Time of reading: approx. 5 minutes

Today, I’d like to tell you about Ganesha, the god with the head of an elephant and a big belly, whose vehicle is a mouse and who helps to overcome all obstacles.

Follow me in this little story, which is not exhaustive, of all his benefits, and which will allow you to know the aspects of this god, protector of the innocent, which, according to me, are the most interesting.

You will also discover the yoga pose that represents him.

So, let’s begin!

The god of a thousand names

Ganesh, Ganapati, Lord of the Ganas, Lord of people, Vighnaharta (the remover of obstacles), Vinayaka, Ekadanta (the one who has only one tusk), Lambodara (the one who has a big belly)...

It is under all these names and many others that you will meet Ganesha, the god with the head of an elephant on a boy's body, in the ancient texts.

This sometimes makes it difficult to follow his adventures in the sources. Still, his different names usually refer either to one of his physical characteristics or to one of his powers.

Shiva and Parvati, the parents of Ganesha?

According to the texts, Ganesha is the son of Shiva, the god of transformation, and of Parvati.

Therefore, the stories about his birth vary: sometimes he comes out of Shiva's dreadlocks or his mouth, and sometimes it is Parvati who gives birth to him from a ball of clay because she is afraid to stay at home alone and asks him to prevent anyone from coming in while she takes a bath.

But why does Ganesha have an elephant head?

According to the legends, Ganesha was given the mission by Parvati, his mother, to prevent anyone from entering her house. Unfortunately, this was before he and Shiva, his father, even knew each other.

The little boy followed his mother's instructions. When Shiva returned home from his morning meditation, Ganesha refuses to let him in, despite his insistence. So Shiva gets angry and cuts off the little boy's head.

Parvati comes running, desperate, shouting at Shiva that the boy is his son.

Shiva, whose anger has subsided, understands his mistake. With the help of others, he goes in search of a replacement for the boy’s head.

The first being he meets is an elephant. He slits its throat and runs to put it on his son's head, giving him back his life: Ganesh, the god with the elephant head, is born!

What are the characteristics and symbols of Ganesha?

I listed below the characteristics that I find most interesting to understand the importance of Ganesha.

Ganesha, the god with the elephant head

Ganesha has an elephant head on a boy's body. He thus makes the link between the animal and human world.

Moreover, thanks to his large ears, he can listen to the needs of those who invoke him and protect them or grant their wishes. He is the defender of the innocent.

The big ears, like the elephant, also symbolize wisdom and the importance of acquiring knowledge to become wiser.

Ganesha, the god who travels on a small mouse

Every god has a special vehicle, his is a mouse.

It may sound ridiculous when you say it like that, but according to the legend, this mouse was a king who had become too arrogant and had transformed himself into a mouse to escape from Ganesha. The king didn't think of one thing: Ganesha, to stop him in his misdeeds, sat on him and at the same time shut the lid on his ego. Defeated, the king then offered Ganesha to become his vehicle.

The fact that Ganesha rides a mouse also symbolizes the harmony and respect that should exist towards any creature, knowing that we are all part of the same microcosm and that it is the diversity that allows us to be alive.

Ganesha, the god with a round belly

Ganesha is known to love sweets. He is often depicted with some in his hand and those who invoke him often offer him little cakes.

This love for sweets can be seen as a symbol that each person is born nice and that it is often external events that change the way we behave. The game is then to overcome this shell that we create for ourselves to find our true personality.

Ganesha, the god with the ax

He also often carries an ax that allows him to destroy obstacles.

Ganesha, the god who has only one defense

Ganesha is often represented with only one defense. The other one was either used to destroy evil or to write the fundamental texts of Indian knowledge (Veda) or the Mahabharata (one of the most famous epics of Hindu mythology).

In this context, the defense thus represents knowledge.

Is Ganesha married?

The gods do not necessarily have a wife as we think of it in our countries. They may be associated with figures who represent their qualities instead.

In this context, Ganesha is accompanied by Buddhi - wisdom - and Siddhi - accomplishments.

The texts tell us that Siddhi and Buddhi are in fact the daughters of Brahma, the creator God and that they were born thanks to his prayers to Ganesha. So Brahma gave his two daughters in marriage to Ganesha.

How can Ganesha help you in your daily life?

In India, Ganesha is usually the first god at the entrance of a temple, so he is the first one people pray to. Since he is the god of beginnings and helps to achieve one's goals, he is also invoked at the beginning of each new activity so that he can remove any obstacles.

Celebrating Ganesha is quite simple. You can simply have a representation of Ganesha, which you can even make yourself if you are a bit handy, and offer him some sweets or simply a banana or honey. Then you can repeat the mantra "Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha" ("Greetings to you, Ganapati") a few times and ask him to remove all obstacles to the realization of your goal.

According to it, it can bring you:

1. Prosperity by helping you to find the motivation to achieve your goals

2. Good luck by bringing you a fulfilled life

3. Wisdom & knowledge

4. Success by guiding you on the right path and giving you the courage to overcome your fears by removing obstacles that may stand in the way of your plans. In this case, you may want to use the mantra: "Om Gam Vignaraja Namaha" (Greetings to you, the remover of obstacles).

5. Patience in helping you to focus on your inner strengths. This is a good deity to invoke if you have fears and anxiety about the future.

6. Less negativity, because he is a jovial god

7. More serenity in your life, by helping you to see things more clearly and from a new perspective, especially thanks to the wisdom and knowledge he embodies.

But what is the yoga pose that represents Ganesha, you may ask?

Drum roll.......If you've been following me for a while, you may have guessed...Here's a hint: it's my favorite arm pose.....

Yes, it is! The elephant trunk pose or Eka Hasta Bhujasana in Sanskrit.

You can see the elephant's head, right?

This is a great pose to strengthen your entire upper body, but also to work on your hip, wrist, and shoulder mobility.

If you want to know more about the elephant trunk pose, how to warm up (in pictures and video), and discover easy variations to practice it, it's here: Boost your confidence with the elephant trunk pose: our tips and modifications (in French)

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