Ganesha

 

Ganesha (Gaņeśa) Ganesha God of Obstacles

 

1 Etymology and other names 2 Iconography 2.1 Common attributes 3 Worship and festivals 3.1 Ganesh Chaturthi 4 Associations 4.1 Aum 4.2 Buddhi 4.3 First chakra 4.4 Mouse as vahana 5 Family and consorts 5.1 Buddhi, Siddhi, and Riddhi 5.2 Interpretations of relationships 5.3 Motif of shaktis 6 Rise to prominence 6.1 First appearance 6.2 Possible influences 6.3 Vedic and epic literature 6.4 Puranic period

 

Aum

Ganesha is identified with the Hindu mantra Aum (ॐ, also called Om, Omkara, oṃkāra, or Aumkara). The term oṃkārasvarūpa ("Aum is his form") in connection with Ganesha refers to this belief that he is the personification of the primal sound. This association is attested in the Ganapati Atharvashirsa. The relevant passage is translated by Paul Courtright as follows:

You are Brahmā, Vişņu, and Rudra [Śiva]. You are Agni, Vāyu, and Sūrya. You are Candrama. You are earth, space, and heaven. You are the manifestation of the mantra "Oṃ".

A variant version of this passage is translated by Chinmayananda as follows:

(O Lord Ganapati!) You are (the Trinity) Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesa. You are Indra. You are fire and air. You are the sun and the moon. You are Brahman. You are (the three worlds) Bhuloka, Antariksha-loka, and Swargaloka. You are Om. (that is to say, You are all this).

Some devotees see similarities between the shape of his body and the shape of Om in the Devanāgarī and Tamil scrips.