Ganesha the most loved deity is worshipped across the world. He is hailed by different names and each one makes this unique lord extremely special. Ganesha’s attributes can be great way to lead ourselves.

Purpose & Perseverence-

Ekadanta (single tusk) is one of Ganesha’s name which originated when He lost His tusk while proving his determination to write the great epic Mahabharata. Sage Vedavyasa appealed to Ganesha to write the Mahabharata for which Ganesha agreed on condition that Vedavyasa would recite the lines without interruption. Vedavyasa in turn said that Ganesha too should not break the momentum of writing. The feather pen used by Ganesha broke while writing , the great Lord then cut off His tusk to continue writing, such was his determination towards any task.

Ekadanta;s undaunted purpose driven approach and perseverance worth imbibing!

Walk the Talk-

Gajanana ( Elephant Head) is the name given by His father-Lord Shiva , and there is a story behind this name. Parvati the mother of Ganesha created a child by giving it a form using turmeric paste. Parvati was heading for a bath one day when she asked her son to stay guard and not let anyone in. Shiva, after his meditation wished to see Parvati but to his dismay , he was stopped by a young boy. Not knowing that the boy was His son, Shiva became furious and slashed the boy’s head with His trishul. Parvati was grief stricken and Shiva realised his mistake. Shiva then arranged for an elephant’s head and revived the boy and named him “Gajanana”.

Gajanana’s promise to his mother and his fight to keep his word is a lesson for us to imbibe. Keeping ones’ words , acting on them, being assertive, needs courage and such qualities sure make great leaders.

Action led by clarity-

Ganapati ( Lord of the Lords) is a name symbolising Ganesha’s intellect and wisdom. Shiva promised the fruit of knowledge to the one who could traverse the universe and get back first. Karthikeya felt very confident on his peacock and set off on his journey of three worlds while Ganesha circumambulated his parents. When asked why He did so, Ganesha said that His parents Shiva and Parvati constituted the three worlds. Hearing His analysis, Ganesha was gifted the fruit of knowledge by Shiva.

Ganesha’s respect for His parents, considering them as the universe, is a lesson for every individual who needs to treat parents with respect, instead of abandoning them in their old age. Clarity leads to precision in action which is expected of leaders and Ganesha gifts us with “ leadership in action”.

Every particle,part and action of Ganesha is a message to the world. The large ears of Ganesha emphasises listening skills for leaders. Better listening leads to right decisions. The four hands represent life goals : They are Dharma (righteousness), Kama (pleasure), Moksha (liberation), and Artha (economic prosperity). Ganesha’s trunk signifies both adaptability and efficiency. The small eyes depict the eye for details that a leader should possess. The big head symbolizes large vision, futuristic approach. Every molecule, every thought , the whole form of Ganesha blends with each of us..Just give it a thought and absorb the essence! What can be a better moment than now , when we are in the midst of Ganesh Utsav , a time to feel the presence of Ganesha within each of us and be fully aware of the divine potential that makes each one a great leader!