GANESHA is that aspect of creative intelligence which removes obstacles to success, happiness, and fulfillment.

GANESHA is that aspect of creative intelligence which removes obstacles to success, happiness, and fulfillment. Beloved by Hindus as a rotund deity with an elephant's head on a human body, he has been likened to the Laughing Buddha and the monk Pu-tai of Chinese legend (both associated with the future Buddha, Maitreya); to Janus, the two-headed god of Rome; and even to Santa Claus, grantor of boons and gifts.

Ganesha is the Lord of Beginnings, invoked at the start of every new endeavor. He is called the Gatekeeper, and his image is placed at the doorways of homes and temples, mediating the realms of sacred and profane space. His dwelling place is the threshold. Ganesha is also the god of education, knowledge, and wisdom, and patron of art, science, and literature. In reality, He is Brahman, the One Reality.

In the most popular story regarding Ganesha's birth, told in the Puranas, the Divine Mother Parvati, created a childlike form from the dirt of her own body and breathed life into it. She appointed him to stand guard at the door of the palace while she bathed, and when Lord Shiva returned home, the boy prevented him from entering. In a rage, Shiva cut off the boy's head. In order to console the grief-stricken Parvati, Shiva sent out His troops (ganas), who found an elephant sleeping and severed its head. Shiva attached the head to the child's body and revived him. He named the boy Ganapati, which, like the name Ganesha, means commander of troops. The troops are the deities in Shiva's retinue; more broadly they are all living beings in creation; symbolically they are thoughts and desires. As the material manifestation of the mind (manas) of Lord Shiva, Ganesha is also lord of the five elements (earth, air, fire, water, and ether). ✨🐘🕉👁🌀🙏🏻

Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah ~ ✨🐘✨