Ganesha Symbolism and His Teachings

Dear Path to Anandam Friends,

Happy Ganesha Chaturthi
(To listen mantra music click on online browser)

Ganesha Chaturthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesha, remover of evils and obstacles.

Shri Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is widely worshipped as the supreme Lord of education, knowledge, wisdom, success, prosperity and good fortune.
Ganesha Chaturthi (‘Vinayaka Chavithi’) is celebrated around the world.

“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”

Want to know the true meaning of Yoga?

“Yoga is Much More than Asana/Physical Fitness”

In our last post on our journey through Yoga is much more than physical exercises/pose, we explored how applying the practices of True Yoga to our daily lives can lead us to blissful life and guide us to the discovery of our own purpose of life. As with many contemplative practices, we often stumble over our habits and comfortable ways. This often prevents us from achieving true self-awareness and eternal happiness and peace. There are also:

Obstacles on the path of Yoga

Operating through life based on negative emotions from impurities of the mind like the “5+2 enemies” listed below cause disconnection with self and also with higher–self:

1. Selfish Desires
2. Ego
3. Attachment
4. Greed
5. Anger
6. Envy
7. Hatred

One develops attachment to sense objects by thinking about them. From attachment arises selfish desires, from unfulfilled desires comes anger, from anger comes delusion, loss of memory, and then reasoning (discrimination) is destroyed. When reasoning is destroyed, one falls from the right path. (Gita. 2.62–63)

According to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra there are nine obstacles: Disease (emotional pains, nervousness), lethargy, laziness, doubt, carelessness, worldly mindedness, delusion, non–achievement of stage, instability. (PYS. 1.30)

Not only do the “5+2 enemies” and negative emotions trip us up on our path to oneness with our Supreme Self, but these are the root cause of all themiseries and pains; and can never be fulfilled. Selfish Desire is the cause of externalization of the mind.
Adopting a Yoga lifestyle heals this split between the selfless and selfish; wisdom and ignorance and abandoning these “5+2 enemies” will gradually lead toLiberation (Self–Realization, Oneness of Body, Mind and Soul).
So you may be wondering:
How to overcome obstaclesof 5+2 Enemies?
Performing self-purification and Self-Transformationis one of the tenets of Yoga for overcoming the obstacles of 5+2 Enemies.

Purity → Divinity → Unity

“Yoga believes in transforming the individual before transforming the world.” ~Sri Swami Satchidananda

Develop Self–Awareness,Self–inquiry/Ask Questions

Self–Awareness and self – inquiry is the first step to Self–Realization.
Be aware of your own behavior and habits. Do not blame and criticize others and situations. It is a waste of energy and time and will not lead to attaining the supreme goal of life.Lack of self–awareness is the cause of all miseries in life and in the world.
Therefore, Develop Self–Awareness and ask questions:

1. What is the purpose of my life and
2. Am I working toward it?
3. Do I have good health?
4. What do I think most of the time (what are my thoughts)?
5. Am I stressed out, impatient?
6. Do I worry or fear?
7. What am I doing to take care of my issues?
8. What are my actions?
9. How do I speak-honestly, softly and lovingly?
10. Who are my friends, who do I meet?
11. How can I help community, nation & world

Liberation/Moksha is the goal of Yoga. It can be achieved by constant inquiry. Live in self-awareness every moment of our life and act accordingly -Awareness Yoga. (“Yoga Beyond Asana… The Complete Guide to Blissful Life”)

What road blocks are you trying to overcome through your Yoga practice?
Let’s focus on self–improvement and not blame others for our miseries and pains.