Deity with the head of an elephant. Ganesha: Indian deity with the head of an elephant

This term has other meanings, see Ganesha (meanings).

Ganesha

, or
Ganapati
(Sanskrit: गणेश; Gaṇeśa
IAST
; pronunciation (inf.)) is the god of wisdom and prosperity in Hinduism. One of the most famous and revered gods of the Hindu pantheon.

Often the respectful prefix Sri-

. One popular way of worshiping Ganesha is by chanting the Ganesha-sahasranama (Sanskrit: गणेश सहस्रनाम, “the thousand names of Ganesha”), each symbolizing a different aspect of the god, and the Ganapati Sukta.

Iconography

Ganesha on a lotus

Usually Ganesha is depicted with a yellow or red body, a huge belly, 4 arms and an elephant's head with one tusk. Part of Shiva's retinue.

Ganesha is often depicted with 4 arms, but sometimes with 6, 8 and even 18 arms. He has a snake on his belt. In his upper hands Ganesha holds a lotus and a trident. The 4th hand is positioned as if he is offering gifts, but sometimes there is a laddoo (a sweet ball made from rice flour) in it.

He holds a candy with his trunk, which means “sweetness from liberation.” The snake that wraps around it symbolizes energy, which manifests itself in different forms.

Huge ears were given to Ganesha so that he would not miss a single human request. Almost always the deity sits on a lotus, and the rat is next to him or seems to be following him.

It is interesting that Ganesha entered the Hindu pantheon relatively late (in the Middle Ages), but quickly took his rightful place in it and to this day is one of the most revered Indian gods. When an important matter is ahead, he is called upon to help. Being the god of wisdom and the remover of all kinds of obstacles, Ganesha patronizes travelers and traders.

Tattoo on the body

Many admirers of Ganesha strive to get a tattoo with his image. There are many drawings and sketches for this. Most often they look large-scale, using bright colors. But there are also single-color tattoos.

There are many tattoos where Ganesha is depicted in full height, dancing or sitting on a rat, but there are also those where only his head is present. According to the drawing made by the master, the deity can have from 4 to 32 arms. Everyone chooses what he will keep in them:

• rosary - a symbol of knowledge;
• ax - overcoming life's obstacles;
• sweets - a carefree life in abundance.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Elephant figurine in the house

The following meanings are attributed to tattoos:

• protection on the go;
• oratory;
• luck in trading;
• assistance and protection;
• achieving enlightenment and nirvana.

For fans of Hindu teachings, a Ganesha tattoo will help show individuality and emphasize their worldview.

Reading the religious text Ganesh Atharva Shirsha, listening and chanting mantras, as well as mastering Feng Shui skills will help in the pursuit of well-being. All this opens up new opportunities and ways to get what you want.

Every part of the body of the immortal Ganapati has a meaning. The elephant's head represents the deity's prudence, constancy and devotion. The ears confirm the kindness of the spirit, symbolizing its endless nobility and desire to help those who need it.

The tusk symbolizes the focus on struggle, the desire to overcome the duality of human nature, to defeat its negative side, characterized by laziness, quarrelsomeness, anger and other destructive qualities.

A long trunk speaks of the high intellectual abilities of the deity. Ganesha was given a big belly as a sign of his generosity and generosity.

Birth of Ganesha: versions

There are several legends about the birth of the elephant god. Here are some of the most common:

One day Shiva was not at home and Parvati was taking a bath. The returning husband found his wife doing this, which annoyed her. One of the servants advised her to create her own protector, who would prevent her husband from entering when not asked. So from the mixture of saffron and clay that Parvati smeared on her body, a boy was born. Shiva returned and was angry that he was not allowed into his own house and killed the boy. But his wife became angry, and her rage created the goddesses Kali and Durga, who began to rampage. Shiva decided to correct what he had done and sent servants to bring him the head of the first animal that came their way. It turned out to be an elephant. As a result, the boy came to life with the head of an elephant.

According to another version, Parvati received the baby as a gift from the god Vishnu, to whom she prayed to send her a child. The prayers were heard, and Ganesha was born. At a reception in honor of this event, the gods gathered, and among them Shani, who was forbidden to raise his withering gaze. But Parvati insisted that he look at the baby. And from this, Ganesha’s head burned at the same moment. And then the story with the elephant's head repeats itself.

There are many versions of the birth of Ganesha; their own myths were created in different eras, but there is something that unites them:

• Ganesha is a creation of divine power.
• This was the gatekeeper or guardian of the Divine Mother's palace.
• He only has 1 tusk. According to legends, Ganesha himself tore it off and threw it at the giant Gajamukha, fighting with him. The magical power of the tusk turned the giant into a rat, which later began to accompany him everywhere.

Other versions of tusk loss:

1. According to one legend, Ganesha performed the duties of a protector so zealously that he did not allow the brahman Parashurama into Shiva’s palace. Considering that this was one of Vishnu’s avatars, the latter did not stand on ceremony for too long and simply cut off the tusk with an ax.
2. Another myth tells that Ganesha was taking dictation from the Mahabharata, but his pen suddenly broke. In order not to miss a single precious word of the teacher Vyasa, the god broke off his tusk and used it as a writing instrument.

Place in the divine hierarchy

As stated earlier, god Ganesha is the son of Parvati and Shiva. This makes him a very powerful creature, occupying an honored place in the pantheon of Hindu immortals. In addition, he is the commander of the heavenly army, which gives him the right to command many younger spirits and yakshasas.

In addition, many myths tell us that Ganesha has an older brother Skanda - a merciless god of war, always competing with the embodiment of wisdom. But Shiva’s first son often lost to his relative, since he always solved problems with force and not with his mind. It is curious that in India mass worship of Ganesha began only after the Skanda temples disappeared. This change in Hindu culture is explained by the fact that the need for a warlike god gradually faded away, but the wish-granting creature only strengthened its power.

Great sweet tooth

Ganesha

According to tradition, Ganesha is very fond of a sweet dish - rice balls prepared in a special way with a sweet filling. As the legend goes, during one of his birthdays, the god visited one house after another, where he was treated to various sweets. He ate a countless number of them and went on a night trip looking at his mouse. The latter suddenly tripped and the god fell. Ganesha's belly opened and all the food he had eaten fell out. But our god did not despair. He shoved them all back in, then took the snake and used it as a rope. Luna looked at all this and was amused by this behavior. Ganesha, noticing the joy of the heavenly body, became very angry, he took one of the fangs and threw it at the Moon, saying that now no one should look at it on the Ganesh Chaturthi holiday.

Colorful festival holiday Ganesh Chaturthi

In India there is a holiday dedicated to the god Ganesha Chaturthi. It takes place at the end of summer or beginning of autumn. Thousands of people from all over the country come to the colorful Chaturthi performance in the Indian city of Mumbai. Hindus are confident that if all the rituals of the celebration are observed correctly, new opportunities can open up both spiritually and materially.

It is usually celebrated in the first two weeks of the month of Bhadra (August-September), for 4-10 days.

Wise cunning

There was an incident when Ganesha argued with his brother Ruler Subramanya which of them was older. The dispute flared up in earnest. No one wanted to give in and give the palm to another. Therefore, they turned to Shiva to judge them. The latter organized a competition. Whoever makes a circle around the world first, returning back to the starting point, will be considered the eldest of them. Subramanya mounted his usual peacock for a long journey. But Ganesha acted more cunningly: he simply walked around his parents and demanded his reward, arguing that they represented the entire universe. Shiva had to recognize the wisdom of Ganesha and make him the eldest.

Marital status of Ganesha

Initially, it was believed that the god of wisdom took a vow of celibacy. This was due to the fact that, according to legend, he practiced a special technique of self-discipline, implying sexual abstinence - brahmacharya. Because of this, many Hindus believed that the body of their deity would never touch a woman.

However, over the years, moral principles have changed, and along with them, the legends about the god Ganesha. According to some of them, he was married to three goddesses - Buddhi, Siddhi and Riddhi. They embodied the immovable ideals of wisdom: reason, success and prosperity. But later legends attributed to the elephant god a marriage with the spiritual embodiment of culture and art, Saraswati.

Lowest, but not the last

The described Indian god Ganesha is the leader of the lower pantheon in the retinue of Shiva, but this does not make him less popular. The god of wisdom, the removal of obstacles, he is greatly revered. Helps people who are involved in crafts, business, various sciences, and creative people. Like the husband, his wives Buddhi and Siddhi also perform similar functions.

At all times and to this day, Ganesha is called upon when an important task needs to be started. Many works in Sanskrit begin with an appeal to this particular deity. There is even a separate Ganesh Purana, which is completely dedicated to him.

Ganesha temples are very popular. The 4th day of the bright half of the month - chaturtti - is especially revered, and in the month of Bhadra (August-September) in Maharashtra, the Ganesha festival is celebrated for 10 days.

Ganesha in culture

Ancient sculptures of the god of wisdom discovered in India date back to the 3rd or 4th century. The image of the dancing Ganesha is later and dates back to the Middle Ages. Some idols of Ganesha include snakes, usually cobras, which the god holds high above his head, symbolizing victory over evil.

In the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, a sculpture of the deity is always present in every temple; There, a large-scale festival dedicated to him is held annually, when huge images of God are exhibited in houses, on the streets and in specially decorated pavilions. The scene of such a holiday is shown in the film “Fiery Path”.

Published by INDIE ROAD Monday, March 19, 2018

The character of Ganesha (Ganapathi) is certainly present in traditional Indian theater productions. At performances, actors perform a dance, holding brass plates in their hands, and sing ganas - songs of praise. Often a prayer to God is performed right on stage.

There is a holy place in Karnataka called Gokarna. Hindus believe that Ganapati himself founded it. Taking the form of a brahmana youth, he met Ravana on the road and by cunning took from him the miraculous stone Atma-Lingam, the worship of which ensures power in three worlds at once.

A cartoon called “Little Ganesha” was released for children in India. Created using 3D animation technology, it retells old legends against the backdrop of beautiful landscapes and traditional rhythmic music. The wise deity appears on the screen as a mischievous child who explores the world with interest, learns simple truths and makes friends.

Ganesha and feng shui

In the teachings of Feng Shui, God patronizes business, wealth, and removes obstacles from the path of those who strive to achieve success. The appearance and appearance of Ganesha may not be to your taste at first glance, but God grants protection to people of subtle mind. If you cannot see the essence behind the appearance, you will become a victim of rationalism, and this serves as a huge obstacle in the development of spirituality.

Those people who are inclined to follow the traditions of Feng Shui should have a figurine of God. But there are some rules:

• One belief is that the larger the figurine, the better it serves its purpose, but this is unconfirmed.
• Various materials can be suitable for making an image of God - copper, bronze, semi-precious stones, even wood. There are even plastic images in India, where he is most revered. What is important here is respect for Ganesha, not what he is made of.
• If the figurine is made of bronze, it is better to place it in the metal sector - in the west or north-west of the apartment or room, or on the right hand on the desktop.
• It is best to place a wooden figurine in the wealth or family sector. In this case, money will be added.
• God Ganesha, the symbol of India, loves to have his tummy and right palm scratched.
• Candy and other sweets scattered next to the image are suitable as an offering.
• To enhance the effect, it is recommended to repeat special mantras that are addressed to the deity.

Mantras

Ganesha. Gayatri mantra

Mantras should not just be read, but chanted. This should be done with positive emotions and in a good mood. It is advisable to repeat it 180 times, and then they will bring the necessary positive result.

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1. Om gam ganapataye namah is the main mantra for Ganesha. This mantra guides you on the true path, removes all kinds of obstacles and brings good luck.
2. Om Sri Ganeshaye Namah - this mantra will allow you to achieve success in any business. It also helps your talents flourish so you can achieve excellence in any field of endeavor.

Chant these mantras before an important task or financial transaction. All this will give you purity of thoughts, success in business and overcoming all sorts of obstacles!

If the Ganesha figurine is broken

If suddenly something breaks off the figurine, this means that Ganesha saved you from some kind of misfortune, saved you from trouble, taking it upon himself. But don’t rush to throw away the talisman. Feng Shui teachings say that broken things should be thrown away, but not if they are the personification of the deity Ganesh.

If the broken part remains, try to glue it back in place with words of gratitude. It is believed that Ganesha returns to his original state and continues to patronize and provide assistance as before.

About the broken tusk

There are two legends explaining Ganesha's broken tusk.

According to one of them, in the fight against the giant demon, Ganesha himself broke off his tusk, which had divine power, and launched it at the enemy. As a result of this, the giant turned into a rat - the mount of Ganesha.

The second legend is connected with the mind of Ganesha: according to it, Ganesha used his tusk to record Vyasa’s dictation of the Mahabharata after his pen broke, because according to an agreement with the sage, Ganesha had to write without stopping.

Another legend says that Ganesha’s tusk was cut off by the sage Parashurama (Vishnu’s avatar), who came to visit Shiva, but Ganesha did not allow him to see his father because he was sleeping. Then Parashurama threw his ax at Ganesha and cut off one tusk.