By — Shyamal Sinha
  Weekly drops of wisdom from the banks of Mother Ganga GANESH CHATURTHI A Divine Journey from the Earthen Murti to the Awakening Within Dear Parmarth Family, Jai Gange! Jai Shri Ganesh! Heartfelt wishes to you all on the sacred occasion of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi!  The story of the birth of Lord Ganesha is not merely an ancient sacred story. It represents a profound spiritual journey –From Prakriti to Purusha, from the body to consciousness,and from the limitations of the individual ego to thevastness of universal existence. Maa Parvati created a young boy from the ubtan of her own body. Maa Parvati represents Prakriti, the Divine Mother Nature, and the earth, the body and all physical forms are expressions of that same Prakriti. Young Ganesha, accepting his mother’s instruction as his complete truth, stood guard at the doorway. When Lord Shiva, representing pure consciousness, arrived, Ganesha stopped him from entering. A conflict followed, and Ganesha’s head was severed.    This is not simply an event in a story. The severing of the head symbolizes the dissolution of the limited ego. Only when our narrow identification with the small ‘I’ falls away can a greater, more expansive consciousness awaken within us. At Maa Parvati’s insistence, Lord Shiva gave Ganesha the head of an elephant and made him Ganapati – the Lord of the Ganas.The great elephant head teaches us to develop a vast vision. His large ears remind us to listen deeply, while his small eyes symbolize focus and concentration. His trunk can pick up something as delicate as a needle and also move a mighty tree, beautifully representing the balance between sensitivity and strength, subtlety and power. His single tusk, Ekadanta, reminds us that we cannot hold on to everything in life. Some things must be retained and others released. True wisdom lies in letting go of what is unnecessarywhile holding firmly to what is essential.  His large belly symbolizes the ability to digest all that life brings us. Joy and sorrow, respect and disrespect, success and failure – life gives us all of these. Sadhana does not mean that difficulties will never arise; it means learning to ensure that those difficulties do not become poison within us. The mouse at Ganesha’s feet represents the restless mind and uncontrolled desires. Ganesha does not destroy the mouse – he rides upon it. The message is profound: the mind is not meant to be destroyed but mastered; desires are not simply meant to be suppressed but given the right direction. This is why he is Ganapati, the master of the ganas. To recognize and guide the thoughts, emotions, desires, impressions and tendencies within us is itself the journey of awakening Ganapati within.    The Divine Message of Shri Ganesha’s Earthen MurtiClay reconnects us with our source. The body, position, name, relationships and achievements that we so often identify as ‘I’ will ultimately return to the five elements. The murti gives form to the formless, worship fills that form with devotion, and visarjan reminds us of the impermanence of all forms. This year, let us create an eco-friendly Ganesha murti from natural clay and place a seed of our choice within it. Let us worship it with love and devotion and then respectfully return it to nature. May not only the clay return to the Earth, but may a tree be born from it, may new life take root and flourish. And, at the same time, may we plant a seed within ourselves – a seed of wisdom, compassion, balance and love for Nature. Installing Shri Ganesha’s murti in our homes is a beautiful tradition; awakening Shri Ganesha within ourselvesis the deeper wisdom of Sanatan Dharma. This Ganesh Chaturthi, let us celebrate in a way that honors both our sacred traditions and our sacred Earth—making it a festival of ecological responsibility, harmony with Nature and inner awakening. Ganapati Bappa Morya!Mangalmurti Morya! |
