Ever since I learned to meditate (in 1972!), I have had a fascination with Ganesh, and I’m not alone. Step into any spiritual gift shop, and you are sure to find numerous figurines of Lord Ganesha, the elephant god.

For some, the image or form of Ganesha represents a deity, something to be adored and worshipped with reverence. For others, Ganesha is part of Indian mythology, with stories aimed at increasing morality. 

Master of meditation, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains Ganesha like this:

Clearly, there’s a lot here to unpack when it comes to understanding Ganesha and the symbolism of his magnanimous elephant form. Let’s get to unpacking!

The symbolism of Ganesha

As human beings, it is a challenge to relate to the formless, especially if you’ve never had an experience of the formless (think super deep meditation). Ancient Rishis knew that we needed something to help us comprehend the incomprehensible. To make it easier for us, they used symbolism to create images, figurines, and stories. 

Here are the most important aspects of Ganesha’s form:

• Ganesha’s elephant-head signifies authority, endurance, strength, and courage
• Ganesha’s small eyes represent the importance of maintaining a single-minded focus
• Ganesha’s large ears symbolize the ability to keenly listen to all prayers
• Ganesha's big belly represents generosity and total acceptance
• His four arms represent the mind, intellect, ego, and Self
• Ganesha's upraised hand depicts protection
• Ganesha’s lowered hand signifies endless giving, and also symbolizes the fact that we will all dissolve into the earth one day
• Ganesha has only one tusk which signifies one-pointedness 
• Ganesha using a small mouse for a vehicle signifies that the mouse can nibble away at the ropes that bind. Just like a mantra that can cut through layers of ignorance, leading to the ultimate knowledge.
• Ganesha carries in his hands the 'Ankusa' (a sharpened pointed hook used to prod movement) signifying awakening and the 'Paasa' (a knot for binding) signifying control. With awakening, a lot of kundalini energy is released, which without proper control, can go haywire.

Ganesha’s mythological birth story

You may not be familiar with the story of how Ganesha became the elephant-headed God. I am here to share one interpretation of Lord Ganesha’s mythological birth story. 

Parvati (archetypal consort and mother) became dirty when she was celebrating with Shiva (destroyer of darkness). 

When Parvati realized she had become dirty, she removed the dirt from her body and created a boy out of it. She then asked him to keep guard while she bathed.

When Shiva returned, the boy did not recognize him and obstructed his passage. So Shiva chopped off the boy's head and entered.

Parvati was shocked when she saw this. She explained to Shiva that the boy was their very own son, and pleaded with Shiva to save him at all costs.

Shiva then instructed his helpers to go and get the head of someone who was sleeping with their head pointing to the north. The helpers then got an elephant’s head, which Shiva affixed to the boy's torso, and Ganesha was born!

The essence of Ganesha

Ganesha is the same energy that is the reason for this whole universe. It is the energy from which everything manifests and into which everything will dissolve.

Known as the god of wisdom, prosperity, and good fortune, Ganesha is the lord of all the good qualities in us. So when we honor him, all these good qualities and wisdom blossom in us. 

Knowledge dawns only when we become aware of the Self with a capital ‘S’. When there is inertia, there is no knowledge, no wisdom, nor is there any liveliness or progress in life. So the consciousness has to be awakened, and the presiding deity of consciousness is Ganesha. 

That’s why before every puja (devotional ceremony), Lord Ganesha is invoked to awaken the consciousness. The statue in his form reminds us of infinite love, deep meditation, and the formless divinity inside all of us. 

Honoring Lord Ganesha

You don’t need a Ganesh statue to invoke and awaken consciousness, you can sing and chant any of Ganesha’s 1008 names. These songs (bhajans) invite the auspicious energies of Lord Ganesha. 

Here’s an easy bhajan you can learn and sing along with.

Ganesha Saranam - Divya Prabha

And here’s an ode to Lord Ganesha that you can listen to with your eyes closed before meditation or any undertaking that you want a blessing for.

Sri Ganesh Stotram | Ganpati Stotram | Sankat Nashan Ganesh Stotram | Ganesh Mantra

Ganesh is also called Ganapati. Ganapati Atharvashirsham is a very powerful chant from the Vedas that invokes the energy or tattva of Ganesha or Ganapati. Just close your eyes, relax your mind, and listen to the mantras- while it purifies your mind, meditation happens effortlessly.

Ganapati Atharvashirsha: Most POWERFUL Ganesh Mantra

These mantras remove negativity and obstacles. They purify and increase wisdom. The mantras are chanted with clear pronunciation in the proper Vedic intonation, and at a slow speed. This is ideal for meditation. 
If you want to chant on your own, you can use a mala (necklace) with 108 beads to count each mantra, Om Gan Ganapatye Namaha (pronunciation- Om Gum Gana-pa-te-yay Na-ma-ha).

The journey towards the formless

What is the next step for a spiritual aspirant? If you want to regularly experience effortless deep meditation, then you want to experience SKY Breath Meditation. 
I have been a SKY practitioner for over 28 years. It is the one technique that I can count on for deep meditative experiences. SKY’s specific breathing patterns unlock the door to meditation. 
Anyone can learn how to experience the formless through the breath with SKY Breath Meditation.
To get a taste of what SKY has to offer (there are numerous practical benefits for both the mind and the body) just attend our free online breath and meditation session.