Lord Ganesha is one of the most popular and revered deities in Hinduism. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and the god of wisdom, success, and auspiciousness. He is also known as the remover of obstacles and the patron of arts and sciences. He has a human body and an elephant head, and he is often depicted with various attributes that symbolize his qualities and powers. In this article, we will explore the meaning behind some of the most common symbols of Lord Ganesha.
- Elephant Head: Lord Ganesha’s elephant head represents his superior intelligence, wisdom, and insight. It also symbolizes his ability to overcome any obstacle with grace and dignity. According to one legend, Lord Ganesha got his elephant head when his father, Lord Shiva, beheaded him out of anger and then replaced his head with that of the first living creature he encountered, which was an elephant
- Trunk: Lord Ganesha’s trunk is a symbol of his versatility, adaptability, and efficiency. It can perform various functions, such as lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, smelling, drinking, and blessing. It also represents his discrimination between the real and the unreal, as well as his power of destroying evil.
- Tusks: Lord Ganesha’s tusks are a symbol of his strength, courage, and balance. One of his tusks is broken, which signifies that he sacrificed it to write the Mahabharata, an epic poem that contains the essence of Hindu philosophy. The broken tusk also represents his acceptance of imperfection and duality in life.
- Ears: Lord Ganesha’s ears are a symbol of his keen sense of hearing and listening. They indicate that he listens to the prayers and requests of his devotees with compassion and attentiveness. They also represent his ability to discern between the truth and the falsehood, as well as his willingness to learn from others.
- Eyes: Lord Ganesha’s eyes are a symbol of his vision and foresight. They reflect his omniscience and omnipresence, as well as his awareness of the past, present, and future. They also represent his compassion and love for all beings.
- Big Belly: Lord Ganesha’s big belly is a symbol of his generosity and contentment. It signifies that he can digest anything, whether it is good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant. It also represents his ability to accommodate everything in the universe without any discrimination or judgment.
- Four Arms: Lord Ganesha’s four arms are a symbol of his power and authority. They indicate that he can perform multiple tasks at the same time with ease and efficiency. They also represent his four aspects: mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), ego (ahamkara), and consciousness (chitta).
- Hands: Lord Ganesha’s hands are a symbol of his actions and blessings. He usually holds four objects in his hands: an axe (parashu), a rope (pasha), a lotus (padma), and a sweet dumpling (modaka). The axe represents his ability to cut off attachments and ignorance; the rope represents his ability to bind and liberate; the lotus represents his purity and enlightenment; and the sweet dumpling represents his reward for spiritual seekers.
- Mouse: Lord Ganesha’s mouse or rat (mushika) is a symbol of his humility and service. It also represents his control over the mind, ego, and desires that can cause obstacles in life. The mouse or rat is also a symbol of destruction and greed, which Lord Ganesha subdues with his wisdom and compassion.
- Snake: Lord Ganesha’s snake (vasuki) is a symbol of his power to remove obstacles. The snake is a powerful symbol that can represent both cunning and intelligence. It can also symbolize fertility, sexuality, and danger. The snake around Ganesha’s stomach shows his ability to overcome danger and achieve success2. According to one legend, Lord Ganesha once ate so much food that his belly burst open. He quickly grabbed a snake nearby and tied it around his stomach to prevent further damage. This also shows his resourcefulness and humor.
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