Let's Talk About Ganesh

[JustGeorge]

Father(Shiva) has a thread, so son ought to as well.

Ganesh may be one of the more recognized Hindu deities in the Western World, the elephant's head and round belly catching attention.

He is the good natured, sweet loving remover of obstacles. A favorite of many.

What do you know of Ganesh? What would you like to know?

 

[Tamino]

I like him!
I seem to remember a story about how he got his elephant head ... Something about getting his head cut off by accident or because he was looking at the wrong thing? And it getting replaced by the elephant head. (I should read up on that)

Does he have any association to protecting homes and families? Or is he just about good fortune?

 

[Jedster]

He is the good natured, sweet loving remover of obstacles. A favourite of many.

If I was a theist, I'd choose Ganesh.
However I can still love what he represents (see ⇈).

Many years ago, I read about Ganesh and many other gods and what they represent. I always liked him.
He is welcome in my home.
I'm not a believer, however over the years for some reason I have received as gifts, 2 models, a tapestry and 3 pictures all of Ganesh.

 

[Vinayaka]

Does he have any association to protecting homes and families? Or is he just about good fortune?

Yes, He protects homes. Throughout India, there will be a small shrine of some sort, just inside, or nearby the main door to the home. He welcomes guests, and it's basically saying, "This is a friendly place."

 

[Vinayaka]

Father(Shiva) has a thread, so son ought to as well.

Ganesh may be one of the more recognized Hindu deities in the Western World, the elephant's head and round belly catching attention.

He is the good natured, sweet loving remover of obstacles. A favorite of many.

What do you know of Ganesh? What would you like to know?

View attachment 96469

He's so interesting. In mystic circles with regard to actually relating to the reality of Ganesha, it is well known that of all Gods, He is the easiest to contact. His vibration is closest to this plane, and mind strata of humanity. Personally, I think that is why He is so well known outside of Hindu circles. When Boss and I go into any 'new agey' type of place, or even markets, we play the game of who can first spot a Ganesha. Heck, I've even seen Him at bingo halls, alongside other 'lucky' charms people bring along. There is testimony to that in this thread.

But I do have one pet peeve about His spread to non-Hindus in this way, and that is the pronunciation of His name. For some reason, that error has spread, along with His presence, and vibrations. For those who do not know, the 'e' is a long a sound, so it's Gan (a is a schwa) aish, followed optionally by another schwa. That's why you see Ganesha and Ganesh. In Sanskrit it is Ganesha, in Hindi it's Ganesh. Hindi drops the schwa from Sanskrit, Dharma versus dharm is another example of many.

 

[JustGeorge]

Yes, He protects homes. Throughout India, there will be a small shrine of some sort, just inside, or nearby the main door to the home. He welcomes guests, and it's basically saying, "This is a friendly place."

I still remember my son, while dissociating, making a Ganesh shrine in the upstairs hallway(we all sleep upstairs), and then falling asleep on the floor under it. He didn't seem to really connect what he did later(we aren't really sure how much he remembers when he dissociates). The shrine is still there, though.

He's so interesting. In mystic circles with regard to actually relating to the reality of Ganesha, it is well known that of all Gods, He is the easiest to contact. His vibration is closest to this plane, and mind strata of humanity. Personally, I think that is why He is so well known outside of Hindu circles. When Boss and I go into any 'new agey' type of place, or even markets, we play the game of who can first spot a Ganesha. Heck, I've even seen Him at bingo halls, alongside other 'lucky' charms people bring along. There is testimony to that in this thread.

That's a fun game. My dad's wife likes to thrift shop. She found an "elephant with a Buddha belly". She had called to see if I wanted it, but unfortunately, I missed the call. I still think the way she worded it was funny.

But I do have one pet peeve about His spread to non-Hindus in this way, and that is the pronunciation of His name. For some reason, that error has spread, along with His presence, and vibrations. For those who do not know, the 'e' is a long a sound, so it's Gan (a is a schwa) aish, followed optionally by another schwa. That's why you see Ganesha and Ganesh. In Sanskrit it is Ganesha, in Hindi it's Ganesh. Hindi drops the schwa from Sanskrit, Dharma versus dharm is another example of many.

Now I wonder if I'm saying it wrong. I haven't been corrected, but that doesn't mean anything.

I like him!
I seem to remember a story about how he got his elephant head ... Something about getting his head cut off by accident or because he was looking at the wrong thing? And it getting replaced by the elephant head. (I should read up on that)

Does he have any association to protecting homes and families? Or is he just about good fortune?

In my experience, he's the remover of obstacles. Obstacles can mean many things...

 

[mangalavara]

He's so interesting. In mystic circles with regard to actually relating to the reality of Ganesha, it is well known that of all Gods, He is the easiest to contact. His vibration is closest to this plane, and mind strata of humanity. Personally, I think that is why He is so well known outside of Hindu circles. When Boss and I go into any 'new agey' type of place, or even markets, we play the game of who can first spot a Ganesha. Heck, I've even seen Him at bingo halls, alongside other 'lucky' charms people bring along. There is testimony to that in this thread.

There is an Indian restaurant here that has a nearly empty hall inside. Within the nearly empty hall, there is a sculpture of a bodhisattva behind glass. High up on one of the walls is a figure of Gaṇeśa. When I go there, I offer obeisance to both of them.

 

[Vinayaka]

There is an Indian restaurant here that has a nearly empty hall inside. Within the nearly empty hall, there is a sculpture of a bodhisattva behind glass. High up on one of the walls is a figure of Gaṇeśa. When I go there, I offer obeisance to both of them.

I love your quote about bhakti in your signature line. Bhakti does change everything. One can feel they have some kind of huge problem, then go to the temple, or sing a bhajan with spirit, and then totally forget what that so-called problem even was. I like the other one too, about the names. Very often it is during my very poor astottaram recitation during puja when 'it' hits me.

 

[JustGeorge]

I love your quote about bhakti in your signature line. Bhakti does change everything. One can feel they have some kind of huge problem, then go to the temple, or sing a bhajan with spirit, and then totally forget what that so-called problem even was. I like the other one too, about the names. Very often it is during my very poor astottaram recitation during puja when 'it' hits me.

How does one build Bhakti?

 

[Vinayaka]

How does one build Bhakti?

Tough question. I'm not sure exactly. In those 4 stages I talked about, in charya you feel obligated to worship, but in kriya, you want to worship. I'm sure that practice has a lot to do with it, but as with physical exercise, it's certainly a lot easier if you also see results.

For me, one really BIG realisation on it was to discover and later know without doubt that our Gods are REAL.

That's likely not helpful.

 

[JustGeorge]

Tough question. I'm not sure exactly. In those 4 stages I talked about, in charya you feel obligated to worship, but in kriya, you want to worship. I'm sure that practice has a lot to do with it, but as with physical exercise, it's certainly a lot easier if you also see results.

For me, one really BIG realisation on it was to discover and later know without doubt that our Gods are REAL.

That's likely not helpful.

It's helpful, and not. If that makes sense?

 

[Vinayaka]

It's helpful, and not. If that makes sense?

Yes it makes sense. From a certain perspective, there is nothing that doesn't make sense.

 

[JustGeorge]

Yes it makes sense. From a certain perspective, there is nothing that doesn't make sense.

No matter what, onions in pasta salad will never make sense to me.

 

[Vinayaka]

No matter what, onions in pasta salad will never make sense to me.

Pasta salad makes no sense to me. It destroys the pasta, and certainly is no salad.

 

[JustGeorge]

Pasta salad makes no sense to me. It destroys the pasta, and certainly is no salad.

I agree its no salad...

But it may be the only thing the whole family will eat.

 

[Spice]

I agree its no salad...

But it may be the only thing the whole family will eat.

And I love macaroni salad with onion! LOL

 

[Vinayaka]

I agree its no salad...

But it may be the only thing the whole family will eat.

Yes, that's another story. My version of that story is now over. This outfit went through a lot of pasta, and frozen French fries.

 

[JustGeorge]

Yes, that's another story. My version of that story is now over. This outfit went through a lot of pasta, and frozen French fries.

I've resigned that everyone will eat what they want(that's in the kitchen) when they want. Its not a battle I have the strength to fight.

Pasta in general seems preferred by the little ones. Frozen french fries are a treat for everyone.

Can you believe the kids don't like modak?

 

[Vinidra]

Lord Ganesha makes things happen. His energy is like Kali Maa's in that way. Both of them shake things up and get things moving, though I think Ganesha's brand of doing so is a bit more subtle and, shall we say, tactful than Maa Kali's!

 

[JustGeorge]

Lord Ganesha makes things happen. His energy is like Kali Maa's in that way. Both of them shake things up and get things moving, though I think Ganesha's brand of doing so is a bit more subtle and, shall we say, tactful than Maa Kali's!

I would have never thought of the similarities!