Ganesha — The Embodiment of The Spiritual Path
Interpreting the messages that are hidden in the Idol
(An excerpt from Bliss of Wisdom Issue 6–2015)

Before starting any auspicious ceremony, Ganeshji is worshiped as he is considered the protector. Baby Ganesha’s head was severed by his angry father and later an elephant’s head was attached to his body. The story tells us to behead our huge ego and be child like.
The spiritual interpretation of Lord Ganesha’s idol explains the entire path of liberation.
EYES
Small eyes of Ganesha are the symbol of sharp vision. It promotes us to develop a sharp far-sighted vision to have the goal of eternal bliss in our life.
EARS
The big ears direct us to filter out any harmful and petty things we hear and at the same preserve the good part for application.
LONG TRUNK
Elephant can lift a tiny flower and huge log of tree with equal precision and equilibrium. It teaches us to remain level headed in good and bad situations of life.
ABDOMEN
It is huge because whatever good or bad, seen or heard is preserved inside. It indicates us to be a sedate person. By being sedate we can avoid worthless and excessive talk. A composed mind doesn’t hold any projections and sees everything and everyone with fresh perspective.
FOLDED CROSSED LEGS
They symbolize humbleness and detachment.
FOUR HANDS HOLDING AN AXE, ROPE, SWEET & LOTUS
These four symbols depict the entire path of Liberation –
Axe: Axing our endless desires and attachment.
Rope: Tying our life with a rope of higher consciousness.
Sweet Laddu: It is the taste of grace that we receive after the divine connection through the rope.
Lotus: Symbolizes detached attachment.
By axing our desires and attachments tying our life with higher consciousness we receive the grace of God in the form of sweet which bring about a lotus like state of detached attachment. Detached attachment means my only concern is to do utmost good for everyone without having any expectation from them.
In this life, with a goal for self realization — shun your ego, have balance, precision and flexibility be composed and detached to become Ganesha. Make Idol an iDeal of your life. iDeal means ‘I + Deal’ i.e. I make a deal with God, to observe, imbibe and idolize his attributes in my life.

