Also spelled 'Ganesa' or 'Ganesh' and also known as 'Ganapati','Vinayaka', and 'Pillaiyar', is one of the best-known and most widely worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon.His image is found throughout India.
The name Ganesha is a Sanskrit compound, joining the words Gana, meaning a group, multitude, or categorical system and isha , meaning lord or master.Ganapati, a synonym for Ganesha, is a compound composed of Gana, meaning "group", and Pati, meaning "ruler" or "lord".
The Amarakosha, an early Sanskrit lexicon, lists eight synonyms of Ganesha : 1.Vinayaka, 2.Vighnaraja (equivalent to Vignesha), 3.Dvaimatura (one who has two mothers), 4.Ganadhipa (equivalent to Ganapati and Ganesha), 5.Ekadanta (one who has one tusk), 6.Heramba, 7.Lambodara (one who has a pot belly, or, literally, one who has a hanging belly), and 8.Gajanana (having the face of an elephant)
This God of knowledge and the remover of obstacles is also the elder son of Lord Shiva. He is worshipped in the beginning of any auspicious performance for blessings and auspiciousness. He has four hands, elephant's head and a big belly. His vehicle is a tiny mouse.
In his hands he carries a rope (to carry devotees to the truth), an axe (to cut devotees' attachments), and a sweet dessert ball -Kudumulu- (to reward devotees for spiritual activity). His fourth hand's palm is always extended to bless people. A unique combination of his elephant-like head and a quick moving tiny mouse vehicle represents tremendous wisdom, intelligence, and presence of mind.
Ganesha is considered to be the Lord of letters and learning.In Sanskrit, the word buddhi is a feminine noun that is variously translated as intelligence, wisdom, or intellect. Ganesha is identified with the Hindu mantra "Om".
Ganesha's marital status, varies widely in mythological stories.One pattern of myths identifies Ganesha as an unmarried brahmacarin.Another pattern associates him with the concepts of Buddhi (intellect), Siddhi (spiritual power), and Riddhi (prosperity); these qualities are sometimes personified as goddesses, said to be Ganesha's wives. And the Shiva Purana says that Ganesha had two sons: Ksema (prosperity) and Labha (profit). In northern Indian variants of this story, the sons are often said to be Subha (auspiciousness) and Labha.
Birth story of Lord Ganesha:
Once upon a time, Parvati was going to take the bath and before going, she made a boy out of the dirt of her body(Nalugupindi) ,to guard the entrance of her house. She asked him not to allow anyone inside .After saying this, she went inside to take the bath.After this lord shiva came himself to meet his consort and he was quite thirsty. Ganesha stopped him at the door as he was unable to recognize his father ,Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha was beheaded by Shiva, who took him as an outsider, when Ganesha was trying to defend his mother's bath. When Parvati came to know about this, she persuaded Shiva, to restore Ganesha to life. Shiva ordered his servants (Gana) to bring the head of any creature that they come across first. An elephant, the wisest of animals, appeared and became the spontaneous donor in the head transplant of Ganesha. Shiva attached the head of the elephant to the torso of Ganesha. After looking at the child (Ganesha), Parvati asked Shiva that who will consider this god with the face of an elephant.Understanding Parvati's viewpoint, Shiva blessed the child, Ganesha that he will be the lord of beginning and people will worship him first, before any other God in any kind of undertaking. He ordained that the annual worship of Ganesha, should take place on the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada (August-September).
An annual festival honours Ganesha for ten days, starting on Ganesh Chaturthi(Vinayaka caturthi/chaviti) on the Suklapaksa Chavithi(the fourth day of the waxing moon) in the month of bhadrapada (August/September).
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