GANESHA

Ganesha (also referred to as Ganapati or Vinayaka) is the god of beginnings and one of the best-known deities of the Hindu pantheon. Easily identified by his elephant head, his form is said to resemble the mantra Om or as written in the Devanagari script; for this reason he is also called Omkara.

Ganesha is believed to be the remover of obstacles and his form carries many symbolic meanings. The elephant head represents calmness, majesty, wisdom, and strength while his large body represents completeness, contentment, and fulfillment. He is also considered a patron of the arts and sciences and of intellect and wisdom.

Kundalini Yoga believes that Ganesha resides in the root chakra or the energy wheel. In Hinduism, Ganesha is the energy from which everything manifests and into which everything will dissolve.