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Rama’s beloved wife was Sita, a form of Lakshmi. Sita stands for the ideals
of femininity, faithfulness, resilience
and purity.
Rama and Sita are often shown accompanied by the monkey god Hanuman. Hanuman is the gods’ messenger, and he stands for the power to achieve the impossible, the importance of duty, absolute trustworthiness and selfless service to the gods.
The Hindu epic poem, the Ramayana, tells the heroic deeds of Rama and Sita and is used as a way of teaching proper behaviour and duty (see pages 22–23).
Ganesha
Ganesha is the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, and the god of wisdom. He is also called ‘the remover of obstacles’ and so he is worshipped before starting any new venture, such as sitting an exam, getting married or starting a business.
One story of how Ganesha got his elephant head goes like this: One day the goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of
the mud and gave him the job of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When her husband Shiva came home, he was surprised to find a strange boy keeping him out and he cut off the boy’s head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent his guards to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing north. The guards found an elephant and brought back its head. Shiva brought Ganesha back to life and attached the elephant’s head
to his body. Shiva then told Ganesha that for all time, people will say his name before undertaking any venture.
G Ganesha’s elephant head stands for gaining knowledge by listening (big ears) and thinking (large head). One of Ganesha’s tusks is broken and one is whole, to show that the world is both perfect and imperfect at the same time. Ganesha’s pot belly stands for the way that wisdom can help us digest whatever experiences life brings. Ganesha
is often shown with one leg on the ground and the other one folded for meditation, to show a balance between the practical and spiritual life.
In his hands he holds a rope, to trap things which distract us, and a goad, to help push us along the path of wisdom. Ganesha loves sweets – his favourite is a ladoo, and he is often shown holding a sweet as a symbol of prosperity and well-being.
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