Ganesha Brass Sculpture

Ganesh is the first son of Lord Shiva and Parvathi, who are symbolically the great forces in Nature to make dynamic changes in the Universe and destroy all types of evils and negative influences on mankind. These are the powers beyond human control. Ganesh is said to have been born to his parents not in the usual biological phenomenon but externally by cosmic influences and reactions. That is why he is known as ‘Manasik Putra’ son of Cosmic Mind. Several attempts were made by the great Rishis to explain these cosmic influences and reactions in the form of popular stories for the understanding of the common man but basically it signifies that the new born baby ‘Ganesh’ was an entity endowed with unlimited cosmic powers. He is therefore known also by several other names like Vighneswara, Ganapathi Lambodara etc to highlight the powers attributed to him. Ganesh himself with his two consorts Buddhi (Intelligence) and Siddhi (Achievement) symbolizes ‘Wisdom’. The icon of elephant head and riding on a small mouse represents the possibility of heavy responsibilities being capable of intelligently working through the smallest of tools, material or spiritual. It also symbolizes how even small creatures can sustain great strength through wisdom. Legend says he was the first non-stop writer or stenographer for the epic Mahabharatha when the great sage Vyasa dictated the same non-stop.

Ganesha - the vignaharta, or remover of obstacles to whom every boisterous prayer sung in his praise.
The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has a story. There's the one about Ganesha and Karthikeya in a sibling competition over who could go faster around the world. While Kartikeya clambered onto his peacock and flew off, Ganesha hung around his parents, continued to play and then walked briskly around the divine couple three times, hand folded.

Ganesha's head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. His wisdom in this case lies perhaps, in recognizing that, with the right values and a little ingenuity, you can effortlessly achieve what others strive endlessly to attain. Ganesha recognized the universal God beside him. He did not feel the need to prove his machismo.
It has narrow, tiny eyes, like someone who carefully scrutinizes things around him. A wise person, likewise, always examines a situation closely and attempts to understand its deeper resonances.

Ganesha has a big belly. He is able to digest all that is happening around him, good and bad, praise and criticism. Yet the rotund one is light enough to straddle a tiny mouse. For he does not hold grudges or ill-will - feelings that make one heavy and unwieldy.
Finally, why is Ganesha's vahana (vehicle) a mouse? This scuttling creature represents the mind, which has a tendency to dart about, picking up fickle fantasies and devious desires along the way. Ganesha's true wisdom lies in the fact that he is able to control the mouse, to rein it and bring it to rest at his feet. Control over one's mind is thus the ultimate sign of wisdom.