Ganesh - Hindu Lord of Many Names

One of the most influential deities of Hinduism, and Dharamic religions in general, Ganesh is the most worshipped divinity in India. Ganesh often revered before exams, the purchase of a new home, a new vehicle, or any new venture. By calling on him people believe that he will come to their aid and grant them success in their endeavors. Devotional chanting and Puja are common forms of religious services. The chanting of Ganesh's thousand names or a short mantra in Sanskrit is done to express love and devotion. Puja (pronounced poo-jah) is a ritual that is performed morning, noon, and night. The ritual consists of inviting the God, making offerings, washing the statue, and bowing or prayers. Home shrines are the center of attention in many Hindu homes. Ganesh having a multitude of names, attributes, and associations is most often recognized by his elephant trunk.

Having many other titles and epithets, Ganesh is sometimes referred to as Ganapati or Pille. The name Ganesha is a Sanskrit compound, joining the words gana and isha. Gana means "a group, multitude, or categorical system" and isha is "lord or master." Ganesha is most commonly known as Vigesha. The name refers to his primary function in Hindu mythology as being able to both create and remove obstacles. In Hinduism the saying, "truth is one, but sages call it by many names," refers to God being of one nature but possessing many different qualities. There are twelve main names used before rituals, but one hundred and eight are recited during Puja. Thirty-two names exist describing the unique features of Ganesh. South India is the main region where fifty-one names are given to Ganesh, every name representing a letter in the Sanskrit alphabet. The Litanies of Ganesh explains the qualities given to invoke the deity.

Attributes of Ganesha include a broken tusk, pot belly, many arms, and different colors. The broken tusk is said to occur from a battle with his father Shiva. Ganesh protecting his mother, who was in the bath, forgot what his father looked like. Shiva had gone away on business and when he returned Ganesha refused to let him in to see the bathing Parvati. Taking a blow to the tusk, it broke off, giving the young Ganesha his distinct one tusk feature. Shiva, accidently beheading his son, had to find a replacement head to bring Ganesh back to life. This is why Ganesh is seen having an elephant head, instead of a human head. The pot belly is a symbol that the God contains the past, present, and future in his great belly. The number of Ganesha's arms varies and represent the many tasks Ganesh can accomplish at anyone given moment. His modern forms have between two and sixteen arms. In early times, he was depicted as having anywhere from two to twenty arms. The colors of this deity are red and yellow. Each color used for the image of Ganesha prescribes certain forms. Different colors are used specifically during meditation practices.

Remover of obstacles, intelligence, the mantra Aum, and the first chakra are associated with Ganesha. He can place obstacles in the path of those who need to be checked, and can remove blockages just as easily. Ganesha's very form is considered "eternal enlightenment," which leads many to suggest the Buddha was an avatar of Ganesh. Ganesha is identified with the Hindu mantra Aum. Aum is the sound the universe makes as it's always in motion. Meditating on this sound can awaken the mind to the truths of nature. The first chakra, positioned below the tip of the tailbone, is where spiritual potential is waiting to be aroused and brought back up to the source from which it originated.The most important festival in India honoring Ganesha is called Ganesh Chaturthi. Images of this deity are immersed into water to make him happy. Dancing and singing are enjoyed on the last day of this festival. Ganesha is the most popular deity within Hinduism and one of the most beloved Gods in existence. His gentle face is comforting and as a remover of obstacles who couldn't love such a great force.