Words on the Way - Muz Murray Mantra Yoga Master

the Apsaras (celestial nymphs and dancing girls). In later
writings they became heavenly musicians and patrons of music
and dance.
Ganesha
Var: Ganesh, Ganesana,
Synon: Adibija (‘Primal seed’), Ainkaran, Bhalachandra (‘Moonbrowed’),
Brahmanaspati (‘Lord of the Universe’), Chintamani,
Ekadanta (‘One-toothed’), Gajamukha (Elephant-faced),
Gajakarna (‘Elephant-eared’),Ganapata, Ganapatti, Ganapati,
Ganapathy, Ganapaty, Ghanapathy, Heramba, Jyestharåja,
Lambodara (‘Large-bellied’),Vakratunda (crooked mouthed),
Vinayaka (the first to be worshipped),Vignaharta orVighneshwara
(he who destroys obstacles)
Sense: ‘Lord of the Hosts’ (of Ganas) symbolising OM.
Ganesh is a pictorial and symbolic representation of O, the
mystical sound vibration from which all vibratory elements
(including atomic and sub-atomic) came into manifestation. For
this reason he is also named ‘Brahmanaspati’—Lord of Mantras
(emanating from Brahman).
The symbol of O, a glyph resembling the figure three, has a
curling stroke like the trunk of an elephant, emanating from
between the curves of the 3 (which are imagined as the brow and
tusk of an elephant). Thus Ganesh was given the iconographic
form of an elephant for the purpose of meditation and worship.
This personification was also known as Gajånana —the
Elephant-faced deity (from gaja, elephant and ånana, face.)
He later became popular as Ganesha—from ga~a—group,
genus or species, combined with Iça (or Isha)—Lord or Ruler of
the Bh¨tas or elements; making him Ga~a-içha (Ganesha) the
deity in control of all the groups of elements which compose the
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