lotus which represents the awakening of the intellect as the supreme flower.
- His trunk represents his adaptability and suggests that the nature of the task, big or small, matters less. It must be done.
- The Prasada is a Ladoo, the collection of many small pieces, suggesting the power to keep things together. The sweets (Temptations) lie at his feet, showcasing the self-check.
The Ganesha Analogy is special in the sense that it is easy to relate to him. We have a lot many things to get motivated. He does not fight with others and he does have a unique presence in the religious line. Being the Master of the Gana (Humans) he is the one whom we are worship to ask for well-being.
While the whole mankind searches for ‘motivation’ and ‘inspiration’, Ganesha presents a wide spectrum of ideas to adapt. This post is in the motivational category because we can derive a lot of pure inspiration for a lifetime from Him.
Lord Ganesh and his symbols bestow life lessons to help steady the mind and evolve with spiritual, positive progression. (Ref: Blog)
Wish You all A Happy and Blessed Ganesh Chaturthi!
