Is Ganesha Real?

Myth 1: Ganesha is only symbolic, not real.
Fact: what is your definition of real? What you see is real? Sky is blue, oceans are blue, earth is flat, mirage in the desert, snake on the rope…all are seen but not real. Atom, Quantum consciousness etc are not seen but they exist. Perceptibility js not the only criteria to determine Reality. What is changeless in past, present and future is Real. Everything in this world changes. Consciousness or which illumines this, is changeless. Ganesha is that Consciousness. Ganesha alone is Real truly. Rest is all an imagination.

If our form is real and world appears real to us, then Ganesha's form is also real. The reality of God's form depends on the reality we have given to our form. Think!


Myth 2: Ganesha exists only in imagination
Fact: Dream is only imaginary but appears real. When one is in a dream, waker appears imaginary. Upon waking up one realises what is real and what is imaginary. This ego is imaginary & Ganesha is Real. But right now it appears opposite. That is Maya.
So many historic devotees, sages have had darshan of His Form. Eg. Avaiyyar from Tamilnadu, Morya Gosavi from Maharashtra etc.

Myth 3: Elephant head on human body is impossible
Fact: It definitely appears so. If we can resize photos, make caricatures and play around using filters and masks, what is not possible for the Supreme Lord from whose mere thought the whole creation manifests? Elephant’s head can definitely be resized and fit on a human body by the Supreme Lord.

Myth 4: Hindus are primitive
Fact: Hindu way of life has been most loving, accommodative, eco-friendly, accepting Divinity of all beings, very scientific and rooted in knowledge. Time and again it has been proved when the world has adopted so many Hindu practices. Covid also proved it. Namaste, washing hands, burning the dead, ayurveda, pranayama, yoga etc. are just a few examples. Change your primitive thinking about Hindus.

Myth 5: Ganesha is not a Vedic God
Fact: Read the Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad and several other mantras of the Vedas which indicate Ganesha as Consciousness, Creator, Sustainer, Destroyer and also having a specific form with an elephant head. The form of Lord Ganesha is also described in the Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad along with the mantra to invoke HIM - Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha. Enclosed are some of the other Vedic Mantras about Lord Ganesha

  

May Lord Ganesha help us to overcome the obstacle of skepticism and strengthen our faith. 

Why should one perform Abhisheka of a Shivalinga ? Is it not a waste of resources?

 

10 reasons why Abhisheka on Shiva-linga is beneficial  

1. Why waste milk in abhisheka on Shivalinga? It is not wasted. It is distributed as charanamrit. If this is not being done in some places, it should be started.  Even the water that is offered on the linga if it is excess, then it is offered to plants etc.  
2. Still, why waste it on a stone when there are poor and hungry people? We never ask:  What about smashing cakes on faces on birthdays, champagne-fizz celebrations for a win/success, wasting food in each meal and much more. No doubt we should not waste resources.  As mentioned in point 1, we distribute it as charanmrit and also feed it to the animals etc. The problem is selective standards.  We have different standards for ourselves and for the Divine.  
3. All said and done, it is stil a stone right?  No it is not. For a devotee it is God.  A photo is not a piece of paper for the mother, it is her child.  A flag is not a cloth for a soldier, it is his country.  Let us have a deeper understanding.  
4. How does it benefit me? When one invokes devotion and does the abhisheka, it makes the mind positive, invokes surrender to the higher and removes negativities. 
5. Why is water always dripping on a Shivalinga from a pot on a tripod?  When we love someone we constantly think about them, imagine relating to them and visualise about them. Love and remembrance go together. The more we think about the beloved, the more love rises in our heart.  Abhisheka represents constant flow of thoughts towards the Lord.  We express our gratitude and devotion to the Lord through Abhisheka.  Its a prayer to the Lord that may our Minds be single pointed in devotion to the Lord. May we have Ananya-Bhakti.  What we continuously think about, we become that.  Its psychology also.  
6. Why so many different items are offered? Each item offered has a symbolic meaning. It helps to cultivate some virtues and drop some vices.  
• Milk: Holistic nourishment and purity
• Ghee: Love for the Divine and offering away our attachments
• Curd: Patience & consistent effort.  Nothing seems to happen on the surface but the milk turns into curd overnight because fermentation is happening within.  
• Honey: Symbolic offering of results of actions. 
• Sugar: Cultivating sweetness
• Haldi: To inculcate good health
• Chandan: Invoking forgiveness in us and speading fragrance to others
• Kumkum: Invoking the mental powers and strength in us
• Lemon Juice: Offer all pungent experiences to the Lord
• Bhasma/Ash:  Invoke Detachment 
• Coconut water: Offer the ego and taste nectar of immortality
7. Does God need all this?  Definitely Not. It is our feeling of love.  We can give without love but we cannot love without giving. The best within us must be poured out in seva at the feet of the Lord.  Abhishek not only sanctifies the Murti, but it also purifies our mind.
8. Why offer so much? We want to offer the best to God. Anyways, everything belongs to God. Each one can offer as per their devotion and capability.  
9. What is the spiritual significance? The greatest and the highest Abisheka is to pour the waters of pure love on the Lord in one's heart.  Continuously when external abhisheka is done, it eventually leads to internal abhisheka on Atma-linga. Devotee thinks of the Divine constantly and realises oneness with the Divine. 
10. It is said the Alankarapriyo vishnuhu Abhisheka-priyah shivaha.  Lord Vishnu likes Alankaar and Lord Shiva likes Abhisheka.  We always want to please the beloved by doing what he/she loves.  Lets all come together to offer our gratitude and devotion to Lord Shiva through Abhisheka.