Lord Ganesha

Lord Ganesha or the elephant god has an elephant face and a huge belly, due to his fondness of sweets. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is the benevolent protector of the innocent, yet the ruthless destroyer of all evils. His mount is a rat. The size of his mount tells us about the significance of even the very smallest of beings.

Every religious ceremony is started, even today after invoking his blessings by reciting the shloka "Om Ganeshaya Namaha" (I bow to Thee Lord Ganesha). Above is an artist's impression of Lord Shiva, his wife Parvati and their sons, Ganesha and Muruga, in their heavenly abode on the mount Kailasha. There are numerous interesting stories about the various Gods, their rivalries, jealousy and follies they commit just like humans there is an interesting story behind the birth of Lord Ganesha.

Ganesha is known as Vighnavinayaka or one who removes all obstacles. He is considered to be the god of wisdom, prudence and prosperity.

Lord Ganesha's images and pictures are seen presiding not only over the lintels of the doorways of many Hindu homes but also in hospitals private nursing homes and clinics, as a harbinger of good luck.

Ganesha is also looked upon as the god of good harvest and hence after his immersion, clay is brought from the waterside and sprinkled on farms and in storerooms for luck & and for a good harvest in the future.

Ganesha Chathurti (festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha) is a very popular festival celebrated by Hindus all over India. The worship of this god has been followed right from the Vedic times. The worship of Lord Ganesha has also spread to Java, Nepal, Cambodia, Tibet, Thailand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka where he is considered as a guardian and saviour of mankind from ghosts and demons.

It is believed that Lord Ganesh wrote the slokas of our great epic, Mahabharata using the tip of his right tusk as they were dictated to him by Maharshi Ved Vyas. Lord Ganesha is also known as Vidya Ganapati(the God of education). Scholars and students all over India pray to this God for knowledge. These stories are passed down from generation to generation. But nowadays because of nuclear families, this practice of telling stories is fast dying out.