Chanting to Ganesha
I have been chanting to Ganesha as part of my Sanskrit studies. One has to be careful chanting to Ganesha.
Also known as Ganapati, he is Lord of the ganas - a grouping of ferocious and mischievous beings, followers, associated with Lord Shiva. Sometimes they are goblins and ghouls, the spirits which hang out in the cremation grounds and liminal spaces and Ganesha is their leader. When we pray to him, one of the things we hope to achieve is his blessing to keep these beings at bay. He keeps them in line.
One of his supposed 108 names is Vighnaharta – Lord of obstacles. So he is known as remover of obstacles. BUT as Lord of obstacles, he also places them in our path as well. Thus by invoking him, we hope he might clear the path in front of us, swinging his trunk as if sweeping those obstacles away in front of us.
We are invoking him at the beginning of our studies for this very reason- to remove obstacles on the path of study. But we also invoke him because he is also God of Beginnings. So before starting anything important, such as new study, a wedding, a housewarming, a new business, or even an exam – Ganesha is always the first to be worshipped.
Essentially, his blessings are believed to ensure success, remove obstacles, and bring positivity. That’s why his image is often placed at the entrance of homes and offices.
And this is why I find myself chanting to him. Not least for the Sanskrit studies, but for the new beginnings not yet here. For life finds me in that liminal space, which is an interesting place to be.
Yesterday though, I had to laugh, because after chanting to Ganesha for a good twenty minutes or so at the beginning of my practice, I was then faced with obstacle after obstacle. I had to collect my eldest son from a fishing spot at the other end of the island and every road I turned down had traffic. I was stuck!
It took me much longer than usual to get to him making me late. We ran the risk too of being late to my youngest son’s beach party because of not traffic, but a 10 year old boy on a 2 year old’s bike. I don’t jest. It was so funny watching him try to cycle this bike, a friend on a bike also too small for him a few metres ahead, that I suddenly realised the cosmic joke.
Ganesha had been putting obstacles in my path all morning and as my boys said, I failed the test well! I got stressed! Until I saw the boy on the little bike and I realised what was happening and then I laughed, a lot.
We do need to be careful invoking the Gods!
For those who are interested, Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to Hindu mythology, Parvati made Ganesh from the sandalwood paste she used for bathing. She gave life to the idol and asked him to guard her while she bathed.
When Shiva returned home and tried to enter, Ganesh, not knowing who he was, stopped him. This led to a fierce battle in which Shiva beheaded Ganesh. Realising his mistake, Shiva brought him back to life by attaching an elephant’s head to his body. This marked the birth of the elephant-headed god we worship today.
Ganesh rides on a mouse, which is quite surprising given the size difference between an elephant and a tiny mouse! But there's deep symbolism in this. And in many ways this makes me laugh thinking of the 10 year old boy on a 2 year old’s bike - how the universe likes to play with us!
The mouse, called Mushika or Mooshak, represents our desires and ego. By riding on it, Ganesha shows that he has complete control over both. It also teaches us to stay humble and not let desires dominate our lives. Now there’s a learning for us all in there and I am conscious that a desire I have been holding onto lately has indeed been dominating my life.
The mouse can also go anywhere, even through the tiniest spaces, symbolising that Ganesha can remove even the smallest of obstacles in our lives.
Ganesha’s elephant head is one of his most recognisable features, and it holds deep spiritual meaning. Elephants are symbols of wisdom and memory, and Lord Ganesh is considered the god of intellect. Elephants are also known to clear the path in forests, just like Ganesha removes obstacles in our lives. The large ears show his ability to listen carefully to all prayers, while the small eyes teach focus and concentration. His trunk is flexible and strong, symbolising that we too should be adaptable and resilient in life.
One of the most striking symbols of Lord Ganesha is his broken tusk. It is said that he broke it off himself during a sacred task. The story goes like this:
When the great sage Vyasa wanted someone to write down the Mahabharata, Ganesha agreed to do it under one condition—Vyasa must recite the epic without stopping. As Ganesha wrote continuously, his pen broke. To avoid any interruption, he snapped off one of his tusks and used it as a pen. This act shows his dedication, sacrifice, and wisdom. It reminds us that to fulfill our responsibilities, we may have to make personal sacrifices and keep going even when it gets tough.
Ganesha is usually depicted with four hands, each holding a different item, and each symbolising a spiritual idea: an axe to cut off attachments and negativity, a lotus or rope to pull us closer to our higher self, a sweet as a reward for spiritual discipline and a hand in blessing pose to offer protection and fearlessness.
Every detail in his image is filled with meaning and lessons about life, devotion, and growth.
To finish, Lord Ganesha is not just a god – he’s a guide, a protector, and a symbol of everything that is good in life. From his elephant head to his mouse companion, every part of him has a story and a lesson. And don’t forget, as a symbol of positivity and wisdom, anyone can seek his blessings, regardless of religion. Just don’t forget he places obstacles as well as removes them!
Love Emma x
