GANAPATI

Mythology has an amazing capacity to grow and alter itself in order to accommodate the desires and aspirations of the people it belongs to. Stories of Indian Gods and Goddesses are perpetually alive and ever mutating. While these Gods are endowed with their own individual traits and qualities, myths and legends based on them are varied, each part of India contributing its own version of a story.

It is only natural, therefore, that the myths surrounding Ganesha or Ganapati, come accompanied with their own versions to various stories. Ganesha's birth, for example, is interpreted in many ways but what is common to all - and therefore what exists as the important truth - is the fact that he is never born from the sexual union of Siva and Parvati. He is created by either one or the other parent in a number of ways. It could be from Siva's sweat, or rubbings from Parvati's own body as the following extract from the Matsya Purana defines.

"Then she rubbed scented oil mixed with powder over her body and rubbed that dirt off into a human form which had the head of an elephant. Parvati playfully threw that son into the Ganges where he became so large that he extended himself as big as the world".

Parvathi had long craved for a son which Siva the ascetic had denied her. In the Brhaddharma Purana he explains himself to her. "Householders need sons and wealth, and a wife is necessary to obtain a son, and sons are necessary for making offerings to the ancestors. But I do not die, Goddess, and so why do I need a son?". In some stories, Parvathi in her loneliness created Ganesha when Siva had gone for a long time to Mount Kailash. Ganesha served as the doorkeeper in order to keep away all intruders. When Siva returned home neither he nor Ganesha knew who the other one was. An altercation followed and Siva in great rage, severed Ganesha's head. Parvathi was furious at the outcome and in order to placate her, Siva sent his ganas - his dwarf - like devotees - to return with the first head they could find. They came back with the head of an elephant with which he was able to revive Ganesha and appease Parvathi. Ganesh became Ganapati as Siva made him the leader of his ganas.

Parvathi in her turn proclaimed that he will be worshipped by all and become the remover of obstacles.

Right till the present time Ganesha continues to stir the Indian imagination in his role of guardian and protector. As the remover of obstacles he is worshipped before the commencement of an important occasion, whether it be a journey, a new business, the inauguration of a house or any other important undertaking. Ganesha demands obeisance, failing which he can create obstacles rather than remove them. 'Om Sri Ganesha Namah' (Homage to Lord Ganesha) is a chant often heard from the devotees of the elephant God.

He is particularly adored in Maharashtra where Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in a spirit of great communal involvement. Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the fourth day of the bright lunar half of the month that includes August and September. Images of Ganesha are taken into the streets amidst great prayer and singing, eventually to be sub-merged in the ocean or any expanse of water, depending on the location.

Some interpretations of the Ganesha legend tell us that he never married while others say he did and that it is his brother Subramaniam (Skanda) who remained unmarried. Ganesha can be perceived as an unmarried man in Karnataka or a married God in Bengal. In all probability this could be true the other way round as well. His two wives Buddhi and siddhi accepted as symbolic concepts, Ganesh being symbolically wedded to wisdom (Buddhi) and its rewards (Siddhi). The iconographic content of Gods and Goddesses of the Indian pantheon is never complete without the presence of the vahana or the carrier of the Gods. If Siva's carrier is Nandi the bull, Subramaniam's vehicle is the peacock whereas Ganesha's vahana is Moushika the rat. Moushika was an asura (demon) in the form of a huge rat, wily, cunning and strong. He was defeated by Ganesha in a battle of wits and strength who then reduced him in size and made him his vehicle. An elephant seated upon a mouse or a rat can visually seem incongruous but it suggests the agility and grace that Ganesha possess.

A final homage to the Elephant God, by Sri Sankaracharya

Moushika Vahana, Modaga Hasta, Chaamara Karna, Vilambit Sutra, Vamana Roopa, Maheshwara Putra, Vignavinayaka, Pada Namaste.

• Seated on Moushika the vehicle,
• Holding a sweetmeat in his hand,
• the Elephant-eared wearer of the sacred thread,
• The dwarf-like son of Lord Siva,
• And remover of obstacles,
• I touch your lotus feet.

The picture shows a vivid collection of Vinayaka images by Sri P. Siva Prasad, Artist, TTD. The collection includes 260 idols of the Elephant-faced God in Varying sizes from 1.5 cm to 10 cm, made of precious stones, gold and silver. He also has a good collection of Ganesa paintings in oil and water colour.