Ganesha Worship: Symbolism, Significance, Benefits

Significance of Ganesha worship: With obeisance to Lord Ganesha, wishing you more success and joy in 2025 as the year progresses! We begin every New Year with renewed hope and confidence for a better tomorrow. In Hinduism, new beginnings are synonymous with Ganesha worship; so are auspicious occasions.

Subscribe To Svara's Newsletter on Books, Travel & Culture

Why Do People Worship Ganesha or Ganapati?

No undertaking can begin without first invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesha. In the most famous and earliest Rig Vedic mantras, Ganesha is invoked thus:

"Ganaanam Tva Ganapatim Havamahe (2.23.1)"

As a Rig Vedic deity, Ganesha is also called as 'Brihaspati' and 'Vacaspati' - one who manifests himself through a mass of Light. His battle-axe is described as his most important weapon and he is always in the company of 'ganas' which represents a group of his following.

What is the Power of Ganesha?

Ganesha is revered as 'Prathama Vandana Gauri Nandana', one who is the son of Shiva and Parvati, and is to be worshipped first for successful outcomes and removal of all obstacles; one who vanquishes the enemies of gods, protects the pious and devoted ones and shows the right way of life to true seekers.

Without first offering worship to Lord Ganesha, no religious ceremony or ritual can succeed. This clearly indicates the prevalence and importance the Vedas place on Ganesha worship.

Symbology of Ganesha's Form

In every Hindu home, the image of Lord Ganesha is worshipped. However, not everyone understands the unusual and unique form they worship. When you gaze at the beautiful form of Ganesha, his large ears pinpoint to the importance of listening more and speaking less. If you look closely, you will also realise that 'elephants' are known for their memory, which is why most families ask the children to pray to Lord Ganesha to progress in their studies.

In Kerala, the famous Vidyarambham ceremony, where a child is introduced to the world of 'vidya' or the stepping stone to beginning education, takes place with invoking 'Hari Sree Ganapataye Namah' as the main mantra.

[READ: What To Write During Vidyarambham and What is Ezhuthinuruthu?

Symbols are known to convey attributes of a deity. In today's design-centric world, there are emerging studies on symbolism, colours and related attributes. We forget that way before technology has shown us the potential of design and technology, the earliest Rig Vedic mantras encapsulate the splendour of name, form and symbolism by extolling the attributes of each deity with precision.

Take the example of Ganesha's 'vahana' or vehicle - the mighty god has a humble vahana - a mouse!

At a time when we love to show off if anyone in the family owns a BMW or an Audi, our beloved Lord Ganesha chooses a humble mouse!

The message is more relevant today than ever:

Divine grace comes with purity and where there is no egoism. Our ego, when it enters our thoughts, words and actions, is like a mouse; hiding in darkness.

Our ego, the sense of "I" and "Mine" are the primary hurdles that we need to overcome and destroy before we can shine our good qualities and a pure heart.

Next time you gaze at the beautiful image of Lord Ganesha, pay more attention to the mouse. That's our ego; our primary obstacle in life's journey; and this is what we need to remind ourselves throughout the year ahead as we progress.

Once again, here's wishing you and loved ones, bright and beautiful beginnings in the year 2025. Subscribe To Svara's Newsletter on Books, Travel & Culture.

Comments

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences. [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste. You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being bor...

Gayatri Mantra as Panchamukhi: Get it right or let it go

Most people do not understand the importance of chanting the Gayatri mantra because they are not aware of its power. It is only when I began to read Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings that I learned how sacred and powerful the chanting of the Gayatri mantra is. The Vedas represent the breath of God. The Gayatri mantra is the very basis of the Vedas. Try not to undertake chanting the Gayatri mantra as a light endeavor or as a hobby. It has to be chanted with faith, discipline and purity of mind and body. Be steady with your sadhana if you want to reap the spiritual dividend associated with the Gayatri mantra and never once hesitate once you decide to do it. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba said that the Gayatri Mantra is referred to as Pancha Mukhi, the Goddess with five faces that represent the five pranas or life forces. Here's more on it. . Also read: The Power of OM Chant the Gayatri Mantra correctly: Pause Five Times Here a...

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes while lighting the lamp. Frequently Asked Questions About Lighting Deepam at Home Collating most queries related to how to light the deepam at home, I'v...

How to never ever give up on the spiritual path

The Upanishads have compared a spiritual aspirant's journey to a razor's edge. From the age of 9, I have been walking on that razor's edge. No matter how hard I try, how sincerely I aspire, the fall is always a gut-wrenching one, filled with mind-numbing pain. [READ: What is Dark Night of the Soul?] Then I chant the name of Lord Sai in my heart and I start my baby steps all over again, stumbling, sometimes falling but always knowing that my God is there , protectively watching over me. Being human, sometimes I forget that my nature is essentially divine. And on such days, I turn to Him in despair, wanting to understand the cause of these inner struggles and consequent pain. I forget that my real Self is untouched by suffering. Subscribe To Svara's Newsletter on Books, Travel & Culture . One such day, this was His message through the book 'Life is a dream; Realize it' by Joy Thomas: "Many quail before the impossible dema...

Malayalam Movie Review: Rani Padmini asks serious questions but fails to deliver a meaningful impact

I like movies that show strong women. I had great expectations from Aashiq Abu's latest Malayalam movie - Rani Padmini. The two heroines Manju Warrier and Rima Kallingal demonstrate commendable chemistry despite a poorly paced script and badly written screenplay. W hile Jinu Joseph is impressive as the racer, there is no chemistry with Manju Warrier. The vibes are sangfroid between the two actors. The first half of the movie puts you on edge. You keep waiting for a spectacular story but the second half is where the story "begins." The pace of the film is inconsistent. The 'Ant" story and also the 'paragliding' scenes were stretched to too slow. Then suddenly, the narrative becomes too pacy. Malayalam Movie Review: Rani Padmini Story The story goes like this: Padmini (starring Manju Warrier) is a Malayali girl married to a Delhi based racing car driver, whose name is Giri (starring Jinu Joseph). The couple lo...

Petals!

Search This Blog