हिरण्यगर्भादारब्धां शेषव्यासादिमध्यमाम्।
स्वामिश्रीरामपादान्तां वन्दे गुरुपरम्पराम्॥

hiraṇyagarbhād-ārabdhāṁ śeṣa-vyāsādi-madhyamām,

svāmiśrīrāma- pādāntāṁ vande guru paramparām.

How do we understand Lord Ganesha/Ganapati, and why is it beneficial to invoke him? Gana means “a group.” And isha means “the lord,” who is the leader of that group, that community. The name, Ganapati, means the same thing. Gana means “group,” and pati means “leader.” Whenever there is a summation, a company, a collectivity, a community, a Sangha, Lord Ganesha is the ruler. For example, Ganesha is the leader of the pancha jnanindriyas (the five organs of sense perceptions) and the pancha karmindriyas (the five organs of actions). Who rules this Sangha of Indriyas? Ganesha! When we invoke the Ganesha energy, these become purified.

For example, one of our karma-indriyas is our legs. Invocation of the Ganesha energy within us helps our legs go in the right direction in life. Likewise with our hands. Are they eager to serve? Do they help and support others? Likewise all other indriyas,  Is our speech pure and positive and truthful and beneficial? Do our eyes and ears pay attention to things which are positive. If we invoke lord Ganesha, he gives them the right direction. If we invoke the energy of Lord Ganesha within us, it is more likely that our emotions will become purified and stabilized. If you are the leader of a group, such as a country, it is more likely that your country will prosper in the right direction, if you pay homage to Ganesha.

There are many stories and symbolism about Lord Ganesha. From Goddess Uma (Parvati), Ganesha is born. Uma is Shakti-svarupa – the manifestation of the essence of primordial energy. Lord Shiva is considered as Jnana-svarupa (the manifestation of the essence of knowledge). For any undertaking in our life, we need both knowledge and energy. We need jnana-shakti as well as kriya-shakti. Just having ichcha-shakti or sankalpa-shakti is not enough to carry out any undertaking without the right knowledge and the capacity and capability to do. Lord Ganesha is the son of both of these (Shiva-Shakti) energies. He rules the force of stabilization between the two and has this quality of balance, calmness and peacefulness before, during and after the completion of our work.

Ganesha is the presiding deity of Muladhara Chakra, which has four petals — manas, buddhi, ahamkara and chitta. If the four functions of the mind are unruly or go on strike, who do we talk to? The union leader – Lord Ganesha.

It is desirable to have these four functions of mind balanced. When these four are in balance, all our undertakings will be successful. That’s why there is Riddhi (prosperity) and Siddhi (success), where there is Lord Ganesha. Those are his two brides. They accompany us naturally, when we are stable and in balance.

We have heard Swami Veda Bharati and Swami Ritavan Bharati say that Lord Ganesha rules the Muladhara Chakra, and gives stability. Lord Ganesha’s physical manifestation is generally depicted as having a bottom-heavy body; he has that gravity and heaviness. Lord Ganesha is connected with the Earth element at the Muladahara Chakra. How can we live in harmony with the Earth? Are we a burden to the Earth? Am I mindful in the application of the Ganesha principle in my life? Are we mindful of the application in the way we are living our lives? We may need to reflect upon and contemplate, with sincerity and devotion to assimilate the meaning of Lord Ganesha.

We need to inculcate that stability in all the aspects of our life. Invocation of the Ganesha energy would give us emotional stability, financial stability, stability in our relationships, and stability in all our undertakings in life.

Lord Ganesha gives us a solid foundation for our practice. Swami Ritavan said, “When our asana on our meditation seat has become steady, balanced, stabilized, then it reflects in our daily life also. Same time, same place. We need to put forth the effort to achieve the desired results. We can ask ourselves the question: “Do I really value stability in my life? Do I really value mental peacefulness? Do I really value having the four functions of my mind stabilized?” If I value those things, no matter what it takes, I will do it.

We need to take full responsibility. If something within has become destabilized, we need to stabilize that.

If we are in a situation where adversities come, we will refuse to become miserable because we would have gained emotional stability. We can collectively and individually make a commitment to purify our actions and emotions and to invoke the blessings of the Lord Ganesha and the entire Himalayan Lineage to remove the obstacles on our spiritual path.