with hisincarnations 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 worldand 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,
ahankaraor 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. Eventuallythe 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.
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