Ganesha
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| Lord Ganesha statue at True Nature Healing Arts, Carbondale, CO |
One day, Parvati was home bathing while Shiva was away. She asked Shiva's bull, Nandi, to keep watch as she did not wish to be disturbed. Upon Shiva's return, Nandi abandoned post to be with Shiva, whose loyalty he held, above all, to Shiva. Parvati was perturbed that Nandi left his post, but also that she did not have someone as loyal to her as Nandi was to Shiva. Parvati sat down to make a sculpture of a boy, carefully molding the turmeric paste, and made a chubby cheeked boy. She breathed life into the sculpture and was delighted with her son. Dirty from molding Ganesha, she told Ganesha to guard the door and not let any strangers in. When Shiva returned, he demanded to enter. Not knowing who Shiva was and upholding his duties, Ganesha demanded him to stop. Shiva raised his sword and swiped off Ganesha's head. Parvati ran out and asked Shiva what he had done to their son. Shiva promised Parvati that he would find a suitable head for Ganesha. Shiva returned with the head of an elephant and placed it upon the body of Ganesha. Breathing new life into the boy, Shiva declared Ganesha his son, as well, and gave him the status of being the foremost among the gods and leader over all of the Ganas, all of creation.
Parvati resides in the Muladhara chakra, the root chakra. When we purify ourselves from the impurities that bind us, the Lord/Divine comes. That's why Shiva came unannounced while Parvati was bathing. Nandi's devotion, keeping his sights on the divine, rests with Shiva and so he easily recognized Shiva when he returned. Ganesha represents earthbound awareness and guards the Muladhara chakra, where Kundalini energy rises. When Shiva arrives, Ganesha does not recognize him and fights/resists him. It is the duty of the Lord to cut off the head of the ego. When awareness begins to turn away from things of this world and rises up towards the divine, Kundalini rises.
Shiva cut the small head (ego) off Ganesha and replaced it with a big head (universal ego)- meaning we no longer identify with an individual self, but with universal consciousness. With dominion over all of creation, by receiving Ganesha's grace, we receive the grace of all. He is the remover of all obstacles.
His head is big, to think big. His eyes are tiny, to concentrate. His ears are large, to listen more. His mouth is small, to talk less. His tusk is broken off, to retain the good and throw away the bad. His trunk represents high efficiency and adaptability. His belly is full, for peaceful digestions of the good and bad of life. The four arms represent the four inner attributes of the subtle body: mind (Manas), intellect (Buddhi), ego (Ahamkara) and conditioned consciousness (Chitta). The axe in one hand strikes and repels obstacles. The whip conveys worldly attachments should be rid and ties the devout to the divine. The hand holding Modaka is reward for Sadhana and the other is extended to the devotee offering a blessing and protection. He has one foot on the earth while rising up to the divine. A mouse (ego) sits at his feet as transportation (as the body is transportation for the soul) and to remind us to keep our earthy desires small.
If his trunk swings to the right, it represents Pingala Nadi, or the energy of the sun (burning, masculine, creation, destruction). If his trunk swings to the left, it represents Ida Nadi, or the energy of the moon (cooling, feminine, nourishing, relaxing). If the trunk is straight, the Sushuma Nadi is open with complete oneness between the body senses and divinity is complete.
"Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha" 108 times
Recommended: Deva Premal's Healing Mantas - "Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha" on iTunes
"Om Shreem Hreem Kleem
Gloum Gam Ganapataye
Vara Varada Sarva
Janamme Vashamanaya Svaha" 4 times
Recommended: Indiajiva - Sacred Chants for Active Yoga "Om Shreen Hreem" on iTunes.
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