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

Most LOVED Posts

Best time to light diya

Want to know when is the best time to light diya or deepam at home? In most Hindu homes, 'deepam' or 'diya' is lit at least twice - once in the morning and then in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. Clay diyas are auspicious for lighting at home. On Fridays, it is considered auspicious to use ghee in a silver lamp. When Should I Start Lighting Diyas? The symbolic shift begins from darkess to light. Therefore, in the evenings, light diya before sunset to usher in divine blessings into your home. Can we light diya with sunflower oil? No, do not use sunflower oil for lighting diya. Can I use cooking oil to light diya? No, you should not use cooking oil to light diya. Which oil to use for daily diya? Use sesame or gingelly oil for daily diya. What to burn in a diya? Use ghee or sesame oil or mustard oil. Can we put coconut oil in diya? Yes, you can put coconut oil in diya. Which deepam oil is best for poo...

How To Light Diya: Big Mistakes To Avoid

Wondering how to properly light a diya? What are some common mistakes to avoid while lighting diya at home? As a child, I used to watch my grandmother light the Nilavilakku or the traditional lamp at home. Back then, I didn't understand its deeper significance. [READ: Why Malayalis Light Nilavilakku ] Lighting a diya or a lamp embodies our inner journey from darkness to light. T he transition represents a deep metaphysical truth: the triumph of light over darkness. Are you lighting your diyas wrong? Use these tips! [Source: Pexels.com] How To Properly Light A Diya At Home 1. Never place your diya or lamp on the floor to light it in your pooja room. Keep a Thaali/Plate under it. You can keep a small brass plate under the lamp. Don't use that Thaali/Plate for any other purpose once you use it for this purpose. 2. Don't put your diya or lamp in any place where it is not clean earlier. Before you place the diya or lamp, make sure ...

Does something bad happen if the diya goes off?

Is it bad if a diya goes off? This is a frequently asked question among people who light the evening lamp or diya regularly in their puja room. Cultivating the attitude 'Everything is Divine Prasad', which embodies Prasada Bhakti , is a good way to minimise negative thoughts with regard to one's way of worship. When we light the lamp in our homes, imagine you are sending out divine love to the world. When you burn the incense stick, imagine you are burning away all negative karma within each family member and offering it before your Ishta Devata. [READ: How To Light Deepam at Home and Why Malayalis Light Nilavilaku ] [Image by Sachin Yadav @ Pixabay] What Happens When A Diya Goes Off? Many consider it as a 'bad omen'. For a devotee who worships Ishta Devata, everything represents Divine Gra...

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...

Which type of Diya is good for home?

Curious to know which type of diya is good for home? In most Hindu homes, the diya is lit twice a day - once in the morning and thereafter in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. However, clay diyas are also considered auspicious for lighting at home. Below, I've shared the traditional brass nilavilakku we use at home. For special occasions such as engagement or festivals and on Fridays in particular, silver is considered as a symbol of prosperity, peace and abundance. Lighting a silver lamp is believed to invite Goddess Mahalakshmi's presence into one's home. Other metals such as copper are not usually used for lamps though copper is considered to be ideal for purposes of healing. [ READ: Significance of Om ] Benefits of Lighting Deepam Every Day Light eradicates darkness. We cannot begin to imagine how lighting a deepam brings in more serenity and positivity, not just in our homes, but even in our minds, th...

Petals!

Search This Blog