Have you heard about Ganesh, who is also named Ganesha, Ganapati, or a lot of others names less known ?

Ganesh is one of the innumerable gods of the Hindu religion. Why should we be particularly interested in Ganesh, why to offer him a whole web site ?

At least, we think there are three goods reasons :

  Ganesh is an elephant-heades god; let's admit that this quite unusual physical characteristic has to be explained to those who are not satisfied with the idea that people worshipping this god are definitely savages...

  Precisely, it happens that Ganesh is probably the the most loved, the most familiar among Hindu gods. There are good reasons.

  Hinduism, and more generally, oriental religions, exert a multiform charm on an increasing number of westerners : intellectual involvement in forms of thinking unacquainted with our leading model, spiritual search off the beaten track of our parents religion, oddness of exotic fashions which one tries to understand in the course or after a voyage.

When he visits India, the tourist cannot miss to meet Ganesh. He uses to dwell in every location : on the temple walls, in the dark charming heart of the sanctuaries, on the houses walls and door-frames, on postcards and posters sold in the street by pedlars.

Because Ganesh is a familiar god. He is the home god, The One who grants good luck and prosperity. People worship him before starting any business since he may help to succeed as much as he may create insurmountable obstacles for the unwise guy who underestimate him. There is god nearer the men. Those who worship him greatly are acutely aware that he is the most powerful among gods. Are they superstitions ? What do we know about these topics ?

So, this is a WEB site fully dedicated to god Ganesh. We invite you for a complete visit which will guide you to the four quarters of India, looking for this beloved god. Surfing on the site will supply you with basic information about Hinduism; it will give you also many indications on the legends linked with god Ganesh, and many indications about his multiple forms. A lot of photographs makes the talks clearer.

Those who are in a hurry may limit themselves to the following photographs and comments

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Four-armed seated Ganesh, decorated with royal ornaments. His first right hand, the palm drawn with the swastika, shows the lack-of-fear gesture (abhaya mudra), whilst the second right hand flourish a hatchet. The left upper hand raises a nice open lotus, while the lower left hand bears a pot full of sweets which the god trunk just comes to taste. Richly-dessed, Ganesh leans on a comfortable throne. At his feet, a small worshipping mouse keeps a sweet pellet in her hands	This 7 th century rupestral bas-relief from Tamil Nadu, shows a nice two-armed Ganesh; classical forms with for arms looke lately. The trunk is turned to right side (valampuri), which is believed to be very auspicious. Open legs, laps on the ground, are a very form in India, but is known in the Ganesh icons from Indonesia. A decorated belt and a sacred thread across the chest are the only dresses of this very simple Ganesh	The multi-armed Ganesh (six, eight, ten, and even more arms), symbolise the god functions under his many forms. Indeed, his hands wear emblems : the most frequent are the god broken right tusk (a legend explains this...), the hatchet; the lasso, the elephant goad, the sweets pot, etc.... Here, the ten-armed Ganesh, crowned with a halo of glory (prabhâvali) is represented with his Shakti seated on his left lap. Her is riding side-saddle his mount (vahana), a huge rat
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Ganesh is known with two, three for, and even five heads. exegetists interpret the disguised symbolic grounds. On this handicraft bronze, the five heads are in front located; in other cases, four directed to the four cardinal points, while the fifth is located just above the others. The ten arms show various emblems. The god is seated in a meditation posture on a double-lotus pedestal	Why is Ganesh dancing ? Ganesh is the Master of the Gana, misshappen dwarfs, Shiva servants, often shown dancing when earing drumbeat and flute playing, coming a cropper. And Ganesh enjoys to do the same.... But Ganesh is also the Master of sound : he plays music and dances !! He dances to dispel gloom and to destroy obstacles standing on his way	Indeed, his dance on the huge rat looks quite surprising ! He has subjugated this crafty animal, can use him as a mount, and made him a devoted servant. His stretched arms guarantee him a dynamic equilibrium. A fire crown encircles his head. One sees him on a temple gopuram in Tamil Nadu
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Most times, Ganesh is portrayed seated, like this beautiful item, from the Chola (10 th century) period	Here, we may see Ganesh seated like a scribe, writing the Mahâbhârata epic, under the dictation of Sage Vyâsa	In the South India countryside, the popular Ganesh worship associates him to Naga snakes, during fertility rituals

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