Advaita and Adhyathma perspectives: The symbolic iconography of Sri Ganesha

The current understanding of the Hindu deity, Sri Ganesha, is full of popular misunderstandings. Western interpreters and Indologists cannot understand the symbolism behind an elephant headed God leading to malicious misinterpretations of Hindu divinity. Applying an objective framework to study Indian divinity leads to bizarre claims and nonsensical tropes. I propose a different approach from a native Hindu practitioners’ perspective.Because of a colonial hangover among western researchers, the perspectives of the native Hindu devotees and priests have been typically ignored in the Western understanding of Indian thought. The Advaita and Adhyathma interpretations of Vedanta state that the understanding of Sri Ganesha is filled with symbolism and spiritual meaning. The various facets of Sri Ganesha will be explored in detail. This article is a guide to genuine future researchers to apply more rigor, intellectual honesty, common sense and symbolism in the study of Indian divinity in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths.