The Meaning Behind Symbols of Lord Ganesha

Elephant faced god Lord Ganesha is the god of prosperity and well being. Son of the great Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati, Ganesha is worshipped at the beginning of every occasion. Lord Ganesha is considered to be the god who takes away all the miseries and tribulations in a person’s life. There are millions of devotees who have faith in the elephant-faced god. Every god represents something, so does Lord Ganesha. There are various symbols of Ganesha that teach us something very important and today we are going to learn those symbols.

The symbols of Ganesha show us a peaceful way to live. Find out how each one symbolizes and their significance.

1. Ganesha’s big head:

The elephant-faced lord has a very large head and it’s a symbol of thinking big. One should have broader thinking. One should never dwell on the past and keep on thinking big. Think big and be big. Remember one becomes what he thinks.

2. Ganesha’s small eyes:

Ganesha has small eyes that tell us to concentrate. When you focus on a goal you should be hell-bent on finishing it. Concentrate on your goal in hand and never worry about the things that make you lose your concentration.

3. Ganesha’s big elephant ears:

This one has a very unique meaning among all the symbols of Lord Ganesha. The god of wisdom has large ears which are a symbol of listening. A wise man will always listen to what the other person has to say. Maturity lies in paying heed. All Opinions matter equally.

4. Ganesha’s trusty axe:

Another symbol of Ganesha is his axe. Ganesha defeated many demons with the help of his axe. It means that a person should cut off all the attachments he has, that bound him from growing and focus on one’s goals.

5. Ganesha’s rope:

The rope is a significant symbol of Ganesha which is self-explanatory. Rope signifies pulling oneself towards one’s ambitions. One should never give up on one’s dreams. However hard it may seem, a person should pull oneself towards the goals.

6. Ganesha’s single tusk:

Ganesha penned the world-famous Mahabharata. While writing the epic his quill broke, there was no time to get a new quill so he sacrificed his own tusk and completed the epic. This is a great symbolism of keeping what’s good and leaving the bad behind. In today’s modern world we face many problems and many of us have a habit of living in the past or regretting it. One should remember what happened, happened. There is no point in regretting what can’t be changed. But the present is in your hands you can definitely change that.

7. Ganesha’s smallmouth:

Lord Ganesha has a small mouth and it is a symbol of how one should speak less and do more. There are so many people who only talk big but you have to work more. Success only feels sweet when you earn it.

8. Ganesha’s trunk:

Ganesha’s trunk is a significant symbol of adaptability and high efficiency. A person needs to be efficient in whatever he does, his efficiency describes his strength to overcome difficulties and keep working. A person needs to be adaptable too, adaptation is equal to survival. Man is a social animal and he needs people to be with, so adapting with people or situations is important for living a happy and comfortable life. Just as a trunk is adaptable to various situations and is highly efficient and helps an elephant to perform different tasks a person should also be adaptable to changes.

9. Ganesha’s modaka’s:

The elephant god has a big sweet tooth. Ganesha’s modaks represent rewards. After tiring work and all the efforts a person deserves rewards. This symbol of Ganesha means that a person should keep on working and the rewards would come automatically.

10. Ganesha’s palm raised in blessings:

Lord Ganesha has his one hand raised in blessings. It symbolizes that god will always give you his blessings to follow the path of righteousness. He also protects the one following the supreme power.

11. Ganesha’s big belly:

A large belly signifies that a person should be able to digest all good and bad things equally. A person should be able to accept the bad, enjoy the good, and keep on moving towards progress.

12. Ganesha’s ride: the mouse:

The mouse is among one of the unique symbols of Ganesha. The mouse has a curious nature and the desire to have luxuries. A mouse is yet another symbol of Ganesha, it represents one’s inner desire. Desires are all good until they are controlled. A person should have control over one’s desires to keep himself free from its vicious cycle because desires never stop.

13. Ganesha’s Prasada:

The god of wealth has a symbol of Prasad that is a divine gift. Prasad signifies the world, the person’s dreams and plans, it means the person has the whole world ahead of him the only thing that stops him is his evils, although some of these evils are seen till observed a person should be able to reflect upon oneself and uproot any such evils. That is the only way to success.

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