Some lesser known facts about Ganesh

he Great Goddess of the Mountains, Shiva’s consort, Parvati, decided to bath in the springs which come from the glaciers. She wanted to make sure no one would watch her bathing, so she breathed life into a clump of clay and made a small boy. She asked the boy to make sure no man enters this area because she would be bathing. Soon, The God of the Mountains, Shiva, would arrive, and upon seeing the boy who he was and why he was here. He said his mother told that no man could enter this area and that he should go back.

Shiva became angry, and asked the boy why he would dare challenge the very husband of Parvati Herself. The boy replied, husband or not, Siva is a man, and he is not permitted. With this Shiva took his sword and beheaded him. Hearing the scream, Parvati came running and saw the body of the little boy. She explained to Shiva the origin of the boy, and he felt great pain. He asked his soldier to try and find the head of the boy, but they could not. They instead, beheaded an elephant and brought it to him. Shiva placed the head on the boy’s body and brought him back to life. Hence. Ganesha, the King of the Guards was born.

There are many versions of How Shri Ganesha got his head. And there are many Ganesha stories. Shri Ganesha is a very popular God all over India so different people have different stories … we love our Gods. Here is the version I know; Goddess Parvati made Ganesha out of her dead skin (her own body) in the absence of Lord Shiva to guard her chambers. Lord Shiva came along, and as they didn’t know each other a fight broke out. Lord Shiva being the most powerful in the whole universe blew up Ganesha’s head in to pieces, Goddess Parvati was off course very angry and threatened havoc. So Lord Shiva sent the heavenly mendicants to look for a head which was in the northern direction. In the entire Earth they found an elephant just dead with i’s head towards the north. So they brought the head back and was duly attached to Ganesha. Moral : Goddess Parvati’s power to move even the strongest. Lord Shiva’s love for his wife.

Once there was a quarrel between Kartikeya and Ganesha, two sons of Parvati, as to who was stronger between the two and they came to their mother Parvati to say who is stronger. Ganesha had the power of intellect whereas Kartikeya had physical or martial power. Parvati was at a loss what to say to the quarrelling brothers as both were equally dear to her and giving a verdict in favor of one would hurt another. So, she set a competition. Whoever could go round the universe and return first would be declared as the stronger. Kartikeya was sure that he would win and he started running immediately to cover the whole universe and return before Ganesha and become the winner.

Ganesha was pot-bellied and he knew that he could not defeat Kartikeya in a running race. So, he got up and went round his mother Parvathi and sat down before her in a minute. After sometime Kartikeya returned after covering the whole universe and found Ganesha still sitting in front of his mother Parvathi and claimed that he should be declared as the stronger of the two. But Ganesha argued that Goddess Parvati herself being the deity form of the universe, Ganesha has covered the universe by going around his mother. Parvati was satisfied with the intelligence of Ganesha and declared him as the winner.

Meaning of this story is that the power of intellect is greater than physical power. You can read more such stories in Puranas or their English translations. Shri Ganesha is Original Writer of The Epic Mahabharat which was Narrated By Maharishi Ved Vyasa. Shri Ganesha kept a very surprising condition to Vyasa to write Epic. He told Vyasa to narrate Verses without any Pause. Now Vyasa knew Ganesh ji was very fast so he kept counter condition that he will narrate verses without any pause but he should write them only after understanding them fully. This way Whenever Vyasa needed a break he would narrate complex Verse which would take some time for Ganesh ji and it worked well Perfectly.

Shri Ganesha is Pratham Pujya. Every auspicious occasion or Festival starts with Ganesh Puja. Mahadev killing Ganesha was result of Curse on him by Rishi Kashyap because once Mahadev had Temporarily killed Surya Dev and as a result Kashyap cursed him that his son's Head will be cut by him only. Shri Ganesha's one Tusk was broken by the Infallible axe Thrown by Bhargava Parashurama on him. That Axe wad given to Parashurama by Shiva only. Mahadev and Mata Parvati were in Meditation time and asked Ganeshji to guard gate and don't let anyone in. Parashurama came to meet Mahadev and Mata and Ganesha refused him entry and as a result of this he was angry and broke tusk of Ganesha. That's why Shri Ganesha is called as Ekadanta

Shri Ganesha has taken 8 Avataras. Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Mahodara, Gajānana, Lambodara, Mayur Vahana, Vighna Raja, Mishaal Bashan. The name of Shri Ganesha's Vahana is Mushak who was a demon. The Elephant whose head was used to revive shri Ganesha was Gaja sura, a big shiva devote and he willingly gave his head. As per a tale when there was a race between Shri Ganesha and Shri Kartikeya that who will circumambulate Universe first and return , Shri Ganesha just Made a round of Mahadev and Mata Parvati and won the race as it signifies that Mother and Father only are Equal to Earth and world.

The Maha Bhagwat Purana states the Vishnu himself is Ganesha. The story goes that when Vishnu saw Kartikeya cuddling in the lap of Parvati, he desired to experience the bliss of being the son of Jagadamba and drink her nectar milk. The Goddess sensed this desire of Vishnu and granted him the boon that he'll surely become her son. Thus, the Goddess gave birth to Ganesha who was none other than Sri Hari himself. She embraced him and made him drink her milk. After Shiva had beheaded Ganesha, he apologized to Vishnu that just as he has beheaded him in the form of Ganesha, a time will come when Vishnu will incarnate as Sri Krishna. As Krishna, he'll come to battle with Shiva in Shonitpura, and there, the weapon of Krishna will benumb Shiva so that he'll be unable to further fight in the battle. He will equate himself with Vishnu in knowledge, culture, wisdom, prowess.this is the reason why Ganesh is 2nd most intelligent being after Mahavishnu.

Lord Ganesha is the son of lord siva and goddess parvati. He was born from the energy of goddess parvati. Lord Ganesha removed obstacles in the path of his devotees and also blesses his devotees. Lord Ganesha during his childhood has defeated ganas of lord siva and gods multiple times. Lord Ganesha is prat ham pujya(first worshipped). Before starting any venture or sacrifice he is always worshipped first. Gods before their battle with demons has worshipped lord Ganesha. Then due to the blessings of lord Ganesha gods were able to secured victory over demons.

Lord Krishna himself has praised lord Ganesha and mention lord Ganesha as greatest of greatest. Lord Ganesha was born to save gods from the clutches of the powerful asur name Gajmukhasur. Lord ganesha ‘s' vahan rat was actually an asura name gajmukhasur. Story goes like that an powerful asura name gajmukhasur used to trouble gods. So gods requested lord ganesha save them from gajmukhasur. Then lord ganesha to protect gods attack gajmukhasur. During that battle lord ganesha severly injured gajmukhasur. Then gajmukhasur turns himself into bandicoot (means mouse) and attack Lord ganesha. Then Lord ganesha destroyed all the excessive powers of gajmukhasur who in his form of mouse has attack lord ganesha. After that lord ganesha rode on that mouse(gajmukhasur) and ordered him that he will carry Lord ganesha on his back.

Lord vishnu has praised lord ganesha and mention that he has seen many gods, gandharvas, yakshas, raksasas, daityas and danavas but none of them are equal to lord ganesha in brilliance, form, features, valour and other qualities.” Lord ganesha is describe to extremely handsome, wearing bright garlands,various kinds of jewels, having countless good qualities and carring noose(rope) and goad. Lord ganesha posses the staff of goddes parvati and hammer of lord karthikeya. Padma puran describe lord ganesha to be the god who blesses people with sons.

Lord Ganesha has two wives name goddess Siddhi and goddess Buddhi. From his wife goddess Siddhi lord Ganesha has an son name Kshema, while from his wife goddess Buddhi lord Ganesha has an son name Labha. Lord Ganesha was physically very powerful. Lord Ganesha has lifted eight celestial elephants known as asthadiggajas with the tip of their tusks. As per skanda puran lord Ganesha has defeated powerful daitya jalandhar in battle. Lord Ganesha has the knowledge of vidya know as mrtyusanjivni. From this vidya dead people can brought back to life. Lord Ganesha is the leader of shiva ganas and pramathas ( attendents of lord shiva).

Divine beings like yakshas, kinnaras, Gandharvas, siddhas, haranas, Guhyakas and Vidhyadharas has praised lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha has written Mahabharat. Formerly lord Ganesha ‘s' father lord Shiva has killed demon name Tripurasur. Demon son of Tripurasur want to avenge the death of his father so he attacked lord siva‘s son lord Ganesha. But lord Ganesha defeated that demon. Son of Tripurasur after being defeated by lord Ganesha fought with some other gods and defeated them in battle. Then gods from the fear of son of Tripurasur sought refuge in lord Ganesha. Then lord Ganesha himself fought with son of Tripurasur and killed him and thus protected gods. Shri Ganeshay Namah