Ganesh The Obstacle Remover

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By Mahiraghunathan

Ganesha offers lessons in how to be successful for devotees familiar with his incarnations as it’s faith in the elephant-headed god that propels them. The neighbourhood temple to Ganesha is where they light a lamp, break a coconut and hope fervently that the deity also known as ‘Remover of Obstacles’ will pitch in to help. This belief comes with ancient stories of his prowess, even of his mount, the rat, which can reach any corner of the world and burrow through a mountain, even.

Ganesha took many forms as visualised in the Mudgala Purana to show the path to success. Of them, eight are particularly significant. First, in his incarnation as Vakratunda or the one with a curved trunk when he vanquished the demon Matsarasura. Matsara means jealousy and the anger born thereof. His very birth is ascribed to a remiss by Indra and true to his nature the demon desired to rule all the three worlds. His boon of fearlessness from Shiva helped him and soon he was tormenting everyone, heady with power. Vakratunda cut him down to size. He comes riding a lion. He says, however well endowed you are, wisdom lies in knowing and understanding your limits.

Second, his avatar as Ekdanta or the one-tusked one was taken in order to subdue Madasura or the demon of vanity. In this avatar Ganesha stresses the need to not let illusions enter your head and intoxicate you with pride. This is possible only when you understand that you are but a part of the divine and that the divine energy is acting through you. So give up pride in the self.

Third, Ganesha as Mohadara teaches us to get rid of moha or attachment by killing the demon Moha. Fourth, as Gajanana he kills the demon Lobha or greed. Fifth, as Lambodara he overcomes krodha or the demon of anger. Lust is another demon of undoing and so sixth is Ganesha’s incarnation as a deformed Vikata who destroys the demon Kama. Seventh, as Vignaraja, he destroys the ogre of self-indulgence.

In his eigth incarnation as Dhumravarna he cuts at the root of it all, ahankara or arrogance. Brahma felt the sun, the sustainer of life, deserved the post of the minister of life actions and so appointed him as such. With this, the sun became so arrogant, that when he suddenly sneezed, the personification of arrogance, Ahantasura, was born. The terror he was wreaking and the misery he was bringing by his sheer arrogance was unimaginable. Eventually the gods prayed to Ganesha, asking him to end their suffering at the hands of Ahantasura.

Ganesha appeared as a smoke-coloured deity riding a rat. Ahantasura was overcome. Arrogance is the root of self-destruction, says Dhumravarna. Even though the sun is so powerful, his arrogance created havoc in the world.

Ganesha is elephant-faced, pot bellied and with short legs because he has no ego. And that is why the attributes which would otherwise be seen as disproportionate and strange now become endearing. We all have eight negative energies in some measure in us and we need to overcome them in order to control the ego. The ills that derive from these negative emotions manifest in a similar manner. It is divine power that makes you powerful, beautiful, desired… so do not ascribe it all to yourself, says Ganesha and that remains the most valuable lesson to success. Let the excitement of achievement be the celebration of your Muse.