Why do Hindu gods carry weapons in hands?

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   dingdongposted 14 years ago

   Many of them are picturised having many heads and many hands with all holding weapons and looking scary.
   
   Aren't they supposed to be embodiment of love?

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      John Kounoupisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      ...raccoons...

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         dingdongposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         WHAT?

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      mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      They symbolize a complete human.
      
      The hand with the weapon -warrior
      with the book- scholar
      with a flower- respect for nature
      with a  begging bowl at times- all comes from god.
      One hand the right hand- giving blessing
      One hand may have - a musical instrument
      
      The heads symbolize knowledge.
      Ravana with his ten heads was a Shiva bakt who had done a lot of penance ad gained a lot of knowledge and powers, that is why they show him with ten heads.

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         earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Geeze Mohit! I was just warming to the raccoon explanation, then you come along with all this high falutin knowledge stuff!

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            mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            

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         weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         If it was so, why didn't Shiva tell him to refrain from being lustful towards Sita - someone else's wife?
         
         Didn't he want his devotee to be good?

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            mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            It was his destiny , his karma, he had become too arrogant with his powers and was misusing them.

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            owner_4posted 14 years agoin reply to this

            He tried to change his mindcbut the thing was even if a person is going in wrong path  GOD will love him.Waise ravan was very knowledgeable.He is even worshiped in some parts of the country.

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               mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Yes he is worshiped and in some countries he is the hero and not Rama.

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      pylos26posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Nope...they are to fend off those nasty menstruating women.

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      tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Hindu Gods are the embodiment of Everything
      the weapons means, their destructive character.
      Destroy to Create.
      Sometimes they have animal faces which describes the animal in question's character

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         weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Create a toy, play with it, torture and destroy.. What a game!

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            tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Well. you know 'religion'....
            
            but hindu Gods ,I really like.

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   John Kounoupisposted 14 years ago

   They have raccoon problems... Those pesky buggers mess up their hedges and stuff... How do you think they fend them off?

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   earnestshubposted 14 years ago

   ... and in those days of the gods the raccoons had rabies!

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      John Kounoupisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You are correct sir.

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         earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         John could you confirm for me that it was the pink raccoons that carried the disease? I have never really trusted pink! There is something , well, pink about it!

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            John Kounoupisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I can confirm, that the pink one's carried the disease, although, those weren't the dangerous ones. There were also the rare purple ones, with the ability to transmogrify people into nail-clippers.

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               earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               That must have scared the daylights out of the deity with those long nails!

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                  John Kounoupisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Oh how I love enlightening people... Now earnestshub, follow the path of the nail-clippers, and you shall find a place by the all powerful raccoons. Go my son. Follow the path of the 'coon.

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                     earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Thanks John, I came here to be enlightened in the way.

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   Paragliderposted 14 years ago

   This one's not too scary..
   
   

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I play guitar as you do, and that many hands could be very useful for some pieces!

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         Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yep, if she put down the pack of ciggies there'd be no stopping her!

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            earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I just noticed the smokes.A most unusual deity.

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               Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               And she may be Hindu, but I'd say she's hedging her bets with that rosary...

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                  John Kounoupisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Oh no! Don't fade off of the path of the 'coon! Don't! You... must... stay... *cough*...

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               punitpaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Semi nude Jesus nailed on a cross.... does that mean he was a criminal who was punished in full public view?? You ask Mr. Brown and I'm sure he will tell you something about this.
               
               These are all mythological stories, good prevails over evil.
               
               Moreover, Hindu Gods are rich n powerfull Gods unlike Jesus(depicted as poor and weak).
               And so, you can see see them with many hands(which symbolises power). All that have some significance to the mythological stories related to those dieties.
               
               Although Jesus was reborn after a few days, but who will believe that now... Well, you can actually ask his great great grandchildren. They may shed some light on that great MYTH...

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      reena_yadavposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Paraglide,r The Hindu goddess shown is known as Saraswati who is the Goddess of Knowledge, Music and Art.
      
      In her four hands, she is shown holding:-
      
      1) A Book - This book is the sacred Vedas which represents the universal, divine, eternal and true knowledge as well as her perfection of the sciences and the scriptures. (In one of your posts, it is referred to as "ciggies")
      
      2) A mālā (rosary) of crystals, representing the power of meditation and spirituality.
      
      3) A pot of sacred water, representing creative and purification powers.
      
      4) The vina, a musical instrument that represents her perfection of all arts and sciences. Saraswati is also associated with anurāga, the love for and rhythm of music which represents all emotions and feelings expressed in speech or music.
      
      The four arms she has represents the four aspects of human personality, which are mind, intellect, alertness and ego.

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5. 57

   weblogposted 14 years ago

   @ Earnest and Paraglider
   
   That's Saraswathi, she's said to be the god of education/knowledge/wisdom and she won't smoke

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      mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Her consort Shiva was always smoking charas .

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      Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I know who she is. I brought her back from India (cast in bronze).

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         weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         And, did you know she won't smoke?

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   shinujohn2008posted 14 years ago

   Hindu Gods have Weapons in their hands , because they are believed to exist to protect Humanbeings from Problems and evils.
   
   Lord Siva
   
   
   
   Kali "Angry Godess"
   
   
   
   Lord Vishnu
   
   
   
   Devi - Godess
   
   
   
   Lakshmi Devi - Godess of Wealth
   
   

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   Paragliderposted 14 years ago

   Any more nonsense and I'll set my pal Ganesha on your case
   
   

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      weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      With the head of an elephant, he's going to scare me a lot

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         mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Elephant head symbolizes intelligence and strength.

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            Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I thought Krisna struck off Ganesha's real head for adultery and so he had to acquire a head from the first available source which happened to be an elephant, no?

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               weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               There are many stories for that, the one I remember goes like this...
               
               Parvathi, wife of Shiva created Ganesha using her power and Shiva beheaded him for some reason. Then, he had to find a suitable head and the poor elephant was the first choice.

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                  Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  OK, and why does he always have a mouse or rat with him?

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                     mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Thats his vehicle of transport.

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                     weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Yeah, that's his vehicle. Next, don't ask me how does he manage with such a small one?

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               mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               No Shiva Ganesha father chopped his head off. Ganesha was guarding Parvati who was having a bath and didn't recognize Shiva who had left for his journey before his birth.
               Ganesha refused to let Shiva pass and so Shiva copped his head off in anger.He has to find the first living thing and he found the elephant and so took his head off and replaced it on Ganesha's.

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                  Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Ah OK - that's entirely reasonable!

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                     mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           

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                  dishyumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  But, why the head of an animal?

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                     mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     It was the first living thing they sighted.

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                        webismineposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Just because it was the first sighted? They couldn't think of something better than it?

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                           mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           Dont know , its what I read.

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                              weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              Wow, glad to know that there's at least something Mohit doesn't know and he agrees it

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                                 mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                 I always say I don't know when I don't .

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                                    mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                    And write thank you to the person who shares the knowledge with me.

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               vanushreeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               no it is not like this

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   topgunjagerposted 14 years ago

   now these gods are real, you can't make up gods like these=)

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      Paragliderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      They're certainly a lot more fun that the god of Abraham!

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      mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Christians call Jesus god , in the same way India has seen many enlightened ones. Elephant head etc are used to denote their powers and is not to be taken actually.

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   Paragliderposted 14 years ago

   Elephant riding mouse - works for me

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      mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             missed this humor I thank Ganesha the destroyer of obstacles , it is back.

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      weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      While it's like he couldn't walk on his own with that pot belly

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10. 59

    neysajasperposted 14 years ago

    Hindu gods are not scary.. they carry the weapon in their hand just to destroy the evil that comes in their way..

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       weblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       That doesn't necessarily mean they should always be posing the same way in images and sculptures.
       
       And, have you heard of goats and roosters being killed for them with a lame justification 'sacrifice'...? It's justified that way because those gods are designed(yes, by humans) to look scary as if they ask for blood and flesh.

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11. 62

    prettydarkhorseposted 14 years ago

    hi tantrum pretty, wheres Xtasis today,
    
    they carry weapon to destroy evil?

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       tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       not always
       But they always  create something new over the destruction
       
       Xtasis is laughing at my side. She says hello!
       

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          prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Hey Xtasis, maybe he is smiling, contented...hmm, what did you do with him, tantrum hmmmm

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             tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             It's a 'she', silly ! just like me !
             A winged Medusa, by Gustave Moreau

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                prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                hahahaha,,,,sorry tantrum..I thought he is a male, thought you were a male before,

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                   tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                   Yes, I was, before surgery .
                   
                   Hubpages surgery.
                   I'm a woman ,and all that has to do with me, in reality, is female 

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                      prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                      Yes I know because you are sweet funny too...you always makes me smile, thanks...

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                         tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                         I'm glad!!
                         I always try to make my friends laugh !

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                            prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                            thanks and continue being your naughty pretty self,

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       mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Destruction is a part of life, creation requires destruction.
       
       The god destroy what is evil.
       The prophets Krishna ,Rama, Muhammad , Guru Nanak etc  wielded the sword (weapon),had to fight.
       Then one should know how to defend himself or herself in life or be so strong that he can also protect the weak.

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12. 66

    athulnairposted 14 years ago

    Every religion got its own story, it is a matter of faith. It is always a joke for one religion to criticize or question the other. Even a child can understand the intention of the questions asked.
    
    Hindu Gods create and protect. The purpose of the weapon is to destroy the enemies of the people who God created.

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       dishyumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Did you read all posts?

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13. 61

    ShivParvathiposted 14 years ago

    The weapons show the devotees that,
    We are here to protect you from any kind of evil powers:)
    
    Will you fear about your own soldiers with weapons?
    lol they are meant to protect your from your enemies!
    I think you can find these answers with just a search in any Search engine.

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    jahnbarposted 14 years ago

    well, that's their belief.

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    shyamchatposted 14 years ago

    Images of gods, Hindu or Greek or Roman or Asyrian, follow corresponding descriptions in respective scriptures.
    
    The imagery of a Hindu god may or may not carry a weapon... Laksmi carries  a lotus and a ''jhanpi'. kind of a spherical casket.
    Saraswati or Krsna carry no weapon either.
    
    The imagery  depicts  a form of power to the devotee. For example, Goddess Kali  has destruction on Her right hands and 'barabhay',ie, blessing on Her left hands. Weapons represent 'power'.
    
    Generalisation will be mistake.

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    S.S.YOGIposted 14 years ago

    Hindu gods carry weapons in hands - this is mere imagination. In accordance with the advanced Hindu philosophy known as vedanta, there is only one God in the Universe as Paramatma(Supersoul) which has no shape (rupa)or character(Gunas)whatsoever.It means it is above all characters(Gunathetha).All shapes are given by the devotees as per their wish and qualities.In whatever form one pray him, he will fullfill his desire accordingly. The weapons are imaginatory as the devottes seeks protection from the God in that form and nature.In fact all these devotions are secondary.The real spirituality is different which is to see the God.One cannot see God with his material eyes but he can seen transcendentally.So search and find out the secret which is within us.
    S.S.YOGI

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    earnestshubposted 14 years ago

    To belt other gods with?

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    apricotposted 14 years ago

    There is of course the theory that the gods were ancient astronauts - and not only the hindu gods.  The ancient astronaut theory (http://www.world-mysteries.com/aa_1.htm#Introduction) considers religious literature too incredibile to be taken metaphorically and offers a more physical explanation.  Their explanation is pretty mind-boggling but once you look at some of the evidence they present it certainly makes you think...
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMijKEIZOIQ

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19. 62

    errum fattahposted 14 years ago

    iam surprised, why hindus worship humans like themselves. Why dont they worship a God.
    
    They say that God is one but if anybody did their work than they say u r my God( sorry i dont know the real name of it). If he's she is thier God than wat abt the real God, how many Gods are there?
    
    wat I think that the names which they r taking as their Gods, maybe were prophets,cuz hindus also belive that thier is heaven and hell we also, they camed to show the right path but the poeple produces changes in the books. And make them God.
    
    Well, nowadays hundreds of million hindus are leaving their faith and turning to other religion, Islam.

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       errum fattahposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       tell me one thing..
       is it not in ur religion that if women is widow than she should be killed or burned? she's not able to live in the earth?
       
       I hope u'll answer me..

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          crmhaskeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          The story goes that Sita threw herself in the fire of Agni because Rama, her husband, did not believe she was faithful to him when the great demon Rakashasa abducted her.  Her act was to prove her piousness and as such Sita is the role model for all Indian women.
          
          It has been practice in India for women to throw themselves on their husband's pyre and burn with them, but as far as I recall, this has been a choice.  Unfortunately however, until Gandhi came along, widows were indeed considered untouchables.

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       crmhaskeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       In Hinduism, there is only one God, Brahama, all others are his avatars to illustrate the many faces of God.  But they are all manifestations of the same one God.
       
       As far as "worshipping humans" I think you misunderstand the sanskrit phrase Tat Tvam Asi - Thou Art That -> it is a reminder to Hindu's that they are all, avatars and God included, of one consciousness.

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       mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       All is god as god is omnipresent .An enlightened one who has awakened to the god in himself is given the respect by Hindus.
       
       Islam doesn't equate even the prophets with god as his powers are very limited compared to gods.
       
       Both philosophies are correct if viewed with an open mind.
       
       Respect is given to these awakened ones and they represent the potential every human has.

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    arjunpkposted 12 years ago

    first of all....
    Everything in hinduism is symbolic.... the way the gods are depicted.... the reason for the existence of many gods.....
    
    let me explain one by one....
    GANESHA's vehicle.. MOUSE...
    Here is an article about that.....
    The little mouse whom Ganesha is supposed to ride upon is another enigmatic feature in his iconography. At a first glance it seems strange that the lord of wisdom has been granted a humble obsequious mouse quite incapable of lifting the bulging belly and massive head that he possesses. But it implies that wisdom is an attribute of ugly conglomeration of factors and further that the wise do not find anything in the world disproportionate or ugly.
    
    The mouse is, in every respect, comparable to the intellect. It is able to slip unobserved or without our knowledge into places which we would have not thought it possible to penetrate. In doing this it is hardly concerned whether it is seeking virtue or vice. The mouse thus represents our wandering, wayward mind, lured to undesirable or corrupting grounds. By showing the mouse paying subservience to Lord Ganesha it is implied that the intellect has been tamed through Ganesha's power of discrimination.

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       deblippposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Your explanation is good, arjunpk, but some people just want to have fun with the topic or don't want to understand.

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