Ganesha and Moon

Certainly, you know these mythological stories about mutual relations of Sri Ganesh and the Moon. Now, I will not retell them but to think a little on their meaning. The symbol of the Moon, if carefully considered, is the most enigmatic one and the planet itself is not less so. Therefore here, I can state some personal thoughts only about symbolism in this concrete mythology (similar post Ganesha and Swastika or Ganesha as Doorkeeper).

Generally, the Moon represents the mind, emotions, desires, imagination and memory. And it has huge influence on us. But these limited realities  are not able to explain what is Atman. The Moon laughing at Ganapati riding his rat is the limited intellect of a man facing the ultimate Truth. In the Brahmanda Purana, the Moon had lost her brightness because of a god's curse. In order to help the Moon to recover her light, Ganesh as Bhalachandra put her on his forehead as tilaka.

Despite her reflecting nature, the Moon symbol has great importance, mythological and personal. Really, the Moon does not shine with its own light but reflects the life-giving energy flowing from the Sun, and the flow of the Sun's rays is channeled through the Moon. So, it reflects the life-giving energy flowing from the Sun. The Moon and the Sun are considered the two eyes of the Universe.
So, it is possible to assume that these mystical relationships between Ganesha and the Moon represents the balance of the lunar and the solar in us. In interaction of these forces the mythological Soma is born. Simultaneously, Soma represents the Moon and the divine elixir of immortality. In the Aitareya Upanishad it is taught that Soma is the symbol of Ananda from which the mental being of man is drawn. As the lunar deity, Soma is expressed in man as his mentality. And it same time, it is a bridge between the mortal world and that of the gods. So, we cannot bypass the lunar in our aspiration of alliance with the solar. Lord Ganesha presides over the balance of these energies. After all, He personally is the same energy which is the reason for this Universe.With His grace we are blessed, we can sustain an attitude of balance, acting in and through the lunar while focusing our eyes upon the Sun.

May the blessings of Sri Ganesha be upon you all!

JAI SRI GANESHA !