Ganesha

Today was Ganesha’s birthday.  Ganesha is the elephant god in Hinduism, but he wasn’t always an elephant.  He was a god who lost his head due to one circumstance or another, but the head was luckily able to be replaced with an elephant head.  Ganesha rose above his obstacles to prosper, and for this reason is one of the most dearly loved gods of the Hindus.  And if you know anything of the history and situations of the Indian people, you understand the importance of prospering in spite of obstacles.

As I learned more about the festival and watched people bowing and praying earnestly to a small man-made elephant painted neon colors, I was struck by several things:

1. Someone told me that, beyond the celebration of Ganesha’s birthday, the purpose of the festival, and why many people celebrate, is to bring the community together.  So under the guise of community health and happiness, people worship an idol.  My thought: couldn’t we just have a block party?   
2. Many people don’t really believe in what they are doing, they bow down just because it is tradition or custom or fun, but they are still bowing down.  Which reminds me of (a) Christmas and (b) passages from the Bible that speak of worshipping in the right attitude, and worshipping in spirit and in truth.  Let’s tackle Christmas first...I could see many similarities.  It is the birthday of a god (Ganesha) / God (Jesus).  It is carefully prepared for by meticulous decorating, baking, and shopping.  Every part of the tradition is symbolic.  Gifts are brought from house to house.  Oh, and many people who celebrate Christmas don’t do so as the celebration of the birth of Christ; they celebrate for the sake of a celebration and community event that shares love and goodwill.  Hmmm.  And as for the latter thought, well, why would Ganesha want people worshipping him who don’t even believe that he is real?
3. Throughout the summer, I have been learning a lot about the curse of the Law and freedom in Christ.  Having this experience on Day 3 back in India reminds me even more of the freedom that is found in the new covenant that God makes with us through Jesus.  Today people were bowing, praying, offering sacrifices, burning candles, tying bracelets, all in an effort to find Ganesha’s favor and blessing.  Living in relationship with Christ, however, requires none such actions.  Rather, it makes it clear that faith is what saves us: “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse.  Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘the righteous will live by faith’.  The law is not based on faith.  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. He redeemed us so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit” (Galatians 3:10-14).  Even when looking at the Old Testament, the era of the Law, we see that “God’s covenant with Abraham wasn’t made because Abraham had obeyed a law, but because his faith in God made him righteous.  If Abraham and his descendants were given this promise because they had obeyed a law, then faith would mean nothing, and the covenant would be worthless” (Romans 4:13-14).  In what other religion do we find such freedom?
4. However, I was also speaking with somebody from Hindu culture, but not religious, and they mentioned that one thing they like about Hinduism as it is practiced in the mainstream today (thinking beyond caste tradition and historical social issues and in comparison with other religions) is that there is little to no hierarchy, reducing the amount of legalism, judgement, and “status quo” that they have observed in institutionalized Christianity and Islam. Hmmmmm.
5. Think about life in the United States and, those of you who are churched, what you are taught when you read, “Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol.”  Immediately you are advised that God should always be #1 in your life, and you shouldn’t replace Him with money, sports, success, relationships, etc.  But hardly ever do we realize that people still believe and live in literal idol worship today.  It’s a thing of the past, something that most (even those outside Christian circles) would consider strange or archaic.  But here in India, it is alive and well.  Gods adorn buildings, doors, jewelry, artwork.  Hindu mythology deeply impacts every aspect of human life.  It is a mentality that is deeply intriguing, but also mind-boggling.