Mahaganapathi has several names. He is the god
of  plenty ,wisdom ,good fortune,peace
and spiritual success.Pleased by our prayers He removes all obstacles in the  path of any work we undertake. So he is
called Vigneswara.He stands for OM, for his figure with elephant trunk
resembles the form of OM. Hence He is also called Pranava Swaroopa.

        His elephant head
has a great symbolic explanation.The word “elephant” in sanskrit is “gaja”
Ga,means the Gati or the final goal towards which the entire creation is
moving.Ja stands for Janma,means birth or origine.Hence Gaja signifies god from
whom the world have come out and towards whom they are progressing to merge in
Him at the end.

         His large ears
indicate continuous and intelligent listening to the teacher.His hearing is
very sharp and His concentration is very deep.

         He has a long
trunk.The trunk of an elephant can pick up a pin and at the same time it can
uproot a big tree. It means that He can handle any work big or small.If a poor
and humble man prays,Ganesha fullfill his wants and if a demon challenges He
destroys him.He is most compassionate and powerful.

         His vehicle
mouse is small but not insignificant.If a mouse wants it can rescue a lion
also.It also represent desires.Desires are men,s enemy.If man run after desires
he perishes.Ganesha sits on the mouse and controlls it.

          He has a noose
or rope in one hand.It signifies worldly attachments which make us suffer
endlessely.Worldly attachments are  a bondage like rope.The second hand
hold Ankusha or goad.It represents anger. Just as the noose bind us ,anger hurt
us like a goad.

             When our
attachment and anger increases ,life becomes miserable.The only way to
escape  from the tyranny of this is by
taking refugee in God. It is better for us to surrender our attachment and
anger to Him. When they are in His hands we are safe .The third hand hold
Modaka-a sweet preparation.If we please him by our good deeds and worship,He
bestows happiness on us.

              The fourth hand is in the blessing
pose.He blesses the whole humanity.After all we are his children.He wants us
always to be happy and cheerful.

               He has a
large belly.It indicates that all created worlds are contained in him.It also
shows his ability to stomach and digest all types of experience s, good and
bad.