Loving Ganesha: Chapter 6 (Section 1) - Sacred Symbols--Punyalakshanani

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Hope this finds you all well. I haven't posted any Loving Ganesha lately due to

being a bit ill, however, back on my feet now and should resume approximately

daily postings from here on.

 

This posting is the first section of chapter 6, Sacred Symbols, it can be found

at http://www.himalayanacademy.com/books/lg/lg_ch-06.html.

 

 

Om Shanti,

 

Neil

 

 

 

Punyalakshanani

Sacred Symbols

ELICITOUS EMBLEMS, INSIGNIA AND ICONS ARE attributed to each of the Hindu Gods

and Goddesses to symbolize the manifest mental powers of that particular Third

World Mahadeva. The vitarka mudra, -- gesture of debate -- is associated with

Lord Ganeshaa, as are red and yellow flowers. Everywhere the elephant

symbolizes strength, intelligence and majestic poise. So honored was the

elephant among the creatures that it was used in regal days to select a

successor to the throne. In ancient Bharat the superiority of a maharaja's army

was measured by the strength of his elephant brigade -- the largest kraal on

record being 5,000, owned by Rajaraja Chola. In India, the white elephant is a

symbol of purity (elephants, despite their size, are pure vegetarians), and its

birth was said to usher in an era of prosperity and plenitude for the entire

nation. There are many stories surrounding visions of a white elephant,

including that which the mother of Prince Siddhartha had before his birth. In

this chapter of Loving Ganesha we describe briefly some of the traditional

symbols and their meanings.

"His four arms stand for His immense power in helping humanity. The noose and

the goad borne in two of His hands stand for His all-pervasiveness and grace.

The broken tusk in the right hand shows that He is the refuge for all. His huge

belly is indicative of His tolerance and also signifies that all things, the

entire Universe, are contained in Him. His feet stand for the bestowal of

siddhi and buddhi, attainment of desires and knowledge. The modaka (sweet

goody) in His hand is symbolic of jnana, conferring bliss. His mount, the

shrew, represents the worldly desires which are to be overcome" (M.

Arunachalam, Festivals of Tamil Nadu, 1980, p. 112).Shankha, ConchGanesha

listens to the puja conch's loud sound, reminding Him of elephants' trumpeting

happily in the jungle. He summons, "Come one and all to Me and pray."Ankusha,

GoadLoving Ganesha's deliberate mind prods dullards on in their birth karmas

whenever they tarry. with His ankusha He goads forward all souls that are

moving too slowly.Parashu, AxeLoving Ganesha knows there are difficult times

ahead for some of His devotees. He protects them with His parashu in gentle

ways from evils they have attracted.

Pasha, NooseLoving Ganesa's provident mind, like the noose, draws close those He

loves most dearly and reaches out to encircle and save strayed ones in

extraordinary ways.Vajratrishula, Lightning BoltLoving Ganesha, like His

brother Murugan, wields a sure weapon, the lightning bolt: spirit over mind,

mind over matter, ruling both the higher and lower chakras.Chakra, DiscusLoving

Ganesha holds the discus, symbol of the sun and of the mind, as the moon

symbolizes the emotions. Employed as a weapon, it is the intellect divinely

empowered.

Modakapatra, Bowl of SweetsLoving Ganesha is said to have a sweet tooth, or

tusk. But the modaka ball is a symbol of what He loves most, moksha,

liberation, the sweetest of all things sweet.Gada, MaceLoving Ganesha is

decisive and commanding, as symbolized by gada, His mace. He casts karmas back

on devotees for resolution, never letting up until completion.Chhuri,

DaggerLoving Ganesha sometimes holds the dagger, keenly sharp, likened to the

"razor's edge," the narrow and sometimes difficult path the spiritual aspirant

must walk.

Rudraksha Mala, Prayer BeadsLoving Ganesha sits at Lord Siva's holy feet with

japa mala, His prayer beads, in hand, waiting for instruction from the Supreme

Lord of all the Gods, His father.Pushpashara, Flower ArrowLoving Ganesha shoots

flower-covered arrows from His sugar cane bow in guidance to devotees, so they

will not wander too far from dharma's path of true fulfillment.Amritakumbha,

Pot of NectarLoving Ganesha receives a bath whenever a worshiper knocks his

temples with arms crossed. The amrita flows from the sahasrara down to His seat

at the muladhara's base.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loving Ganesha by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

 

Web sites: http://www.hindu.org/ & http://www.himalayanacademy.com/

email: contact (AT) hindu (DOT) org

Himalayan Academy Kauai's Hindu Monastery107 Kaholalele RoadKapaa, HI 96746-9304

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Namaste Shri Neilji,

 

Sorry to hear you'd been ill but mighty glad you're now back to

normal. Wonderful to see you around! Sincere thanks for all the

wonderful postings from "Loving Ganesha" which many of us enjoy and

appreciate.

 

Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah,

Sy

 

, "Neil" <pashu@t...> wrote:

> Namaste,

>

> Hope this finds you all well. I haven't posted any Loving Ganesha

lately due to being a bit ill, however, back on my feet now and

should resume approximately daily postings from here on.

>

> This posting is the first section of chapter 6, Sacred Symbols, it

can be found at http://www.himalayanacademy.com/books/lg/lg_ch-

06.html.

>

>

> Om Shanti,

>

> Neil