Allow me to tell you about my long lost ishta.
As a mere babe I was gifted a stuffed elephant from a great auntie. As I was unable to say ‘elephant’ it became known as Ellie. For the first six years of my life Ellie was my constant companion; he was my first ‘show & tell’ in kindergarten. As I grew, I grew away from Ellie, who became no more than a guardian of my pillow, a knick-knack on a shelf; by the time I had become a teenager, he had disappeared altogether.
Fast forward thirty-six years. Two years after the death of my father, my mother decided to downsize, sell the house and move to a retirement community. As the house was is a desirable neighborhood, my wife and I decided to sell our house and buy my childhood home. My parents had a hard time throwing anything out, and it took months to empty out the basement and all the storage areas. Lo and behold, behind a chimney stack that ran through an upstairs closet, I found my old companion Ellie.
Ellie had not aged well: he was blind and stained, and his head wobbled about on his frail neck. I gave him a bleach bath and petitioned my wife to give him some eyes. From her button stash, I chose two black textured buttons and, just for fun, a multicolored one for his third eye. I tucked Ellie into a cloth drawstring bag and stored him in my sock drawer.
Fast forward three more years, to last year when I discovered AYP and started meditation. I decided to usurp an underutilized nook on the top floor for a meditation space, set up a yoga mat and bolster, hang my chakra and Buddist prayer flags and set up an alter for all my yoga talismans. Soon after, my asana teacher told our class the story of Lord Ganesha, the devoted son of Parvati and deity created by her to be the gatekeeper at the muladharah chakra; the shield to protect the divine secret from unripe minds. I realized I had my very own Lord Ganesha, and promoted him from guarding my socks to lord over my yoga nook.
A few weeks ago, in the midst of an energetic meditation, the image of my Ellie Ganesha flashed into my mind, followed immediately by the sensation of love spilling from my chest like a lava flow. My reaction startled me so much I passed on samyama and went directly into rest, all the while feeling the hallowed presence of Ellie Ganesha over my right shoulder. After rest, I turned and gathered Ellie into my arms and nestled him like a newborn. As soon as my face pressed against his, I fell into a kundalini coma, an energy state so intense it stole my breath and sent my heart rate into overdrive. I held on to Ellie and we ride that wave together until it runs it’s course; his mottled cotton flesh absorbing my tears of joy. For you see, it was not Ellie that was lost and blind all those years; it was I. 
I have instructed my wife that when my time comes, Ellie Ganesha is to accompany me into the crematory fire so we will be together for eternity.
If you wish to see Ellie Ganesha , click on my profile picture!
Thank you for sharing, Dogboy. Nothing like starting the day with a shower of divine tingles down the spine!
Beautiful story, Dogboy! And Ellie Ganesha in constant crown samadhi with this massive crown chakra, lol… good idea, great picture…[OM] 
So sweet…
Big hug to you and to Ellie.
OMG… that is the sweetest story evva!!!
I have an Ellie of my own… his name is Paul… a doll… my BFF since I was 3… he knows more about me than anyone else… and has lived through all my tears… not just at 3… even at 21 
. As a child my grandma and I would share him… kinda like joint custody… she would keep him for a year and then over summer I would visit her and bring him back home. So He is very special. When I came to the US I had left him behind in India, my mom brought him back to me one year. He too was in bad shape… got him fixed up and he sits in my bedroom… still watching over me.
I wouldn’t want to interfere with your wishes… but maybe leave Ellie with someone you love… that way your presence and protection will be with that person even after you are gone. The one I will give my Paul to isn’t here yet… but will be.
Had the same idea, Shanti: my Ellie (45 years old) now sleeps in my son’s bed.
Shanti & Ecdyonurus,
Yes, this is perhaps a preferred option for some, but not for me. I have two daughters; my eleven year old is autistic and is attached to and hoards an odd assortment of items (broken sunglasses, pens, scraps of paper for example) and has a talent for breaking things. My typical thirteen year old is attached to her friends, her phone, her clothes, the mall…if may be years before she would accept such a gift willingly and understand the depth of my attachment to Ellie. I lost Ellie at a similar age under a similar mindset. Not to mention the state of her room! Ellie would be carried away in the riptide of clothing on the floor!
Besides I plan to live to 100 ( 
); in another forty + years, we will both be looking worse for wear so the funeral pyre may be our best solution. We came in together, we should go out together, in a blaze of glory!
Sounds good Dogboy! I wouldn’t give my Paul to my kids either
Like I said “The one I will give my Paul to isn’t here yet… but will be”… I have felt her presence in my future. So maybe you will find that someone as well… especially if you are planning on living to be a 100.
Much Love to Ellie and You! Give him a hug from me.
Such a lovely post, Dogboy! Made me tear up
Sunyata
What a sweet story! and the photo is adorable.
Yes! Now THAT is style! 
A very cool story.
Thank you Dogboy
Thank you all for sharing, my friends. The greatest gift is rediscovering love from a perspective of a child, how honest and pure and overwhelming it can be. I wasn’t searching for my beloved, but it found me ripe and ready for the taking; Ellie broke down the door to my heart and set up camp. Looks like I’ve got a roommate!
Maybe he promoted you
He’s beautiful!
Heart-warming. Thank you for sharing Dogboy
[quote]Originally posted by Dogboy
Allow me to tell you about my long lost ishta.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story Dogboy! I feel so happy to find this AYP site, exploring all those lessons and reactions. Sometimes I wish that I found this years ago but on the other hand it is good that I learned a lot all by myself. There are no expectations anymore now I know that everything happens when it is time. Love
Thank you all for your comments. A small detail I left out: Ellie Ganesha has a small bell sewn inside his right ear. Each time I lift him up he greets me which makes my heart sing. Every now and again I lay him on my bolster and rest my hands on him and we enter the silence together. I cannot truly express the depth of gratitude I have for ecstatic kinship I share with the Yoga’s Gatekeeper.
Love and great yoga to all . [OM]