(This article is based on an article which appeared in a Tamil spiritual magazine.)
We all know that Pranava Mantra is “Om”. In Tamil Nadu it is customary to start any writing by symbolizing this pranava mantra at the top first. Lord Ganesha is the Pranava Swaroopa, hence we all pay our obeisance (respect) to Him first. Vedas address Him as Jyeshtharaj (one who has appeared first and King of Kings). It is believed that the name Ganapati may have been derived from the elephants which roamed in the forest first as Kings. Hence in Sanskrit, elephants were addressed as Kanaga Ganapati. Aadi-Shankara stated, that Lord Ganesha was Anayaka Nayaka (Leader of par excellence or leader who doesn't have any leader i.e. he is leader in himself). In Atharvashirsha upanishada of Atharvana Veda, it is stated that the word, “Ga-na-pa-ti” explains the tatva “tatvamasi” i.e. attaining moksha after attaining dhyana. “Ga” stands for Riddhi and “Ti” stands for Siddhi.
In Lalitha Sahastranama, the Mother Lalitha Devi created Vigneshwara, to nullify the effect of Vighna Yantra (Mohan mantra) of Bhandasura, by combining Her Shakti and grace of Lord Shiva (Kaameshwara).
There are number of legends in Purana about how Ganesha got his elephant head. The following story is from Matsya Purana. Once Parvati went to take bath. Before going to bath, she created a small boy of turmeric powder. She gave it a life and placed him as a guard outside. Lord Shiva was stopped by this boy from entering the place where she was taking bath. In anger, Lord Shiva cut the head of this boy. In order to console Parvati, Lord Shiva fixed the head of an elephant to the slain boy and brought him back to life. Thus Ganesha was born with elephant head. Hence it is customary in South India to prepare a Ganesha of turmeric powder and perform Avahana before starting any worship.
Another legend stated that Parvati prepared an earthen image of boy as she badly wanted to have a son. Due to Saturn’s bad vision on the image, the boy’s head fell off. Lord Shiva ordered his Ganas to get head of an animal that was sleeping with head towards North and fix it above boy's neck. In this manner, the legend explains how Lord Ganesha got head of elephant.
According to Bramhanda Purana, once Ganesha was standing as a guard at entrance to Kailash. Parshurama tried to enter the Kailash and was stopped by Ganesha. Parshurama, in anger, threw his axe (Parshu) at Ganesha, who stopped it with his left tusk and hence his tusk broke. This gave him the name “Ekadanta”.
In order to remove the curse on Agni Deva, Ganesha used his ears as fan. Hence he got the name Shurpakarna. This is also mentioned in Bramhanda Purana.
Parvati obtained upadesha of Ekakshar mantra from Lord Shiva. She delivered a boy with elephant head and six hands. This child was white like a moonlight and hence he got the name Bhalachandra.
He is worshiped in the form of the sacred stone, known as Sonabhadra Vinayaka which is red triangular stone.
According to Bhargava Purana, Bramha started the creation with ego, without first worshiping Ganesha. Hence all his creations were ugly. Realizing his mistake, he did penance and obtained Dhyana Shakti and Kriya Shakti as his daughters with Lord Vinayaka's blessings. He proceeded his work of creation. Later on Lord Vinayaka married his daughters.
One of the deities in Panchayatan worship, started by Aadi-Shankara, is Lord Ganesha. This is known as Ganapatya. This particular worship is prevalent in Maharashtra. In Maharashtra there are eight places which are considered highly sacred for the worship of Lord Ganesha. These eight places together are known as Ashta Vinayaka.
We all know that Pranava Mantra is “Om”. In Tamil Nadu it is customary to start any writing by symbolizing this pranava mantra at the top first. Lord Ganesha is the Pranava Swaroopa, hence we all pay our obeisance (respect) to Him first. Vedas address Him as Jyeshtharaj (one who has appeared first and King of Kings). It is believed that the name Ganapati may have been derived from the elephants which roamed in the forest first as Kings. Hence in Sanskrit, elephants were addressed as Kanaga Ganapati. Aadi-Shankara stated, that Lord Ganesha was Anayaka Nayaka (Leader of par excellence or leader who doesn't have any leader i.e. he is leader in himself). In Atharvashirsha upanishada of Atharvana Veda, it is stated that the word, “Ga-na-pa-ti” explains the tatva “tatvamasi” i.e. attaining moksha after attaining dhyana. “Ga” stands for Riddhi and “Ti” stands for Siddhi.
In Lalitha Sahastranama, the Mother Lalitha Devi created Vigneshwara, to nullify the effect of Vighna Yantra (Mohan mantra) of Bhandasura, by combining Her Shakti and grace of Lord Shiva (Kaameshwara).
There are number of legends in Purana about how Ganesha got his elephant head. The following story is from Matsya Purana. Once Parvati went to take bath. Before going to bath, she created a small boy of turmeric powder. She gave it a life and placed him as a guard outside. Lord Shiva was stopped by this boy from entering the place where she was taking bath. In anger, Lord Shiva cut the head of this boy. In order to console Parvati, Lord Shiva fixed the head of an elephant to the slain boy and brought him back to life. Thus Ganesha was born with elephant head. Hence it is customary in South India to prepare a Ganesha of turmeric powder and perform Avahana before starting any worship.
Another legend stated that Parvati prepared an earthen image of boy as she badly wanted to have a son. Due to Saturn’s bad vision on the image, the boy’s head fell off. Lord Shiva ordered his Ganas to get head of an animal that was sleeping with head towards North and fix it above boy's neck. In this manner, the legend explains how Lord Ganesha got head of elephant.
According to Bramhanda Purana, once Ganesha was standing as a guard at entrance to Kailash. Parshurama tried to enter the Kailash and was stopped by Ganesha. Parshurama, in anger, threw his axe (Parshu) at Ganesha, who stopped it with his left tusk and hence his tusk broke. This gave him the name “Ekadanta”.
In order to remove the curse on Agni Deva, Ganesha used his ears as fan. Hence he got the name Shurpakarna. This is also mentioned in Bramhanda Purana.
Parvati obtained upadesha of Ekakshar mantra from Lord Shiva. She delivered a boy with elephant head and six hands. This child was white like a moonlight and hence he got the name Bhalachandra.
He is worshiped in the form of the sacred stone, known as Sonabhadra Vinayaka which is red triangular stone.
According to Bhargava Purana, Bramha started the creation with ego, without first worshiping Ganesha. Hence all his creations were ugly. Realizing his mistake, he did penance and obtained Dhyana Shakti and Kriya Shakti as his daughters with Lord Vinayaka's blessings. He proceeded his work of creation. Later on Lord Vinayaka married his daughters.
One of the deities in Panchayatan worship, started by Aadi-Shankara, is Lord Ganesha. This is known as Ganapatya. This particular worship is prevalent in Maharashtra. In Maharashtra there are eight places which are considered highly sacred for the worship of Lord Ganesha. These eight places together are known as Ashta Vinayaka.
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