6 Sacred Symbols Associated With Lord Ganesha, And Their Meaning

1. The Elephant Head: Perhaps the most distinctive feature of Lord Ganesha is his elephant head, symbolising wisdom, understanding, and a discriminating intellect that one must possess to attain perfection in life. The elephant's large head is said to denote wisdom and its large ears signify the ability to listen more to absorb more. (Image Source: Getty)

2. The Broken Tusk: Ganesha's broken tusk holds a story of sacrifice and perseverance. According to legend, Ganesha broke off his own tusk to continue writing the Mahabharata as Vyasa dictated it, embodying the philosophy of sacrifice for the sake of duty. This symbolizes the importance of losing the ego to gain wisdom, suggesting that personal sacrifice is essential for the greater good. (Image Source: Getty)

3. The Modaka: Ganesha is often depicted holding a bowl of modakas, which are sweet dumplings. These are not only his favourite treat but also represent the rewards of a wise and good life. They symbolise the sweetness of the inner self and the bliss of self-realisation. Eating of the modaka is thought to grant knowledge, wisdom, and wealth. (Image Source: Getty)

4. The Mouse - His Vehicle: The mouse, Ganesha's chosen vehicle, symbolises the ego, a creature who despite its minute size can gnaw through every barrier. The mouse's ability to nibble steadily at ropes represents the persistent quality of the mind to break down even the most robust barriers between the devotee and the divine. (Image Source: Getty)

5. The Noose and Goad: The noose in Ganesha's hand is a tool to capture all difficulties and remove obstacles, symbolising Ganesha's role as the remover of obstacles. The goad, on the other hand, helps propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. This symbolises the use of force when necessary to control the mind's errant wanderings and nudge it towards the path of righteousness and truth. (Image Source: Getty)

6. The Single Tusk: Ganesha's single tusk represents retaining the good but throwing away the redundant or bad, a spiritual call for discernment in life. It teaches the importance of evaluating experiences and retaining only what contributes positively to spiritual growth. (Image Source: Getty)

Inputs by: Giresh Kulkarni, Founder of Temple Connect & ITCX (Image Source: Getty)