Lord Ganesha and His Symboloism

Today is Ganesh Chaturthi that marks the anniversary of Lord Ganesha’s arrival.

Hindus worship Lord Ganesha by bringing His idols to homes to attain success in their endeavors. Public Pandals are also set up where idols are installed during the 10-day festival.

In order to appease any God, the devotees first offer prayers to Lord Ganesha and then proceed with the other deity’s worship.

Lord Ganesha is bestowed with a special body with the head of an elephant and the remaining parts of human body.

Every part of His body has its own significance from the management angle, and symbolises certain qualities that a man in general, and a strategic leader in particular, must possess to achieve success.

In brief, these are as under:

1. Big head: Think big, out of the box
2. Large ears: Listen more attentively
3. Small mouth: Talk less
4. Big eyes: Look beyond what you see
5. Broken tusk: Retain good, throw away bad
6. Axe: To cut off all bonds of materialistic attachment
7. Trunk: High efficiency and adaptability
8. Large stomach: Peacefully digest all good and bad in life
9. Ladoo (sweet): Rewards of hard labour
10. Mouse (his carrier): Ride on the desires and keep them under control

Last year, Mumbai’s famous Lalbagcha Raja was not installed due to covid restrictions, but this year, like other big idols, it has been installed with restrictions on physical visits.

So the Lord’s message is:

I’m coming again this year,
But my message is loud and clear,
Celebrate festival with same fervour maintaining social distance,
And for humanity donate money, blood and ambulance,
I’m present in every lovely creature,
That has been created by the mother nature,
My arrival or departure every year is just a ritual,
As I remain with all of you as ever as usual..
My pandal will miss your Grandeur presence,
But keep the spirit and ethos with elegance..

गणपति बाप्पा मोरया!

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्य कोटी समप्रभा
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्व-कार्येशु सर्वदा !!
(O Ganesha, of huge body with elephant head, shining like billions of suns, O God, remove all obstacles from my endeavors, forever.)

Let peace, prosperity and tranquility prevail all across the universe !!!

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all !!!!

–Kaushal Kishore