Lord Ganesha – the Hindu God in human form but with an elephant head. Wide mouth, a huge pot belly, twisted trunk and large ears. Elephant head -- symbolises wisdom, understanding and discriminating intellect that one must possess to attain perfection, his human body signifies Maya or worldly existence of human beings. His trunk represents OM the primordial sound of this cosmos. The trunk: There is no human instrument that has an operating range as wide as that of an elephant’s trunk .It can uproot a tree, yet at the same time, it can pick up small things from the ground. Likewise the human mind should be strong to face ups and downs in life, yet delicate enough to develop subtler qualities of understanding, compassion and empathy. A mouse sitting near the feet of Ganesha .The mouse symbolises ego that can nibble all that is good and noble in a person. The mouse sitting at gazing at the ladoos and resisting his temptation is exhibiting great Self-control. The visarjan ceremony represents the concept of Samasarcycle of birth death and rebirth. This fate befalls all living creatures including humans as life is fleeting and once the soul departs from our body, the corporeal form then perishes and returns to the natural elements, only to be reconstituted in another body in the subsequent life cycle. The purpose of such ceremonies is to replenish our spiritual reserves and to remind us that material wealth is transitory and is of no use to the soul. The process of visarjan teaches us detachment and to realise that our own body, which we cherish and pamper will one day be reduced to base elements.
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 11:10:08 +0000
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