Leadership Best Practices from śrī gaṇapati – Part 1
© by Bala Bharadvaj, 8 January 2025
Approx 11 minutes reading time
Summary
This is Part 1 of a series of articles on how the descriptive names of śrī gaṇapati (or śrī gaṇeśa) point to a list of Leadership Best Practices which are encoded in the form of a śloka (shloka) dedicated to śrī gaṇapati. The wise ones will understand the underlying meanings and become successful leaders with the blessings of śrī gaṇapati.
Introduction
From time to time, we come across news reports about business leaders, sports personalities, movie actors, and other celebrities visiting the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai. The reports usually say that the visitors offered prayers to the deity siddhi-vināyaka seeking His blessings for the success of their upcoming project (such as setting up a new industry, success in a tournament, producing a new movie, etc.).
At first glance, this seems normal because most Indians are familiar with the idea of offering prayers to śrī gaṇapati seeking His blessings to remove obstacles.
In the Indian tradition, it is common practice to invoke the grace of śrī gaṇapati at the beginning of any significant activity. The scriptures dictate that śrī gaṇapati should be worshipped first before any other type of worship, and we find that all religious events begin with a puja to śrī gaṇapati. Even secular events (such as music / dance concerts, theatrical presentations, conferences, convocations, etc.) start with a gaṇeśa vandana (a salutation to śrī gaṇapati). This leads to questions such as, “How does śrī gaṇapati remove obstacles? How does He make sure that the audio system works properly? How does he streamline construction projects? What does He do to make sure that the movie production is completed on plan? Are we simply following some old superstition?”
Praying to śrī gaṇapati – What does it do? Is it meaningful?
The modern skeptic would say that instead of hiring a priest to offer prayers to śrī gaṇapati, it would be better to hire a project manager to keep the project on track and achieve success.
It is interesting to note that whether we depend on śrī gaṇapati or a project manager, faith is involved. One can have faith in śrī gaṇapati and pray for success or have faith in the project manager and hope for success!
We know from experience that not all project managers are successful. Even projects with very fancy project management systems get delayed or even fail. We also know that many successful people visit and invoke śrī gaṇapati at the siddhivināyak temple (and various other temples) praying for the success of an upcoming wedding, impending childbirth, launch of a new business or production of a new movie. Do these people pray to śrī gaṇapati based on a past positive experience, or are they all deluded?
How does śrī gaṇapati help?
When we look through the stories and scriptures related to śrī gaṇapati, we come across an important śloka that goes as follows:
| सुमुखश्चैकदन्तश्च कपिलो गजकर्णकः । लम्बोदरश्च विकटो विघ्नराजो विनायकः ॥१॥ |
| धूमकेतुर्गणाध्यक्षो भालचन्द्रो गजाननः । वक्रतुण्ड शूर्पकर्णो हेरम्बस्स्कन्दपूर्वजः ॥२॥ |
| षोडषैतानि नमानि यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि । विद्यारम्भे विवहे च प्रवेशे निर्गमे तथा । सङ्ग्रामे सर्व कार्येषु विघ्नस्तस्य न जायते ॥३॥ |
| sumukhaścaikadantaśca kapilo gajakarṇakaḥ | lambodaraśca vikaṭo vighnarājo vināyakaḥ ||1|| |
| dhūmaketurgaṇādhyakṣo bhālacandro gajānanaḥ | vakratuṇḍa śūrpakarṇo herambasskandapūrvajaḥ ||2|| |
| ṣoḍaṣaitāni namāni yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādapi | vidyārambhe vivahe ca praveśe nirgame tathā | saṅgrāme sarva kāryeṣu vighnastasya na jāyate ||3|| |
In this śloka, the first two stanzas list sixteen names of śrī gaṇapati and the last stanza states the benefit of connecting with these sixteen names, stated as an assurance.
A casual reading and literal translation yield the following meaning: “anyone who chants or hears these sixteen names will not experience any obstacles when pursuing their goal, such as starting a course of learning, getting married, entering into a new home, embarking on a journey, or even going to war”.
When we dig deeper and analyze the specific words used and combine it with related information from the relevant purāṇa-s (stories associated with śrī gaṇapati), we find that this śloka conveys a more profound meaning: “the individual who contemplates upon these sixteen descriptive names, understands their implied meaning, and internalizes them as well” will not experience obstacles.
Based on this interpretation, the śloka is indicating to us that we should not simply chant the words but make the effort to understand the deeper significance of the descriptive names and emulate the qualities represented by them if we desire to avoid obstacles. When understood in this manner, the assurance is no longer a blind superstition; it becomes a coded instruction or formula for success.
How does śrī gaṇapati remove obstacles?
He removes obstacles by operating through us, by making us better focused on the project, and better prepared to address the challenges that might pop up during the course of pursuing our goals. But for that to work, we must do our part, i.e., understand the meaning behind the specific descriptive names, and internalize them. A humble person would refer to this as “invoking the blessings of śrī gaṇapati”. Once we have done so, our actions will automatically become successful.
Contemporary Example
If you are beginning to think that this sounds too far-fetched, let us look at a contemporary example. Let us say that I went for a medical checkup and discovered that I have become obese, my sugar levels are getting higher, and my BP is also inching up. I go see my doctor; and the good doctor says, “go to the gym and spend 30 minutes every day”.
If I took the literal meaning of the doctor’s words, all I would have to do is to drive every day to the local gymnasium in my airconditioned car, spend 30 minutes in the lobby watching TV or checking my messages, and drive back home. This would have fully satisfied the instructions of the doctor (interpreted literally). However, would it be reasonable to expect any improvement in my health?
For me to fully benefit from the doctor’s instructions, the first step must be to clearly understand the instructions. I must go beyond the literal meaning and understand the correct message. When the doctor says, “go to the gym” he really means that I should travel to a place that has the right combination of equipment and a physical instructor (mentor) who can guide me. Getting there by a motorized vehicle might be acceptable, but if I travelled by a method that required me to put in some physical effort (such as walking, jogging or cycling), then my reward would be higher. Similarly, the words “spend 30 minutes” really mean that I must perform exercises and physically exert myself for a duration of 30 minutes to sweat a little and strengthen specific parts of my physical body.
Once I understood the implied meaning of the instructions in this manner, I would have to enroll into a program at a gym and spend 30 minutes every day doing specific exercises using one or more pieces of equipment. Consistent application of the methods and related ideas from the gym instructor (such as watching what I eat) will also help me to improve my health. When I meet my friends after a few months with a fit-and-trim body, I could proudly say that my health had improved due to the “mantra” given to me by the good doctor, and my following it diligently. Some of my friends might even be inspired to follow the same “mantra” and enroll in the same gym hoping to work with the same gym instructor.
Back to śrī gaṇapati
Similarly, in the case of the śloka connected with śrī gaṇapati, if I understood the implied meanings, and took the effort to practice under the guidance of an appropriate mentor, the grace of śrī gaṇapati would automatically descend on me and the obstacles would be removed. So, the purpose of praying to śrī gaṇapati is to invoke His grace to give us the knowledge, courage and strength to practise the Leadership Best Practices that are indicated by the sixteen names!
Leadership Best Practices
The first eight names refer to a set of skills that every leader should develop. These are based on the meanings of the words themselves and connecting with specific stories or incidents as recorded in purāṇa-s connected with śrī gaṇapati.
Attributes indicated by the descriptive name sumukha
The word sumukha could be interpreted in three different ways. As a consequence, we get three different best practices from the name sumukha pertaining to three very important aspects of leadership: a leader should (i) present a pleasant and calm face (i.e., should be relaxed and not agitated), (ii) speak in a pleasant manner and communicate effectively, and (iii) project a positive countenance and approach the task at hand with a positive attitude.
You can look at an earlier article on this blog here to get more details of how to interpret the descriptive name sumukha.
The interpretation of other names is done in a similar manner. I have provided the details in a much longer version of this article which is published as Chapter 1 of the book “Indian Knowledge System – Empowering Bharat with Ancient Knowledge Repository . . . Bridging Past, Present and Future” edited by Dr. Manoj Kumar Tripathi, Dr. Seema Kohli and Ms. Poonam Goyal.
Interpretation of ekadanta
For those aspiring to be leaders, the descriptive name ekadanta emphasizes that leaders should be humble and be prepared to transcend their personal egotist tendencies, to focus on the larger objective to be accomplished. This idea of putting the goals of the project or organization ahead of personal preferences is included as an important trait for successful leaders by modern scholars also.
Interpretation of kapila
When we connect with śrī gaṇapati using the descriptive name of kapila, we are seeking a balanced mūlādhāra cakra and invoking self-confidence and a sense of stability in us to lead the team effectively.
Attributes indicated by gajakarṇaka
The descriptive name gajakarṇaka is telling the aspiring leaders to use their ears to prioritize listening (and learning in general), gather information from various sources as well as from successes and failures. Modern principles of leadership emphasize the idea of continuous learning as an especially important trait of good leaders.
Interpretation of lambodara
For a leader, this is the next logical step after the inspiration from gajakarṇaka. The information gathered from diverse sources and experiences (both pleasant and unpleasant) must be assimilated as knowledge and stored for future reference. Moreover, a leader should also be someone with many accomplishments and develop a sense of fulfilment. Such a person has no need to take anything from others but would be able to function as a selfless leader for the benefit of the mission.
Leadership attribute indicated by vikaṭa
A good leader does not use one standard technique to interact with all the stakeholders; the approach adopted is based on the maturity and capability of the specific stakeholder, as well as the uniqueness of the situation. In the modern context, this adaptability in the leader’s behaviour is referred to as situational leadership.
Interpretation of the name vighnarāja
It is normal for obstacles to come up when we embark on any significant mission. The successful leaders are those who muster the courage, confidence, knowledge, and resourcefulness to devise ways to address and overcome the impediments. The name vighnarāja represents such a leader who can triumph over any type of obstacle. The descriptive name vighnarāja, reminds us that śrī gaṇapati is a Master of Risk Management; we are invoking His grace to develop that ability in us to anticipate the risks and overcome obstacles.
Leadership attribute indicated by vināyaka
vināyaka represents one who is an excellent leader and there is none superior to him. This epithet indicates that śrī gaṇapati is the best and complete leader and an outstanding role model to learn from and emulate. We are remembering śrī vināyaka for His overall leadership excellence and invoking His grace to become such a special leader.
Message from the first eight names
As a group, the first eight descriptive names indicate a set of attributes that a good leader must develop. These include: a calm demeanor, positive attitude, pleasant communication, humility and focus on the larger goal, being grounded, willingness to learn, assimilating the learning and lessons from experiences, situational leadership, risk management and putting it all together to become a complete leader.
The remaining eight names
The remaining eight names mentioned in the śloka make an equally fascinating list and indicate a set of behaviors that leaders should practise. I’ll elaborate on them in Part 2 of this series.
Conclusion
śrī gaṇapati is invoked as the first deity to be worshipped by followers of sanātana dharma. A deeper analysis of the stories of śrī gaṇapati and the specific mantra-s used in His worship indicate that the mantra-s related to śrī gaṇapati are valuable pointers to developing important leadership skills. Connecting with the traits of śrī gaṇapati and invoking His grace are indeed a meaningful way to achieve success in a variety of projects.
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