All About Gods

GANESHA also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most widely worshiped deities in the Hindu pantheon. His images are found throughout India. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains, Buddhists, and beyond India. Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesha’s elephant head makes him easy to identify. Ganesha is a God of peace and glory. He is usually worshiped by Hindus at the starting of every important occasions or bigger events like wedding, starting business, etc.

GANAPATI BAPPA MAURYA!!!

Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha, Vighneshvara), patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom. He is honoured at the sta rt of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions. Several texts relate mythological anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits and explain his distinct iconography. As an apt choice we have chosen the story of Lord Ganesha as the first story on our site.

Indian Mythological sources stress the need for recitation of the name of Lord Ganesh before starting any work. The relevance of this becomes clear as the story of Lord Ganesh unfolds in the following pagaraphs. Lord Ganesh is the virtual son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvathi. The story of creation of ganesh is a very fascinating one. A long long time ago when Lord Shiva, was away fighting for the gods, the lady of the house, goddess Parvathi was alone at home. On one occasion, she needed someone to gaurd the house when she was going for a bath. Unable to think of an alternative, she used her powers to create a son, Ganesh. She instructed Ganesh to keep strict vigil on the entrance to the house and not to allow anyone into the house.

Ganesh agreed and stayed on the strictest of strict vigils. In the meantime Lord Shiva returned happy after a glorious victory for the gods, only to be stopped at the entrance by Ganesh. Ganesh, acting on Parvathi’s orders verbatim, did not allow Shiva to enter the house. Lord Shiva was enraged beyond control and in a fit of rage slashed the head of Ganesh. In the meantime Paravti came out from her bath and was aghast at the scene. She was very very angry at her lordship for what had happened and explained him the situation. Lord Shiva wanted to make it up to Parvathi very badly and agreed to put life back into Ganesha by putting the head of the first sleeping living creature that came in sight which was sleeping with its head to the north. He sent his soldiers to go in search of the creature. The first creature which came in sight was an elephant.

So Lord Shiva re-created his son with the head of the elephant. Hence the trunk of Lord Ganesha. Parvathi was still not totally happy with the deal and wanted more. Then Shiva granted Ganesha a boon that before beginning of any undertaking or task people would worship Lord Ganesh. Thus the reason for worship of ganesha before start of any work. There are many stories about Lord Ganesh about his later part of life. We shall be adding more stories of Lord Ganesh in due course of time.