A Personal God For Personal Friendship

Relatives are inherited, but relationships with them have to be nurtured. Friends are chosen and friendships are cultivated. A personalized God is chosen, but godliness needs to be internalized to enrich our self. In each and every individual connection, mutual trust is at the core of bonding.

In the context of a personal friendship, I recall the movie Cast Away in which actor Tom Hanks plays the leading role of a busy Federal Express executive. Federal Express is a private American company that delivers mail worldwide.
While flying overseas on a business trip, Tom’s plane develops mechanical trouble and crash lands in the ocean waters. Tom is the lone survivor. He ends up floating and drifting on to a desolate small tropical island. After living on the island for a few days, Tom shockingly discovers that he is the lone and sole inhabitant of the tropical island.

With absolutely no communication with the outside world and struggling to live alone on the island, Tom craves for a companion. Amongst the few items of his luggage that floated ashore with him to the island was a volleyball with the manufacturer’s name “Wilson” imprinted on it. Tom was familiar with the Wilson volleyball since his childhood. Tom scrounged up a felt pen from his sparse luggage and used it to draw large eyes, nose and lips on the Wilson volleyball making it look like a human. Then he placed the ball in full view on a little sand mound. Tom started addressing the ball as “Wilson “ and would constantly talk to him about experiences on the island. The inflated Wilson ball was now transformed into his close and only friend on the island. Tom constantly shared his thoughts including his sorrows and joys with Wilson. Soon Tom had developed a thick friendship with Wilson. As far as possible, Tom kept Wilson constantly in his sight during the day. Together they weathered life on the island.

A day came when Tom was finished building a skinny bamboo raft that would hopefully float him away from the lonely island and back to civilization to his wife and family. Tom loaded up his raft with the bare necessities. But the most important item on the raft was his constant companion Wilson, the volleyball. He mounted Wilson on the raft’s tip section which was constantly in sight.

Wilson had helped Tom retain his sanity through the toughest of times on the island. Now Wilson and Tom together were on the skimpy raft, which dared the rough waves of the ocean. While afloat on the high seas, a rough storm with gusty winds swayed the tiny raft mercilessly in every possible angle. Tom struggled to keep himself and Wilson anchored on the raft. It seemed as if Nature had unleashed its fury. As the storm raged and mercilessly tossed the raft, Wilson broke loose from the raft and tumbled helplessly into the giant waves. Seeing this, Tom shouted and assured Wilson that he is coming to get him. In split second and without any second thought, Tom jumped in the rough sea waves and swam towards Wilson to rescue him. He kept on reassuring Wilson while the distance between the two kept on increasing progressively. Helplessly, Wilson bobbed farther away and disappeared in the giant sea waves far beyond Tom’s reach and physical stamina. Tom was heart broken for Wilson and returned sadly to the raft. Subsequently the raft touched shore and Tom was able to return safely to his wife and family.

Recognize how an inanimate Wilson volleyball had become a Man’s true friend and an emotional savior in times of need. In a similar manner, a personal God’s image which may be cast in gold or silver, or sculpted in either marble, stone, ivory, wood, clay, or painted and empowered by the devotee plays the role of a true friend and an emotional savior. A personal God’s life long friendship cherished and nourished from childhood is constant companionship with unconditional love. Even a Teddy bear or a living in-house pet provides the same experience of unconditional love and attention! A true friend does just that. A personal God is perceived by believer as a true friend that offers unconditional love all the time. It is a mutually rewarding relationship even when one of the partners is always silent.

The Hallmark Company had put out a greeting card with the title “Footprints in the Sand”. It narrated an interesting conversation between a Man and God. God had assured the Man that he will always be with him at all times, good or bad. The Man went through his life with his share of problems. At the end of his biological journey, the Man confronted God to complain about the numerous problems he has had to face and accused God of not being there with him as promised. Upon hearing his complaint, God asked how do you know that I was not there? And the Man looking back pointed out to the foot prints in the sand (sands of time) saying “Look there is only one set of footprints”. And God replied that there is only one set of footprints because God himself was carrying him on his shoulders all this time.
As a growing child in a Hindu family, I was fascinated with the character and story of god Ganesha whom we fondly called Ganpati. Mythological tales describe that he is the son of god Shiva and goddess Parvati. The life story of Ganpati is very interesting especially for a Hindu child. A statue or a painting of Ganpati always attracted and held my attention due to his amusing elephant head on top of a human body. The elephant trunk with ivory tusks, large ears, beady eyes, big belly, and four hands held my attention. He appeared ambiguously human and yet very graceful sitting on a throne. We had a small statue of Ganpati cast in brass, which was placed in the traditional worship room of our house. The brass Ganpati had his right palm open and raised, facing forward as if for blessing me. In the left hand he held a small pyramid shaped modak (a tasty sweet snack that I loved in childhood). Ganpati was my personal favorite god image ever since my earlier memory around six years of age.

In Maharashtra, a western state of India, every year there is a Ganpati festival around the month of September. The date varies according to the Hindu lunar calendar. The festival focuses on the worship of Ganpati for ten days. During this festive period, Ganpati is worshipped at home as well as in public places. In public places, large plaster or clay models of Ganpati are set up on decorated platforms under temporary decorative tents. In these public places several neighbors and visitors join in for worship of Ganpati. The ten-day festivities include organized variety entertainment programs such as dancing, singing, dramas, debates, lectures and art exhibitions.

For celebrating the Ganpati festival at our home, a new clay model of Ganpati would be purchased every year from the market. It was usually a difficult task to purchase only one clay model of Ganpati from the very broad and colorful selection offered by the retailers, and fit it in the limited personal budget. I always admired the beautifully hand crafted and painted clay or plaster models of Ganpati which were offered for sale during the Ganpati festival. Every year new and imaginative variations of the basic theme emerged displaying artist’s freedom to express. The illustration below is showing Ganpati as a child enjoying a processional ride on an elephant.

EDIT >>>> ENLARGE THIS PICTURE FULL PAGE

At our home, the first day of the ten-day Ganpati festival involved installation of the new Ganpati idol in the morning. All members of the family would have taken their baths before starting the formal installation ceremony in the morning. The Ganpati idol would be placed on a specially prepared flower-decked wooden platform. Oil lamps and traditional items used for conducting worship would be neatly arranged in front of the idol. The room in which we installed the new clay idol of Ganpati seemed to develop an aura of holiness ~ a very special guest had arrived in the house was the feeling. It just felt good that all members of the family (we were eight including both grand parents, five siblings and a maternal uncle) congregated together in front of the newly installed Ganpati idol. Often some next door neighbors would also join in. We all recited the traditional Ganpati prayers (aarti) together. Invariably, I volunteered to play the role of a little worshipper (pujari) holding the traditional oil lamp (niranjan) in my hands while standing humbly in front of Ganpati. I would move the oil lamp in traditional clockwise direction facing the idol while the entire family sang together the traditional Ganpati prayers lasting about 10 -15 minutes. After the conclusion of prayers, each family member bowed to Ganpati. I would also bow and then distribute sweets (prasad) to all that were present. Naturally all children hung around until the end of the prayers. During the entire Ganpati festival these prayers were conducted twice a day, one around 9 AM and the next one around 6 PM. Sweets were distributed after each prayer session and therefore presence of children was assured.

On the tenth and final day of the festival, we conducted the evening Ganpati prayers and then carried Ganpati’s idol to the water well which was located in a corner of our garden. The deep well was fifteen feet in diameter and had a three foot high embankment around it to protect children. The well was quite deep and had water in it all the year through. Drinking water for the family was always drawn from this well all the year round. On the last day of the Ganpati ceremony, many more of our neighbors would also join us. At the well in the evening, a good-bye prayer was chanted saying “Ganpati bappa morya, pudchya warshi laukkar yaa” which meant Ganpati we are immersing you in water to say good bye for now, but you come back soon next year (you hear!). Then the Ganpati idol would be gently released down in the well along with some flowers. I remember tears rolling down my cheeks at the time of immersion of Ganpati idol in the well. It was a ten day of intense companionship with Ganpati in a festive mood. After the immersion ceremony of Ganpati on the tenth day, it felt as if a very dear friend had left us, but with a promise to return next year. Reentering the house after Ganpati’s immersion ceremony was a sad feeling. The room and the special platform on which Ganpati sat for ten days, now felt empty and deserted.

Initially we used to purchase Ganpati’s new clay model from retail store every year for the annual festival. Gradually, I got more fascinated with Ganpati and the annual Ganpati festival. Ganpati had become my personal god and a friend. Often I prayed to him and relied on his help. Ganpati was gradually carving a place in my heart consciousness.

As I got into sixth grade at Hadas High School in Nagpur, India, which is my hometown, I became very interested in sculpting Ganpati’s clay model. I experimented with clay from our garden to get the right workable consistency. Instead of buying the Ganpati idol from store as we had done in previous years, I was now driven to create the Ganpati idol with my own hands. Encouragement from parents and grandparents was a booster for my new passion for sculpting. I worked the garden clay diligently to give Ganpati a respectable and proportionate shape. I was especially careful while I was shaping his elephant face, trunk, eyes, four arms and the prominent belly. I preferred to shape the Ganpati clay model in a size approximately 12 inches square at the base and 12 inches high. After carefully sculpting and then drying the model, I used water colors to paint the entire model. It took special effort to paint Ganpati’s face and eyes because I wanted him to look godly, gracious, and friendly. I was ten years old and felt mighty proud to install my first hand-made Ganpati idol at home on the first day of the Ganpati festival. For ten days during the festival, I adored my Ganpati because it was my own creation. He was my friend, gracefully sitting on a throne which was crafted by me. Unwittingly, this Ganpati seemed to be looking at me and paying special attention to me. On the tenth day of the festival my Ganpati idol had to be immersed in the well; just as we had traditionally done during previous years. I almost sobbed when I let go of him from my hands for the final immersion ceremony.

From that year onwards, I specially looked forward to the Ganpati festival. Subsequently each year until I was 16 years old, I sculpted the Ganpati idol for the festivity at home. My friendship with Ganpati has evolved progressively over the years. Ganpati has become my personal god and friend for life. I have empowered the symbolic clay model to be all this and much more.

Initially during my innocent childhood years, Ganpati was a living God for me. I imagined that he stayed somewhere up there in heaven; I did not know precisely where. But that was not important. It did not matter. I prayed to him and felt his blessings comforting me in times of need such as the annual exams (especially the math papers), competitive sports events, and moments of loneliness or sadness. Gradually Ganpati became my close friend, and a constant companion. For the emotional component of me, Ganpati still is and always will be my personal God. Ganpati’s personality and image is irreplaceably etched in my consciousness.

Looking back at those early years of my life, I sense great beauty in the innocence of childhood. Each child should have an opportunity to experience the innocence of childhood. It is a privilege and a blessing to enjoy. An innocent and safe childhood provides a stable foundation for life.

As a child and through early teen-age years, it is natural and easy to follow family traditions. In a typical Hindu family, religious traditions are usually followed at home under the loving direction of adults. In our home, there was a small room, which was dedicated as the worship (puja) or prayer room. Daily, my grandmother would perform the worship after her morning bath. The word worship (puja) implies prayers and the associated rituals. On special religious occasions, a Brahmin priest (guruji) would come to our house to conduct the specific worship. A male family member would sit along with the priest and follow his instructions step by step to perform the worship. Many a times I had volunteered to perform the worship simply because I enjoyed doing it.

Traditionally, a Hindu household worships more than one god. These are gods of personal choice, referred in Sanskrit as Ishta Devata. Each god is represented in the place of worship with a small idol, picture or a token symbol. An idol of Ganpati is always symbolically placed in front because the ceremony always starts with worship of Ganpati idol first. This fact registered in my mind as a child and I had accepted it without questioning as a part of religious discipline. As I matured, I wanted to know why does Ganpati occupy such an important place amongst gods. Mythological and religious stories of Hinduism are skillfully woven to arouse interest and enquiry. Gradually the latent meaning behind the rituals began to surface in my consciousness.

Ganpati is son of god Shiva and goddess Parvati. God Shiva is embodiment of universal wisdom and goddess Parvati is embodiment of family strength. Their son Ganpati with an elephant head has acquired the genes of wisdom, strength and fearlessness. The interesting mythological story describes how Ganpati who was born a regular human ended up receiving an elephant head transplant after being beheaded while steadfastly standing guard to protect his mother Parvati. To cut the story short, Ganpati has the head of an elephant, which is symbolic of sharp intellect, hearing, perceptive eyes and a very sensitive trunk that has a unique ability for smell and recognition of grossest to minutest objects. All of these attributes and many more are representative of Ganpati. Therefore, worshipping Ganpati at the beginning of a Hindu worship (puja) is an invocation to these attributes or qualities. Comprehending this hidden message in the image of Ganpati brings an enriching meaning to the worship of Ganpati. The captivating tales of gods and goddesses narrated in Hindu mythology and scriptures are a blend of master story telling combined with spiritual message to enhance the human consciousness. Hindu gods and goddesses are very relevant when understood in the proper cultural perspective and context. The messages communicated are universal and therefore precious. The image of Ganpati, my personal god of choice, gives me an awareness that the theoretical, emotional and practical components of me co-exist in greater harmony with each other; the three components are now inseparable, interdependent and complimentary.

Therefore as a mature individual, I have no issues in acknowledging legitimacy of various gods and goddesses of Hinduism and gods of other faiths or religions because they simply represent different levels of human consciousness. I remain a Hindu for life simply because I know what it means to be a Hindu; it is my enriching spiritual heritage and base. With this background, I respectfully let everybody else be what he/she wants to be at his/her own level of consciousness. It is not me allowing it, but essentially accepting it. Each person is entitled to a personal god or goddess to experience the unconditional love and friendship that goes with it. Understanding the true nature of God is understanding our self.

God is not a topic for an endless and pointless discussion or debate although it has been so for centuries. God has no name and no form simply because it represents a universal and eternal principle. Man gives God a name and physical identity of his choice for realizing and experiencing it at an individual level of consciousness. No word from any language ever devised by Man has the capacity to describe it. God is the ultimate blissful experience of consciousness. It is the eternal and unconditional friendship.