Puzzle Description:

For more about Hindu Dharma (and the reference image) go here: http://dharma135.tripod.com/

#1: David Bouldin (dbouldin) on Dec 30, 2010 [HINT]

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I do care. :)

I never found myself stuck on this one. It flowed nicely. Great puzzle.

Thanks for your entry! I agree with Gator.
Remember to put the link in the comments:
http://dharma135.tripod.com/

nice puzzle

This was a pleasant way to pass some early morning time. Thank you for the image!

Really beautiful image, David, and such a pleasant solve. Not too difficult, but just the right amount of challenge.

I know a little about Hindu Dahrma, but I had never learned about the significance of the image of the elephant, so I did a little checking.

This is the image of Ganesh or Lord Ganesha. There is a story behind it. The following is from "Exotic India" by Nitin Kumar:

The beloved elephant-faced deity popularly known as Ganesh (or Ganesha) has intrigued thinking men all over the world, all through the ages even unto the present day. The sacred texts give a variety of stories narrating the sequence of Ganesha's birth, the most popular being the one mentioning that Ganesha was created by Goddess Parvati as a guardian to her privacy:

Incensed by the refusal of her husband to respect her privacy, to the extent of entering her private chambers even while she was having her bath, Parvati decided to settle matters once and for all. Before going for her bath the next time, she rubbed off the sandalwood paste on her body and out of it created the figure of a young boy. She infused life into the figure and told him he was her son and should guard the entrance while she bathed.

Soon after, Shiva (Lord of destruction and husband of Parvati) came to see Parvati but the young boy blocked his way and would not let him in. Shiva, unaware that this lad was his son, became furious and in great anger fought with this boy whose head got severed from his body in the ensuing battle. Parvati, returning from her bath, saw her headless son and threatened in her rage to destroy the heavens and the earth, so great was her sorrow.

Shiva pacified her and instructed his followers (known as ganas) to bring the head of the first living being they encounter. The first creature they encountered was an elephant. They thus cut off its head and placed it on the body of Parvati's son and breathed life into him. Thus overjoyed, Parvati embraced her son.

The son of Parvati was given the name Ganesha by Shiva. The word Ganesha is made up of gana (followers of Shiva) and isha (lord), thus Shiva appointed him the lord of his ganas.

More here: http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/deities/ganesha.htm

thanks for the information teresa....and glad you enjoyed the puzzle.

thanks for entry, David

thanks tom, looks like i need to be more colorful next time...and cuter.

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