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| GANESHA WITH LAKSHMI AND
SARASWATI
SYMBOLIZING THE INTELLECTUAL WITH KNOWLEDGE,
GOOD LUCK AS A REMOVER OF OBSTACLES,
PROSPERITY AND PEACE |
The legend about Ganesha having preference over all other gods establishes his
sharpness of intellect. There was a keen competition amongst all gods to gain
the first place of worship amongst the deity. It was decided that the god, who
will return first after traversing the whole universe should be declared the
winner. All gods and goddesses ran on their fast vehicles. Ganesha with his pot-bellied
body and mouse's vehicle could never hope to compete. He took a round of his
parents, Shiva and Parvati, and just sat there at the starting point. He was
declared the winner because one who goes round his parents and touches their
feet traverses the whole universe. Since then Ganesha is always worshipped first
and every other god takes a back seat.
Another legend says that when Parvati saw an elephant's head being fixed on her
son's body, she burst into tears and could not be soothed .To pacify her Brahma
announced that amongst the worship of all the gods, that of Ganesha should for
ever bear the first preference.
In modern age Ganesha is regarded as the personification
of those qualities, which surmount all difficulties. He is the typical lord of
success in life and its accompaniments of good living, prosperity and peace. Not only is Ganesha
thus honored in religious ceremonies, but in almost all civil concerns too his
blessings are sought. At the head of letters, in opening pages of account books,
at the entrance gate of a house and at the door of a shop, salutation to Ganesha,
drawing his image or his symbol is deemed to be auspicious and a guarantee for
progress and prosperity. His numerous images and shrines can be seen throughout
India. In all ceremonies (except funeral rites) Ganesha is first invoked. He
is revered by most Hindus, whether followers of Shiva or Vishnu.
Ganesha represents the unity of the Small Being, the man, with the Great Being,
the elephant. It is the blending of microcosm with macrocosm, of drop with the
ocean and of individual soul with divinity.
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