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Who's Ganesha?
- Thread starter Renji
- Start date
Ganesh is a Hindu god. Yes, you are asking in the right DIR!
He is the son of Shiva and Parvati and is known as the remover of obstacles. People pray to him for guidance.
Ganesh is depicted as half boy and half elephant
He is believed to be real by certain Hindus. There are also many Hindus who do not believe that the gods in the scriptures are literal, but more symbolic. There are many beliefs in Hinduism.
He is the son of Shiva and Parvati and is known as the remover of obstacles. People pray to him for guidance.
Ganesh is depicted as half boy and half elephant
He is believed to be real by certain Hindus. There are also many Hindus who do not believe that the gods in the scriptures are literal, but more symbolic. There are many beliefs in Hinduism.
Metempsychosis
Reincarnation of 'Anti-religion'
Son of God..Not sure if I'm asking on the right DIR.Anyway, I just got curious. Who is he/she?
Well, I am not very familiar with this deity, so I am getting my info from reading online.
The 4 arms represent his power over 4 categories of entities: those who live only in the water, those who live in water and earth, those who only live on earth and those who can fly.
"The physical attributes of Ganesha are themselves rich in symbolism. He is normally shown with one hand in the abhaya pose of protection and refuge and the second holding a sweet (modaka), symbolic of the sweetness of the realized inner self. In the two hands behind him he often holds an ankusha (elephant goad) and a pasha (noose). The noose is to convey that worldly attachments and desires are a noose. The goad is to prod man to the path of righteousness and truth. With this goad Ganesha can both strike and repel obstacles. His pot belly signifies the bounty of nature and also that Ganesha swallows the sorrows of the Universe and protects the world."
Ganesha: The Elephant-Headed God - ReligionFacts
The rat is seen as the symbol for destroying obstacles, since rats are known for being able to gnaw through many things.
"The mouse is interpreted in several ways. According to Grimes, "Many, if not most of those who interpret Gaṇapati's mouse, do so negatively; it symbolizes tamoguṇa as well as desire".[78] Along these lines, Michael Wilcockson says it symbolizes those who wish to overcome desires and be less selfish.[79] Krishan notes that the rat is destructive and a menace to crops. The Sanskrit word mūṣaka (mouse) is derived from the root mūṣ (stealing, robbing). It was essential to subdue the rat as a destructive pest, a type of vighna (impediment) that needed to be overcome. According to this theory, showing Ganesha as master of the rat demonstrates his function as Vigneshvara (Lord of Obstacles) and gives evidence of his possible role as a folk grāma-devatā (village deity) who later rose to greater prominence.[80] Martin-Dubost notes a view that the rat is a symbol suggesting that Ganesha, like the rat, penetrates even the most secret places."
Ganesha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The more you find out about Hindu gods and stories, the more you see that it is all very symbolic. I do not think it is meant to be taken literally.
The 4 arms represent his power over 4 categories of entities: those who live only in the water, those who live in water and earth, those who only live on earth and those who can fly.
"The physical attributes of Ganesha are themselves rich in symbolism. He is normally shown with one hand in the abhaya pose of protection and refuge and the second holding a sweet (modaka), symbolic of the sweetness of the realized inner self. In the two hands behind him he often holds an ankusha (elephant goad) and a pasha (noose). The noose is to convey that worldly attachments and desires are a noose. The goad is to prod man to the path of righteousness and truth. With this goad Ganesha can both strike and repel obstacles. His pot belly signifies the bounty of nature and also that Ganesha swallows the sorrows of the Universe and protects the world."
Ganesha: The Elephant-Headed God - ReligionFacts
The rat is seen as the symbol for destroying obstacles, since rats are known for being able to gnaw through many things.
"The mouse is interpreted in several ways. According to Grimes, "Many, if not most of those who interpret Gaṇapati's mouse, do so negatively; it symbolizes tamoguṇa as well as desire".[78] Along these lines, Michael Wilcockson says it symbolizes those who wish to overcome desires and be less selfish.[79] Krishan notes that the rat is destructive and a menace to crops. The Sanskrit word mūṣaka (mouse) is derived from the root mūṣ (stealing, robbing). It was essential to subdue the rat as a destructive pest, a type of vighna (impediment) that needed to be overcome. According to this theory, showing Ganesha as master of the rat demonstrates his function as Vigneshvara (Lord of Obstacles) and gives evidence of his possible role as a folk grāma-devatā (village deity) who later rose to greater prominence.[80] Martin-Dubost notes a view that the rat is a symbol suggesting that Ganesha, like the rat, penetrates even the most secret places."
Ganesha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The more you find out about Hindu gods and stories, the more you see that it is all very symbolic. I do not think it is meant to be taken literally.
Lawrence: Here is an on line book that will tell you what each of the 4 hands holds, Mushika and a lot more.
Loving Ganesha: Table of Contents
Personally I believe he's very real, as a force, or area of consciousness. In fact, I'm off to one of his temples this morning. Think of him as your best big friend or brother, capable of helping out in oh so many ways.
I'm one of those Hindus that sees Gods as absolutely real.
Loving Ganesha: Table of Contents
Personally I believe he's very real, as a force, or area of consciousness. In fact, I'm off to one of his temples this morning. Think of him as your best big friend or brother, capable of helping out in oh so many ways.
I'm one of those Hindus that sees Gods as absolutely real.
Almost every deity is depicted with a vahana, a "vehicle" or mount they ride. Shiva's is Nandi the bull; Vishnu's is Garuda the eagle; Maa Durga's is a tiger; Ganesha's is the rat. Each of them have symbolism.
Yes, the multiple arms of a deity represent their power in that incarnation. Maa Durga and Maa Kali are usually shown with 8-10 arms to show how much power they wield in battle over evil forces.
This is BalaGanesh, (Ganesha when he was a boy, or baby) and not the usual way He is depicted. Its far more likely He is full-grown.
Two of the arms have the noose and the goad. The goad is used to keep you away from adharma (probably best understood as sin when comparing with Abrahamism) and the noose is used to pull you toward dharma (virtuous conduct and more) . Of all Hindu deities, He works closest with the world, and is the most easily felt.
Gaura Priya
IRL
I still love the Ganesha Deities out there. Some of them can be so cute!
OR
Mushika is so cute!
It's discouraged in my culture to have depictions of the devatas and even our conception of the Supreme God, with various other limitations, but I do like these Deities.
OR
Mushika is so cute!
It's discouraged in my culture to have depictions of the devatas and even our conception of the Supreme God, with various other limitations, but I do like these Deities.
A carved wooden Ganesha watches over me at work.
(Lakshmi does too.)
(Lakshmi does too.)
Wow. I'm impressed. Ganesha really does get around. Do you give him a glance once in a while to aid in the wit? I always thought there would be a name for "God of Humour'... http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/articledt.php?art_id=157
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I just enjoy seeing Ganesha.
I'd never ask for aid.
I'd never ask for aid.
Me Myself
Back to my username
I still love the Ganesha Deities out there. Some of them can be so cute!
OR
Mushika is so cute!
It's discouraged in my culture to have depictions of the devatas and even our conception of the Supreme God, with various other limitations, but I do like these Deities.
omg those are awesome!
I am going to take advantage of this thread to share what my gf gave me for 3rd month together, here in the Hindu DIR (I didn´t wanted to make a new thread for it and this one seems good enough for this
)
Now some info of what I´ve read about Ganesha and my personal take:
Ganesha is the son of Shiva and Parvati. As most mythology, there are more than one ways in which he is said to have been born. At least 2 that I know: One was created from mud by Parvati and then given life. Other is that Shiva made him as the expression of his own Buddhi (intelligence/Wisdom)
Many hindu deities can be manifested with many arms or heads and many different symbolisms are drawn from this. From an iconographic point of view, it makes it easier to put stuff in ther hands to alk about different aspects of their nature, in Ganesh example you got thing symbolizing him being the remover of obstacles, the one that remembers you how sweet is devotion and others. Gods can manifest in any way they choose to, this includes many arms. They are gods after all
About the rat I love the symbolism: The rat is Ganesh´s mount and it symbolizes the ego and how he rides pride and not the other way around. It symbolizes how small and petty the ego is, but at the same time how even the ego can be used by deities to do good stuff. The rat also symbolizes that Ganesh can use it to get into the darkest and narrowest places of a devotee´s soul so that he can put his understanding and light in there.
I personally also see it as him being "weightless", in the form that even though he is wide, he has perfect dominion over his weight, or material atributes. Is like having perfect dominion over the effects he has on the world around him. Even on top of the mouse, I am sure the mouse doesn´t feel the weight and can comfortably serve him and lead him to where he needs go.
so well, that´s some ganesh. Also (think it has been said before around here?) he is one very loved deity in hindu because he can help you remove obstacles between you and any god you pray to if you offer a prayer to him before offering a prayer to the god you are to worship.
As a side note of also personal understandings: I think Ganesh is a compassive manifestation of God, as I would guess most hindu gods are. I would say Ganesh is alone the entire creation, the same way shiva is alone the entire creation, and Shakti, and Vishnu all alone the entire creation as you and me are the entire creation.
Yah kinda beyond reason all that, let´s say it is a "Gut feeling"
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Me Myself
Back to my username
May you further rejoice then :namaste
Me Myself
Back to my username