“Spiritual Significance of the Ganesha Form”

The body of Lord Ganesha is the blend of human and animal parts and has profound significant spiritual meaning and teachings:

Big Elephant Head: Think big, develop understanding, discrimination and wisdom; these divine qualities are required to attain perfection in life.

Large Ears: Listen more.

Small Eyes: Don’t waste our time on seeing/focusing too much on others faults.

Trunk: Develop flexibility and efficiency.

Two tusks: Right complete tusk and the left broken tusk represent the two aspects
of the human personality, wisdom and emotion.

The broken left tusk: Control our emotions with wisdom to attain perfection-
Love, Peace and Anandam (Eternal Happiness and Peace).

Large stomach: Develop the courage and endurance to face good and bad in our life.

Four arms symbolizes that he is omnipresent and omnipotent.

Upper Left Hand holding an axe: Learn to conquer our emotions

Upper Right Hand holding a lotus: Live in the world without attachment to the external world
as a lotus flower stays in dirty water yet remains detached, smiles and gives its beauty to others.
This is the only way to attain Ultimate Truth.

Lower Left Hand with rope: Pull ourselves toward the supreme goal of life —
attaining Everlasting Happiness and Peace, “Sat Chit Ananda”

Lower Right Hand with Blessing: When we follow the spiritual teachings of Lord Ganesha, blessings from His right hand will be showered on us and we will always be protected by Him.

Lord Ganesh’s vehicle mouse: Materialistic desires. Lord Ganesha sitting on the mouse signifies that we should keep our materialistic desires under control because they can never be fulfilled. In fact, one fulfilled materialistic desire leads to the next unfulfilled desires and we spend our whole life just running after them and finally our life turns into disaster.  Therefore, for our peace of mind, it is very important to control our materialistic desire.

Meditation and prayers:
On Ganesh Chaturthi day, we should meditate early in the morning on Lord Ganesha. Offer Him a coconut and some sweets. We should also pray to him with full faith and devotion that He may remove all the obstacles that come in our way in day to day life and also in our spiritual path to attain the perfection in our life, “the Ultimate Truth or Sat Chit Ananda.“

Ganesha Mantras: There are many Ganesha Mantras to invoke Lord Ganesh but following two are used most often.

Mantra for salutations: “Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah”

This is the simplest and easiest mantra of prayer, love and adoration.  It is chanted to get Lord Ganesha’s blessings for the positive starting of a project, work or simply to offer salutations to Him.

Mantra for success:
Vakrtund Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha |
Nirbhignam Kurumedeva Sarva Karyashu Sarvada |

This mantra is chanted before beginning any auspicious task for removing the obstacles.

May the blessings of Sri Ganesha be upon you all! May He remove all the obstacles that stand in your spiritual path! May He bestow on you all material prosperity as well as liberation!

“Happy Ganesha Chaturthi to you and your loved ones”