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Essay on Ganesha
In Hinduism, believing in God is only a first step toward an ever-deepening personal experience of God's presence. In this regard many of the great saints and sages of Hinduism have had visions of Lord Ganesha and have shared them with their devotees, thus strengthening their devotees' faith and understanding of this divine being. In ancient times Saint Auvaiyar wrote of her experience of the elephant-faced God in her devotional poem "Vinayaga Ahaval:" "Desiring to make me yours this instant, you, like a mother, have appeared before me and cut the delusion of unending births." It is easiest to feel their blessings at the high point of the puja when the flame is held high. The Shakti of Lord Ganesha is a gentle, loving force which has the power to move the devotees' awareness into a peaceful, contented state, free of any worry, fear, anger or other negative emotion.
Among all the wonderful Hindu Deities, Lord Ganesha is the closest to the material plane of consciousness, most easily contacted and most able to assist us in our day-to-day life and concerns." In giving this some thought, we developed a list of eleven ways in which Ganesha can benefit your everyday life. These benefits were written for youth, as that is the best time to develop closeness with Ganesha, but they apply equally to adults.
Ganesha is the son of the Hindu deities Siva and Durga (or Siva and Parvati, depending on the region of India) is a god of luck and of "opening the way." Rotund and generally jolly, he is distinguished from other Hindu deities because he has the head of an elephant. His image appears on numerous Hindu products, such as incense and foods. His symbol is the swastika, which he bears in the palm of his hand.....
