GANESHA

GANESHA

There are many religions in the world. A common characteristic of most of the religions is that they generally recognize the existence of a superhuman controlling power. This superhuman controlling power is commonly referred to as ‘God’.

Hinduism is one such religion. A novel trait of Hinduism is that it is not known as to who founded this religion. It has been founded long, long ago by many unknown sages. It is said the ancient sages who discovered certain Truths, did not claim that they found them. They felt that the Truths which they learnt must have come from God, the source from which everything in creation had come. They, therefore, preferred to remain anonymous. They considered these Truths so sacred that for a long time they did not put them in writing. These were learned by subsequent generation of sages only by hearing and not by reading. Later on, Sage Vyasa compiled these Truths and classified them into four major categories called Vedas-the Rig Veda, The Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharvana Veda.

According to Hinduism the Divine Truths propounded by the Vedas are eternal (Sanatana). Hence, Hinduism is actually called as Sanatana Dharma or Vedic Religion.

Hinduism, like many other religions, believes that there is only one God. This God is the Supreme and is equally present everywhere. The most important message of the Vedas is that everything and every being is Divine.

According to the teachings of the Vedas, there is one and only one God who is referred to as ‘Brahman’. It is said that by His mere will, Brahman manifests Himself as this universe. Hence, creation, preservation and destruction of this world are the three aspects of God. These three basic aspects of God are represented by the Trinity called as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The other gods and goddesses of Hinduism personify the various other endless powers and aspects of God.

If Hinduism believes that there is only one God, why is it that there are so many gods and goddesses in Hindu Religion? Who are these gods? Is there an anomaly or a contradiction? A simple answer to these questions is that for the purpose of worship of this Supreme power (called Brahman), Hinduism creates, permits and accepts several forms of God. Therefore, though these gods and goddesses appear to be different and independent, they are really facets of the same Supreme God. In Hindu Dharma, therefore, there are several gods or deities. 

This book is about one such god, Ganesha.