The Significance of Ganpati

Aum Sairam

Ganesh Chaturthi starts from 15th Sept and lasts for 11 days.

A common Sanskrit word to denote elephant is GAJA. Here Gajanan means elephant faced - a name for Ganapati. But the word Gaja has a deeper connotation. GA indicates gati, the final goal towards which the entire creation is moving, whether knowingly or unknowingly. JA stands for janma, birth or origin. Hence GAJA signifies GOD from whom world have come out towards whom they are progressing, to be ultimately dissolved in Him. The elephant head is thus purely symbolical.

We observe creation in its two fold manifestation as the microcosm [sukshmanda] and the macrocosm [brahmanda]. Each is a replica of the other. They are one in two and two in one. The elephant head stands for the macrocosm [representing vastness or bigness], and the human body for the microcosm. The two form one unit. Since the macrocosm is the goal of the microcosm, the elephant part has been given great prominence by making it a head.

The Chandogya Upanishad has pronounced a philosophical truth as TAT-TVAM-ASI, THAT-THOU-ART. It simply means "You, the apparently limited individual, are in essence, the cosmic Truth, the Absolute". The elephant human form of Ganpati is the iconographical representation of this great Vedantic dictum. The elephant stands for the cosmic whereas the human stands for the individual. The single image reflects their identity.

Vedanta is the synthesis of the within and the without; the macrocosm and the microcosm. The study of this 'within' of nature through an inquiry into the within of man, who is the unique product of natures evolution, is religion according to Indian thought. The synthesis of the knowledge which the physical science give, and the within which religion gives, is what India achieved in her Vedanta. This she calls BRAHMA-VIDYA or philosophy; God or Brahman is the Upanishadic term for the Supreme Reality, [God] standing for the totality of reality physical and non physical, Brahman-vidya is Sarva-vidya-pratishtha [philosophy is the basis and support of all knowledge].

The Ganpati Upanishad identifies Lord Ganesh with the Supreme Self. Lord Ganesh represents the Pranava [AUM] which is the symbol of the Supreme Self. Taitiriya Upanishad states AUM ITI BRAHMAN-AUM is Brahman [GOD]. AUM is all this. Nothing can be done without uttering it. This explains the practice of invoking Lord Ganesh before begining any rite.

Lord Ganesh removes all obstacles on the path of the spiritual aspirant and bestows upon him worldly as well as spiritual success. So he is called VIGNA VINAYAKA or VIGHNESHWAR.

Allah Malik