Lord Ganesha - The Remover Of Obstacles

Lord Ganesha, also known as Ganapati or Vinayaka, is the Lord of Beginnings and the remover of obstacles in both the material and spiritual world. Ganesha is a much-loved deity and is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

According to the Yoga sutra, Lord Ganesha is the ruler of the first of seven chakras that are present in our body. The first chakra is also known as the "root chakra," or Muladhara chakra. It is present at the base of the spinal column; the sacral plexus. The root chakra is the center of physical experience and represents the element of earth. It is the interface between the material world and the spiritual world. This is where Shakti or the Divine Mother sleeps in the form of a serpent. It is mentioned in Ganapati Athravashirsa that "Lord Ganesha is the Lord of Muladhara Chakra acting as a primal force that supports the foundation of every aspect of life. By worshiping or meditating upon Lord Ganesha, he helps us remove all the barriers that stop us from achieving our highest goals in life."

Lord Ganesha is the first to be worshipped during any celebration. Ganesha is not only worshipped in Hindu households but also has gained popularity in western culture.

Lord Ganesha's symbolism is related to protecting us from life's gross and subtle obstacles.

His Large Head symbolizes intelligence and immense wisdom

His Large Ears represent the ability to listen to many people.

He has small eyes for concentrating and one-eyed focus.

His small mouth means to talk less.

His broken tusk represents sacrifice, and retaining the good but throwing away bad that we do not need in life.

His Large belly indicates generosity and total acceptance.

The Mouse represents desire well under control.

The Food at the feet of Ganesha represents material wealth and power.

Ganesha's four hands hold various objects. In one of his hands, he holds a rope, which represents spiritual knowledge that can pull towards the ultimate goal of self-realization. In another hand he holds an ax, to cut all attachments to the material world. The Modak in his third hand represents rewards for sadhana (spiritual pursuit). His fourth hand shows a mudra, which means blessings to those who worship him.

Ganesha Mantras

Basic Ganesha Mantra

"Om Gam Ganpataye Namah"

Benefit: Recite this mantra to ward off any negativities of one's life and ensure success in all the new ventures.