Guest guest Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 A friend gave me a small brass image of Ganesha last Tuesday: "I think you need this!" (!!!!) My new Ganesha has a wonderfully wise and alive-looking face, but the detailing on his hands isn't very fine. He looks like he has a lotus in one hand, but I can't make out what he has in the other two hands that are holding objects. What is he holding? , Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108> wrote: > [....] > I agree that Lord Ganesha is usually responsible for > attracting "Western" devotees to Hinduism. [....] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Ganesha can be holding any of a large number of items described as his tools or weapons. A photo, of course, would be of assistance. I assume that one of his hands (usually the lower right one) is empty making the "abhaya mudra" (fear-removing gesture). A hand has a lotus, you say? His two upper hands most often hold a noose and a goad (to restrain devotees when needed, and to urge them forward when needed). The lower left hand usually holds a bowl of sweet cakes. If he's holding a lotus, he might be a Ganesha who manifests as a form of Vishnu -- in which case his other hands might hold Vishnu's conch shell, discus, and mace. Where's his trunk? If it turns to his left, he's easily pleased. If it turns to his right, he'll require full pujas and more careful attention. One of his tusks is normal, and one is broken, in many images. He's "Ekadanta" (Single-Toothed), and the broken tusk was used as an emergency stylus when he was transcribing the Mahabharata for Vedavyasa. If he has a third eye in his forehead, he's Tantric, and will help you raise your Kundalini. Does he have a mouse near him somewhere? It's his vehicle, and indicates that he's conquered greed. You should chant: Vakratunda mahakaya/ surya koti samaprabha// nir vighnam kuru me deva/ sarva karyeshu sarvada// (O Twisted-trunk! Your large body/ is as bedazzling as a million suns!// Let there be no obstacles to me, O God,/ in all that I make or all I attempt!//) -- Len --- msbauju <msbauju wrote: > > A friend gave me a small brass image of Ganesha last > Tuesday: "I think > you need this!" (!!!!) > > My new Ganesha has a wonderfully wise and > alive-looking face, but the > detailing on his hands isn't very fine. He looks > like he has a lotus > in one hand, but I can't make out what he has in the > other two hands > that are holding objects. What is he holding? > > , Len Rosenberg > > <kalipadma108> wrote: > > [....] > > I agree that Lord Ganesha is usually responsible > for > > attracting "Western" devotees to Hinduism. [....] > > > > Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 , Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108> wrote: > Ganesha can be holding any of a large number of items > described as his tools or weapons. A photo, of > course, would be of assistance. I don't have a digital camera yet. Soon, maybe. I'll send you a photo when I get a camera. > I assume that one of his hands (usually the lower > right one) is empty making the "abhaya mudra" > (fear-removing gesture). Yes; lower-right hand. > A hand has a lotus, you say? Yes; upper left. > The lower left hand > usually holds a bowl of sweet cakes. His lower left hand is holding a rather indistinct round-ish thing. He's got it up against his stomach, so it's hard to tell what it is. Somewhere online I saw an image of a Ganesh holding a single, large, round-ish sweet. So he's either got a big sweet, or a rather fat conch. > His two upper hands most often hold a noose and a > goad (to restrain devotees when needed, and to urge > them forward when needed). I can't quite tell what the upper right hand is holding Is the somewhat axe-like thing I see him holding in some images the goad? If so, maybe this is a rather indistinct goad. > Where's his trunk? If it turns to his left, he's > easily pleased. If it turns to his right, he'll > require full pujas and more careful attention. Left. :-) > If he > has a third eye in his forehead, he's Tantric, and > will help you raise your Kundalini. He has a mark on his forehead. Eye? Not sure. > Does he have a mouse near him somewhere? No mouse. > It's his vehicle, and indicates > that he's conquered greed. > > You should chant: > Vakratunda mahakaya/ > surya koti samaprabha// > nir vighnam kuru me deva/ > sarva karyeshu sarvada// > > (O Twisted-trunk! Your large body/ > is as bedazzling as a million suns!// > Let there be no obstacles to me, O God,/ > in all that I make or all I attempt!//) > > -- Len Thanks, Len! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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