One who controls all
Lord Ganesha lifted the Tamil poetess Avvaiyar and placed her in Kailasa. To express her gratitude, Avvaiyar composed verses in praise of Ganesha, said K. Sambandan, in a lecture. She describes the big paunch of the elephant God, and says it is like a safe vault. The paunch holds the whole Universe and protects it. He is the one with a broken tusk.A part of one of his tusks was broken off and used to kill the demon Gajamukhasura. After piercing the heart of the demon, the broken tusk returns to Ganesha's hands. It was this tusk that was used to write down the Mahabharata.
He has five hands, including his trunk. In one hand He has a dish made of rice. This indicates that He sustains the world, for food is what sustains us. The ball of rice in His hand indicates this symbolically. In another hand the iron rod used by mahouts to control elephants. This indicates that Ganesha is also the destroyer. The iron rod is held in His hand, to show us that He helps us to control our senses that are like wild elephants.
In another hand He has a rope, which is to indicate that after the deluge, He is seen in solitude, keeping the task of creation at bay for awhile. The broken tusk in one hand, indicates that He is the one who creates. In His trunk is a pot of nectar, indicating that He is the One who showers us with mercy.
There are some forms of Ganesha where He has eight hands. This too would be acceptable, for Lord Siva is said to have eight hands, and since Ganesha is His son, we may assume that like His father, Ganesha too has eight hands.
He is the son of Siva, who is beyond description, beyond words, and who is the cause of the past, present and future. Ganesha is the embodiment of gnana. He is like the celestial tree that gives generously to everyone who stands in its shade.
Ganesha too gives shelter and succour to those who seek His protection. Siva has three eyes - the Sun, the Moon and Fire. Ganesha too has three eyes like His father. Thus those who worship Ganesha will also attain salvation, just as those who worship Siva.
Anupamaa
Pocket Mein Aasman
Cricket
