Ganesha Symbolism

LARGE EARS: Ganesha listens to everyone's prayers, yet he does not always give what his true devotees ask for,but gives them what is needed; Sifting out essential from the non essential.

BIG HEAD: Symbolizes wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, clear thinking.
Elephant Head: Role model: Elephant shows the path in the forest which is full of obstacles and constraints.

SMALL EYES: Ganesha's Tiny eyes speak of the importance of concentration and attention to detail. The key feature of concentration is Listen more and talk less.

TRUNK: Ganesha's long nose and curved trunk symbolizes the fact that there is no straight path to success. Be flexible and adaptable. Highlights the importance of being efficient and adaptable in order to achieve success in one's endeavors.Ganesha helps only those who help themselves. Long nose also indicates the reach. With small feet, pot belly, mouse as vehicle etc... Ganesha never ran away from constraints & obstacles. He adapted well to the circumstances. With his common sense and wisdom converted his constraints into opportunities without any egos and went on to become the Chief Lord of Ganas (Ganapathi).



MODAK IN HAND: Symbolizes the abundant love, good will and boon that Ganesha has and all the good things that he can offer to his devotees.

LARGE STOMACH: Ganesha's large tummy points the ability to digest all that life has to offer - good, bad, ugly, evil, pain, suffering, happiness.His ability to swallow the sorrows of the Universe and protect it. Ganesha's large stomach is a treasure of Vedic knowledge.

AXE AND ROPE IN HAND: Ganesha holds the elephant goad,his fierce weapon to remove obstacles from the path of his devotees. The rope symbolic of his gentle restraint of the mind so that his devotees are pulled closer to the spiritual path.

ONE TUSK: Ganesha's broken tusk with which he wrote the epic, Mahabharata - the act of writing is a threshold activity, Ganesha removes obstacles in the path of transmission from thought or speech into writing. Ganesha is believed to have written the Mahabharatha via Vyasa's dictation on the condition that Vyasa should not stop when reciting the epic. Vyas in turn agreed on the condition that Ganesha should understand what was told, before penning down the Mahabharata.
The Single tusk indicates Ganesha's ability to overcome all forms of pairs of opposites and that what you need is within you.

MOUSE: Ganesha's vehicle, his mouse bowing down close to him is to indicate that little desire is good but mastery over desires is essential. You have to ride your desires and not vice versa. Our ego is the vehicle to something greater provided the ego is properly harnessed.
The mouse is often portrayed next to a plate of sweets with his eyes turned towards Ganesha while it tightly holds onto a morsel of food between its paws, as if anticipating permission from his Lord, Ganesha. This represents the mind which is completely subordinated to the superior faculty of intellect.
The mouse also symbolizes the darkness of night. The mouse can see well in the dark. As Vinayaka's vehicle the mouse signifies an object that leads man from darkness to light.

LEGS: Ganesha has one leg raised up in the air and the other touching the ground.This is symbolic that we should take part in both spiritual world and material world.

HANDS: Ganesha has one hand raised, palm outward gesturing that "Don't worry You are blessed"