Transformation is only valid if it is carried out with the people, not for them. Liberation is like a childbirth, and a painful one. The person who emerges is a new person: no longer either oppressor or oppressed, but a person in the process of achieving freedom. It is only the oppressed who, by freeing themselves, can free their oppressors.
- Paulo Freire
It is said that the invocation of Ganesha begins the Tantric and spiritual worship in Hindu tradition. Ganesha (Isha meaning lord and Gana meaning all existing beings) has many stories of his birth to enlightenment. The most popular being the story about a race with his brother Kartikay. They were to race around the universe. When the race began Karitkay started to run across the universe, where Ganesha walked around his parents (Shiva and Parvati), who are the source of all existence.
My favorite story is where Ganesha was made by Parvati. Who was made to guard her quarters because Shiva was away in meditation. When Shiva got home, Ganesha didn't allow Shiva to see Parvati and so Shiva cut his head off. Shiva goes to the woods/forest to try to find the head, but cannot find it. This is where he meets an Elephant who then offers his own head to Shiva.
There are many stories, but the image of Ganesha is the same. The rat by him represents the subjugated demon of vanity and impertinence. The conch is the sound that creates Akash. The laddu is to represent Sattva. The snake to show control over the poisons of passions and also to refer to Shiva, Ganesha's father. The hatchet cuts away the bondage of desires. The mudra grants fearlessness. The broken tusk is the one with which Ganesha wrote the Mahabaratha.
Acceptance of Ganesha as the divine force stills the rational mind and it's doubts. Thus forcing one to look beyond outer appearances.
Ganesha creates the faith to remove all obstacles.
- Paulo Freire
It is said that the invocation of Ganesha begins the Tantric and spiritual worship in Hindu tradition. Ganesha (Isha meaning lord and Gana meaning all existing beings) has many stories of his birth to enlightenment. The most popular being the story about a race with his brother Kartikay. They were to race around the universe. When the race began Karitkay started to run across the universe, where Ganesha walked around his parents (Shiva and Parvati), who are the source of all existence.
My favorite story is where Ganesha was made by Parvati. Who was made to guard her quarters because Shiva was away in meditation. When Shiva got home, Ganesha didn't allow Shiva to see Parvati and so Shiva cut his head off. Shiva goes to the woods/forest to try to find the head, but cannot find it. This is where he meets an Elephant who then offers his own head to Shiva.
There are many stories, but the image of Ganesha is the same. The rat by him represents the subjugated demon of vanity and impertinence. The conch is the sound that creates Akash. The laddu is to represent Sattva. The snake to show control over the poisons of passions and also to refer to Shiva, Ganesha's father. The hatchet cuts away the bondage of desires. The mudra grants fearlessness. The broken tusk is the one with which Ganesha wrote the Mahabaratha.
Acceptance of Ganesha as the divine force stills the rational mind and it's doubts. Thus forcing one to look beyond outer appearances.
Ganesha creates the faith to remove all obstacles.