Shri Ganesha is considered to be the god of obstacles and wisdom in Hinduism. His name is taken first at the beginning of any auspicious work. Shri Ganesha is known by many names, such as Vighnaharta (remover of obstacles), Buddhi Vinayak (giver of wisdom and knowledge), and Ganapati (lord of the Ganas). He is mainly worshipped to wish for a successful life and prosperity.
Some important aspects of the importance of Shri Ganesha
Vighnaharta (remover of obstacles): Shri Ganesha is considered to be the god who removes obstacles. Ganesha Puja is performed before the beginning of any auspicious work so that the work can be completed without any obstacles. Worship of Shri Ganesh is considered essential especially in marriage, housewarming, business start-up, and other religious rites.
God of wisdom and knowledge: Shri Ganesh is worshipped as a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and discretion. He inspires us to take decisions in the right direction and act wisely. Students and scholars especially worship him so that they can achieve success and progress in their studies.
Giver of good luck and prosperity: Shri Ganesh is worshipped as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. People worship him so that they get financial stability and happiness. He removes every kind of crisis and difficulty and showers good luck.
Following religion and duty: Shri Ganesh teaches us to follow religion and duty. He teaches that work done with a true heart is the key to success. Worshipping him awakens a sense of religion and duty in a person.
Cultural significance:Ganesh Chaturthi, which is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha, is a major Indian festival. This festival is celebrated with great pomp especially in Maharashtra and other states. On this occasion, idols of Ganesha are installed, and they are worshipped for 10 days. It concludes with Visarjan, in which the idol is immersed in water.
Shri Ganesh in daily life: The blessings of Shri Ganesha are important not only in big tasks, but also in our everyday life. He teaches us that every task should be done with patience and perseverance. Whether it is small or big, worshipping him gives us confidence and stability.
Symbolic form of Ganesha: Shri Ganesha has an elephant face and human body which have symbolic significance. His large head symbolizes wisdom, while his small eyes signify the ability to see deeply. His large belly symbolizes tolerance and patience, and his small feet signify that one should live life with stability, but it is also necessary to be active at the right time.
Four Arms: The four arms of Shri Ganesha symbolize energy spreading in four directions. These arms also represent four qualities: wisdom, prudence, strength and devotion.
Spiritual Significance: Shri Ganesha is also a symbol of spiritual guidance. He inspires us to abandon ego and follow the path of meditation and devotion. His vehicle Mushak (rat) symbolizes ego, which needs to be controlled.
Appearance of Shri Ganesha
The appearance of Shri Ganesha is very distinctive and symbolic. He has the head of an elephant and the body of a human. He has four hands in which he holds different objects:
One hand holds an Ankush (tool to control elephant), which symbolizes control over mind and senses.
The second hand holds Paash (noose), which symbolizes devotion and pulling towards truth.
The third hand holds Modak (laddu), which symbolizes his love of contentment and sweetness.
The fourth hand is in a blessing pose, which symbolizes his protection and blessings to his devotees.
Stories of Shri Ganesha
There are many stories associated with Shri Ganesha, one of the major stories is related to the origin of his head. According to the story, Mother Parvati created Ganesha from the ubtan of her body and ordered him to guard her chamber. When Lord Shiva returned and Ganesha prevented him from entering, Shivji got angry and beheaded him. Later, on Parvati's request, Shiva attached the head of a baby elephant to Ganesha's body to revive him.
Ganesh Chaturthi: The biggest celebration of the worship of Shri Ganesha is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi. This festival is celebrated with great pomp especially in Maharashtra and other states. During Ganesh Chaturthi, devotees install Ganesha idols in their homes and public places and worship them for ten days. On the last day, during Visarjan, Ganesha idols are immersed in water bodies, which is a wonderful scene of devotion and celebration.
