Symbolic
Significance of Lord Ganesha's Shape and Form
The image of Ganesha is a
composite one. Four animals viz., man, elephant, the serpent and
the mouse have contributed for the makeup of his figure. All of
them individually and collectively have deep symbolic
significance. The image of Ganesha thus represents man's eternal
striving towards integration with nature. He has to be
interpreted taking into consideration the fact that though
millenniums rolled by, man yet remains closer to animal today
than he was ever before.
The most striking feature of
Ganesha is his elephant head, symbolic of auspiciousness,
strength and intellectual prowess. All the qualities of the
elephant are contained in the form of Ganpati. The elephant
symbolises devotion, patience and truth. A large forehead is an
indicator of a brilliant mind. The elephant is the largest
and strongest of animals of the forest. Yet he is gentle and,
amazingly, a vegetarian, so that he does not kill to eat. He is
very affectionate and loyal to his keeper and is greatly swayed
if love and kindness are extended to him. Ganesha, though a
powerful deity, is similarly loving and forgiving and moved by
the affection of his devotees. But at the same time the elephant
can destroy a whole forest and is a one-man army when provoked.
Ganesha is similarly most powerful and can be ruthless when
containing evil.
Again, Ganesha's large head is
symbolic of the wisdom of the elephant. His ears, which appear
like large winnowing baskets, have a philosophical significance
too. Just as one uses a winnowing basket to separate grains from
dirt, one must use discrimination (viveka) to separate the real
(Brahman) from the unreal (Maya). His large ears, like the
winnow, also sift the bad from the good. Although they hear
everything, they retain only that which is good; they are
attentive to all requests made by the devotees, be they humble
or powerful. Another explaination for his large ears is as
follows: Ganapati meaning leader of the ganas (public) as a
leader should listen to everybody Lord Ganesha therefore has
large ears. It is also important for a leader not to let out all
that he knows or all that he has been told ; that is why Lord
Ganapati has a large stomach.
He also has a nose to scent out
the smallest problem; which a large trunk does with sensitivity.
Ganesha's trunk is also a symbol of his discrimination (viveka),
a most important quality necessary for spiritual progress. The
elephant uses its trunk to push down a massive tree, carry huge
logs to the river and for other heavy tasks. The same huge trunk
is used to pick up a few blades of grass, to break a small
coconut, remove the hard nut and eat the soft kernel inside. The
biggest and minutest of tasks are within the range of this trunk
which is symbolic of Ganesha's intellect and hiss powers of
discrimination.
The Modaka or cake
he holds in his trunk indicates that, beneath the outer layer of
sordid self, lies the Atman which is sweet and which must be
discovered by everyone. His corpulent figure conveys prosperity
the laddoos he is always shown with are meant to reward devotees
for spiritual activity. Ganesha rides on a mouse, signifying the
unity of the small with the big. Ganesha's mouse, by gnawing its
way through everything, is said to symbolize the god's ability to
destroy all obstacles. Ganesha is also known as Ekdanta, or the
one with one tooth., because one of his tusks is broken. In his
upper hands he holds a hook and a noose. The noose is for pulling
man along the right path, the hook is for goading forward the
recalcitrant. In this manner Ganesha helps us in overcoming
obstacles and ensures success. The fourth hand's palm is always
extended to bless people. The snake that runs round his hip is
indicative of Energy in all forms. A unique combination of his
elephant - like head and a quick moving tiny mouse vehicle
represents tremendous wisdom, intelligence and presence of mind.
Also, his corpulent body , awkward gait, broken tusk and guffaw
tell us that outward beauty has no relation to inner perfection.
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