�� Richard Randall

Caribbean

Sundries

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.

Resurgence of Popularity

Recently, there has been a resurgence of Ganesha worship and an increased interest in the "Western world" due to a spate of alleged miracles in September 1995. On September 21 1995, according to Hinduism Today magazine (www.hinduismtoday.com), Ganesh statues in India began spontaneously drinking milk when a spoonful was placed near the mouth of statues honoring the elephant god. The phenomena spread from New Delhi to New York, Canada, Mauritius, Kenya, Australia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Hong Kong, Trinidad, Grenada and Italy among other reported places. This was seen as a miracle by many although skeptics contend that this was another example of collective hysteria. Some scientific experiments conducted in that time frame suggested capillary action as an explanation for this phenomenon. However it still remains a mystery of why such capillary action has not repeated itself. [4]

The book Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles by Manuela Dunn Mascetti is another of many resources that testify to the Hindu milk miracle.

Popularity Of Ganesh

Ganesha has two Siddhis (symbolically represented as wives or consorts): Siddhi (success) and Riddhi (prosperity). It is widely believed that "Wherever there is Ganesh, there is Success and Prosperity" and "Wherever there is Success and Prosperity there is Ganesh". This is why Ganesh is believed to be the harbinger of good fortune, and why he is invoked first at any ritual or cermony. Whether it is diwali puja, a new house, a new vehicle, students praying before the exams, or people praying before job interviews, it is Ganesha they pray to, because it is believed that he will come to their aid and grant them success in their endeavor.

Ganesha is worshipped as Vinayak (knowledgeable) and Vighneshwer (remover of obstacles). It is believed that he blesses those who meditate upon him. Ganesha, in astrology, is believed to help people know what can be achieved and what cannot be.

The names of Ganesha

Like other Hindu Murti (or gods and goddesses), Ganesh has many other titles of respect or symbolic names, and is often worshipped through the chanting of sahasranamam (pronounced saa-HUS-ruh-naamam), or a thousand names. Each is different and conveys a different meaning, representing a different aspect of the god in question. Needless to say, almost all Hindu gods have one or two accepted versions of their own sahasranaam liturgy.

Some of Ganesha's other names are:

�Ģ Ameya (Sanskrit: ������������), boundless (in Marathi)

�Ģ Anangapujita (Sankrit: ������������������������������), The Formless, or Bodiless

�Ģ Aumkara (Sanskrit: ��� ���������), the Aum-shaped body

�Ģ Balachandra (Sanskrit: ���������������������), one who wears the moon on his head

�Ģ Chintamani (Sanskrit:������������������������/���������������������������), one who removes worries

�Ģ Dhumraketu (Sanskrit: ���������������������������), or the fiery one

�Ģ Gajakarna (Sanskrit: ������������������), one with ears of an elephant

�Ģ Gajanana (Sanskrit: ������������������), elephant face

�Ģ Gajavadana, elephant head

�Ģ Ganadhyaksha (Sanskrit: ������������������������������), leader of the masses

�Ģ Ganapati (Sanskrit: ���������������), Conductor of the Ganas, a race of dwarf beings in the army of Shiva

�Ģ Gananatha, Lord of the Ganas

�Ģ Gananayaka, Lord of all beings

�Ģ Ekadanta (Sanskrit: ���������������), One-Tusked

�Ģ Kapila (Sanskrit: ������������), the name for a celestial cow. Ganesha represents the characteristic of "giving" that symbolizes a cow, thus this name.

�Ģ Lambodara (Sanskrit: ������������������), big bellied

�Ģ Mushika Vahana, He who rides a mouse

�Ģ Pillaiyar, Tamil for "Noble Son"

�Ģ Shupakarna, Large/Auspicious Ears

�Ģ Sumukh (Sanskrit: ���������������), one who has a beautiful face: Ganesha is said to be possessing all the qualities of Moon, who is also called the God of beauty, and is hence also known as Sumukh.

�Ģ Vakratunda (Sanskrit: ������������������������), Curved Trunk

�Ģ Vighnaharta (Sanskrit: ���������������������������), remover of obstacles

�Ģ Vighna Vinashaka, remover of obstacles

�Ģ Vighnesh or Vighneshvara (Sanskrit: ���������������������������), controller of obstacles (Vighna = obstacle, eeshwara=lord)

�Ģ Vikat (Sanskrit: ������������), the ferocious one

�Ģ Vinayaka, (Sanskrit: ������������������), a distinguished Leader (Vi stands for vishesha Special and nayaka from root ni to lead, thus Leader

�Ģ Vishvadhara or Jagadoddhara, He who maintains the Universe

�Ģ Vishvanata or Jagannatha, Lord of the Universe

Another much-loved murti is that of Bala Gajanana or Bala Ganesha (literally, little Ganesha or baby Ganesha), in which a very young Ganesha with a small trunk and large eyes is portrayed in the arms of his Divine Parents, or while he is sweetly embracing the Lingam, the symbol of Shiva.

Oceania