My father used to ask this question, “Which animal has two heads and six legs!?”
The answer was, “A man riding a Horse!”
Then again if you do see some animal which has more than one head or different legs then you know that it is not natural but magical!
On that note have you heard of the Navagunjara?
Navagunjara is a magical, legendary creature from Hindu literature—specifically appearing in the 15th-century [Sarala Mahabharata] from Odisha—composed of the parts of nine different animals and a human, representing an awe-inspiring, cosmic form of bhagwan Krishna!
The nine parts actually symbolize different things!
The name translates to “nine forms” (nava meaning nine, and gunjara meaning animal/form)!
The head is usually of a Rooster which indicated courage and awakening!
The neck is of the Peacock which depicts grace and beauty!
The Hump usually belongs to a Bull which is known for its strength and endurance!
The Waist/Back is of the Lion which indicates bravery and leadership!
The snake or the sepent is a often repeated animal which actually means transformation and cyclical time!
One of leg is of the Elephant which is both wise and stable while the other two are of the tiger or deer or horse which indicates respectively power and gentlenes!
The fourth limb is a raised human arm holding a lotus flower which of course depicts the vishwarupa of Bhagwan Vishnu!
The Navagunjara symbolizes the core Hindu philosophy of unity in diversity! That all living things and contrasting elements of nature are part of a single universal consciousness!
All beings are created by the supreme and must be respected and loved!
Like how I respect and love my father!
No one forgets the birthday of the three boys of the family since they fall on April 1st, May 1st and dad’s is on Vinayaka chaturthi day!
So when bharath celebrates Vinayaka chaturthi, we also celebrate dad’s birthday!
Happy birthday dad…
And a very happy and blessed Vinayaka chaturthi!
Shubh ratri….
God bless….
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