Nilanjana retells the story of Ganesha, also known as Gajanana, in this poem, as part of the special feature, in Different Truths.
From the vast cosmic consciousness
An enormous form emerges every year;
With kind eyes, curved trunk
And the brightness of a million suns.
The bard, naturally, weaves a myth
Of the cosmic mother
Who created a child to guard her door
While she bathed and got dressed.
The loyal child followed his mother’s command
With all his might and even his life!
Enraged by her son’s untimely demise,
Who was just following her instructions,
The cosmic mother rose to destroy creation;
Only to be appeased when her son
Was restored back to life.
An elephant head breathed new life
Onto the child who gained the unique status
Of being worshipped before all gods.
The remover of all obstacles
With ears that are eager to listen;
Trunk that balances strength and discretion;
A tusk to remind us that we are all one;
Lotus on one hand to lead us to enlightenment;
A hatchet on the second to eliminate all past karmas;
Sweets on the third to indicate the bliss of a pure life;
And the fourth hand raised to always bless,
A foot on the ground and other on the knee
Since we do belong to the earth and yet do not,
Controlling the rat, a symbol of our ever demanding senses.
After celebrating joyous ten days,
This enormous form, like all others
Merges back to depths
Of the infinite formless …
©Nilanjana Dey
Photos from the Internet
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