Book of Ganesha
Book of Ganesha
Royina Grewal // Illus. Arwinder Chawla
Viking Penguin India
© 2001
ISBN: 0-67-004908-5
www.Penguinbooksindia.com
146 pages
Fascinating book.
Much I understand - So very much I do not.
‘Deva’s & Sura’s & Bodhisattvas & Ganapatya’s.
Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, Parvatti, Agni and other deities -
proto, semi, hemi and demi.
Total confusion in some respects.
Yet - in some respects clarity and and simple, basic understanding.
The Tales and Myths often overlap and frequently conflict.
It’s like a socio-cultural House of Infinite Mirrors. Aspects of Aspects
Anywhere and Everywhere. Name Changes. Different Origins.
Different parents - and in one particular myth Ganesha is the
Father/Parent of All and Everything that Follows.
Confusions and Complications included - this is a most illuminating
and enlightening work.
Much of the difficulty with the book is that it was not written for a western reader.
This book was written for a reader in the Indian SubContinent. I do not know these terms.
Deva? Sura? Ganapatya’s? I have no idea what these are. A reader in Delhi would.
I was for that reader that this book was written.
Yet - for all of that - I was meant to have, hold and read this book.
I am fighting a seriously lingering head/chest cold as I I hand-scribble these words.
These words may not be typed/keyboarded till January.
I was at Barnes & Noble.
Yes.
I was at Barnes & Noble - again.
I was there for another - far different - book.
They are currently out-of-stock on that other book.
So I thanked the lovely lady at Customer Service and walked on.
I was not even fully aware of where I was headed to in the store.
I found Myself at ‘Eastern Religions’.
I stood there scanning the shelves.
There then was this single, small, thin book.
It was as though it was the only book there.
A very clear case of being guided directly to the book I was to read today.
So I bought it.
brought it home,
and between coughing fits,
read it.
Read all of it.
It’s only 146 pages.
I have only a couple of questions:
-) Lord Ganehsa - why this book - now?
-) What am I to get from this?
-) It’s an excellent ‘primer’ on Ganesha. I however, work with Dragons.
Do Dragons and Lord Ganesha go/work together?
-) Am I even asking the right questions?
-) Are there even any ‘right’ questions?
Lord Ganesha - I am beyond confused.
I have to admit I did what I was guided and directed to do.
I simply do not understand the ‘why’ of it.
I ask for no ‘boon’ other than comprehension and understanding.
OR - if that is not to be part of ‘the plan’ - perhaps another bit of guidance
and direction?
Lord Ganesha is the Patron Deity of Writers and Students.
I am Paganus Greybeard.
For the Mystress - I am both Writer, Student and Administrator.
Lord Ganesha helps Writers and Students.
That much - so far - I do understand.
This is an excellent book on Ganesha.
It may not be all that easily found - even at Barnes & Noble.
My finding it was a bit magickal and serendipitous.
There is - however - the online URL for Penguin Books India.
You might be able to access and find the book that way.
Now if I could just get rid of this cold so I can think clearly.
I might re-read “Ganehsa” and find that bit of guidance and direction.
It seems the most logical place to start.