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Ganesha is a god of good luck and remover of obstacles, the one who brings happiness and abundance. He likes to party, eat well and enjoy life and if you want the same, connect to his divine nature. People carry the pictures or statues of him as a protection against evil and for a smooth rides by many travelers and traders. He is recognized as a symbol of good luck in China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, Turkey, Afghanistan, Nepal and Iranbuilt where people built numerous shrines on the name of Ganesha. Each of these countries has adopted him according to its own culture. In India, temples of Ganesha are found in every village and in every home. In my experience, Ganesa has a very define character: when you pray for help, he will help you on his was, the way you might not expect. He has a very strong personality, indeed.

He is called: the Destroyer of obstacles - 'Vighna Vinashaka', The binger of happiness and joy - 'Sukha Kartha', The absorber of sorrow and misfortune - 'Dukha Hartha', He makes wishes come true - 'Siddhi Vinayaka'

Lord Ganesha is considered to be a very powerful god and people pray to him first before starting anything - be it a new job or even school exams! Most of the temples will have a shrine dedicated to this elephant-headed deity. Small shrines of Ganesha can be found even in the street corners! Ganesa likes sweets, so it's a good idea to offer him candy, yogurt, cakes, ice cream, any good desert will do. Offer it sincerely, with an open heart. And than you can receive the sweet stuff back as prasad. In other words, you can eat the desert you offered to the God after you finish your prayers. This food becomes holy, now, because it was touched by the God, and it is called "prasad".

According to some legends, Ganesha wasn't actually born to Shiva and Parvati but was created from the saffron paste. Parvati wanted someone who would owe his first allegiance to Parvati and not Shiva and so she created the boy who was handsome and strong and breathed life into him. "You are my son, my very own son, I do not have anyone else to call my very own" said Parvati. Then Parvati gave the boy a staff and asked him to guard the door to her private rooms and said, "Do not to allow any one to enter without my permission." A little later Shiva arrived and wondered who the boy could be and why was he there. As Shiva approached the door, the boy stopped him. Shiva tried to explain to the boy that he was Parvati’s husband and he had the right to enter without asking any one. The boy said without hesitation, "No one enters these halls without my mother’s permission." When Shiva ignored him, the boy hit him with his staff. Shiva was furious! He tried to fight the young boy and realized that he was no ordinary boy. Shiva asked his attendants to capture the boy but single-handedly, the boy defeated them all. Shiva then sent a messenger around to inquire who the boy was. The boy declared, "I am the son of Parvati. I will give my life to carry out my mother’s orders. No one can enter the palace without my mother’s permission." The messenger returned to Shiva and humbly informed him what the boy had said. Shiva’s pride was hurt. He was so angry that he sent his entire army to capture the boy. Parvati called for her other powers, Kali and Durga and asked them to stand beside her son. Shiva’s army lost the battle and His attendants ran for their lives. Shiva then called Vishnu to join him in defeating the small boy. This was not a fair fight. While the boy was engaged in fighting with Vishnu, Shiva threw his Trident and beheaded the boy. After the head rolled off, Shiva realized his mistake. When Parvati heard of the unfair fight she decided to destroy the world. Brahma humbly approached Parvati, seeking for mercy to save the world. Parvati agreed on two conditions, "My son must regain his life and he shall be worshipped before any of the other gods." By that time Shiva had calmed down and apologized for his rash behavior. He agreed to bring the boy back to life. He asked Brahma to go North and bring the head of the first creature that crossed his path. Brahma left with his party and soon brought back the head of a strong elephant. The head was then fitted to the body of the boy and Brahma sprinkled water on it. The boy came to life with an elephant’s head on his shoulder. Parvati embraced her son with joy. She then turned to Brahma to fulfill her second condition. Indra and the other gods brought Shiva to Parvati. Shiva apologized for his arrogance and declared "Hence on, this valiant boy will be my son. He will be respected as any other God and will be worshipped before any other God. He will be called Ganesh, the chief of my Ganas or attendants, and also Vigneshwar, the remover of all obstacles." Hence Ganesa become the Lord of Obstacles, placing barriers for those who forgot to worship him and the Lord of Beginnings, for he also brought success to those who sought his blessings before any undertaking. This then explains Ganesa's mythical creation, omni -presence, popularity and location in all if not most Hindu Temples.

In India, Lord Ganesha is worshipped first on all auspicious occasions, whether it is a marriage or a religious function. Lord Ganesha is the foremost god of the Hindu Pantheon. Any new project or venture that a Hindu family undertakes starts with his name, the housewife utters his name before even starting a small chore as he is the remover of all obstacles and is an extremely benevolent god, fulfilling the wishes of those who pray to him sincerely. Lord Ganesha also has long been associated with commerce, and merchants still pay homage to him. In households, it's common for small offerings of money, flowers and food to be placed before one of the family's effigies of Lord Ganesha . These tokens please him and he therefore brings more beauty, money and food to the family. It is also a firm belief of every religious Hindu that he / she must pray to Lord Ganesha before undertaking any job. Once, Lord Shiva set off in his chariot to wage war against a demon. Soon after He set off, one of the wheels broke. Then He released that He had forgotten to pray to Lord Ganesha. So, He went back home, prayed to His own son, and successfully defeated the demon!

Ganesha has a pot belly, is short and is usually portrayed in a sitting position with one leg folded and the other touching the ground. Around his waist, there is a hooded snake. An interesting legend is connected with this serpent: Once Ganesa having consumed an enormous amount of sweet cakes was going home on his vehicle. In the way a serpent had frightened a mouse and the god was thrown off causing his overloaded belly to burst. He immediately got hold of the serpent and tied it around his belly. Besides it, he also bears a serpent across his chest in place of a sacred thread. In his four hands, he carries a noose (human bondage to desires); an axe (destruction of all evil); a modak or sweet (joy) and a lotus (human evolution). His trunk, usually turned to the left, represents AUM, the origin of the cosmic universe. He demonstrates that an elephant and a mouse, his companion, can live happily together; that love of good food and profound spiritual knowledge can go together; that a fat person can still be a connoisseur of dance and music. He shows that the world is full of opposites which coexist peacefully. Ganesa is called "the one whose mount is a mouse" (adhasthan musakanvitam). He is also known as musaka vahana.

Ganapati's mouse deserves special mention, for it is a comic figure, a controversial figure, an enigmatic figure and an ancient figure. The mouse is mentioned in the Yajurveda as the sacrificial offering (Purodhasa) that is buried in the ground while Brahmin priests perform the sacrifice meant for the fulfillment of a desire. In this sacrifice, this symbolic mouse is Siva's share of the animal offering. In another variation of this story, Agni assumed the form of a mouse and hid himself in the earth. The metamorphosis of Agni into a mouse, the mouse burrowing into the earth, its subsequent presentation to Siva, and Siva's bestowal to Ganesa seems to function as an overt allegory of a mystical nature. Then there is the Puranic story that says, " when all the Gods offered Ganesa presents after his name-giving ceremony, the earth gave him a mouse to serve as his vehicle." And the Ganesa Purana tells of the curse bestowed upon the Gandharva Kraunca that turned him into a mouse for his unrighteous behavior. A third variation of the story of the origins of Ganesa's mouse is: When he was nine years old, a huge mouse appeared in the asrama where Ganesa was staying and began to terrorize everyone. When Ganesa appeared on the scene, the mouse disappeared. Ganesa however made a loop with his rope and threw it down and lassoed the mouse. The mouse struggled, but in vain. Then Ganesa subdued it and made it his vehicle. The humbled mouse said that he had been a Ghandharva and once upon a time had trampled upon the sage Vamadeva when he was hurriedly leaving Indra's durbar. The sage cursed him to be a mouse and when he pleaded mercy, the curse was altered so that he would meet Ganesa in Parasara's asrama and would become his steed thus becoming worthy of worship even by the Gods. Many, if not most of those who interpret Ganapati's mouse do so negatively: it symbolizes Tamoguna as well as desire; it stands for the darkness of the bowels of the earth into which he burrows and the depredation of fields at harvest time. Its nervous and chattering nature symbolizes the petty desires of men that nibble away at their personalities and their inner selves; it is the self-annihilating power of desire. The mouse represents the "carrier" of the Divine covered over by darkness hidden in the depths of the earth (divinity hidden within the physical body). Some have called it the external manifestation of the soul that lives inside the body. By day it shuns the sunlight and by night, it roams the world. Even so does the human being shun the light of divinity and roam the world in the darkness of ignorance unless and until he or she has the proximity or presence of the Divine. Vakratunda Ganapati is referred to as Omkara Svarupa (the personification of the primordial word Om). His curved elephant's trunk is a representation of the Pranava Mantra, Om, the sound from which the world was created. As the Pranava is the Upanisadic symbol for Brahman. This identification declares that Ganapati is a Brahman himself. Further, this identification of Ganesa with Om is immediate and physical, because his curved or twisted trunk reminds one of the devanagari letter. Similarly, the Tamil Om has the physical appearance of an elephant's head with a dangling trunk.

Another distinctive feature of Ganapati is his huge stomach. It is vast enough to contain the entire universe. It is the cosmic womb wherein may be found all that is. Thus Ganesa can digest all that life can present, he can stomach anything. This makes him not only Stithaprajna (one with great serenity and equanimity) but also one able to swallow all the sorrows of the universe. This is another way of demonstrating his protective powers. Ganesa's big belly (Lambodara meaning "hanging, extended, or protruding") is explained by a story in the Brahma Purana. Ganesa, as a little boy, was drinking milk from his mother's breast for such a long time that even when he was full, he would not stop. Thus, his brother, Karttikeya, never got a chance to drink. Lord Siva, their father, who was watching this, ascribed Ganesa's greed to his jealousy for his brother and called him "Lambodara." This grotesque, awkward and corpulent body is symbolic of the truth that beauty of the outer, physical form has no connection with inner beauty and spiritual perfection. Kubera, the god of wealth and celestial treasurer, was proud of his great riches. He once visited Kailasa and visited with the divine family. In his vanity, he thought he would show off his wealth to Lord Siva and so, he hosted a lavish dinner. Siva and Parvati said they were not coming but that Kubera could take and feed the child, Ganesa. Siva warned him that Ganesa was a voracious eater, but Kubera replied, "I can easily feed this child to his heart's content." The little child caught hold of Kubera's little finger and followed him to his kingdom. Once there, Ganesa sat down to eat. And as he ate, his appetite grew and he began to eat faster and faster. Kubera's army of servants had a difficult time keeping up with the child. Ganesa grew impatient at the slow pace of serving and began to eat the dishes, the vessels, the furniture, the palace, the trees, and all of Kubera's kingdom. Kubera pleaded with Ganesa to stop but the child merrily said, "If you don't feed me, I will eat you too!" Kubera rushed to the feet of Lord Siva and implored for help. Siva said, "I warned you." Kubera said, "Lord, please forgive me for my foolishness and vanity. Save me or I will be eaten too." Siva agreed and gave Kubera a handful of puffed rice saying, "This will satisfy his hunger." With humility, Kubera rushed back to the palace and offered the rice with love and humility and immediately Ganesa's hunger was appeased. Thus did Kubera learn that a handful of puffed rice offered with love and humility and eaten with devotion is more important and filling than all the wealth that Kubera possessed. Ganesa's huge belly physically reminds one of siddhas who have large bellies by virtue of retaining (Kumbhaka) their prana.

The weapon that is usually found in Ganesa's hands, generally the upraised right hand, is the goad (ankusa). It is said to be his "fierce" weapon. It is used to remove obstacles or difficulties from one's path. If one does not learn the truth by gentle persuasion, then more drastic measures are needed. Just as a mahout uses the goad to control and guide an elephant, Ganesa uses his goad to drive one in the right direction. If an individual will not cut off their attachments to the world on their own initiative, then Ganesa will be forced to use his goad to severe these attachments. Pasa Ganesa typically carries two weapons in his upraised hands : the noose (pasa) and the goad (ankusa). The noose, usually found in his upraised left hand, conveys the idea of bondage. Worldly attachments and desires are a noose, and the pasa, as a weapon, catches or snares the delusion of desire. It is Ganesa's "gentle" weapon, which he employs to capture and then hold onto, obstacles or difficulties, to direct one along the right path much as a rider guides his steed by the use of the bridle and the reins. One should make the mind like a bridle that keeps the horses of the mind from running about wild. By it, Ganapati is able to pull his devotees nearer and nearer to the truth. Eventually, he will tie such a devotee down to the highest truth. Modaka Ganesa is extremely fond of wisdom, the sweet of bliss (ananda). For that, he is known also as "modaka priya." The gods were filled with happiness at the birth of Ganesa and Karttikeya and presented Parvati with a sweet that is called "great intelligence" and the "nectar of immortality." Its virtues include anyone who merely smells it will become immortal. He who eats it will become learned in the scriptures, skillful at weapons, knowledgeable in the Tantras, a writer and painter, one who has both worldly and spiritual knowledge. Ganapati is the lord of wisdom and as such, he is depicted as rotund and gluttonous. His appetite for the bliss of immortality is unceasing. The liberated one sees himself in all beings and all beings in himself. This state reveals itself in eternal bliss. It is the liberated one alone who can be said to be immersed in everlasting bliss. Such joy is no longer precariously dependent on external stimuli but is irrevocably secured as a result of his inner transformation. It is externally indicated by the gentle smile that uniformly plays on the face of the liberated one. The modaka or laddhu or korukkattai that Ganesa's trunk invariably turns toward, or that he is holding, or that is found in one of his hands is symbolic of wisdom, of that which gives liberation. The word modaka derives from the Sanskrit root mud (joy, delight). The Self is said to be of the nature of existence (sat), consciousness (cit), bliss (ananda). One seeks bliss because one is of the nature of bliss. Nothing else will ultimately satisfy one than to experience that which one truly is. Obtaining what one likes seemingly brings one joy. Thus Ganapati holds out the incentive and enticement of "giving one what one wants, so that ultimately, one will want what he has to give." The modaka is a symbol of ananda (bliss), of the joys of spiritual practice that Ganesa gives to his devotees. A modaka is literally a sweet wheat or rice ball, which is invariably found in Ganapati's trunk, hand and/or a bowl nearby.

Historic origin: Traces of Ganesa's first inclusions into Brahmanic religion came from the interaction between the Aryans and non-Aryans even before the Puranic period, in the Vedic period. In the Rg Veda there is an epoch in which there are several references to an elephant demon, Vinayaka (another of Ganesa's many names) who is slain by Siva. Some scholars assert that this is actually a symbolic reference to the actual historic account of the Aryans coming into contact with the aboriginal tribes whose totemic emblem was an elephant. This reference to Siva's slaying of the elephant demon hence, is a symbolic representation of the Aryans' perceived superiority and contempt for the aboriginal tribes. They also theorize that, later in history during the Puranic period, the Aryans wanting to absorb the tribal people into their race but of a lower caste, elevated the tribal elephant god into Lord Ganesa by Siva's adoption, but first symbolizing the tribal people as being defeated, i.e. beheaded and then transformed into a devotee of Lord Siva, reminding the lower castes that "Lord Ganesh's powers are delegated to him by his conquerors". Later, as natives were assimilated into the Arian community, Ganesha were changed from demon to a god.

And here is some recent miracles: An excerpt from "Hinduism Today" : ""The" Supernatural Event of This Century Is Experienced Simultaneously Worldwide It all began on September 21st when an otherwise ordinary man in New Delhi dreamt that Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God of Wisdom, craved a little milk. Upon awakening, he rushed in the dark before dawn to the nearest temple, where a skeptical priest allowed him to proffer a spoonful of milk to the small stone image. Both watched in astonishment as it disappeared, magically consumed by the God. What followed is unprecedented in modern Hindu history. Within hours news had spread like a brush fire across India that Ganesha was accepting milk offerings. Tens of millions of people of all ages flocked to the nation's temples. The unworldly happening brought worldly New Delhi to a standstill, and its vast stocks of milk-more than a million liters-sold out within hours. Just as suddenly as it started in India, it stopped in just 24 hours. But it was just beginning elsewhere as Hindus in India called their relatives in other parts of the world. Soon our Hinduism Today offices were flooded with reports from around the world. Everywhere the story was the same. A teaspoonful of milk offered by touching it to Ganesha's trunk, tusk or mouth would disappear in a few seconds to a few minutes, not always, but with unprecedented frequency. Reuters news service quoted Anila Premji, "I held the spoon out level, and it just disappeared. To me it was just a miracle. It gave me a sense of feeling that there is a God, a sense of Spirit on this Earth." Not only Ganesha, but Siva, Parvati, Nandi and the Naga, Siva's snake, took milk."

The thirty-two forms of Ganesa as listed in the Mudgala Purana.

Stories of Ganesha's deeds.

How Ganesa helped Vyasa to write fifth Veda.

SageVyasa was meditating in the Himalayas. Lord Brahma appeared before him and asked him to write the Mahabharatham for the benefit of all. Sage Vyasa said that he could not compose the verse and write it down too and therefore asked for the help of someone wise, who would write down as he sang. Brahma asked sage Vyasa to pray to Lord Ganesha to help him. Ganesha told Vyasa that he had enormous work to do and hence he would write it down, only if Vyasa was quick in singing it. For his turn, Sage Vyasa requested that Ganesha should understand the meaning of the verse and only then put it down in writing. Vyasa started singing. Whenever he felt Ganesha was writing too fast for him, he would come with a difficult verse, thus by the time Ganesha could decipher the meaning, he would have composed several more verses in his mind. In this way, Vyasa completed the Bharatham in 60 lakhs granthams. This comprises the Kandapuranam, Ramayanam, Savithri Puranam, Nala Puranam and so on. Lord Ganesha wrote on Mount Meru using his tusk. Of these 60 lakh granthams, 30 lakhs are supposed to be in the Deva Logam, 15 lakhs in Yatcha Logam and 14 lakhs in Asura Logam. Only the remaining 1 lakh granthams is assumed to be on the earth. Sage Vyasa is supposed to have sung 8,800 granthams, which were difficult for Ganesha to decipher. He has himself stated that Ganesha, Sage Vyasa himself and his Sugan are probably the only ones who know the meaning of those 8,800 granthams. The Mahabharatham is considered the fifth Veda.

Story of Gajamugasuran

There was an asura called Gajamugasuran. He did deep penance and worshipped Lord Siva, who granted him several boons, by which he became extremely powerful. He put the Devas and rishis to great trouble. He forced the Devas to do 1008 Thoeppukaranams in the morning, 1008 in the afternoon and 1008 in the evening. (Thoepukaranam means to sit down and stand up holding one's ears with crossed hands, left ear with right hand & right ear with left hand). The Devas prayed to Lord Siva to rescue them from this evil asura. Lord Siva sent Lord Vinayaga to overcome Gajamugasuran. Vinayagar went with several weapons such as bow & arrow, sword, axe, etc. However, since Gajamugasuran had been granted the boon that he be destroyed by no weapon, none of these weapons used by Lord Vinayaga were effective. Vinayagar broke off his right tusk and used it to kill Gajamugasuran. Gajamugasuran still rushed at Vinayaga in the form of a mooshikam (small mouse). Vinayagar crushed the ego and vanity of Gajamugasuran and sat on the mooshikam. The humbled Gajamugasuran bowed before Vinayagar, who accepted the mooshikam as his vahana. Lord Vinayaka is the source of everlasting wisdom. He crushed ego and vanity and reduced it to the size of a mooshikam and used it as his vahana. Lord Vinayagar can be pleased by doing Thoepukaranam.

Story of Agasthyar

Cauvery During the wedding of Siva with Parvathi in the Mount Kailas, the entire population, Devas and Rishis had gathered & hence the Northern land dipped down, unable to bear the weight. Lord Siva asked Sage Agasthiar to go to the Podhigai ranges in the Southern land in order to balance the weight. (Agasthiar was very short in stature but his might was so great). Agasthiar was sad that he could not stay & witness the Lord's wedding. Siva granted that he would still be able to see the wedding from the South. From within his matted locks, he took river Cauvery & filled it in Agasthiar's kamandalam, bidding Cauvery to flow wherever Agasthiar pointed. Agasthiar reached the south & travelled to various Siva Sthalams. Surapaduman was an asura, who had immense power. Indra had run away in fear from his Indralogam, reached Sirgazhi in the southern regios of India & prayed to Lord Siva. He created a beautiful garden & worshipped Lord Siva with the flowers from his garden. But soon, Lord Varuna in fear of Surapaduman did not shower rains & Indran's garden & in fact the whole land suffered from lack of water. Sage Narada, told Indran of the river Cauvery that Lord Siva had once filled in Agasthiar's kamandalam. Indran prayed to Lord Ganesha for his help. Ganesha took the form of a crow & sat on Agasthiar's kamandalam & toppled it. Agasthiar lifted his hands to shoo off the crow. River Cauvery, took it as a signal for her & began to flow. The crow took the form of a small boy. Agasthiar started chasing the boy trying to strike him on his head with his knuckles. Ganesha took his original form. Agasthiar was saddened that he had tried to strike Lord Ganesha. He started striking his forehead with his knuckles. Ganesha stopped him & granted that everybody who worshipped him in this manner would be blessed with wisdom.

Story of Ravana & Aathma Lingam

Ravana, the king of Lanka was an asura (demon), but he was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. He was the one, defited later by Rama, and Ramayana describes the the entire story. Anyway, Ravana reached mount Kailas & prayed to Lord Siva, that his Lanka should never be destroyed. Lord Siva gave him an Aathma Lingam, with the condition that he should go back on foot to Lanka & that he should not put down the Lingam at any point. If he were to put the Lingam down, the Lingam would remain firmly at that spot. The Devas were worried that the Aathma Lingam would add to the might of Ravana & that he could never be destroyed if he succeeded in taking the Aathma Lingam to Lanka. Click on image to view enlarged version They prayed to Lord Ganesha for help. Lord Ganesha caused Ravana's stomach to be filled with water. Ravana grew desperate to answer nature's call. Ganesha appeared before Ravana as a small boy. Ravana handed over the Aathma Lingam to the boy. Ganesha declared that he could not wait for long & when he grew tired, he would call out Ravana's name thrice & if he did not come & take the Lingam, he would place it on the ground & go away. Ravana agreed. Soon Ganesha called out Ravana's name thrice, and since Ravana could not come and take the Lingam, he placed it on the ground. The enraged Ravana tried to remove the Lingam from the ground. But, in spite of using his twenty hands, he could not budge the Lingam. Though the Lingam could not be moved, the pressure from Ravana's hands had changed its shape like the ear of a cow & hence the place came to be called Kokarnam (Ko-cow, karnam-ear). The lingam came to be called Mahabaleswarar since it could not even be shifted by the mighty Ravana (maha-great, balam-power, Eswarar-Lord Siva). Ravana started chasing the boy to hit him on his head. Lord Ganesha showed his true form & blessed him. The Ganesha statue in the temple has a hollow on the head, where Ravana is supposed to have strcuk him (Kuttu - to hit with folded fists). Lord Ganesha can be pleased by doing kuttu (gently tapping both temples with folded fists).

Ganesh Gayatri