The Goddess Parvati wanted a child but her consort Shiva was not interested in a family. Determined to be a mother, Parvati decided to create a child on her own. She rubbed her skin with inguents, mixed it with clay and moulded out of it the shape of a young man into which she breathed life. She called him Ganesha. Parvati ordered Ganesha not to let any strangers enter her bath. Ganesha, who had never seen Shiva in his life, stopped his mother's consort from entering her private chamber. Enraged, Shiva beheaded Ganesha. When Parvati learned of her son's death, she threatened to destroy the whole world unless he was brought back to life. To appease his consort, Shiva cut the head of an elephant, placed it on Ganesha's severed neck and brought him back to life. From that day, Ganesha came to be known as the lord of hurdles or obstacles. He blocks the movements if it's undesirable.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh. This festival is celebrated for 10 days throughout India. This festival comes on the 4th day of Bhadarva Shukla-paksh of the Hindu calender.
Devotees of Ganesh bring the idol of Ganesh to their houses on this day with chants of 'GANPATI BAPPA MORYA' and worship the Idol of Lord Ganesh. The Ganesh idols are kept for either one and a half, five, seven or ten days and then the 'Ganesh Visarjan' ritual is performed, when the idols are immersed in sea waters.
What About the Elephant Head?
Why did Shiva decide to put an elephant's head on Ganesha? The big head symbolizes lots of knowledge. Big ears symbolizes the ability to hear well and that listening makes you a better person. Small eyes symbolizes the ability to see the future and the reality instead of the fake outside. The big nose (the trunk) symbolizes the ability to smell good and the bad in the person from far away. The big belly symbolizes the ability to digest everything good or bad from the people.
What About the Mouse?
The Mouse is Ganesha's vehicle for transportation and it can be seen in most pictures of Ganesha. The mouse is chosen for his speed. Because a mouse runs around all the time it needs a heavy person like Ganesha to sit on it. This symbolizes your thoughts and hopes. Thoughts and hopes run around in any direction and you need to control them.
Ganesha's Name
GANAH in Sanskrit means 'multitude'. Isa means 'Lord'. Lord Ganesh therefore literally means the 'Lord of all beings'.Lord Ganesh is the first son of Lord Siva. Siva represents the supreme Reality. The son of Siva symbolises one who has realised the reality. One who has discovered the godhood in him. Such a man is said to be the Lord of all beings.
Lord Ganesh is known by other names as well. Ganapati, Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vighneshwara. Ganapati has the same literal meaning as Lord Ganesh. Gajanana means 'elephant-faced'. Gaja=elephant, anana=ia.ce. Vinayaka means the supreme leader, literally one who has no leader himself. Vighneshwara is the Lord of all obstacles, worshipped in the initiation of Hindu rituals and ceremonies. As his name suggests Vighneshwara removes all obstacles, overcomes all challenges of life. There is a belief that no undertaking will meet with failure if the grace of Vighneshwara is invoked.
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