Book of Ganesha

Written by Royina Grewal The Book Of Ganesha presents a fascinating overview into the popular Hindu deity Lord Ganesha. Pot-bellied with the head of an elephant this god is loved everywhere in India and a festival is celebrated every year solely as a tribute to him. This book takes a look at the evolution of this god from being a mere concept lurking in the pages of old scriptures to becoming a fully-formed creature visualised with glaring intricacy. The symbolism behind this god and all the things that he stands for are discussed elaborately in this book.This book talks about the immense popularity of this deity in certain regions of the country especially places like Maharashtra. According to the author some of this popularity is due to a post-independence campaign taken up to increase solidarity amongst the diverse population of India. The reason behind this being that Ganesha is a god that almost all people in the country pray to at some point or another. The god is after all fondly known as the ‘remover of obstacles’. This god is believed by his devotees to clear a path of all obstacles for those who deserve it. Similarly he is also known to be the creator of obstacles for transgressors.This book explores the origins behind Ganesha including the stories behind how he ended up getting his elephant head which is widely seen in all parts of India. The author discusses the vehicle of Ganesha as well which is a mouse. This vehicle symbolises the transcendence of duality by depicting an elephant literally sitting on a mouse an unimaginable feat for most.Discussing allegories and ancient fables this book sheds clarity on the subject of this Indian god. The Book Of Ganesha was published by Penguin India in 2009 and is available in the form of a paperback.