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Figure 53
Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is the first deity worshipped in Hindu ceremonies. The benevolent elephant, with his potbelly and his preference for sweets, is the remover of obstacles and the god of auspicious new beginnings. But Ganesha did not begin life with an elephant's head. Hindu legend claims that while Shiva was away from his wife Parvati, she created a son out of the oil rubbed on her body. When Shiva returned, this unknown son prevented Shiva from seeing Parvati. Shiva chopped off the boy's head. Parvati was so distraught that Shiva promised to restore life to his son with the head of the first creature he encountered. It was an elephant.
Ganesha's appearance is symbolically potent, representing wisdom and discretion. The wide ears allow Ganesha to listen continuously and allow him to receive abundant spiritual knowledge, which his large head can easily disseminate and retain. His trunk, which can rip out a tree or pick up a needle, is sensitive enough to be gentle. The trunk can also be powerful enough to remove any obstacle that hinders an individual seeking the knowledge that leads to enlightenment, or to put obstacles in the path of an individual who shuns this path. His mouth and stomach are large so that he can eat enormous amounts of food, which symbolize all the experiences, good and bad, that come with life.
The rat is the surprising vehicle of Ganesha. While a rat is normally a nuisance, this rat is obedient. It sits near food but doesn't take it. It has mastered

 
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