Discovering the Sacred Symbols and Powers of Ganesh

Each Ganesh temple carving, statue, or painting you see is slightly different. The elephant-faced deity Ganesha has 4 arms, showing his capable powers at helping humanity. His hands hold a wide variety of symbolic objects that show us what those powers are. His type of throne varies, as do the objects at his feet. Each symbol carries a message for you from Ganesh.

A friend was appreciating and indulging my adoration for elephants and bestowed a Ganesha gift upon me, a diminutive statuette, the kind Hindus carry with them for good luck when they travel. Immediately, I noticed that Ganesha is sitting on a conch shell with his little mouse friend nearby. I seldom see Ganesh using the shell as his throne. Looking closer with a magnifying lens, I looked to see what was in his tiny hands. What hidden meanings does this Ganesh hold?

You may or may not know that I am not Hindu. Yet since I was a very young child, I've been inexplicably drawn towards East Indian art and culture. While other preteen girls wanted Barbie dolls from Toys R Us, I wanted nothing more than for my mother to take me to Cost Plus (now World Market) in San Francisco so I could scour through their treasure chest of incense and brass candle holders, saris and bangles. It's fair to say that I was drawn by the art first and the religion second. In my thirst for spiritual understanding, I've read some books on Hinduism, but I'm not scholarly. I'm a seeker of direct experience. 

My relationship with Ganesha is a personal one. In my twenties, I visited a temple with an enormous wooden Ganesh. He was immense, standing at least a foot taller than me, and covered with flowers and coins that devotees had left as offerings. As is my way, I playfully whispered a greeting to him. Then something came over me. A warm and powerful wave of energy. I felt spiritually "hugged." Thus began our relationship. I turn to Ganesha as a father figure and friend. When I feel small and unprotected, he comforts me. When I'm taking myself far too seriously, I feel his amusement. I most definitely feel his big elephant trunk nudging and prodding me along my path. I try to listen and learn from him. The meditations I write here, Lessons from Ganesh, are borne out of that listening.

There is a marvelous book called Loving Ganesha by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami that the Himalayan Academy has uploaded in its entirety for you to read on-line. Although I haven't read very much of it yet, I like the author's writing style. It's geared towards a modern person's way of thinking and written in plain English. It's such a large body of work (592 pages) that a paperback copy is on my shopping list, but I'm grateful that the academy made it available for free on-line. 

In that book, there is a terrific chapter on Ganesha's Sacred Symbols. The following quotes are excerpts that demystify the meaning of the gift I received.

Shankha, Conch
Ganesha listens to the puja conch's loud sound, reminding Him of elephants' trumpeting happily in the jungle. He summons, "Come one and all to Me and pray."

 

Mushika, Mouse
Ganesha's companion, a mouse, attests to the all-pervasiveness of the elephant God. Mushika, the mount or vahana, carries Him into the mind's every nook and cranny.

Gada, Mace

Loving Ganesha is decisive and commanding, as symbolized by gada, His mace. He casts karmas back on devotees for resolution, never letting up until completion.

Pasha, Noose
Loving Ganesa's provident mind, like the noose, draws close those He loves most dearly and reaches out to encircle and save strayed ones in extraordinary ways.

 

I love how the symbol of the beckoning conch shell reminds Ganesh of happily trumpeting elephants! What a beautiful calling. The mouse is a good reminder that God is in the details, too. I suppose the mace is Ganesha's tough love. He is a thorough teacher. The conjures up images of being in Ganesha's rodeo. This little lamb could use tending. So very sweet. A wonderful gift!

Comments

[Reta]

Hei jaya greetings from indonesia, i just found your website, im not a hindu too, same like your experience, i have strong conection with elephant, ganesha and also india.

Many time Ganesha always come to my dream :), some of hindu friends say's to me if im lucky because not many hindu get a ganesha dream...

And from that moment, i try to learn and search about this ..till now ..

Jai Mangal Murti..