Ganesh Chaturthi is here and the celebrations for the Lord’s birthday have begun. He is the son of Goddess Parvati and God Shiva.
The name Ganesha or Ganesh or even Ganesa means “Lords of the Ganas”. The ganas are Shiva’s divine army.
Ganesha is easily identified by the elephant head on his body. He has a soft curling trunk and almost always a broken tusk. Ganesha has a child-like body. This is a symbol of being a beloved son of Parvati.
The large belly of Ganesh is his essential attribute. This is reflected in his many names such as Lambodara (Pot Belly) and Mahodara (Great Belly). His belly is said to contain within it, all the universes. This includes the past, the present and the future. On the realm of the mundane, it showcases the love Ganesh possesses for sweets.
He is depicted with four arms although he is shown as having more than two many times. His feet have ornamented bells hanging. This depicts his identity as a dancer, much like his father, Shiva, the cosmic dancer.
Red is the colour most associated with Ganesha, although yellow and white are also favourites of his devotees.
Ganesha’s vehicle is a mouse. It belongs to the category of bandicoot rats. In most Ganesha artworks, he is either shown riding his mouse, or the mouse sitting near his feet, looking up to his master. There is a great symbolism in pairing the rat and the elephant. The elephant can crash through any huge obstacles with sheer brute strength. On the other hand, the mouse can pass through small places without disturbing the larger design.
