We all love this time of year when we have the opportunity to create Ganesh ‘murtis’ of our own, love and worship them for a few days and then in that final great celebration we immerse these ‘murtis’ back into the elements. However, how many of us appreciate the immense lessons on the cycle of life and the universe embedded in this simple act? We act as agents of creation, sustenance and dissolution but cannot deal with our own lives, our impending death or the inevitable loss of our loved ones. We sit through lengthy discourses on ‘maya’, Hindu philosophies and participate in rituals without understanding what they really represent. Our understanding of consciousness, the body, the soul, the real and unreal still remain abstract to many Hindus and the reason why remains pertinent.
The Ganesh ‘murti’ mimics the biological aspect of human existence and as we use the various elements to fashion, mould and decorate this beautiful ‘murti’, we do the same with our bodies. The real act of detachment comes on that final day when all our hard work, our education, our wealth, beauty and material acquisitions wither away into the vastness of the ocean. We spend years acquiring material wealth and most of us leave without a true understanding that we have starved our soul, our divine being trapped in the body. We need to remember that when we worship the ‘murti’, we are worshipping the divinity in the ‘murti’.
Lord Ganesh is also paradoxical. He is large-bellied in form yet very controlled and contented. He is large in size and worshipped first but is very humble and devoted to performing his duty. He rides on the smallest vehicle – the mouse – but balances his weight to get to his destination. His mouse, which represents greed, is under perfect control by Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed form of God. His large ears become deaf to unpleasant sounds. His long, strong trunk can not only break down trees but also pick up a needle off the floor.
Lord Ganesh is that form of the divine that helps us redefine and question our existence in this world. He is the symbol of He who has discovered Divinity within Himself. How many of us, after immersing our ‘murtis’ into the ocean leave materialism and ignorance behind? Year after year, do we uncover our true purpose and orient ourselves more with our Divinity? Let this annual celebration be the opportunity to do so and live longer, more fruitful lives in service of the Divine. Jai Shree Ganesh!
By Pt. Varishta Persad
