notes from & inspired by my workshop
reprinted from
Grasping at IntangiblesGanesha
A popular and easily recognized deity in Hindu mythology, is the elephant-headed God, Ganesha.
There are many stories as to how Ganesha came to have his distinctive elephant head. It is said that he was created as a son by Parvati to guard and protect her quarters while her husband Shiva, was away (it seems understandable that the Gods spend a lot of time working away from home). When Shiva came back, he was greeted by this man and told that he could not pass to Parvati’s quarters. Enraged, Shiva cuts off the man’s head, and goes on past to reunite with his wife.
We can imagine that there was some awkwardness in the reunion as Shiva explains the conflict, and Parvati explains that it was her son that was beheaded. Shiva, ever just, restores the man to life, but all that was around by this time, was an elephant’s head (and better elephant-headed than dead).
Ganesha had a brother named Kartikay. Presented with the challenge of racing around the universe and all of creation, Kartikay sets off to do just that, while his brother slowly and simply walks around their parents, showing his understanding, and thus declaring the universe as nothing more or less than his holy parents. Ganesha of course wins the race, and is named Lord (Isha) of all existing beings (Gana).
-He is associated with the root chakra, providing a solid foundation for the other chakras to bloom.
-He is often seen either riding, or near a rat, and this shows his control over ego and vanity.
-The plate of sweets, or “laddu” symbolize the sweetness of purity, the conch shell represents “om”, the sound that creates space both literally and figuratively.
-His broken tusk is what he used to pen the Mahabharata (or “The Story of the Bharata Dynasty”, one of India’s two great epics, the other being the Ramayana or “Ram’s Journey”. The Bhagavad Gita, or “Song of God” is contained in the Mahabharata).
-The swastika, when facing clockwise as it often is in association with Ganesha, symbolizes the universe unfolding and evolving, and is thusly associated with Brahma (facing the opposite direction it would symbolize the universe folding in on itself, and thus be associated with Vishnu).
-To see beyond the physical appearance of this deity is to see beyond the appearance of the challenges that arise, beyond surface illusions, and into a truth that allows us to navigate difficult terrain. As such, Ganesha is the Lord of Removing Obstacles.
peut vous faire anticiper des problèmes qui n’ont pas encore commencé. L’anticipation et les attentes peuvent faire paraître les symptômes plus graves que ce qu’ils sont réellement et dire la différence entre ce qui est physiologique et ce qui est psychologique devient presque impossible. Même après avoir été prévenu, je suis tombé dans ce piège il y a seulement quelques mois.
