Legend has it that while Shiva was away for many years, meditating in the mountains, Parvati, his wife, wished to create a son who could protect her during his absence. She created Ganesha from clay, gave him life, and placed him at the entrance of their home.
One day, Shiva returned home, but Ganesha, who did not know him, blocked his way and would not let him enter. This led to a fight, during which Shiva cut off Ganesha’s head with his weapon, the Trishula. When Parvati saw what had happened, she was devastated and heartbroken, and explained that Ganesha was their son.
Shiva then promised to bring Ganesha back to life. He went into the forest and looked for the first living being he could find. He came across a small elephant that was close to death and asked the elephant mother for permission to take her son’s head. Shiva then placed the elephant’s head on Ganesha’s body, bringing him back to life as a being with an elephant’s head and a human body.
If you look closely, you’ll notice that Ganesha is always accompanied by a small mouse. Who is he? The mouse represents the human mind in constant motion, always seeking new experiences and fleeing from the spiritual light into the shadows of desire. Like the mouse, the mind can be nervous and restless. It can be an ally on our spiritual journey, but it can also very easily become a great obstacle, obscuring our awareness.
Ganesha, the Lord who removes the obstacles in our lives, teaches us that with determination and faith, we can overcome any obstacle and face our fears. His unique form, a human body with an elephant’s head, symbolises harmony between strength and gentleness, teaching us to balance the different aspects of our lives.
Acceptance, humility, devotion and faith are the lessons Ganesha shares with us. Invoked at important moments, he represents trust in something greater, revealing the divine presence that permeates our being. His story of death and renewal echoes the cycle of life, reminding us of impermanence and of the need to embrace change.
There are many mantras dedicated to Ganesha. Here is a simple, yet very powerful one:
Om gam ganapataye namah
Silvia