Today is Ganesha Chaturthi, the day when we pray to lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha is first among the Gods. He is to be prayed to before any other God as per the Indian mythology. This has a very profound message and story behind it, which will help us recall the logic. Ma Parvati gave birth to Ganesha. She asked Ganesha to protect her personal space from intrusion. Ma Parvati is the creator of this universe. We, too, are creators of our own universe, which comprises our belief systems and mental stories about the whole of the world we interact with. We, too, have given birth to our own Ganesha, our intellect, that defends our belief systems, viewpoints, and the mental stories. The moment we encounter a different viewpoint or thought process, our intellect comes to our defence, and we argue to convince the other about our viewpoint.
Everything was going well till Lord Shiva entered the story. Ganesha could not recognise Shiva and stopped him from entering the cave. Shiva insisted, but Ganesha did not listen. Shiva got angry and cut the head of Ganesha. Ma Parvati came out of the cave and started crying. Shiva realised what had happened and sent his Ganas to get some other head that may be implanted on the body of Ganesha. The Ganas brought the head of an elephant that was implanted on the body of Ganesha.
Our intellect is also unable to look at the larger picture of life and operates within a narrow frame of awareness. When we come into contact with somebody who has a very profound understanding of life, or some book, or undergo some experience, our initial reaction is to resist that understanding. We have been living our lives as per the worldview and belief system we have developed over a period of time. We resist that profound understanding. However, that profoundness has its own way of working. The "little intellect" is incapable of comprehending that profoundness, and that's when it drops and gives way to "wisdom", which is symbolised in the story of Ganesha by the replacement of the human head with the head of an elephant.
"Wisdom" symbolised by Lord Ganesha is looking at the larger picture of life. Our viewpoints and beliefs are products of our life experiences. Our life experiences will always be limited. That's why when "wisdom" takes over, we develop the capacity to look at the larger picture of life. We do not get stuck in a limited frame. That's why Lord Ganesha is the first lord to be prayed to. If we get everything else in life, wealth, powers, and relationships, but our understanding of life remains narrow, we will suffer miserably. When we pray to Lord Ganeshan, we pray for that wisdom. So that we develop the capacity to appreciate the wideness of life. A wise person the play of consciousness and temporality of forms. He understands the cosmic as well as the quantum reality of the world. He understands the limitations of this brain, and that's why he develops the capacity not to get stuck in a limited frame. Unless we have this understanding of life, our life will be miserable, irrespective of the most wonderful achievements, and again from Mythology, Ravana is the best example.
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