✦ Lord Ganesha ✦
✦ Ganpati, remover of obstacles — the first-worshipped deity ✦
✦ About Lord Ganesha ✦
Epithets: Ganpati, Ganesha, Vinayaka, Vighnaharta, Lambodara, Ekadanta, Gajanana, Siddhi-Vinayaka, Modakapriya
Lord Ganesha — the elder son of Shiva-Parvati, leader of the ganas, remover of obstacles, and presiding deity of intellect. In Hindu tradition, every undertaking begins with "Sri Ganeshaya Namah" — hence he is the "first-worshipped".
Puranic legend — Parvati created a boy to guard her bath chamber. Shiva's anger severed his head; on Parvati's lament, Shiva attached an elephant's head to revive him — the Gajanana form.
Every physical feature of Ganesha is a deep symbol — large head (vast intellect), small eyes (subtle vision), big ears (more listening), small mouth (less talking), long trunk (adaptability), wide belly (capacity to absorb everything), single tusk (focus). His mouse-vahana — control over material desires.
✦ Iconography ✦
Elephant-headed, human body. Four-armed — holding the noose (binding), goad (control), modak (sweet fruit), and varada-mudra (boon-giving gesture). A single tusk (the other broken). Naga around the waist, yellow garments. Wide belly, seated or standing on a mouse. Crowned, with tripundra mark on forehead.
✦ Family & Relations ✦
✦ Principal Mantras ✦
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
Meaning: Salutations to Ganapati. The 6-syllabled root mantra — destroyer of all obstacles.
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्य कोटि समप्रभ। निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्व कार्येषु सर्वदा॥
Vakratunda Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha · Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada
Meaning: O Lord with curved trunk and vast body, radiant as ten million Suns — make all my undertakings free of obstacles, always.
ॐ श्री गणेशाय नमः
Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah
Meaning: Salutations to Sri Ganesha — simple invocation mantra.
✦ Symbolism & Meaning ✦
Ganesha is the manifest form of "Omkara" — his body resembles the shape of "Om". Elephant head = prajna (vast intellect); human body = power of action. Four arms = four states (waking, dreaming, deep sleep, turiya). The mouse = the petty ego that intellect-Ganesha rides upon. Modak = the sweet fruit of sadhana — moksha. The single tusk = focus and the renunciation of the seeker.