India's rich spirituality begins with Ganesha. Even the most austere yogi starts his inward journey by invoking the God who softens karma and guides dharma. He reigns over our beginnings, our changes, earthly decisions and problems--always there when needed, never aloof. Here a Hindu master invites us into Ganapati's interior meaning, rites, mantras and sacred symbols, unfolding an intimate depiction of the mysterious Deity. Loving Ganesha is part of the comprehensive works of Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, a traditional satguru immersed in the global Hindu renaissance for half a century, named by New Delhi's World Religious Parliament as a Jagadacharya or world teacher, and elected one of three presidents to represent Sanatana Dharma at the 1993 Chicago Parliament of World's Religions.

The elephant-headed god Gane'sa is one of the most important and popular gods throughout India and Hindu Southeast Asia - his image is found in virtually every Hindu home. In this first detailed and comprehensive study of Gane'sa, Paul Courtright looks at the mythology and the psychological meanings of this god, his rituals and festivals, and the part played by Gane'sa in contemporary Indian politics. The American Council of Learned Societies named Gane'sa the best first book in the history of religions published in 1985.

This book examines the complete Ganesh for the first time. Here is the God in his multiple forms from the different geographical areas in Asia. Particularly important are chapters that deal with his Buddhist and Tantric forms. The controversial question of his origins is also thoroughly discussed.

In the vast Hindu pantheon, Ganesa is Ganapati, the first among the Gods. This book presents the iconography of Ganesa in India. Each of the forms (there are 32 principal forms) is specified by the alteration of the attributes of the hands, the colour of a particular vehicle, and more.