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On Ganesh Chaturthi
Wishing you all A Blessed Ganesha’s Grace! M&A |
Notes are excerpted from my just released book, Prarthana: A Book of Hindu Psalms;
© Arun Shanbhag 2007
Ganesha Stotram – Hymn to Ganesha
The visage of Ganesha (or Ganapati) is easily recognizable as the elephant-headed God of Knowledge and Wisdom. A Ganesha murti can be found in the home of every Hindu. Tiny Ganesha figurines also grace the dashboard of new cars; and Ganesha icons in a variety of poses is a popular gift for family and friends. With the ever-growing popularity of Ganesha, devotees start their prayers with this hymn to Ganesha.
Many are familiar with the legend of Ganesha’s coming to life. Once when Shiva was away and Parvati wanted to bathe, she created a male child from the skin of her body and gave it life. She instructed the child to let no one come her way. While she bathed and the child stood guard, Shiva arrived, but was stopped by the child whom Shiva does not recognize. A fight ensued and Shiva beheads the boy and discards the head. When Parvati finds out what happened to her child, her sorrow remains inconsolable. To make amends, Shiva instructs his band of followers to bring the first head they come across. When they return with the head of an elephant, Shiva places it on the child’s body and gives it new life. Thus Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, came to be.Children are intriqued by the appearance of Ganesha and want to know: “Why does he have a trunk? Why does he have large ears?” and so on. While this hymn does not answer these questions, enlightened people over the ages have guided us to perceive the unique aspects of Ganesha’s form in a manner that is relevant to our own lives.
The elephantine ears guide us to give people our full attention, particularly to our family and friends. The overly large head further guides us to reflect on what people say and to carefully judge the merits of their words. The narrow eyes caution us to focus on our surroundings and be ever watchful.
The small mouth hidden behind the trunk prompts us to speak sparingly, but with clarity and truth; and the enormous stomach symbolizes our need to digest all good and bad experiences life brings our way.
A rear hand holds a noose directing us to control our senses and desires; the other rear hand wields an axe, useful in severing our desires and attachments, which trap us in this materialistic world.
The front right hand is always raised in blessing, in a posture called the abhaya hasta – removing fears of the unknown. Seeing such a posed hand soothes our heart, drives away worries, and reassures us that we are ever in God’s care. And despite all the challenges that come our way, he stands by us and loves us dearly, always!
And finally, with his left hand presenting modaka (rice muffins), Ganesha promises us sweet fruits of our labors and ultimate peace in our spiritual quest.
Excerpted from my book released today (September 15, 2007), Prarthana: A Book of Hindu Psalms;
© Arun Shanbhag 2007
See Other Ganapati Greetings
- Ganesh Chaturthi 2008
- Ganapati Bappa 2005
- Saraswati Lakshmi & Ganapati
- Dadar Flower Market during Ganapati
Note:
This is my entry for the Ganesh Chaturthi Special. Thanks to Latha and Lakshmi from the Yum Blog for organizing this!
Marathoner, Professor, Author, Citizen Journalist, Fitness Nut, Foodie, Meera's father, Hindu, Scientist, Photographer.
Lakshmi:
hee hee!
btw, All posts on Konkani Kesari are from here only. So this post is here on my site as well. check
http://arunshanbhag.com/2005/08/01/kamats-yatri-nivas/
A very delicious dinner and all for about 100 rupees! Yumm! I could eat there everyday!
we have been trying to convince them to open a branch here
)
your relative owns kamat’s yatri nivas!!!! :O. i read it at konkani kesari. such soft jolada rottis!!!
Thank you Sirisha:
I think nothing compares to the Ganapati celebrations at home; but we make do.
and glad you like the notes.
Hi Arun…..belated Ganesha Chaturdhi
Nice write-up…..Very informative….The portrait is excellent too
Ha hA!! Vee:
)
Many years ago, we certainly helped with serving the bajias, or prasad at wadala! Ganapati celebrations were the best!
It was a carefree and beautiful time!
hope you and family had a wonderful chavathi!
We visited wadal for Ganapati two years ago. Perhaps again next year. We try to attend the Ganapati at our home in Colaba atleast every other year! Its like a reunion for our far flung family.
*makes me homesick*
Hi Arun,
Chavathi greetings to you and your family. It is such a small world, isn’t it? Tell me, were you one of the young ‘uns who volunteered at wadala or krida mandir?
Congratulations on the release of your book!
Hi Rachna:
Glad you enjoyed the piece on Ganesha.
The question you ask: why were we sent to this material world in the first place? is something that philosophers have grappled with, likely ever since the dawn of humankind.
My simpler approach has been: Find your own purpose and devote yourself completely to fullfilling it. Each of us may have our own “calling.” You need to identify it for your self, in your own life and in its own environment. Many mothers feel, theirs is to raise god-fearing children, and inculcate in them kind heartedness and other noble traits. My father always felt, his purpose was to provide for his family and lead a simple and Gandhian life – which he still does to this day. He never utters ill of others and sets a great example for our extended family.
And remember, we don’t have to completely cut ourselves off from attachment and desires – we only need to “control” them.
I am guided by the four guideposts of: DHARMA, ARTHA, KAMA and MOKSHA. As we move forward living the life of DHARMA, we “need” to enjoy material wealth and the desires of the body represented by Artha and kama within the constraints of our dharma; And such a Dharmic life verily leads us towards MOKSHA. It may not happen in this life time.
But we have been blessed with a human birth, we can enjoy and partake of the magnificent grace of this creation; and as we find and work towards our purpose, we can and will truly elevate our souls to be nearer to the divine.
And as you enjoy the nature around you, with stunning animals and birds and all manners of life and nature – remember:
You are that!
*Namaskar*
Hi Arun… firstly lovely pic of ganesh…so beautiful…
and then congrats for publishing yur book… it looks like a beautiful book… happy ganesh chaturthi to you too… one Q: while it is so hard to detach ourselves from desires, attachments and relationships in this material world, why were we sent to this material world in the first place?
Hi Lakshmi:
Thank you for your kind words! Very excited about the book; we sold several at the Marathi mandal gathering here and the response was very encouraging! So I am thrilled. This took five years to put together.
And thank you for including this Ganesha iconography in your Round-up. Sorry, I still have to include the link to your Ganesh Event announcement! many thanks and congratulations on the excellent work that you both do!
Congrats on the book release. yay yay!! It must be an incredible feeling. Lovely explanation of Ganesha’s iconography.
I’ll put a link this post as part of the intro of the Ganesha event round up @ The Yum Blog
. What could be a better way to begin than celebrate the elephant god’s iconography!!!
Thank you for your kind words, Roopa.
Just found your site too! Nice post on Ganapati and Karnataka! Very informative! Now i want to visit that temple!
Wow Arun, my first time here and what to say you have an amazing blog. The photos of the scuptures and paintings are just superb with a wonderfull writeup !
Thank you for visiting and browsing, Supriya,
and hope you had a good Ganesh Chaturthi!
- another Supriya at Sia’s Kitchen on my Food to Live For blogroll on right!
Beautiful photos. Visiting Your blog for the first time. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi
Heh Thanks Shilpa:
)
How did yours go? You must certainly have made delicious modaks!
better go and check your site!
… and excited about the book! Feels surreal! Thanks
Btw…All the best for your book. Congrats on getting it published on this auspicious day.
Wishing you a very happy Ganapathi parab Arun.
Thank you Vishu
for your beautiful and heartfelt greetings!
All this has only been possible because of HIS anugraha (grace).
hope you had a wonderful day as well.
Regards. Arun
Hi Arun,
Congratulations on getting the book published, couldn’t have picked a more auspicious day.
May Lord Ganesha bless your work and see to it that it’s wisdom spreads far and wide.
Regards to M. Hope you all are enjoying modaks.
Oh Asha!
Thank you so very much! Hope you do cook delicious foods for your family and enjoy the grace of Ganesha!
– and you were fast!
You too have a great Gowri-Ganesha habba and enjoy the day!:))