Ganesh and Parvati

It is raining outside as I write ,and my thoughts are rushing out just like the rain .

Ganesh Chaturthi , and Navratri and Dassera  is over . The loud noises,the crowds ,the gaudy decorations ,the traffic is all over .My ‘Garba’ the mud pot that was decorated and lit every day rests under the Prijat tree below my house ,it;s purpose is served .Next year I will have a new one .

The wheat and juwar and other grains that I planted in small basket is still with me , actually that should also be under the tree , but I have forgotton to take it down .

Just in nine days the sprouts sprang out from the mud and shoots let out the happy leaves .What a wonderful feeling it is to see this simple miracle of life . a seed coming alive.

It is all about the story of the daughter ,Shailaja , the daughter of mountain , Himalaya .

There is story in WArli tribe where Shailaja or Parvati ,gathers all the seeds saved by ants and squirrals and other tiny creachers , she then sets out planting the seeds on the barren mountain .

The soil is dry , and as the rain comes in the earth swells with water and the seed swells up and the barren mountain has all different plants coming up .

Parvati ,is mad with delight , she dances in the rain soaks her body with water , rolls in the soft mud .she is full of joy , it is joy of life springing up in nature , the grain is taking shape the buds are out .Parvati , comes across a stream , she has to take a bath , yet , the mud clinging to her body is her own self , part of her how can she just wash it off?? It is part of her it is her essence ,  it has all her power in it , it has all her knoledge of unknown in it .

She gathers all the mud and makes it into a small image of a child , she is the mother and he is her son , Ganesha .The story of Ganesha after this you know how he got his elephant head .

But how wonderful that this thought was instilled in our ancesters and they continued to make Ganesh murti out of mud every year .

Story has not ended here , Parvati , is in full form now as the Nature takes grows into abundance ,the red hibuscus , the regrant , chameli , jasmine are all intoxicating her , she is a Goddess and she wants the adornments , she wants all the beauty she can have , and we have Navratri where all the women are ready to share Parvati’s joy and they dance and swing around the Garba lamp as they sing the songs in praise of Devi .

Her Nine images , her moods ,her shakti ,she is the mother she is gentle she is all giving , and she can also be  angry if any evil comes her way . ,she has the power to slay the demon , she has the power to destroy evil , she is the one who will bring Peace to this world.

To me, Ganesh and Parvati ,the story of  SON AND MOTHER worshipped each other is joy which comes up through the Nature .

And I am happy to sit at my window listening to the dripping rain drops on my little basket. with it’s

green shoots and leaves swinging in the wind.

TO me this is divine , no aarti , no drums , no prasad , no decoration .

I bow to divine mother , and divine Ganesh , year after year.