Time spent laughing is time spent with the Gods. - Japanese Proverb

Increasing Popularity of Lord Ganesha
amongst Hindus and non-Hindus [Part I]

Gyan Rajhans P. Eng. 

Lord Ganesha has been my chosen deity for as long as I remember. However, His increasing popularity amongst the Hindus and non-Hindus over the past 12 years has prompted me to write this article. He is rapidly becoming the most beloved of all deities in the Hindu Pantheon. He is everywhere -from the sanctum sanctorum of the holiest shrines, to the roadside temples, adorning shelves with His benign countenance or permanently residing in the hearts of His countless devotees. Ganesha's popularity stems from the fact that He is the most physical of the major gods. Ganesha is the closest to the material plane of consciousness, most able to assist us in our day-to-day life and concerns. Personally, I think that it is only natural Ganesha is so popular and so beloved by millions because He is generous handing out good luck to everyone. Think of Santa Claus -- a case in point. People like Ganesha because He is the nice guy. He represents the jovial in the human nature -- He is a celebration of fun and good living. 

The Miracle of 1995 

Many believe that Ganesha’s popularity skyrocketed on September 21, 1995, when milk offered to a statue of Ganesha in a temple on the outskirts of New Delhi, just disappeared into thin air. Within hours, news spread like a brush fire across India that Ganesha was accepting milk offerings. Tens of millions of people of all ages flocked to the temples. The unworldly happening brought New Delhi to a standstill, and its vast stocks of milk, more than a million liters, sold out within hours. Just as suddenly as it started in India, it stopped in just 24 hours. But it was just beginning elsewhere, as Hindus in India called their relatives in other parts of the world. Everywhere including Toronto, the story was the same. A teaspoonful of milk offered by touching it to Ganesha's trunk, tusk or mouth would disappear in a few seconds to a few minutes. This "milk miracle” may go down in history as the most important event shared by Hindus this century, if not in the last millennium. It had brought about an instantaneous religious revival among nearly one billion people. No other religion had ever done that before. 

Naturally there were skeptics who moved swiftly to distance themselves from the phenomenon. "Capillary action," coupled with "mass hysteria," was the correct explanation, concluded many scientists within a few hours. Scientific or not, gallons of milk were disappearing with hardly a trace. A leading barrister in Malaysia was dumbfounded when he watched a metal Ganesha attached to an automobile dashboard absorb six teaspoons of milk. Deities in Kenya and other countries took gallons of milk while sitting in shallow metal trays with no drains. 

The worldwide press coverage was nearly as amazing as the miracle itself. Of course, the event dominated the news in India for days. But once it started outside India, local and leading national papers, such as the New York Times and Washington Post in America, and the Financial Times in UK, picked up the story. The Manchester Guardian noted, “The media coverage was extensive, and although scientists and “experts” created theories of “capillary absorption” and “mass hysteria” the overwhelming evidence and conclusion was that an unexplainable miracle had occurred… While the media and scientists still struggle to find an explanation for these events, many Hindus believe they are a sign that a great teacher has been born.” Many in India were unaware of how warmly the Western press embraced the miracle. In many countries reporters came to the temples and personally offered milk.   

Ganesha and Aum

Lord Ganesha is both within form as Saguna Brahman and beyond form as Nirguna Brahman. As Saguna Brahman, He is most commonly depicted as a strange composite of elephant and man, generally mounted on a mouse with four arms. However as Nirguna Brahman He represents the Pranava (AUM) which is the symbol of the Supreme Self. If you view Lord Ganesha sideways as shown above, you will see the symbol "AUM" in Sanskrit. That's why Ganesha is called "Aumkara" and worshipped first by all Hindus regardless of their belief in Saguna or Nirgun Brahman.

Taitiriya Upanishad (1.8.1.) states: "AUM ITI BRAHMAN -AUM is Brahman”. Nothing can be done without uttering it. This further explains the practice of invoking Lord Ganesh before beginning any rite or undertaking any project.

Popularity in the Corporate World 

Pramod Batra (www.lifepositive.com, October, 1997) says, “As a student of management, I was fascinated enough by Ganesha to research the subject. Clearly, there is much we could learn to become more effective managers. Management is always the major chunk of the problem on the job; in business and at home. Lord Ganesha’s big head inspires us to think big and think profitably; the big ears show openness to new ideas and suggestions; the narrow eyes point to the deep concentration needed to finish a task well; the long nose encourages curiosity and learning. I have found inspiration in Ganesha's wisdom and judgment, his ability to solve problems and remove obstacles, his capability as a communicator, his goal-orientation and his adaptability. These qualities were much needed by our forefathers as they advanced from hunters to agriculturists. More than strength, they needed wisdom and judgment to survive. These qualities are no less at a premium today, especially for managers.

A Ganesha manager likes people, all kinds of people with their diverse skills and aptitudes, and he likes to work. He enjoys bettering his records. He is forward-looking, with clear and friendly eyes. He likes to set goals and solve problems, and because he is stimulated by this challenge, he becomes better and better at it. He likes to help others realize their goals. He nurtures his own understanding and discrimination by reflecting on his own and others' experience. He always operates at 150 per cent of capacity; he knows that's what keeps him happy and growing.

The opposite of the Ganesha manager is Gobarganesha—literally, a cow-dung Ganesha. Full of himself, he has no time for others. He's always oppressed, always overburdened. He carries his problems around instead of solving them. He's wary of change. He can't lead others, and he has no self-defined goals. The fact is, he doesn't know what he wants to be or do. It never occurs to him that this is something he needs to sort out himself. He makes others feel tired and unhappy.

A Gobarganesha avoids action and shuns the spotlight. He shrinks from challenges and wallows in self pre-occupations. He may do what he's told, but grumbles through the effort. He wastes the latent potential within himself.”

[Gyan Rajhans, an internationally recognized health & safety professional has been broadcasting the only non-commercial Vedic religion radio program in North America since 1981 & worldwide web cast on www.bhajanawali.com since 1999. Mr. Rajhans has published extensively on religious and spiritual matters. Some articles are available on the Bhajanawali web site. He has translated Sri Mad Bhagvad Gita in English for the younger generation. Mr. Rajhans has been conferred various titles, including that of Rishi by Hindu Prarthana Samaj of Toronto Hindu Ratna by Hindu Federation of Toronto. He received an award  for 2005 in the Internet category - Opinion - for his Spirituality columns in South Asian Outlook e-Monthly, from  Canadian Journalists' and Writers' Club (CEJWC), now re-named as Canadian Ethnic Media Association.]

To be continued...

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Demystifying the Sovereign Secret of the Soul - SK Vasudeva 

Hinduism – A Brief Sketch - Swami Vivekananda Part I  II  III