General Comment:As mentioned earlier on my April 19 2007 post, I have embarked on writing a few words on all the books that I may read in my retirement. I will reread few books which I read over last few years – this to allow me to capture some good essence from the readings.

The recent book I have completed reading is a book titled “Eternal Ganesha” by Gita Mehta. This book, we purchased from the bookstore at the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto) when we visited the place on Friday April 11.

This is a large hard cover book with very many different pictorial images of Lord Ganesha. However, the book is short with 128 pages. The narrative and description by the author is really very thought provoking.

In India, the idols and images of Lord Ganesha (one of the Hindu Gods) are everywhere . Lord Ganesha is elephant-headed and has a bit larger pot-bellied body of   a man.

Lord Ganesha is perhaps the most popular god in the Hindu pantheon, the elephant-headed Ganesha is known by many names.

Ganesha represents hope, optimism and goodwill and is Lord of Success.

Thus He is invoked first when Hindus venture on any substantive activity.

It is good book for reflection of human endeavours and need for some  higher cosmic support  . Lord Ganesha fulfills the need and hope for success.

In Eternal Ganesha, the author, Gita Mehta, provides chapters for each of Ganesha’s characteristics.

The book is presented in such a way that it is a good coffee table book and would definitely generate intense and spiritual conversation.

Pravin Shah