Guest guest Posted January 1, 2003 Report Share Posted January 1, 2003 Dear Vediculture Friends, Happy New Year. May Lord Ganesh Remove all of our obstacles, individually and collectively. Respectful Dandavat Pranams. Vrindavan Parker L O R D G A N E S H A Know About 108 Ganesh -- Source: Eprarthana.com Umaputra - Son Of Uma Uma, another name of Pravati, desired to have a son. Lord Shiva granted her wish and Ganesha took form. He is the beloved son of Uma, her delight, and obedient servant, ever ready to serve her. Vakratunda - Askew-Trunked Lord Ganesha, the single-tusked one, is attribute with an askew proboscis or trunk, which symbolises power, capable of destroying all obstacles and evil. Varaganapati - Bestower Of Boons Ganesha is the bestower of all fruits of desire and granter of all adeptness that his workshippers seek. He is magnanimous and forgiving, being a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Varaprada - Granter Of Boons ord ganesha grants boona to his devotees. He is most efficacious. He gives knowledge to tha seeker of wisdom, prosperity to those desiring wealth. issues to the childless, and guidance of spirtual libration. Varadavinayaka - Bestower Of Bounty And Success The massive Ganesha, the granter of boon to his devotees, is the guarantor of success in all ventures. His devotees need never fear failure. As the benefactor of his devotees, he is greatly abored by them. Veeraganapati - The Valiant Warrior The red-complexioned Ganesha is sometimes attributed with eight pairs of arms, holding a bow, arrow, goblin, spear, hammer, mace, pick-axe, serpent, banner, trident, discus, good, noose, battle-axe, sword and shield all signs of a valiant warrior. Vidyavaridhi - respository Of All Knowledge Lord Ganesha is the God of wisdom. He incinerates ignorance by his divine fire and enlightens by his knowledge. He is a goldmine of knowledge and wisdom. VignaharaDestroyer Of Evils - Vignahara is Lord Ganesha, who like a vigorous wind, scatters away and destroys the dark clouds of evils. His name's ever recollection removes all sins. Vignaharta - Destroyer Of Obstacles Lord Ganesha is a veritable sceptre that destroys all obstacles. He is the destroyer of multitudes of obstacles, destroyer of all afflictions. Vighnanashin - Destroyer Of Obctacles The askew-trunked Ganesha, also called vighnanashin, is the destroyer of all impediments. He is the destroyer of darkness created by obstacles. Vighnaraja - Lord Of All Obstacles The veritable sceptre to destroy all objects, Lord Ganesha is invincible. He is the inimitable jungle fire who destroys the jungle of troubles for his devotees. He is the destroyer of multitudes of obstacles. Vighnarajendra - Lord Of All Obstacles The noble Ganesha is the king of all factors causing obstacles. He causes obstacles for the demons and enemies, causing them to stumble and be vanquished. Vighnavinashanaya - Destroyer Of All Afflictions The four-armed Ganesha is sometimes attributed with eight pairs of hands that are symbolic of destruction of evil. He protects his devotees by destroying all afflictions. Vigneshwar - Lord Of All Obstacles Vigneshwar, the only sun to destroy the darkness caused by obstacles, the only fire to incinerate the jungle of impediments, the only Garuda to browbeat the haughty snakes of troubles, is the Lord of all obstacles. Vikat - Of The Monstrous Figure Lord Ganesha, the most adorable one, adored by all gods, is endowed with a huge, monstrous body, symbolising unity of the primeval forest denizen with man combining the physical energies of mortals. Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Know About 108 Ganesh -- Part VI Source: Eprarthana.com Sarvasiddhanta - Provider Of Adeptness To His Disciples The repository of wisdom and knowledge, Lord Ganesha bestows success onhis devotees. He who chants his name continually will be sure of being blessed with the ability to be adept in all his actions. Savatman - Blesser Of The Universe He who dwells in every heart in asecret manner, by whose command this entire world exists, who is Infinite and the Enlighter of the hearts, by knowledgw, he is Sarvatman, Lord Ganesha. Shoorpakarna - Large-Eared Lord Ganesha is the Lord with large ears. These large ears serve the purpose of gathering information from alll possible directions. Like a winnowing basket, His ears are receptive and attuned to every mortal's cry of woe or praise. Shuban - One Who is Auspicious A prayer to Lord Ganesha precedes all worship for he is auspicious and nothing can take place without invoking his name. For, he is the remover of obstacles in one's path, and the guarantor of success in all ventures. B>Shubhagunakanan - Mine Of All Virtues Lord Ganesha is the Lord of all treasures and virtues, symbolic of perfection and infinite beauty he is compassionate, forgiving, endearing and protector of all that is good. Shwete - White Colour The huge-bellied Lord Ganesha, with an elephant face, a single-tusk which is askew, has his body and clothes white, being worshipped on the shore of ocean of milk with white flowers. His face beams the beatitude. Siddhidhata - Bestower Of Success The chanting of Lord Ganesha's name will pay rich dividends in the form of being bestowed with success. The Lord is the bestower of the desired abilities. Siddhipriya - Bestower Of Boons Siddipriya is Lord Ganesha who grants the desires and boons of his devotees. Being compassionate and large-hearted the elephant-faced Ganesha fulfils the wishes of workshippers. Siddhivinayaka - Bestower Of Success Lord Ganesha's huge pot-belly is symbolic of wealth and success. He bestows both on his devotees, being the kind and compassionate Lord who grants them boons and showers them with success. Skandapoorvaja - Older Than Skanda Ganesha is the older son od Shiva and Parvati, and brother of SKanda (Karthik). He is the destroyer of the asura's pride, and protector of the weak and helpless. He protects and loves his brother SKanda. Sumukha - Of Auspicious And Pleasant Visage His strange visage is in the form of 'OM' the sound symbolic of the cosmos in its entirely. He is the symbol of auspiciousness. Sureshwaram - Lords Of All The Gods Sureshwaram is Lord Ganesha as Head of the ganas or celestials. He is the Being, the Foremost Being, the very cause of the creation of the cosmos Lord Almighty. Swaroop - Lover Of Beauty Lord Ganesha, the Master of resourcefulness and prefection in all spheres, is a lover of beauty. His awkward body signifies that outward form has no connection with inner beauty and spiritual prefection. Tarun - The Youthful The youth Ganesha, ever youthful, is Wisdom personified. His huge body takes on the colour of red like the noonday sun, depicting the strength of youth. Uddanda - The Punisher of Evil Uddanda is Lord Ganesha as punisher of evil. He also forgives those who seek his pardon. He is the vanquisher of demons and remover of all obstacles. Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Know About 108 Ganesh -- Part V Source: Eprarthana.com Mudakaram - Abode Of Joy Lord Ganesha is the home of Siddhi and Buddhi, the repository of knowledge and the adobe of joy. He bestows happiness and welfare to all. Muktidaya - Giver Of Eternal Peace Muktidaya is Lord Ganesha who grants security to his devotees, thereby providing eternal peace. He destroys all the obstacles that one may face when entreated by his devotees. Musikvahan - He With The Mouse As His Vehicle Lord Ganesha, with his massive body, favours the mouse as his beloved vehicle. The mouse, known to cause great havoc, is kept under the control of Ganesha by Serving as his vehicle. Nadapratithista - Lover Of Music Lord Ganesha is symbolic of the music and rhythm of the cosmos. He loves music and some times a veeena is one of the attributes seen in his hands. He is the patron of music and dance. Namasthetu - Destroyer Of All Sins Lord Ganesha is the sea-fire to end the sea. He purges the devotees of all sins by and impieties by his holy fire. Nandana - Son Of Lord Shiva Nandana, son of Lord Shiva, is the mind-born son of Lord Shiva, or, as popularly believed, the creation of Parvati. He is the elder son od Shankara, and the belovedof his mother, Uma. Nideeswaram - Master Of All Kinds Of Treasures Lord Ganesha, the repository of knowledge, is adorable, with his plump body, his tusk broken and single. His is the Lord of all wealth - material as well as spiritual - endowed with intrinsic qualities that command the respect of all. Pashin - One Who Sits Like A Rock Lord Ganesha is Infinite and Consciousness personified, solid and unwavering like a rock, who is unshakeable, Invincible, the seat of infinite power, the pure essence of luminous mind. Pitambar - Wearer Of Yellow Clothes Lord Ganesha, who wears clothes of white and yellow, personifies purity and uniqueness. With a deep knowledge of the self, he is the eternal sprit who is changeless yet causes change all around. Pramod - Lord Of The Place As Pramod, Lord Ganesha is the only refuge of the shelterless as he is Lord of the place. He is the Lord of the gods, the repository of wisdom, the seat of spiritual awakening, from whom creation has come. Prathameshvar - One Who Holds the First Place Lord Ganesha, the eternal spirit, the Brahman, is the God of Auspiciousness, holding the first place. He is the Beginning of all beginnings, worshipped by Mahesha and other gods. Purush - The Supreme Authority Lord Ganesh is Purush, the Supreme Authority. He is the Omniscient Lord Almighty who rules over the entire universe. He is the Ultimate Reality, the One Truth, the Manifest Spirit. Rakta - Red-coloured Lord Ganesha's body hue is compared to the red lotus and his tusk to the vermilion blood marks when it is thrust into his enemies for destruction. Rudrapriya - Beloved Of Shiva Lord Ganesha, the beloved son of Shiva, is the Master of all, whose virtuous qualities are orisoned by even the creator, Brahma. He is Shiva's revered and noble son. Sarvadevatman - Accepter Of Celestial Offerings As Lord of the gods, Lord Ganesha is happy to accept the loving offerings of the celestials. They adore and worship him, and as their master, and he bestows his grace on them. Vinayaka - Lord Of All As Vinayaka, Lord Ganesha is the Supreme Leader of all, being endowed with special qualities. He is the Chief of all the celestial demi- gods, and is ever adored by them. Yashaskaram - Giver Of Frame And Glory Lord Ganesha is worshipped by both the devas and the asuras, for he is the Lord of the gods. He gives prosperity, fame and glory to all the worlds, shining with a lustrous glow. Yashvasin - The Popular The pot-bellied, askew-trunked single-tusk Ganesha is popularly the beloved of all. He is the subject of those who sing his praise, the jewel from whose face flows nectar. Yogadhipa - Lover Of Meditation Lord Ganesha is the fountainhesd of wisdom, the Great God, that Eternal Truth, that Eternal Reality. His name is chanted at the beginning and end of meditation at all times. Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Know About 108 Ganesh -- Part IV Source: Eprarthana.com Shambhavi - Son Of Parvati Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shankar and Goddess Parvati. He is the playfully deft son and is adored by his parents. He enlightens and causes his mother's face to blossom with love for him. Shashivarnam - Moon-Complexioned He who is attired in a white garment abnd who is all-pervading, is Lord Ganesha, the elephant-faced Lord with a moon - complexion that glows brightly, indicating mental enlightenment, the moon being the symbol of peace. Vishwamukha - Lord Of The Universe Lord Ganesha is the Supreme Reality, the Atman of all. He is the witness of all that is happening in the world. He is the Lord of the universe, the Supreme Being who has no beginning, who has no end. Yagnakaya - Accepter of Sacrificial Fires The clam and majestic Ganesha, with the strength and power of an elephant, is the Lord of the universe. He evokes great love and accepts the sacrificial fires offered to him by gods and mortals. Kripakaram - Who Is Merciful Lord Ganesha, as Kripakaram, wavy with profound kindness, is the sea exhibited by his eyes. He is ever merciful and the beacon of divine light. Krishapingaksha - Black-Yellowish-Brown-Eyed Lord Ganesha, whose eyes radiate power, compassion, wisdom and love, is omnipotent and infinite. His small eyes dazzle with the exuberance of the light of a million sun. Kshamakaram - Adobe Of Forgiveness Constant and regular chanting of Lord Ganesha's name is a sure path for atomement of sins. He is the adobe of forgiveness, the seat of compassion, and most forgiving. Repose faith in him and he will protect you. Kshipra - Quick-Acting Handsome of appearance and red in colour like the hibiscus flower, he holds his broken tusk, noose, goad, and sprig of the wish-fulfilling tree in his hands and a pot of precious gems in his trunk. Lambakarna - Large-Eared The large-eared Ganesha is a mine of information gathered from all directions. His large ears are used for winnowing information, retaining only the essentials. Lambodara - Huge-Bellied The big-bellied Ganesha is the symbolof the whole universe - all that is conceivable in the whole cosmos - from which all events of the world emerge. It is symbolic of his capacity to assimilate the whole information. Mahabala - Extremely Strong Lord Ganesha, with his huge body, is symbolic of the cosmos or the universe. He is extremely strong and powerful, endowed with intellectual prowess. Mahaganapati - The Omnipotent And All-Powerful Lord Ganesha, the Almighty, the Supreme Infinite, is omnipotent and all powerful. His infinite form is beyond man's comprehension, and is limitless. Maheswaram - Lord Of The Universe Maheshwaram, from whom the universe is born, is the Eternal Brahman. All the elements - earth, fire, air, water and ether - are manifest in him. He is the Supreme Lord of the universe. Mangalamoorti - The Auspicious Lord Ganesha is the personification of all that is auspicious. He who was worshipped by Lord Shiva before his vanquishing Tripurasur, by Lord Vishnu before his tying of Bali in the rope, by Lord Brahma before creating the world, by Parvati before her slaying the demon Manisha, is Mangalamoorti. Manomay - Conqueror Of One's Heart Lord Ganesha is the God of all people, big and small, educated and illiterate. He is compassionate and forgiving, wise and intellectual. With his huge body, gentle eyes and calm countenance, he fills one's heart with love. Mritunjaya - Deathless The Infinite Lord Ganesha has no beginning or end. He is deathless and the root cause of the creation. He is the embodiment of 'OM', the symbol of the Great God who has no end and is invincible. Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Know About 108 Ganesh -- Part III Source: Eprarthana.com Gadadhara - Wielder Of The Mace As Gadadhara, Lord Ganesha wields powerful weapons for destroying demons of evil. The gada or mace is the divine weapon used to wipe out evil and slay the asuras. Gajakarna - Elephant-Eyed The elephane-eyed Ganesha is the embodiment of goodness and virtue, his size belying his non-violent nature. The small eyes radiate wisdom and compassion, powerful, yet gentle. Gajanana - Elephant-Faced Lord Ganesha in the form of Gajanana, with an elephant face, is deemed to be a very auspicious symbol, warding off possible mishaps and troubles. he stands for power and strength. Gajananeti - Elephant-Faced The elephant-faced Lord Ganesha is one-tusked, has a large body with a huge belly, and is capable of destroying all obstacles. Gajavakra - Elephant Trunk Ganesha with his twisted trunk is symbolic of his vast knowledge and powers of discrimination, vital for spiritual progress. The curved trunk is shaped like 'OM', also symbolic of the life force energy. Ganadhakshya - Lord Of The Celestial HordesB Lord Ganesha is the Chief of the group of gods, the celestials. He is the Lord of all he surveys, the Master of the earth, the universe, the cosmos, all creation. Ganadhyakshina - Lord Of The Celestials Lord Ganesha is the Lord of the gods and is the beloved of all. As the Chief and Supreme God among gods, he is worshipped by all. Ganapati - Lord Of The Ganas Lord Ganesha is also called Ganapati, the Lord of the celestial hordes. He is the Supreme Deity, Lord Almighty, who rules over the entire kingdom of the gods. Gaurisuta - Son Of Gauri Gauri is another name of Goddess Parvati. Gaurisuta is Lord Ganesha, the deft son of Gauri. He enlightens and causes his mother's face to blossom with his love and devotion. Gunina - Lord Of All Virtues Gunina, the Lord of all virtues, is Grace personified, making everything auspicious. His immense grace and radiance is supreme and ethereal, and is adored by one and all. Haridra - The Golden One Lord Ganesha, although smoke-coloured, is the Golden One, as he has a moon crest on his forehead, a sacred thread in the form of a serpent round his body, cheeks anointed with a vermilion paste, glowing golden like the rays of the sun. Heramba - Beloved Of The Mother Lord Ganesha is Heramba, the fire-headed Protector of the weak. He is his mother's beloved, and is her protector. Kapil - Tawny-Coloured The tawny-coloured elephant-faced Ganesha is the God of wisdom who teaches that the path of sucess and achievement is through the use of intellect, and that through wisdom alone can one reach salvation. Kaveesha - Lord Of Poets Ganesha is the Lord of wisdom from whom emanates knowledge that is divine. All poets invoke his grace before picking up their pens, for he is the Lord of poets from whose divine pen flow divine words. Kirti - Lover Of Music Lord Ganesha is Nada Brahman, Lord of music. He is the repository of knowledge and a mine of virtues from whom emanates illimitable erudition, and cosmic music and rhythm. Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Know About 108 Ganesh -- Part II Source: Eprarthana.com Buddhipriya - Bestower of Knowledge Buddhipriya, the repository of knowledge, bestows guileless discreation to the worshipper. As ruler of the Mooladhara Chakra or plexus, he arouses a person's latent energy or life force to take him to the Divine Light. Buddhividhata - God Of Wisdom By chanting Lord Ganesha,s name day in and day out, one gets richer by imbibing all knowledge and wisdom from him, who is of enlightened heart and unwavering wisdom. Chaturbhujeti - Four-Armed The four-armed Ganesha is an embodiment of truth, discreation, having control over money power and bondage. These four arms represent the four castes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishys and Shudra, symbolically indicating his divinity. Devadeva - Lord of All Lords Lord Ganesha is the Master of all. He is always worshipped in the three worlds by all, and is the first to be reverenced among the celestials. Devantakanashakarin - Destroyer of Demons Lord Ganesha, the destroyer of evils, slew the powerful demons, re- establishing righteousness and peace in the three worlds. Devavrata - Accepter of All Penances The elephant-faced Ganesha is propitiated by all as He is Auspiciousness personified. he is the granter of boons and responds to penances of his devotees. Devendrashika - Protector Of the Gods Lord Ganesha, Protector of the gods, is their beloved. With a large form, who has the mouse as his vehicle, he is the embodiment of peace and tranquillity - the giver of peace to all. Dharmik - One Who Favours Charity The Great Lord Ganesha is gentle, forgiving and compassionate. He likes to prod man with his goad to the path of righteousness and truth so that he can leara to be charitable. Dhoomravarna - Smoke-Coloured Body The smoke-hued Ganesha is the beloved Lord of gods and mortals. His body is sometimes compared with a red lotus. His hands are ornamented with gem-studded bangles and his whole smoke-coloured image is enchanting. Durja - The Invincible Lord Ganesha, the elephant-faced, pot-bellied Lord is Infinite Strength and Power personified. He is deathless, has no beginning or end - he is invincible. Dvaimatura - Son of Two Mothers Goddess Parvati created a child from the perspiration that came off her body. Shelowered him into the River Ganga and he grew into a large being. Both Parvati and Ganga claimed to be his mother. Ekaakshara - Of The Single Syllable Lord Ganesha is the symbol of a single syllable 'OM', the symbol of the great God. He is also known aas Pranava, the sound from which the world emanated. Ekadanta - He Of Single Tusk The rorund, massive Ganesha sports a single tusk, a broken one, which symbolises him as beyond the rules of cosmic orderliness, as he is the cosmas itself. The broken tusk represents the shedding of the ego. Ekadrishta - Single-Tusked The single-tusked Ganesha stands for one direction. He gathers information from various directions, but having decided his course of direction, he does not waver. The single tusk represents the non- dualistic nature of reality. Eshanputra - Son Of Shiva Lord Ganesha is the elder son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Heis the elephant-faced son, having a simple broken tusk and trunk that is askew. He is the delight of them. Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Know About 108 Ganesh -- Part I Source: Eprarthana.com Gajavaktra - Elephant-Mouthed The elephant-mouthed Ganesha is very fond of sweets. With a huge belly signifying wealth and the modaka sweet in his hand, symbolic of the realised Inner Self, he persoifies love. Akhuratha - One With Mouse As His Charioteer Lord Ganesha, with a huge body, has a small mouse as his charioteer. The hugeness matters little when the study of life principles is considered. The soul may be the greatest or the smallest. This represents life in its totality and Lord Ganesha is suggestive of these cosmic aspects. Alampata - The Eternal By whose puissance this world of illusion is manifest, whose creation is this universe, who is the Lord of all gods and creation, he is the Eternal, Lord Ganesha. Amit - One Who Has No Comparison Ganesha is the embodiment of 'OM', the symbol of the Great God. He is the Eternal Sprit, the Beginning of all beginnings, beyond comparison. Anantachidrupamayam - Infinite and Consciousness Personified He who is the root cause of the worlds, who is uniquely manifest in the hearts of all, can be realised only by concentrated meditation. Lord Ganesha, the Infinite, is beyond distinctions and beginning. Avaneesh - Master of the Whole Earth As a rotund, elephant-faced figure, Lord Ganesha is the Lord and Master of the whole Earth. Heis the protector of the visible world and leader of the helpless, destroying all evil and obstacles. Avighna - Without Obstacles The mighty, massive Ganesha, mounted on his vehicle, bestows everything desired if his devotees chant his name with fervour and devotion. He is also responsible in keeping away all obstacles from their path. Balaganapati - The Beloved Child Lord Ganesha is adored by all the gods, even by the four-faced Brahma, and Lord Indra. As the elephant- faced child, he is the colour or the rays of the rising sun. Bhalchandra - Sporting The Moon Crest A moon crest adorns the forchead of Lord Ganesha. It denotes a pot of nectar, providing divine coolnes to the wearer. It is also denotes intelligence and mental enlightenment, the moon being the symbol of mind and peace. Bheema - Gigantic The massive Lord Ganesha reposes on the jewelled throne with the snare, the hamulus and the lotus flower in his hands. On his forehead reposes the moon. He is four armed, has a single tusk, a trunk askew, a pot belly and he is gigantic. Bhoopati - Lord of the Lords Bhoopati, also called Ganapati, is the Lordof the lords, the Master of the ganas or celestial hordes. He is worshipped by Brahma himself and is worshipped in all the three worlds. Bhoovanpati - Lord of the Lords Bhoovanpati is the Great God Himself to whom even the Trinity - Vishnu the Protector, Shiva the Destroyer and Brahma the Creater - pay obeisance and propitiate Him to save the world from evil. Buddhinath - Lord of Wisdom Lord Ganesha, the Lord of wisdom, is the repository of all knowledge. His illimitable erudition makes even Goddess Saraswati and Sage Narada bow their heads in awe. Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Prayers for Lord Ganesha To him who rides a mouse holding the modaka sweet in his hand Whose large ears are like fly-whisks and who wears a long sacred thread Who is short of stature and is the son of Maheshwara Oh, Vinayaka, lord of obstacles, I bow at your feet! Oh Lord ganpati! This whole world has sprung up from you This whole world rests in You This whole world is coming to You. You are the earth, water, fire, air and space. You are the four forms of speech. He brings fear to those who show no devotion Yet shines like the rising sun and removes the dangers of his devotees He is worshipped by both the devas and the asuras He is the lord of all the gods, master of all kinds of treasures Head of elephants and ruler of the ganas This lord of Universe, Supreme Being, do I worship always! Oh Lord Ganpati! You are the Trinity -- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha You are Indra, You are fire and air You are the sun and the moon You are Brahman You are the three worlds -- Bhuloka, Antariksha-loka and Swargloka You are Om -- that is to say , you are all this. I bow to him who is part of the illusion of obstacles Who is the witness of all that is happening in the world Who is the Atman of all To him who knows and understands himself and his form, I bow in obeisance You are the embodiment of speech. You are the bliss absolute. You are the embodiment of all the powers of Brahman. You are existence - knowledge- bliss and one without the second. You are manifested Brahman. You are the embodiment of scriptural knowledge And the immediate knowledge of oneself. Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Attributes of Lord Ganesha Source: Eprarthana.com There are thirty-nine attributes of Lord Ganesha. They are as follows: Paasha (noose) Ankusha (elephant goad) Broken Tusk Goblin Shakti weapon Arrow Bow Chakra (discus) Knife Shield Large hammer Gada (mace) Serpent Trident Pickaxe Battleaxe Banner Stick Kamandalu (vessel used during worship) Axe Bow of sugarcane Shankha (conch) Flower arrow Large axe Prayer heads Fly-whisk fan Sword Fire Veena Lotus flower Bowl of modak (Lord Ganesha's favourite sweet) Sprig of paddy Book Coconut Flower garland Sprig of Kalpataru tree Bowl of payasam (kheer /milk pudding) Moolaka (radish) Fruits favoured by Ganesh (banana, pineapple, apple, rose apple, wood apple, pomegranate and mango) Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Know About 32 Ganapatis -- Part II Source: Eprarthana.com Nritya Ganapati - The happy dancer Of golden colour, Ganapati in this form dances under the kalpavriksha Tree. He wears rings on his fingers and holds a noose, goad, axe, tusk and sometimes a sweet cake in one of his hands. Urdhva Ganapati - Tantric god Holding a green-complexioned goddess, he holds in his hands a blue flower, sprig of paddy, lotus, sugarcane bow, arrow and tusk. He himself is of golden colour. Ekaakshara Ganapati - Of the single letter (Gam) Red in colour, clad in red silk, wearing a garland of red flowers and with the crescent moon on his crown, he is three-eyed with short arms and legs. He carries a pomegranate, noose and goad in his hands. His fourth hand is in the varada (wish-giving) pose. He sits in padmaasana (yogic lotus pose) and rides the mouse. Vara Ganapati - The giver of boons Of red complexion, he has three eyes and wears the crescent moon on his head. He holds the noose, goad, a dish of honey in his hands, and a pot of jewels in his trunk. In the Tantric representations of the deity, he is shown with a goddess on his lap. Tryakshara Ganapati - Of the three letters AUM (OM) Of golden colour, he has fly whisks in his flapping ears. He holds a noose, goad, tusk, and mango fruit in his hands and a modaka sweet in his trunk. Kshipra-Prasada Ganapati - Who rewards promptly Adorned with ornaments and seated on a throne of kusha grass, in his form his huge abdomen stands out. He holds a noose, goad, lotus, pomegranate, tusk and a sprig of the kalpavriksha tree. Haridra Ganapati - The golden one Yellow in colour with bright yellow raiments, he holds a noose, goad, tusk and modaka sweet in his hands. Ekadanta Ganapati - Of the single tusk Blue in colour and with a huge abdomen, he holds in his hands an axe, rosary beads, laddu (a sweet) and his broken tusk. Shrishti Ganapati - The creator Riding a large rodent and of red complexion, he holds in his hands a noose, goad, tusk and mango. Uddanda Ganapati - Punisher of evil This Tantric deity carries on his lap his shakti (power) a green- coloured female form holding a lotus in her hand. In his ten hands he holds a pot of gems, lotus, blue water lily, gada (mace), sugarcane, sprig of paddy, noose, garland, pomegranate and tusk. Runamochana Ganapati - Who releases humanity from bondage Of white crystal-like mien, he is clad in red silk garments. He holds a goad, noose, rose apple and his tusk in his hands. Dhundhi Ganapati - Of Kashi Often of sindura or red colour, he has prayer beads, his tusk, a ratnakumbha (pot of gems) and an axe in his hands. Dwimukha Ganapati - The god of two faces Bluish-green in colour, wearing red silk garments and a gem-studded crown, he holds in his four hands, a noose, goad, tusk and a pot of gems. Trimukha Ganapati - The three-faced deity Seated in the middle of golden lotus seat with a complexion as red as the palasa flower, this form of Ganapati is shown with the left hand in an abhaya (protective) pose and the right in the varada (reward- giving) pose. He also holds a sharp goad, prayer beads, noose and pot of nectar. Simha Ganapati - Riding a lion With the lion as his vehicle, in this form Ganapati is white in colour and also holds a lion in one hand. In his other hands are a sprig of the wish-fulfilling tree, the veena (musical instrument), a lotus, a bunch of flowers and a pot of gems. Yoga Ganapati - The great yogi Holding himself in a yogic stance, and bound in a yogic girdle, he is the colour of the easily morning sun and wears garments of the blue of Indra. In his hands he holds prayer beads, staff of the yogi, noose and sugarcane. Durga Ganapati - The saviour Of a huge body and burnt-gold complexion, he holds prayer beads, an arrow, goad and tusk in his right hands and a noose, bow, flag, and rose apple fruit in his left. His garments are of red colour. Sankatashara Ganapati - Remover of sorrow Seated on a red lotus seat and clad in blue, his complexion is that of the rising sun. On his lap he holds his shakti, (power) who is of female form, green in colour, holdinga blue flower in her hand. In his hands he holds a goad, noose, and a vessel of payasam (milk- sweet). His right hand is in the varada or boon-giving pose. When not in the Tantric form, Sankatahara Ganapati is represented in celibate form. Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Know About 32 Ganapatis -- Part I Source: Eprarthana.com Bala Ganapati - The beloved child The elephant-faced child is depicted with four arms and is the color of the rays of the rising sun. He holds a banana, mango, jackfruit and sugarcane in his hands and his favourite sweet, the modaka, in his trunk. Taruna Ganapati - The youthful Ganesha The young Ganapati is shown as being red in colour like the noon-day sun. In his hands he holds a noose, an elephant goad, modaka sweet, wood-apple, rose-apple, his broken tusk, a sprig of paddy, and a sugarcane branch. Bhakti Ganapati - God of devotees Depicted as being of the colour of the full moon of autumn, in his hands a coconut, mango, banana, and a cup of payasam (kheer / milk pudding). Veera Ganapati - The valiant warrior In this form Ganapati is shown with a red complexion, eight pairs of arms and a stern look. In his hands he holds a goblin, spear, bow, arrow, chakra (discus), sword, shield, large hammer, gada(mace), goad, noose, pick-axe, battle-axe, trident, serpent and banner. Shaki Ganapati - The powerful one Holding in one arm the green-coloured Shakti (power personified in female form), Shakti Ganapati is depicted as being the colour of the sky at sunset. He holds a noose, a garland of flowers and one hand in the abhaya mudra, offering blessing to his devotees. This form of Ganapati is part of Tantric worship. Dwija Ganapati - The twice-born Four-headed, like Brahma, he holds a book, rosary beads, kamandalu (vessel used during worship), and a danda (staff). He is the colour of the moon and wears lightning-like bangles on his arms. Siddhi Ganapati - God of achievement Of the colour of golden yellow, he holds a mango fruit, stick of sugarcane, a bunch of flowers and an axe. In his trunk, the fifth hand, he holds a sweetened ball of sesame seeds. Uchhishta Ganapati - A Tantric deity Holding Shakti (his female power) in one arm, in his remaining hands he holds a blue lotus, pomegranate, a sprig of paddy, veena (musical instrument), and prayer beads. He is depicted as being blue in colour. Vighna Ganapati - Creator of obstacles for the evil Of golden hue, he is eight-armed and holds, like Vishnu, a shankha (conch) and chakra (discus). He also holds a sprig of flowers, sugarcane bow, flower arrow, axe, noose and garland. Kshipra Ganapati - Quick-acting god Handsome of appearance and red in colour like the hibiscus flower, he holds his broken tusk, noose, goad and a sprig of the kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling) tree in his hands and ratnakumbha (pot of precious gems) in his trunk. Heramba Ganapati - Protector of the weak With five faces and the dark green colour, he rides a lion. Two of his hands are in the abhaya (protective) and varada (giving) postures. In his other hands he holds a noose, tusk, prayer beads, garland, axe, big hammer, modaka sweet and fruit. Lakshmi Ganapati - Giver of success The goddesses, Siddhi (achievement) and Buddhi (wisdom) in either lap hold blue lotuses in their hands. His one hand is in the varada (giving) posture, and in his other hands he has a noose, goad, parrot, a sprig of the kalpavriksha tree, kamandalu (prayer vessel), sword and pomegranate. In this form he is of pure white colour. Maha Ganapati - The great one With a complexion like ripe paddy, he holds his shakti, who has a lotus in her hand, on his lap. He has three eyes and the crescent moon on his crown. He holds a pomegranate, gada (mace), sugarcane bow, chakra (discus), lotus, noose, blue lily, sprig of paddy, tusk, and pot of gems. This again is a Tantric form. Vijaya Ganapati - The giver of success Of red complexion and riding a rodent, he holds a goad, noose, tusk and mango in his hands. Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Ganesha -- God of Wisdom Source: Eprarthana.com "OM SHRI GANESHAYA NAMAH" , it is this mantra of Lord Ganesha which is repeated at the commencement of every undertaking or spiritual Sadhna, for the removal of obstacles and attainment of success. Ganesha is the god of wisdom and prosperity and is invoked before the beginning of any auspicious work by the Hindus. According to mythology he is the son of Shiva and Parvati, brother of Kartikeya - the general of the gods, Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and Saraswati-the goddess of learning. This elephant-headed god, whose vehicle is the Mooshak or rat and who loves Modaks (round sweets) is associated with several humourous tales and lores. Tales of how he beat his brother Kartikeya, in a race which involved going around the world thrice, without even moving out of his house, of how he lost one of his tusks are known to children all over India. Legend has it that Parvati created Ganesha out of the sandalwood dough that she used for her bath and breathed life into him. Letting him stand guard at the door she went to have her bath. When her husband, Shiva returned, the child who had never seen him stopped him. Shiva severed the head of the child and entered his house. Parvati, learning that her son was dead, was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him. Shiva cut off the head of an elephant and fixed it on the body of Ganesha. Another story says that the Gods decided to choose their leader and a race was to be held between the brothers' Kartikeya and Ganesh. Whoever took three rounds of the earth first would be made the Ganaadhipati or the leader. Kartikeya seated on a peacock, his vahanam (vehicle), started off for the test. Vinayak or Ganesh was given a rat, which moves swiftly. Vinayak realised that the test was not easy, but he could not disobey his father. He reverently paid obeisance to his parents and went around them three times and completed the test before Kartikeya. According to him, " my parents pervade the whole universe and going around them, is more than going round the earth." Everybody was pleasantly surprised to hear Vinayak's logic and intelligence. Click here to "Order Puja for Ganesh Chaturthi" Ganesha -- God of Auspiciousness Ganesha is, in one way, the most complex of concepts. Except as an incarnation on earth, neither God nor His forms as the Trinity or their consorts are ever 'born'. God only exists. Ganesha, alone of the deities, was mind-born or created and acquired as a son by Shiva and Parvati. Yet, amazingly, he is also the simplest, as he is the God of all people, big and small, educated and illiterate. For him, no formalized form of worship is necessary. Meditating on him results in filling one's heart with love of one's fellow-beings, human and animal, which is after all the aim of true religion. This god of wisdom teaches that the path to success and achievement is through the use of the intellect, and that through wisdom alone can one reach salvation. (this great truth is called the Vinayaka Tattvam). The calm and majestic Ganesha with the strength and power of an elephant is the Lord of all obstacles which keep Man under control, and yet is also the remover of the obstacles which befuddle Man in his endeavours. Like the elephant he has a prodigious memory, and never forgets the qualities of loyalty and devotion of those around him. He spreads the message of peace and tranquillity and his large size therefore evokes great love, never fear. In fact his unusual form gets embedded in the mind of the worshipper. Ganesha is the embodiment of OM, the symbol, of the Great God, and is the delight of the gods and the beloved of humanity. He is the playful god of the young and the great guru of the old. He is the god of auspiciousness, the beginning of all beginnings, the saviour of all that is good. With the rishis of yore his devotees therefore join and sing - Sadaa brahma bhootam vikaaraadi heenam Vikaaraadi bhootam maheshaadivandyam Apaaraswaroopam svasamvedyamekam Namaamah sadaa vakratundam bhajaamah (He who is a form of the eternal spirit, the Brahman Is changeless yet causes change all around Him whom Mahesha and the other gods worship Who has a unique form and deep knowledge of the self This Vakratunda do we worship always). OM shantih, Shantih, shantihi (OM peace, peace, peace unto all). Lord Ganesh's images and pictures not only are seen presiding over the lintels of the doorways of many Hindu homes as hartingess of good luck out in hospitals private Nursing homes and clinics. Ganesh is looked upon as the god of good harvest and hence after his immersion clay is brought from the waterside and sprinkled into the farms and store-rooms for luck & plenty. Festival of Ganesh - Ganesh Chaturthi Religion in India is still a living force and Indians appreciate and cultivate the festival spirit even in this age of industrialisation and political upheavals. May be Ganesh festivals bring people together and make the nation move forward and grow. Ganesh Festival is very popular in our country. The birth of Lord Ganesh is on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad (August/September). This festival is celebrated for 10 days from Ganeshchaturthi - birth -date-to Anantchaturdashi - the final 10th day of his immersion. Everyone loves this deity with his curving trunk, pot-belly and big glappy ears. He is the benevolent protector of the innocent, yet the ruthless destroyer of evil. His mount is a rat. In several states of India, but specially in Maharashtra clay idols of Ganesh in varying sizes are made and sold. The idols are purchased and brought home the day previous to Ganesh Chaturthi which is the day of Hartalik when women keep fast and invoke the blessings of goddess Parvati, who is Ganesh's mother. In streets and commercial establishments community worship is offered to a life-size or even a bigger image, installed on an erected platform. This Lord Ganesh is very fond of sweets and hence khir, panchamrit, fruits and sweets and specially modaks are placed before him as "Naivedya" or "Bhog". After the ritual worship this "Bhog" is distributed as "Prasad". On the day of immersion which is either 3rd, 5th, 7th or 10th day after performing "Puja" the idol is taken out in a procession by people who dance and sing. On the 10th day - the Anantchaturdashi day the sea fronts are packed with surging mass of humanity as the idols of Ganesh are carried towards their watery rest among shouts of "Ganapati Bappa Moriya", Pudhachya varshi lavkar ya" (Return early next year, oh Victorious Lord Ganesh). Since the days of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj the founder of the Maratha empire this Ganesh Festival was celebrated on a grand scale in Pune and later on the Peshwas themselves participated in this festival as Ganesh was their family deity. Today this festival is the most colourful and happy event in the religious, social and cultural life of India specially that of Pune. With the end of the Peshwa regime this festival lost its glamour and came to be observed privately in households only. Thus many years passed. At the crucial juncture of India's history when the nation indeed under the yoke of slavery of the British, Lokmanya Tilak, who proclaimed "Swarajya is my birth-right and I'll have it" realising the importance of the massive popularity of this festival initiated its nationwide celebrations in 1893. Then it became a platform for political awakening and uprising among people to gain freedom from British imperialism. Ganesh Festival thus played a very important role in our Freedom Struggle. During the last 5000 years of history in the pre-Vedic era, the concept of Ganesh had reached all over the world and idols of Ganesh in various forms have been found in Java, Indo-China, Nepal, Combodia, Tibet, Thailand, Vietnam and Srilanka where He is regarded as the protector and saviour of mankind from the menace of ghosts and demons. By Malini Bisen Various Names of Ganesha According to HINDU purana 'Ganapatyas,' lord Ganesha has been conferred with twelve unique names depending upon his form and nature. It is believed that invoking these names before any ritual brings in prosperity and goodwill. Ganesha is addressed in hymns and prayers by many names, sometimes eight, sometimes twelve, sometimes sixteen, sometimes thirty-two. Most popularly he is addressed as Ganapati or Ganesha, lord of the ganas or celestial hordes, and as Gajaanana, the one with the face of an elephant. He is also called Vakratunda of the twisted trunk, and Ekadanta, having but one tusk. He is known as Krisha Pingaaksha, one with dark, reddish brown eyes and Gajavaktra, having an elephant's mouth. He is Lambodara, one with a fat belly, and Vikata, of the monstrous figure. He is addressed as Vighnaraja and Vighneshwara, the king and lord of obstacles as also Vignaharta or Vighnanaashin, the destroyer of obstacles. His smoke-coloured body has given him the name, Dhoomravarna, and his tawny colour, the name Kapila. He is Phaalachandra, sporting the moon crest, and Vinayaka, remover of hindrances. He is also Sumukha, of the auspicious and pleasant visage, Heramba, the five headed protector of the weak, and Ganaadhyaksha, the leader of the celestial hordes. His large ears resemble the winnow and have given him the name, hSoorpakarna. He is Skandapoorvaja, older than Skanda, the other son of Shiva and Parvati. He is Akhuratha, with the rat as his chariot, and Siddhidaata, the bestower of success. The Tamils however have their own special name for him - Pillaiyar, the revered and noble son. The Eight Holy Shrines of Lord Ganesha The most important to Ganesha devotees are the eight Ganesha shrines, the Ashta Vinayak. These eight forms of Ganesha are swayambhu, self- made, and not made by man. This gives added religious significance for Ganesha worshippers, and to the faithful, the powers of these icons are limitless. These eight shrines are located in Maharashtra. The most popular is the one at Morgaon, south-east of Pune, where Ganesha, riding a peacock and taking the form of Mayureshwar or Moreshwar, is believed to have destroyed the demon, Sindhu. Close to Pune, at Theur, is the image of Ganesha as Chintamani. Ganesha is believed to have got back the precious Chintamani jewel form the greedy Guna for Sage Kapila at this spot. At Ranjangaon is the shrine of Ganapati as Mahaganapati. The legend here refers to Shiva worshipping Ganesha before fighting the demon, Tripuraasura. At Siddhatek stands Ganesha as Siddivinayak. It was here that Vishnu was reminded to pray to Ganesha before his fight with the demons, Madhu and Kaitab. By doing so, he achieved success, or Siddhi. This icon has a right-turned trunk. At Ojhar is the shrine of Vighnahara or Vighneshwara, a form taken by Ganesha to destroy a demon named Vighnaasura created by Indira. At Lenyadri nearby is Ganesha in the form of Girijatmak or Girijatmaja, son of Girija (Parvati). It is believed that Parvati performed penance here to beget Ganapati as her son. At Pali near the Bombay-Goa road is the shrine of Ballaleshwar, where Ganesha saved his devotee, a boy, Ballal, who was beaten up by villagers for his single-minded worship of Vinayaka. At Mahad, near Khopoli, is the form of Ganesha as Varad Vinayak, the giver of bounty and success. A lamp, Nandadeep, is kept permanently lighted here and has been shining since 1892. Ganesha's Birth Legend: The Mind-Born Son of Shiva According to one puranic story, the Devas (minor gods or celestial beings) approached the almighty Shiva and asked for help, as they were being harassed by the demons. Shiva consented to aid them and out of his mind appeared a glorious, glowing figure of a child with the head of a powerful elephant and a trident in one hand. The gods were overjoyed to see the mind-born son of Shiva who would henceforth protect them. Seeing this beautiful child, Parvati placed him on her lap and vowed that no endeavour, human or divine, would be successful without a prayer to the young one. Shiva then made him the leader of the ganas or celestial hordes, calling him Ganpati. In another purana the same story is modified. According to it, Shiva's maanasika putra was a dazzling human boy. Parvati, annoyed that the child was born without her intervention, willed that the head should be turned to that of an elephant. However, when she saw the elephant-headed child she felt great love for him, and stated that no endeavour, human or divine, would succeed without a prayer to Ganpati, whom Shiva had made the head of the ganas. Ganesha's Birth Legend: How Ganesha got The elephant head A more popular legend deals with the birth of Ganesha to Parvati. Once while Parvati was going for her bath, she rubbed off the dust and oil from 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 when she went down to bathe. Soon after, Shiva 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 the boy whose head got severed from his body in the ensuing battle. Parvati, returning from her bath, saw her headless son and threatened, as Shakti, to destroy the heavens and the earth, so great was her sorrow. The gods and Shiva pacified her and the latter sent out his ganas, or hordes, to bring the head of the first living being with his head towards the north (the auspicious direction associated with wisdom). They did so and the first living creature they found sleeping with its head to the north was an elephant. They brought the head of this animal and Shiva placed it on the trunk of Parvati's son and breathed life into him. Parvati was overjoyed and embraced her son, the elephant-headed boy whom Shiva named Ganesha, the lord of his ganas. Ganesha's Birth Legend: The result out of Parvati's penance Another puranic legend has it that Parvati longed for a child and conveyed her desire to Shiva. He asked her to undertake the Punyaka penance for one year, which she did. The sage, Sanatkumara, presided over the austerities and made Parvati undergo several trials and tribulations to test the strength of her vow. Finally, after she had passed all the tests and completed the vow undertaken by her, she heard a voice from the heavens telling her to look for newborn son in her chamber. When she ran in and saw the beautiful child, she could not believe her eyes. He was more beautiful than all the gods put together, and his face shone like the morning sun. Her joy knew no bounds. All the gods and goddesses rushed to Mount Kailas, the abode of the divine parents, to see this child of glory, paid obeisance, and marvelled at the beauty of the child. The nine grahas or planets also came to greet the divine couple and their beloved son. One of them, Shani (Saturn), would not however look up at the child and had his head bent. When Parvati asked him why he was reluctant to look at her son, he told her that there was a curse laid on him by his jealous wife, by which anyone he looked at with admiration would be destroyed. Parvati, anxious like a fond mother for her son to be admired, insisted that he look at her son. Shani then looked up at the child whose head immediately got separated from the body and flew off into space. Parvati wailed and lamented so loudly and created such commotion that the gods rushed to Kailas. Vishnu, seeing what had happened to create such grief in Parvati, got on to his vehicle, Garuda and flew in search of a head to replace the lost one. On the banks of the River Pushpabhadra, he found a herd of elephants sleeping. Choosing an animal lying with its head to the north, he brought the head of that elephant (who was actually a Gandharva, a celestial being, waiting to be released from earthly life), and placed it on the headless child's neck. Breathing life into the child, he presented it to Parvati who was overjoyed at having a son with the wisdom and power of an elephant. Vishnu adorned the child with exquisite ornaments to match his beauty as did Himavaan, the father of Parvati. Vishnu collected all heavenly beings together and led the worship of the child, giving him the eight names by which he came to be commonly known - Vighneshwara, Ganesha, Heramba, Gajaanana, Lambodara, Ekadanta, Soorpakarna and Vinayaka. Ganesha's Birth Legend: As created by Parvati Another puranic legend has it that one day Parvati rubbed oil and sweet smelling powder on her body. Out of the perspiration that came off her body, she created a child. She then lowered the child into the River Ganga. As soon as the water washed over the child, he grew into a large effulgent being who was now deemed Dvaimatura, the son of two mothers, as Parvati and Ganga each felt he was her son. Ganpati the child was now given the leadership of the ganas, the celestial hordes, by Brahma himself and worshipped in all the three worlds. All these are stories from the various puranas where, firstly, Ganesha appears as the son of Shiva or Parvati or both and is given powers as the lord of the ganas by Shiva, and secondly, acquires an elephant head which replaces his original human head. Ganesha and the Fruit of Wisdom Shiva and Parvati were playing with their two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya (or Murugan, as he is known to the Tamils). They had been given a fruit by the gods and both the sons wanted it. The divine couple explained to the sons that this fruit had in it the nectar of Supreme Knowledge and Immortality, and since both wanted it, the one who circled the world three times and came back first would get it as a prize. Kartikeya got on to his vehicle, the peacock, and flew into space, stopping at all sacred spots on the way and offering his prayers. Ganesha knew that, with his corpulent form weighing him down, his vehicle, the mouse, would go even slower than usual and he could never beat Kartikeya. But his wisdom taught him a solution. He walked around his parents, Shiva and Parvati, three times, with great devotion. When his parents asked him why he was not circling the globe, he answered - My parents, Shiva and Parvati are the whole world. Within them is the entire universe. I need go no further. Naturally he won the fruit. This incident highlights the importance of intelligence, of which Ganesha is a repository, as against strength or speed or physical achievements. The same story is altered in another purana according to which Shiva and Parvati asked both their sons to race round the world thrice. The one to win would be married first. Ganesha won by circumambulating his parents three times, who then married him to the daughters of Vishwaroopa, Siddhi (Achievement or Success) and Buddhi (Wisdom). In most parts of India Vinayaka is considered a celibate but in some parts of the country he is considered married to these beautiful girls, a symbolic marriage to emphasise the importance of wisdom and success in removing obstacles. Why Ganesha has a broken tusk? There are several legends as to how Ganesha broke one of his tusks, giving him the name, Ekadanta, the one with a single tusk. The first pertains to his battle with Parashurama. Parashurama was one of the incarnations of Vishnu, born on earth to teach a lesson to the ruling classes, the Kshatriyas, who had become very arrogant and were riding rough-shod over the ordinary people. As a human on earth, he meditated on Shiva and obtained the divine axe, parashu, with whose help he waged wars against all the erring princes and cleared the world of their evil. Deeply indebted to Shiva, he then came to Mount Kailas to pay obeisance to his mentor. Ganesha who was guarding the entrance to his father's chambers would not let him in, saying he had to wait till he obtained Shiva's permission. Parashurama felt that he, a devotee, needed no permission. When Ganesha refused to give in, Parashurama, hot-tempered at all times, struck Ganesha's tusk with his axe and broke it. Shiva and Parvati appeared before him and chastised Parashurama, who then worshipped Ganesha and obtained his forgiveness and blessings. Ganesha's vehicle, the mouse Gajamukha, a demon, did severe penance on the advice of Shukraachaarya, the guru of the asuras or demons, and obtained invincible powers from Shiva. He used these powers to harass the gods who then rushed to Ganesha for help. Ganesha battled with the demon but realized that, thanks to the powers given by Shiva, the evil one could not be killed. Ganesha then broke his right tusk and threw it at Gajamukha cursing him to change into a mouse. He then got on to the back of the mouse, and made it his vehicle, thereby keeping it under his control. According to another puranic story, Ganesha's rat was really the Gandharva, Krauncha. Once, in the court of Indira, the king of the Devas, Krauncha insulted the sage, Vaamedeva. He was then cursed by the latter and turned into a large rat. The rat, true to its nature, entered the ashram of sage, Paraashara and caused great havoc to his dwelling as only a rat can. The Rishi then prayed to Vinayaka to save his simple dwelling. Ganesha appeared, made the rat his vehicle, and brought him under control. As will be noticed, whatever the puranic story, the purpose of making the rat his vehicle was to keep the rodent, whose nuisance value is high, under the control of Ganpati. Ganesha, the scribe for Mahabharata The most interesting story concerning Ganesha is the belief that he was the scribe who wrote the Mahabharata. Sage Vyasa, the author of this epic, was advised by Brahma, on whom he meditated, to ask Ganesha to be the scribe to whom he could dictate the epic in verse form. Ganapati appeared before Brahma and agreed to write, but on one condition, and that was that Vyasa would dictate continuously without pause. Vyasa agreed but he had his own condition, and that was that Ganesha should understand every word and thought and its implications before writing it down. Whenever Vyasa found Ganesha had completed writing a verse, he would dictate a verse with very complex meanings so that Ganesha had to stop and think it over. This gave Vyasa time to compose a few stanza mentally and dictate them when Ganesha was ready. Ganesha used his broken tusk to write the Mahabharata, the longest epic the world has ever known. Is it surprising then that with Vyasa as the poet, Ganesha as the scribe and Krishna as the main hero, this epic has few equals in the world. This story also has a lesson for mankind, that the Mahabharata should not be hurriedly read. It should be understood and digested, heard patiently and ruminated upon. In fact there is a superstition that the Mahabharata should never be read, only listened to, one small part at a time. Only then can one understand the depth of the meanings underlying the events in the epic. Ganesha and the Moon One Ganesha partook of a huge meal of modaka (a sweet greatly favoured by him) and was riding home on his vehicle, the mouse. Suddenly the mouse was tripped by a snake. Ganesha fell off his back and hive over-full stomach burst open and out tumbled the modaks. Seeing this comic sight, Chandra, the Moon, burst into laughter. Ganesha got up, picked up the snake and tied it around his broken waist-line. (This snake belt can be seen in many sculptures of Ganesh). He then threw his broken tusk at the Moon and cursed him so that he would never again shine at night nor appear in the heavens.(In those times the full moon shone every day in the year). Without the Moon, there was no night, no moonlight and no twilight. People found they could not sleep in the bright sunlight which now shone veen at night. The gods found life in the heavens as intolerable as human beings found the earth without the Moon. The gods rushed to Ganesha and pleaded him. The kind-hearted Ganesha relented but said that the moon would no longer shine in full glory every night. He would was and wane from a bright fortnight to a dark fortnight ending with Full Moon and the New Moon alternatively. Also, it would not be lucky to see the Moon on Ganesh Chaturthi day (thhe fourth day of the bright fortnight) in the month of Bhaadrapad, as one who does will be the victim of scandal. The superstition exists to this day, and people carefully avoid looking at the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi. The over-superstitious however look downwards on Chaturthi day or the 4th day of the bright fortnight not only once a year but every month to be on the safe side. Ganesha and the River Kaveri While Ganga is the biggest river of north India, Kaveri is the most important river of south India. Kaveri is also called Dakshina Ganga or 'Ganga of the south'. Many Indians lovingly address the Kaveri as 'Kaveri-amma' or 'Kaveri-taai' (mother Kaveri). Some people call the river Ponni. In Tamil, 'ponni' means 'gold'. To bring water to the arid areas of South, Sage Agastya with the blessings of Brahma obtained water in his Kamndalu (the vessel used to hold water for rituals of worship) from Shiva. He then came down south wanting to find the ideal spot from which the river could flow, and reached the Kodagu (Coorg) hills. He called out to a little boy (Ganesha in disguise), and asked him to hold the vessel carefully while he searched around for a good spot. Ganesha, in his wisdom, selected the right place for the origin of the river, and left the Kamandalu on the ground at that spot. A crow came and sat on the vessel and when Agastya returned and saw it, he shooed it away. When it flew of, it upset the Kamandalu and the water gushing forth was the sacred River Kaveri flowing from the spot now known as Talakaveri. There is a shrine near the kundike and a big tank in front of it where devotees baths before offering prayers. There are 2 temples, a Shiva temple and with a rare and ancient Shiva Linga, and another temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This temple has a holy Ashwantha tree where, according to legend, the Trimurti's - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh gave Darshan to sage Agastya. According to a different version of the above legend, Vishnu Maya became a dwarf and Agastya carried her in a small mud pot to south India. In south India, God Ganesha turned the pot upside down. Immediately, Vishnu Maya emerged out of the pot and assumed the form of the river Kaveri! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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