Ganesh's Global Presence

In the context of the imminent Ganesh festival beginning 13 September, the world ought to be informed that in pre-Christian times Ganesh was universally worshipped along with other Vedic deities. Japan has temples dedicated to Shyoten Shiva-Tanaya. Indonesia has Ganesh portrayed on its currency notes of Rs 20,000 denomination. Ganesh's devotional chants often refer to him as vighna-harta.

The fact of the matter is that this Ganesh has been worshipped all over the world from ancient times to date. In South America, the elephant-headed God was a part of the ancient Mayan pantheon. In North America, Red Indians had a deity closely resembling Ganesh. In the East Ganesh was not only present in ancient China but had sartorially gone so local that his pictures show him wearing China silk kurta and pyjama. Even Islamic countries have not escaped the inroads of this celebrated symbol of Hinduism. In Indonesia, for instance, Lord Ganesha has recently graced the newly-printed Rs. 20,000 currency note.

To cap it all, a few years ago some Ganesh statues of ancient times were excavated in Turkey in which Ganesh not only wears a fez cap, complete with tassel but is in a lungi.