Ganesh is the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is one of the most popular and most worshiped Indian gods. His image is one of the most widely drawn, painted and sculptured. He is the elephant headed god.
Ganesh Chathurthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth of Lord Ganesh. Lord Ganesh is remembered on chauth or chaturthi which is the 4th day of every month of the Hindu calendar, but most of all on Ganesh Chaturthi which is celebrated as his birthday. The Ganesh festival is celebrated on the fourth day of the month of Bhadrapad in the Hindu calendar. This ten-day celebration is observed in nearly every home.
Elephants are very wise animals this indicates that Lord Ganesha is an embodiment of wisdom. He has a snake tied around his big stomach and sits on his vehicle - the rat. He is usually depicted with 4 hands. One has a trishul, or a trident, the second, an ankush, or goad made from his very own broken tooth, the third hand elegantly holds a lotus and the fourth a rosary, which is sometimes replaced by modaks - his favorite sweet. His trunk is usually turned towards the left, rarely do we find images of Ganesha with the trunk turned towards the right.
Many many centuries ago, it has been said that during a war between the Gods and
the Demons, Lord Shiva was away for a long time. His wife, Goddess Parvati,
afraid of being alone for an extended period used her divine powers and created
a son, Ganesh, and gave him the responsibility of protecting the house. When
Lord Shiva and his army, returned victorious to his home, Parvati was in her
bath, and Ganesh had been strictly instructed not to allow anyone in. Angered by
Ganesh's refusal to allow him into the house, Lord Shiva and his army chopped
off the boy's head. When Parvati came out of her bath, she was shocked and
grieved to see her son dead.
Lord Shiva, to pacify, her proclaimed that the head of Ganesh would be replaced
by that of the first creature that came up the hill. The first visitor to the
hill was an elephant and his head was promptly cut off and placed on that of the
boy Ganesh. His life was restored by Lord Shiva who also bestowed upon Ganesh
the powers of a God and blessed him such that henceforth no activity will begin
without invoking his name and blessings.
Since then, it is said, no new venture - the inauguration of a company, the
opening of a shop, the foundation of a building, entering a new home - is deemed
complete by Hindus without performing a Ganesh puja. He is always honored first
in most worship services and rituals. He is known as the god who removes all
obstacles, one who gives you success in your ventures.
He has 108 names some of them being
Balganapathi
- The beloved child Ganapati
Ekdanta
- The one with a single tusk
Gajanana
- The one with an elephant
face
Lambodara
- The one with a huge belly
MahaGanpati
- The omnipotent and
all powerful
Mangalmoorti
- The auspicious
Muktidaya
- The giver of eternal peace
Pitambar
- One who is adorned with
yellow clothes
Siddhivinayak
- The bestower of success
Vakratunda - The Lord
with the twisted trunk
Vighnahara - The
destroyer of evil
Vighnaharta - The
destroyer of obstacles
Vinayak - Lord of All
Ganapati Sholka
Vakratunda
mahakaya suryakoti samaprabha
Nirvighne kuru me deva sarva karaye shu sarvada
How to chant :
This sholka or verse is said to bring good luck if chanted everyday. Chant the above shloka with your full devotion. Sit in a quiet place, cross legged in a comfortable manner, close your eyes for better concentration. It is considered auspicious to chant a mantra 11 times, or 108 times or in multiples of 108. Once you have determined the number you should stick with it. It is said that once you have fixed upon the number of times you are going to recite the shloka, you can increase it but cannot decrease it.