This is the wisdom we should carry as we celebrate Ganesh Chaturti.

As per Hindu mythology, he is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

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.

This means Ganesha is Ajam (unborn), he is Nirvikalpa (attributeless), he is Niraakaar (formless) and he symbolizes the consciousness which is omnipresent.

It is the energy from which everything manifests and into which everything will dissolve.

When Shiva returned, the boy did not recognize him and obstructed his passage.

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 boys torso and Ganesha was born.

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.

This is the symbolism behind Shiva chopping off the boys head.

The principle qualities of the elephant are wisdom and effortlessness.

The enormous head of the elephant signifies wisdom and knowledge.

Elephants dont 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 qualities within us are kindled and we take on these qualities.

It 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 also symbolic of the fact that we will all dissolve into earth one day.

With awakening, a lot of energy is released, which without proper control, can go haywire.

The mouse is like the mantra which can cut through sheaths and sheaths of ignorance, leading to the ultimate knowledge represented by Ganesha.

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.

Lord Ganesh Images