Lord Dhanvantri might be the deity most frequently associated with Ayurveda, but Lord Ganesh is also said to know the ancient teachings of the practice. One of the most beloved gods in the Hindu religion, he is worshipped during the holiday of Ganesh Chaturthi all over India, but no where as lavishly as in Mumbai.
The festival this year begins on August 25 and runs for ten days, with the final dedication taking place on September 5, when thousands will walk from the shores of Chowpatty Beach into the Arabian Sea to submerge his likenesses into the water.
In Hindu mythology, Ganesh was created by Pavrati, the wife of Shiva, one of the three gods of the Hindu trinity (Brahman, Vishnu, & Shiva). Pavrati made Ganesh from some earth surrounding her bath, and afterward she asked him to guard her while she bathed. While he was guarding her, a god approached and demanded entry. This god was Shiva, and upon Ganesh’s refusal to let him in, Shiva cut off Ganesh’s head.
When Pavrati learned of her newly created son’s murder, she was inconsolable. Shiva ordered his men to search for a new head for Ganesh, but they could find only the head of a young elephant that had died. Shiva had to act quickly before the body of Ganesh decayed too much, so he accepted the elephant head, and, after affixing it to the body of his wife’s dead son, he brought the god back to life. In celebration of Ganesh’s reincarnation, his birthday is celebrated on the 4th day of the Hindu calendar month Bhadrapada. Typically this date coincides with some time in August or September.
Known for removing obstacles to journeys or undertakings, Ganesh is the god frequently invoked when beginning something new. As this is a travel blog about healing through Ayurveda in India, it seems appropriate to begin this journey delighting in the energy of Lord Ganesh, the benefactor of writing and new beginnings.
