A tusker is supposed to have the most stable mind. It is not that it is not subject to provocation. With its large ears, it can access sounds from far and wide. Yet, with its small eyes, it remains focused on its target. It ordinarily ignores all provocations coming its way and keeps marching ahead. It has a flexible trunk which can hold both small and big things with ease. It is indicative of its sense of adaptability. It does not carry any sense of ego. It is exemplified by the fact that it is not bothered by the loss of one tusk, which serves as its fighting weapon. For, the sense of killing is almost foreign to a tusker. It becomes aggressive only when there is threat to life, or if provoked when its privacy is encroached.

Ganapati is perceived as the one who feeds his large belly with a bowl full of ladoos (a sweetmeat, round and firm). Why after all, of all the sweets, ladoos only? For, it is round and solid, signifying completeness and solidity. Again, each ladoo is made out by binding together numerous sweetened globules made out of gram-flour. This, in the first place symbolises that in togetherness you gain strength. Second, you need to put in all acts together to come out with your best.

Third, the need of life are multifaceted. And we need to attend to all of them holistically in the right proportion due. If ever, for the sake of one aspect, we lose sight of any other, we create an imbalance in life, which in turn, may invite mental, physical or emotional discomfort.

In this context, a real-life story of a child prodigy becomes imperative. Later in life, this child got engaged in higher research. He was so focused to his research activity that he remained oblivious to his family obligations. He could not spare any time even for his newly married wife. In desperation, his wife abandoned him. He then tried his best to reconnect with his wife. But he failed to persuade her come back to his life. But when she refused to live with a man not bothered about her sensibilities and concerns, he was due for a shock. He lost his mental balance thereafter. He could not come out of his lunacy for almost 4 decades thereafter till he met the end of his life.

For, such a hefty bodied Ganapati, a little fragile mouse serves as His mount. See the contrast: a level-headed elephant and a fragile mouse. At the sight of the faintest of sound, a mouse runs away to safety. Also, it has access to even small holes around. The entailed message is that we need to keep looking around with an open mind and remain well informed.

Bear in mind: a well-informed person won’t miss out even on a smaller aspect of an issue in hand, vital to making appropriate choices. Also, be on full alert against all impending challenges. But for which, it will be difficult to pursue one’s usual course of life with ease and comfort, not to say anything about hurdles standing in way of fulfilment of one’s ambitions and desires. It thus comes out that if it is desirable to have a stable mind, it is equally important to be on full mental alert against impending challenges as well. Otherwise, in a state of complacence, one could be taken for a ride.

Here, it becomes relevant to note that we all owe our dynamic existence to nature driven energies (Shakti in Indian terminology). The word Shakti reflects altogether a different connotation as compared to “Energy” as is understood in modern sense. For, inherent in Shakti is a creative aspiration, which spontaneously following intelligent design inherent with nature, blossoms out into the world of phenomenon.

On the contrary, energy as we usually understand, doesn’t have a drive of its own. It will act, the way it is applied. The same Shakti, drives each living being as well. It, however, acquires a different dimension altogether when it comes to human application. For, a human being, armed with the power of freewill, could guide one’s actions by choice and discrimination. So, they could use it either way — destructive or creative, depending on how each unique mind is oriented. Shakti, thus, at human level, proves to be a double-edged weapon.

If we imbibe the spirit as embodied in Lord Ganapati, and follow its script, we could use Shakti towards the right end.

The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant and spiritual counsellor. Connect with him at Tel: 91-11-9818037273/9871037272 Email: bharatbhushanpadmadeo@gmail.com