Elephant Dreams

There is probably no more recognizable deity in the Hindu pantheon than the elephant-headed Ganesh, also known as Ganesha, Ganesa, Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar. He fills many roles for Hindu practitioners: lord and remover of obstacles, god of beginnings, patron of arts and sciences, intellect and wisdom. Ganesh is given honor at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies; he’s also the patron of letters, invoked during writing sessions. He’s a powerful and multifaceted god, worthy of study and respect.

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More About

• Douglas Brooks
• Harvard Divinity School
• Joe Schneider

And who better to explain Ganesh’s many mysteries than Dr. Douglas Brooks, a student of Hindu tantrism, graduate of the Harvard Divinity School and expert in philosophy, yoga, ritual and wisdom, taught by the esteemed Hindu scholar Gopala Iyer Sundarmoothy? The powers that be at Öm Time Yoga Studio in Boulder couldn’t think of a more appropriate teacher; Brooks occasionally heads teacher trainings there, but this time, “he kind of asked us what we wanted him to teach,” says Öm Time’s Joe Schneider. “He’s been our first and foremost teacher for a long time. He has this awesome way of keeping people interested. He’s very excitable, and he is so fired up on what he teaches that it gets you pumped.”

Ganesh: A Weekend of Myth and Majesty starts tonight at 6 p.m. and continues through Sunday; the weekend series costs $185, and pre-registration is highly suggested. Öm Time is at 2035 Broadway in Boulder; call 720-565-6115 or visit www.omtime.com.
Fri., April 10, 2009