Loving Ganeśa: Hinduism's Endearing Elephant-faced God

Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1998 - Gaṇeśa (Hindu deity) - 737 pages

The divine player attempts to analyze the relationship between play and religion in the context of Hinduism. It focuses primarily on the youthful god Krsna. The first part part of the book surveys the role of play among the gods and concludes that play seems to be an intrinsic part of the divine in Hinduism. The second part of the book investigates the role of play in religious cult, again focusing on the various Krsna cults. This section concludes that, although playful themes pervade man`s religious activity in devotion to Krsna, cultiic activity may not be reduced to play, as some scholars have suggested. The final section of the book points to examples of divine and cultic play in non-Hindu traditions.

What people are saying

User Review -

Great awesome book! Even though I was born Hindu, my parents were not very religious so I had no understanding of who and what was Ganesh's function. This book goes through the whole gamut of Ganesh's role in Hinduism and also goes into the next step of learning and becoming a Hindu to fully appreciate Ganesh. I would defintely recomend this book to the non hindu, and also to the advanced Hindu as its a great source of prayers, information and ritual to both.  

User Review -

one of the best book i have ever read if you what good information on ganesa this is the book i love it

Contents

• Preface The Milk MiracleKshira Chamatkara: xiii
• Authors IntroductionGranthakara Bhumika: xxvii
• Hinduism the Greatest Religion in the World: xxxv
• Sanskrit PronunciationUccharana Vyakhya: li
• Letters from Lord GanesaSri Ganesasya Patrani: 19
• In Science and BeyondVijnane Paratascha: 43
• Forms of GanesaGanapati Svarupani: 53
• Sacred SymbolsPunyalakshanani: 97
• ADHYAYA PAGE: 127
• The Primal SoundGanesah Pranavatmakah: 137
• Master of the WordBrihaspatih: 155
• Mantra RecitationGanapati Japah: 161
• Prayers of Invocation: 183
• Daily Prayers for Children: 189
• Ganesa Invocation: 198
• Around the WorldParibhuvanam: 263
• Ganesa Chaturthi: 299
• Vinayaka Vratam and Markali Pillaiyar: 307
• Sweet OfferingsMishtannanaivedyam: 317
• ADHYAYA PAGE NUMBER: 329
• Singing to GanesaGanesa Bhajanam: 357
• Ganesa PuzzlesGanapati Prahelikah: 387
• VegetarianismSakaharah: 403
• Five Simple Remedies: 454
• Once Twice The Rice: 492
• Hindu DenominationsHindu Satnpradayah: 513
• Religions DuesDhanna Rinam: 569
• A Childrens Primer Bdlaka Pustakam: 593
• ConclusionNirvahanam: 617
• IndexAnukramanika: 697
• BibliographySastriya Sandarbhagranthasuchi: 723

Bibliographic information

• Title: Loving Ganeśa: Hinduism's Endearing Elephant-faced God; The Rishi collection
• Author: Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
• Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1998
• ISBN: 8120815068, 9788120815063
• Length: 737 pages