India is the land of vibrant colors, festivals, art, and Hinduism. Indian culture is one of the oldest known to all of humanity and their religion of Hinduism equals it in every way. Hinduism in embedded into all aspects of Indian society. One can see the impacts on their art, architecture, literature and the very society in which the people live and work. One of the most important aspects of the world’s third largest religion, is the belief in the elephant-headed God, Lord Ganesh. He has been a staple in Hinduism since his inception and has vastly influenced many aspects of Indian society and culture. Lord Ganesh is the most influential God of Hinduism and directly affects the daily lives of all practicing and non-practicing Hindus in India past and present.
The religion of Hinduism is practiced by over 900 million people from India, Nepal and spans to the far reaches of Western societies. Polytheistic, or the belief in many gods, Hinduism differs from many other conventional religions in many ways. One major difference is that there is no one person or group responsible for creating the religion. No one really knows who had a hand in creating Hinduism only that certain aspects are still in use to this day. There is also no one book of scriptures. Instead there are three important epics or poems telling of their stories. One of these is the Mahabharata, which is believed to have been scribed by Lord Ganesh. Their swamis, or teachers, also have differing ideas and opinions on what to teach in regard to the faith and how to teach it, but one thing shared among all Hindus is the belief in their gods.
Lord Ganesh did not appear in written scripture or in iconography until about 500 B.C.E. The rise of Ganesh’s prominence came during the ninth century C.E. when he was formally included as one of the five primary deities of Smartism. This system was popularized among the Brahmin orthodox as a way to unite all the branches of Hinduism. It is believed that Ganesh is the son of the gods Shiva and Parvati, but like everything else in Hindu religion, this story has different interpretations and versions. Some believe he is the son, others say he was created to protect Parvati, while still others claim he was discovered. The common belief in his godliness is that he is the Lord of Good Fortune and who’ll bring with him prosperity, fortune and success. He is also the Lord of Beginnings and the Remover of obstacles. It is believed he can put obstacles in people’s paths if they are in need of a reality check. For these reasons, he is given tribute daily. Before any traveling, marriages, new endeavors of any kind, and at the start of the business day.
There are many different versions of Lord Ganesh’s iconography, but one thing remains the same. He is always seen as a man with the head of an elephant. He is usually shown with a round fat belly, and four arms. There are, however, depictions showing Lord Ganesh with as many as sixteen arms. He is often shown with his broken tusk in his lower right hand, a laddus or sweets with his lower left hand, an axe or a goad is seen in the upper right hand and a noose in his upper left. Pictured around his belly is a belt, but not just any ordinary belt. This belt is a snake. Modern depictions do not include the broken tusk, but his hand turned towards the worshipper. This pose is referred to as the abhaya mudra or the pose of protection and fearlessness. All of these symbols mean something very specific to Lord Ganesh and his responsibilities to the Hindu faithful with the number of arms corresponding to the number of items he is depicted with. Other symbols usually associated with Lord Ganesh are the lotus blossom, water lily, mace, discus, a rosary, musical instrument, a spear and a mouse.
The worship of Lord Ganesh varies just as widely as his iconography and his stories of being. There is almost no mention of him in the Hindu epics. However, there are some rather small mentions in puranas and Vedas written about Lord Ganesh, but it is not known to whom or when this text was compiled or written. Many are from more modern eras. Many mantras or Hindu temples are used to worship Ganesh. These tributes and temples can be found throughout many countries reaching from India to the Far East and to the western hemisphere. These idols and temples are typically placed where there is some element of danger. Whether this be a river crossing, steep mountainside, or on every street corner. Hindu faithful will often chant Ganesha Sahasranamas, or “a thousand names of Ganesha.” Each chant is calling upon one of his many divine qualities. During this process offerings are typically made. These offerings are frequently a type of sweet. The worship of Lord Ganesh is considered to be complementary with the worship of other Hindu deities. For this reason, all sects of the Hindu religion begin their ceremonies and prayers with an invocation of Ganesh. His worship extends to beyond the temple. As mentioned earlier, he is worshiped and praised in all aspects of life. For example, many in India will first place an icon of Ganesh in a new home with the intention of him bringing their home protection and good luck. He is also the focus of an elaborate celebration known as Ganesh Chaturthi and lasts 10 days. Each day brings different icons and different festivities all being dedicated to Lord Ganesh. This is one of the most celebrated festivals throughout the whole of India. Millions of people participate in this festival each year.
Lord Ganesh has three very specific functions throughout the Hindu world. First, being the remover and creator of obstacles. Second, the god of Buddhi or intelligence and lastly, the personification of the sound AUM. As the remover and creator of obstacles, Ganesh is responsible for both the material and the spiritual order of things. For this reason, he is referred to as the gatekeeper of shrines and is said to corrupt the minds of those he finds unworthy. He fills the minds of the unfit with delusions and desires. Keeping this mind, Ganesh does not create or remove obstacles only for the benefit of the virtuous. He is to uphold the astrophysical order. He can do this in many ways, but both gods and people are at the mercy of Ganesh. Buddhi is closely related to the stories of Ganesh especially during the Puranic period. During this period stories would tell of his love for intellect. This would lead to Ganesh being asked to scribe some of the Mahabharata. Being associated with the sacred sound of Aum is key to understanding Lord Ganesh. Aum is the fundamental sound of the universe according to the Hindu faithful. Hindus believe that he alone is the personification of this sound.
Lord Ganesh touches all facets of Hindu life. The iconography has spread across the globe and is one of the most revered deities of Hinduism. He can also be found in Buddhism and many other eastern religions. Whether a person is getting married, purchasing a new car or home, opening their business for the day, or any number of things, people call on Lord Ganesh. By paying homage to him, they believe that he will grant them success in all that they do. It is easy to see how something so revered could infiltrate all aspects of a culture. Truly, Lord Ganesh can be seen as the most influential god in all of the Hindu world from antiquity to present.