The Ganapati Temple, Kottarakkara

Symbolism behind Ganapathy 

  
The  Rishies who indulged in Divine Symbolism depicted the Macrocosm - Microcosm Relationship as an  Elephant headed human form, the Elephant symbolising the Macrocosm and Man, the  Microcosm. This is the Symbolism behind Ganesh !

Shakespeare says " Little Man's world ", depicting Man as Microcosm, in which he copies the structure of the great Universe. All esoteric literature points out that Man is the Microcosm and the Universal ( Energy, Matter, Mind or Being ), the Macrocosm ! They are known in Vedanta Sastra as Anu and Brihat, Pindanda and Brahmanda, Vyashti and Samashti.                                                                                                                      

The main festival here is the Thiruvathira  Festival, which occurs when the Moon tenants the constellation of Aridra in the month of Meena. 

Actually the main Deity is Siva but this is famous as a Ganapathy Temple !

In Indian Philosophy, elephants , who are macro animals, represent the Macrocosm, the Brihat.  Man is only a tiny speck in the Cosmos and hence is Microcosm !

The main offering here is the Unniappam.  When the main priest looked at the Idol, he intuitively felt He was hungry and so he offered Unniappams to Deity !

Lord Ganesh is the Remover of Obstacles and all prayers start with a verse in praise of Him !

O Mighty Bodied !
With the splendour of a thousand Suns
Make my efforts obstacleless
Always, in all undertakings !

Vaktra thunda Mahakaya
Soorya Koti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam kuru me deva
Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada

By  Govind  Kumar