GANESHA-FIRST AMONGST GODS
Hindu mythology is the world's richest collection of stories about supernatural personalities and events, both in terms of volume and quality, 
written and re-written by several scholars spread over pre-historic periods and later. Consequently, it is somewhat incoherent and confusing to common persons, particularly the Generation X. This treatise attempts to put much of the popularly available information in a nutshell and more particularly in an executive style and in a very simple language for ease of reading and understanding. It is understood that there are 330 million gods & goddesses in Hindu mythology. But here I would like to mention about the most popular god -Lord Ganesha. Ganesha, popularly known and easily recognised as the Elephant-God, is one of the most important deities of the Hindu pantheon. Before every undertaking, be it laying of a house, or opening of a shop or beginning any other work just like this making my first webpage, Lord Ganesh is first worshipped so as to invoke his blessings.
GANESHJI-GOD OF AUSPICIOUS BEGINNINGS & REMOVER OF OBSTACLES
One evening,Vishnuji appeared as a priest in front of Shivji & Parvatiji and requested them to let him be their son. Bemused, they gave their consent. The priest (Vishnuji) then transformed himself into a beautiful child, to the delight of the new-found parents. On this happy occasion, all the gods came over to bless the new child. Vishnuji (himself) blessed him as a repository of knowledge, Brahmaji blessed him with fame and to be the foremost god for worship & Lakshmiji blessed that she will dwell wherever this child is adored. Similarly other gods & goddesses also blessed him with other qualities.
ORIGIN
According to another legend,Ganeshji was produced from the sweat of Parvatiji who deputed him to guard the place when she wanted privacy while having a bath. When Shivji arrived, Ganeshji did not allow him in, as he was unaware of the identity of Shivji.This enraged Shivji who cut off Ganeshji's head. When Parvatiji discovered this and explained the truth to Shivji, he felt sorry. Shivji then ordered his attendants to bring head of any baby whose mother may be asleep. Attendants saw a baby-elephant in such a position and brought it's head which was then transplanted by Shivji on Ganeshji's body. To further console Parvatiji, who was still in tears seeing an elephants head on her son's body, Brahmaji announced that Ganeshji will have precedence over other gods in the number of worship.
ABODE
Eternal and omnipresent, he is generally at Mount Kailash, along with parents Shivji and Parvatiji.
IMPORTANCE
Ganeshji is the god of auspicious beginnings. Major religious and other activities commence with the phrase "OM SHRI GANESHAY NAMAH" meaning we pray to Ganeshji. He is worshipped to invoke his blessing to surmount all difficulties and ensure success in any venture.
Ganeshji is given pre-eminence over other gods as granted by Brahmaji. In addition to what has been mentioned above, legend has it that once there was a competition amongst gods for the first place of worship. It was decided that the god who traverses the universe fastest will be declared winner. All gods and goddesses began the race on their fastest vehicles whereas Ganeshji, with his limitations of pot belly and slow moving vehicle mouse, took a round of parents Shivji and Parvatiji and then sat down. He was declared winner since parents are considered to be universe in themselves. Since then Ganeshji is treated & worshipped as first among gods.
SOME OTHER NAMES OR EPITHETS
|
NAMES/EPITHETS
1. EKDANT
2.LAMBAKARNA
3.MODAKPRIYA
4.GANAPATI
5.LAMBODARA
6.VIGHNESHWAR
7.GAJANAN
8.VINAYAK
9.GAJADHIPATI
|
MEANING
- having one tusk
- long eared
- one who likes sweets
- lord of the tribes
- pendant-bellied
- controller of all obstacles
- elephant faced
- the prominent leader
- lord of elephants
|
TYPICAL DEPICTION
-Ganeshji has elepant's head and four arms, holding shell, discuss, club and lily. Has serpent around his waist and his vehicle mouse alongside.
-Always shown with a tray of sweets (modak) and having pot belly.
-In some images, he is shown holding sugarcane bow.
-Ganeshji is sometimes shown in playfully dancing pose.
-To signify his association with knowledge and prosperity, sometimes Ganeshji is depicted seated alongwith Lakshmiji and Saraswatiji.
SOME TEMPLES
In all temples of Shivji & Parvatiji, he is shown alongside. His idol is usually placed at the entrance of temples, in line with the myth about his guarding the entrance to Parvatiji's private chamber.
-Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Mumbai(MAHARASTRA)
-Ganesh Dhundiraja Temple,Varanasi(UTTAR PRADESH)
-Asth Vinayak Temples (8 temples near Pune in Maharastra)
-Rajangaoncha Mahaganpati Temple, Rajangaon(MAHARASTRA)
-Chintamani Vinayak Temple, Theur(MAHARASTRA)
RELATED FESTIVALS OR CEREMONIES
Ganpati Mahotsav is held sometime around August, more popularly in Maharastra, when Ganeshji idols are installed in every locality, worshipped for ten days and finally immersed in sea or river.
SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION
-His vehicle mouse symbolises capability to destroy every obstacle.
-When Parshuram (an incarnation of Vishnujji) came to visit Shivji on Mount Kailash, Shivji was sleeping. Ganeshji, who was guarding the entrance refused entry to him. At this Parshuram got enraged and threw his axe (a gift from Shivji to him) to attack Ganeshji. Realising it as the sacred thing originally belonging to his father, Ganeshji received it, with humility, on his tusks, one of which got severed off partially. Thereafter, Ganeshji is also called EKDANT.
-Ganeshji is said to have two wives, Siddhhi (success) & Riddhi (Prosperity). It is therefore presumed that whoever worships Ganeshji and pleases him, gains success and prosperity.
-In Kerala, Ganeshji's image is covered wiith a sweet preparation in honour of Ganeshji's liking for sweets.
-Swastik is known to be a graphic symbolissation of Ganeshji.
SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS VEHICLE
The vehicle of Ganesha is mouse. As rats generally succeed in gnawing their way through every obstruction, the rat symbolises this God's ability to destroy every obstacle. Being as elephant he passes through the thickest of wild growth in a forest, uproots and tears the thickest trees hindering his path and fells out whatever comes in his way. In the same way like a mouse he also can slip through the narrowest of spaces and thickest of the walls by drilling holes. Moreover a mouse is deemed to be the master of everything inside. The all-pervading ATMA (SOUL) is the mouse that lives in the hole called INTELLECT, within the heart of every human being. It hides itself behind the inscrutable shape of illusion.
In modern age Ganesha is regarded as the personification of those qualities which surmount all difficulties. He is the typical lord of success in life and its accompaniments like good living, prosperity and peace. Not only is Ganesha thus honored in religious ceremonies but in almost all civil concerns too his blessings are sought. His numerous images and shrines can be seen throughout India. In all ceremonies (except funeral rites) Ganesha is first invoked. He is revered by most Hindus, whether followers of Shiva or Vishnu.
Ganesha represents the unity of the small being, the man, with the great being, the elephant. It is the blending of the microcosm with the macrocosm, of a drop with the ocean and of an individual soul with the divinity.
ll OM SHREE GANESHAY NAMAH ll
