Ganesha

Smrti, Buddhist, and Jain honor Ganesha the wise and brilliant. Whence came the paragon of academics? Was he Parvati’s creation, Shiva and Parvati’s son, or the elephant Goddess Malini’s get after she drank Parvati’s bathwater? Was he older than Karttikeya, or younger? Was he born with an elephant’s head, or did Shiva affix it to him after decapitating him accidentally?

His avatars number 32. His symbols range from armaments to musical instruments, the serpent Vasuki as a belt to his broken tusk in one of his many hands, but his favorites are sweet fruits and candies. His mount is the mouse and he is a bachelor, married only to wisdom, prosperity, and enlightenment. The illustrious scientist’s popularity knows no bounds among mortals or Gods. Every caste honors him. The Smriti tradition exalts him alongside Durga, Surya, Vishnu, and Shiva; the Ganapatya tradition identifies him with the Godhead. He is friend to every Devá; only a truly wicked demon could ever attract his wrath. When he travels amongst other pantheons, he must turn down myriad invitations to dine or dance, for he receives far too many to accept.

As placer and remover of obstacles, Ganesha believes in challenge (like tough courses outside your major) but denounces any which don’t strengthen those they test (like standardized testing). He often personally mentors his own and others’ Scions, whom he thinks key to the Devá’s continued successful relationship with other pantheons. The olive branch he extends in his trunk counterbalances Indra’s aggressive policy toward opposition from asuras and other pantheons.

Let the obstacles between Devá and every other pantheon fall before his Scions’ dancing feet. Let them extend faith and diplomacy to all who stand for truth and righteousness — even, should it become necessary, to the asuras.