GANESHA is the God of Beginnings and Remover of Obstacles, spiritual and material, being the one who open and guards the pathways. He’s also the patron of arts and sciences and the Deva of intellect, wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. He’ one of the most widely worshipped Deities in Vedic Tradition. However, his big elephant’s head still causes a certain strangeness to the western world.

Every feature on Ganesha has a meaning, a life instruction. Consider the elephant head: wisdom, it tells us to think beyond. Large ears and small mouth: listen more and talk less. A broken tusk: represents the sacrifice needed to reach your goals. A large stomach to peacefully digest all the good and bad in life. In the hands: an ax to cut off all bonds of attachment; a rope to pull one ever closer to your highest goal; a bowl of Laddoos, the sweetest thing of all, are the rewards of hard work. The lotus flower, symbol of the being's realization. Under his foot, Mushika, the bandicoot rat, Ganesha's vehicle. That`s the most interesting attribute of all. The mouse is desire. You may ride it but only if you keep it under control. Otherwise it causes havoc.

Each religious tradition has its own symbology according to its cultural roots. The allegorical form used and the intentional mysticism of the language present in the teachings of each religion play an important role in the field of understanding, surpassing the purely rational dimension of the one’s mind.

See, for example, that Lord Jesus taught his disciples in parables, using metaphors to convey moral lessons.

The comprehension of the Sacred and of It’s various symbolic forms of manifestation contributes to tolerance and respect among different religions. It is necessary, however, willingness to think beyond and to break the barriers that separate us, rather than unite, understanding differences and recognizing our similarities.

Truth is one, sages call it by many names.

OM GAM GANAPATAYE NAMAH