GANESHA AND HIS LAMBODARAM


Ganesha is described in this prayer as lord of gana and as having a single tusk, a huge body of the colour of molten gold with a big belly and broad eyes. This prayer is composed evidently by a master mind, with much esoteric significance behind it. The body of Ganesha is described as huge and as such there is no need to mention again anything about the belly for belly is part of the body unless it be that the word "Lambodaram" is purposely meant to convey a particular meaning. As ordinarily understood Lambodharam means a belly which is long or big.

In the esoteric astronomy, there are two paths of the solar disc distinguished as Uthara (North) and Dhakshina (South). The word Uthara contains two concepts. One is the concept conveyed by the sound element 'U' and the other is the concept conveyed by the word 'Tara'. We have noted that the sound element 'U' of 'OM' is symbolic of the dream state of the mind, which is inwardly cognitive. The word 'Tara" means path. Uthara therefor means the path indicated by the sound element of 'U'. This is the inward movement of the Prana, the functioning of Pingala Nadi which is the savya path of light which is followed by yogis. The end of this path is indicated by the sound element 'M' in 'OM' which is the state of Prajna. The Dakshina path is the Apasavya path sought after by worldly men. The great pithamaha Bhishma of the Maha Bharatha story, though mortally wounded waited by the power of his own yoga sakthi, to give up his ghost till the advent of utharayana (Northern course of the Sun) as that period was considered to be an auspicious period for people to die.

The death bed episode of Bhishma should be understood in an esoteric sense. The ego withdraws itself from the world of its own creation and takes to the Devayana path indicated by the sound element of 'U' of (OM) to the infinite point of bliss indicated by the sound element of 'm' of (OM). If the meaning is taken in the ordinary sense then any sinner will be getting salvation if he happens to die in the course of the Northern movement of the Sun.

Udharam is ordinarily used to indicate the stomach. When we speak of Lambodharam it is understood to be the description of the pot belly of Ganesha as huge and long. This may be the impression that a superficial observer may get when he sees a Ganesha figure or think about it. But the description in the prayer of the udharam is not meant to be an assessment of the size of his physical belly. The udharam meant in the prayer is a reference to the savyapath. The prefix 'lamba' to the word 'udharam' is only indicative of the length of time that one may take before he reaches his destination.



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