with Sri Ganesh

Let the river flow, Let the river flow Down as an argent arrow Of love and vigor, Hear the tinkle Of the bells at Her ankles As She ambles through the worlds One with Him, She in front, He beyond and within, Let the river fall, Let the river fall Fresh in the body of your song Trusting, aquiver With Her live touch That heals and creates Anew,

Let Her water fall, Let Her water fall In you. (from Divakar)”

Kusum herself never tried to “explain” anything to me about Sri Ganesh. Our communication developed in a more direct and silent manner. As time went, I began to pay attention to what was told about Lord Ganesh, the myths regarding his birth, his actions and the battles he waged, his role as a scribe for the sage Vyasa dictating the Mahabharata. But it all went effortlessly, simply as part of our friendship and sharing of responsibilities. However, as I began to help more actively with even the preparations for Ganesh Chaturthy, such as giving the ritual bath and preparing the flowers, and, naturally, hearing over and over the slokas Kusum would sing to him, my own awareness of him grew quietly. Sometimes I would just sit there while Kusum would sing to him and orient my consciousness in that inner space, and there would be a natural ease to it. Sri Aurobindo has said very little on Lord Ganesh; what is on record is just one quote: “Ganesha (among other things) is the Devatta of spiritual Knowledge… Ganesha is the Power that removes obstacles by the force of Knowledge…” Ganesh was not cited as such in the Vedas; he was not among the spiritual entities the rishis turned to, although he was later assumed to

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