Who is Ganesha? Discover EVERYTHING about this important God

If you are interested in non-traditional religions of the eastern world, you have probably heard or seen an image of Ganesha. Represented by a person sitting cross-legged in a peculiar way, with the head of an elephant and with 4 arms, Lord Ganesha is the God of wisdom and fortune for Hinduism.

However, people do not worship him just because he is related to intellect and abundance. God Ganesha is one of the most important gods in Hindu culture, considered the “Destroyer of Obstacles”.

But who is Ganesha? To answer this question, check out the fascinating history of this God, his representations and meanings. In addition, we will translate all the symbols of his image so that you understand his importance.

Who is Ganesha?

Known as the “Destroyer of Obstacles” (Vinayaka, in Hinduism), Lord Ganesha is considered the ultimate symbol of intellect, logical awareness and fortune. Therefore, he is represented by the God of wisdom, according to Hindu tradition.

Thus, Ganesha is a very important God of this culture for being the first son of Shiva (supreme God, “Destroyer and Regenerator”) and Parvati (Mother God). With the influence of these two powerful representations of Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is the one who opens the way with logical and intelligent solutions.

Traditionally, his followers were businessmen and merchants. That’s because Ganesha symbolizes good fortune and success, with his intelligence to find rational ways out of financial problems.

However, nowadays, God Ganesha is also respected by people who find themselves in difficulties and need divine guidance. This is because of your power to remove obstacles with your knowledge and education.

Ganesha Mantra

The Ganesha mantra is one of the most popular in Hindu culture for symbolizing Om (“primordial sound”). In the Tamil language (spoken in southern India), the syllable Om is considered sacred and represents the head of the God Ganesha.

Therefore, the Ganesha mantra is one of the most used by people who seek to attract prosperity and the removal of obstacles, both material and spiritual. That is, if you find yourself stuck in a problem, count on the wisdom of Ganesha to find a way out.

Check out Ganesha’s mantra and its translation:

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah

I salute you, lord of the troops

• Oh: the primordial invocation, connects the devotee and the God Ganesha;
• Gam: it means to go, to move, to depart, to come, to approach, to unite;
• Ganapati: symbolizes Ganesha, Ghana (troop) and Pati (lord);
• namah: Namas is worship.

Interested in the Ganesha mantra? So, watch the video below and perform your practice with a good meditation:

Ganesha Chakra

Lord Ganesha resides in the first chakra, the Muladhara, as he is the God of letters, intelligence, learning and fortune. In this chakra, the divine force is found, that is, Ganesha resides in each person.

Situated towards the base of the spine, the Ganesha chakra is what keeps us grounded and in touch with the spirit world. Furthermore, he governs the powerful forces that fuel our lives.

Learn to harmonize your chakras to have a more balanced life aligned with your vital energies.

The image of Ganesha translated

In both the eastern and western world, it is possible to find the image of Ganesha in any space of faith. That’s because every detail of his image has a mystical symbol that represents the power of Ganesha.

So, according to the Hindu religion, discover the image of Ganesha and its meanings below.

Check out other sacred tools of the Hindu religion:

The head

Ganesha’s head is represented by an elephant, indicating intelligence, faithfulness and his discriminatory power. His only prey symbolizes his ability to overcome life’s dualisms.

Her ears wide open mean her ability to listen when people seek spiritual guidance. So, they are considered as the symbol of wisdom, because it is necessary to know how to listen in order to be able to help with the knowledge of Ganesha.

Ganesha’s intellect is symbolized by his curved trunk, manifesting his power to discriminate between what is real and what is not. On his forehead is drawn the trishula trident (Shiva’s weapon) to show Ganesha’s superiority over time (past, present and future).

The belly

Ganesha’s belly is big enough to carry the “infinite universes”, both the bounty of nature and tranquility of spirit. In addition, his belly serves to absorb the sufferings of the Universe and protect beings and the world.

The legs

In his image, Ganesha has one leg bent, as if resting, and the other standing, always alert. The symbol of his legs shows the need to maintain a participatory experience in the material and spiritual world.

The arms

Ganesha has four arms and each one represents the subtle body qualities:

• Manas: the mind;
• Budhi: the intellect;
• Ahamkara: the ego;
• Chitta: conditioned consciousness.

Lord Ganesha represents Atman (pure consciousness), allowing the good functioning of the four attributes in human beings.

The hands

Ganesha’s first hand holds a hatchet to destroy the obstacles that are imposed by desire and that result in pain and suffering. Furthermore, the hatchet leads us in search of the truth.

His second hand holds a whip as the force that leads people towards faith in God, forgetting worldly attachments and desires. The third hand is in a blessing and protection pose, indicating the devotee.

Finally, the fourth hand of Ganesha is holding the lotus flower (padma) which signifies the realization of your true self as the main goal of human evolution.

Ganesha and the mouse

The image of Ganesha is mounted on a mouse (Mushika), representing his divine vehicle. Therefore, the mouse symbolizes detailed investigation to solve a difficult problem. That is, the symbol represents the knowledge and cunning of Ganesha.

Lord Ganesha’s vehicle teaches that people should always be mindful and alert to illuminate the inner self with the light of wisdom. However, another interpretation holds that the rat reflects the ego, desires and pride of individuality. By riding the mouse, Ganesha becomes the master of these tendencies with the power to control them.

The God Ganesha is an important figure in Hindu culture with his power to open paths, attract prosperity and bring wisdom to afflicted minds.