Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah

Shri Ganesha(श्री गणेश)  Iconography   Ganesha as Omkara   Ganesha's marital status     Ganesha's mythological  stories  Many names of Ganesha     Ganesha with Sarasvati and  Lakshmi   Ganesh Chaturthi  Ganesh Visarjan       Shri Ganesh  Vandna        108 Names of Shri Ganesh   Shri Ganesh worshiped in abroad

Shri Ganesha(श्री गणेश ) Shri Ganesha or Ganpati the supreme deity  is worshipped as the lord of beginnings and as the lord of obstacles (Vighnesha), patron of arts and sciences, and the god of intellect and wisdom. He is honoured with affection at the start of any ritual or ceremony and invoked as the "Patron of Letters" at the beginning of any writing. Shri Ganesha  is the Lord of Good Fortune who provides prosperity and fortune and also the Destroyer of Obstacles of a material or spiritual order. Throughout India and the Hindu culture, Lord Ganesha is the first idol placed into any new home or abode. Moreover, Ganesha is associated with the first chakra (energy wheel), which represents the instinct of conservation and survival, of procreation and material well-being.      Ganapati is a synonym for Ganesha, being a compound composed of gana, meaning "group", and pati, meaning "ruler" or "lord."  The Amarakośa, an early Sanskrit lexicon, lists eight synonymns of Ganeśa : Vināyaka, Vighnarāja (equivalent to Vighneśa), Dvaimātura, Ganādhipa (equivalent to Ganapati and Ganeśa), Ekadanta, Heramba, Lambodara and Gajānana.     The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being.  In the north of India, Ganesha is often portrayed as married to the two daughters of Brahma: Buddhi (intellect) and Siddhi (spiritual power).     Ganesha is accompanied by Sarasvati (goddess of culture and art) and Lakshmi (goddess of luck and prosperity), symbolizing that these qualities always accompany he who has discovered his own internal divinity. But this does not mean that Sarasvati and Lakshmi are consorts of Ganesha. Symbolically this represents the fact that wealth, prosperity and success accompany those who have the qualities wisdom, prudence, patience, etc. that Ganesha symbolizes.

Lord Ganesha is the first idol placed into any new home or abode.     Ganesha is accompanied by Sarasvati (goddess of culture and art) and Lakshmi (goddess of luck and prosperity).

Iconography   Ganesha is a popular figure in Indian art. Unlike some deities, representations of Ganesha show wide variation with distinct patterns changing over time. He may be portrayed standing, dancing, heroically taking action against demons, playing with his family as a boy, sitting down, or engaging in a range of contemporary situations.   Ganesha's earliest name was Ekadanta ("One Tusk"), referring to his single whole tusk, the other having been broken off. Mudgala Purana,  states that the name of Ganesha's second incarnation is Ekadanta. According to the Mudgala Purana two different incarnations of Ganesha use names based on it, Lambodara ("Pot Belly") and Mahodara ("Great Belly").     The number of Ganesha's arms varies; his best-known forms have between two and sixteen arms. Ganesha figures are most commonly seen with four  hands which signify their divinity. The serpent is a common feature in Ganesha iconography and appears in many forms. According to the Ganesha Purana, Ganesha wrapped the serpent Vāsuki around his neck. The Ganesha Purana prescribes a tilaka mark as well as a crescent moon on the forehead.     Ganesha is often shown riding on or attended by a mouse or rat. The earliest Ganesha images found are without a Vahana (mount). The mouse as a mount first appears in written sources in the Matsya Purana and later in the Brahmananda Purana and Ganesha Purana, where Ganesha uses it as his vehicle only in his last incarnation.      Every element of the body of Ganesha has its own value and its own significance:   The elephant head indicates fidelity, intelligence and discriminative power.  A single tusk indicates Ganesha¹s ability to overcome all forms of dualism. The wide ears denote wisdom, ability to listen to people who seek help and to reflect on spiritual truths. The curved trunk indicates the intellectual potentialities which manifest themselves in the faculty of discrimination between real and unreal  Ganesha's pot belly contains infinite universes. It signifies the bounty of nature and equanimity, the ability of Ganesha to swallow the sorrows of the Universe and protect the world.    The four arms of Ganesha represent the four inner attributes of the subtle  body, that is: mind (Manas), intellect (Buddhi), ego (Ahamkara), and conditioned conscience (Chitta). The hand waving an axe, is a symbol of the retrenchment of all desires, bearers of pain and suffering. The second hand holds a whip, symbol of the force that ties the devout person to the eternal beatitude of God. The third hand, turned towards the devotee, is in a pose of blessing, refuge and protection (abhaya). The fourth hand holds a lotus flower (padma), and it symbolizes the highest goal of human evolution, the sweetness of the realised inner self.

Dancing Ganesh                The four arms of Ganesha represent the four inner attributes of the subtle  body.

Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah   Shri Ganesha's  elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality. Ganesha is the first sound, OM, in which all hymns were born. When Shakti (Energy) and Shiva (Matter) meet, both Sound (Ganesha) and Light (Skanda) were born.  He represents the perfect equilibrium between force and kindness and between power and beauty. He also symbolizes the discriminative capacities which provide the ability to perceive distinctions between truth and illusion, the real and the unreal.    A description of all of the characteristics and attributes of Ganesha can be  found in the Ganapati Upanishad of the rishi Atharva, in which Ganesha is identified with Brahman and Atman.

Ganesha's mythological   stories   How Ganesha obtained his elephant head  The most well-known story is probably the one taken from the Shiva Purana. Once, while his mother Parvati wanted to bathe, there were no attendants around to guard her and stop anyone from accidentally entering the house. Hence she created a boy's idol out of turmeric paste which she prepared to cleanse her body (turmeric was used for its anti-septic and cooling properties) and infused life into it, and thus Ganesha was born. Parvati ordered Ganesha not to allow anyone to enter the house and Ganesha obediently followed his mother's orders.    After a while Shiva returned from outside and as he tried to enter the house, Ganesha stopped him. Shiva was infuriated at this strange little boy who dared to challenge him. He told Ganesha that he was Parvati's husband, and demanded that Ganesha let him go in. But Ganesha would not hear any person's word other  than his dear mother's.    Shiva lost his patience and had a fierce battle with Ganesha. At last he severed Ganesha's head with his Trishula (trident). When Parvati came out and saw her son's lifeless body, she was very angry and sad. She demanded that Shiva restore Ganesha's life at once. Unfortunately, Shiva's Trishula was so powerful that it  had hurled Ganesha's head very far off. All attempts to find the head were in vain. As a last resort, Shiva approached Brahma who suggested that he replace Ganesha's head with the first living being that came his way which lay with its head facing north. Shiva then sent his celestial armies (Gana) to find and take the head of whatever creature they happened to find asleep with its head facing north. They found an elephant which slept in this manner and decapitated it, attaching the elephant's head to Ganesha's body and bringing him back to life. From then on, he was called Ganapathi, or head of the celestial armies and was  to be worshipped by everyone before beginning any activity.    How Ganesha reffered as Ganapati  Another tale tells of how one day the Gods decided to choose their leader and a race was to be held between the brothers- Kartikeya and Ganesh. Whoever took three rounds of the earth first would be made the Ganaadhipati or the leader. Kartikeya seated on a peacock as his vehicle, started off for the test. Ganesh was given a rat, which moved swiftly. Ganesh realised that the test was not easy, but he would not disobey his father. He reverently paid obeisance to his parents and went around them three times and thus completed the test before Kartikeya. He said, " my parents pervade the whole universe and going around them, is more than going round the earth." Everybody was pleasantly surprised to hear Ganesha's logic and intelligence and hence he came to be known as the Ganaadhipati or leader, now referred to as Ganpati.

Shri Ganesh Vandna

Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesh (Ganesha), the god of wisdom and prosperity on the fourth day of the moons bright fortnight, or period from new moon in the lunar month of Bhadrapada. The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi continue for five, seven, or ten days. Some even stretch it to twenty one days, but ten the most popularly celebrated. In the tradition of the right hand path the first day is the most important. In the left hand path tradition the final day is most important.    The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and many other parts of India. Started by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the great Maratha ruler, to promote culture and nationalism, the festival was revived by Lokmanya Tilak (a freedom fighter) to spread the message of freedom struggle and to defy the British who had banned public assemblies. The festival gave the Indians a feeling of unity and revived their patriotic spirit and faith. This public festival formed the background for political leaders who delivered speeches to inspire people against the Western rule. The festival is so popular that the preparations begin months in advance.  Ganesh Visarjan   An important festival honours Ganesha for ten days starting with Ganesh Chaturthi, on  September 15, 2007 this year.  This festival culminates on the day of Ananta Chaturdashi when images (murtis) of Ganesha are immersed in the most convenient body of water.

A Large Ganesha  statue at a Chaturthi festival in Mumbai.

108 Names of Shri Ganesh Akhuratha :  One who has Mouse as His Charioteer Alampata :   Ever Eternal Lord Amit :          Incomparable Lord Anantachidrupamayam :Infinite and Consciousness Personified Avaneesh :   Lord of the whole World Avighna :      Remover of Obstacles Balaganapati : Beloved and Lovable Child Bhalchandra : Moon-Crested Lord Bheema :     Huge and Gigantic Bhupati :Lord of the Gods Bhuvanpati :God of the Gods Buddhinath :God of Wisdom Buddhipriya : Knowledge Bestower Buddhividhata : God of Knowledge Chaturbhuj : One who has Four Arms Devadeva : Lord! of All Lords Devantakanashakarin : Destroyer of Evils and Asuras Devavrata : One who accepts all Penances Devendrashika : Protector of All Gods Dharmik : One who gives Charity Dhoomravarna :Smoke-Hued Lord Durja : Invincible Lord Dvaimatura : One who has two Mothers Ekaakshara : He of the Single Syllable Ekadanta : Single-Tusked Lord Ekadrishta : Single-Tusked Lord Eshanputra : Lord Shiva's Son Gadadhara : One who has The Mace as His Weapon Gajakarna : One who has Eyes like an Elephant Gajanana : Elephant-Faced Lord Gajananeti : Elephant-Faced Lord Gajavakra : Trunk of The Elephant Gajavaktra : One who has Mouth like an Elephant Ganadhakshya : Lord of All Ganas (Gods) Ganadhyakshina : Leader of All The Celestial Bodies Ganapati : Lord of All Ganas (Gods) Gaurisuta : The Son of Gauri (Parvati) Gunina : One who is The Master of All Virtues Haridra : One who is Golden Coloured Heramba : Mother's Beloved Son Kapila : Yellowish-Brown Coloured Kaveesha : Master of Poets Krti : Lord of Music Kripalu : Merciful Lord Krishapingaksha : Yellowish-Brown Eyed Kshamakaram : The Place of Forgiveness Kshipra : One who is easy to Appease Lambakarna : Large-Eared Lord Lambodara : The Huge Bellied Lord Mahabala : Enormously Strong Lord Mahaganapati : Omnipotent and Supreme Lord Maheshwaram : Lord of The Universe Mangalamurti : All Auspicious Lord Manomay : Winner of Hearts Mrityuanjaya : Conqueror of Death Mundakarama : Abode of Happiness Muktidaya : Bestower of Eternal Bliss Musikvahana : One who has Mouse as His Charioteer Nadapratithishta :One who Appreciates and Loves Music Namasthetu : Vanquisher of All Evils and Vices and Sins Nandana : Lord Shiva's Son Nideeshwaram : Giver of Wealth and Treasures Omkara :One who has the Form Of OM Pitambara :One who has Yellow-Coloured Body Pramoda :Lord of All Abodes Prathameshwara :First Among All Purush : The Omnipotent Personality Rakta : One who has Red-Coloured Body Rudrapriya :Beloved Of Lord Shiva Sarvadevatman :Acceptor of All Celestial Offerings Sarvasiddhanta : Bestower of Skills and Wisdom Sarvatman :Protector of The Universe Shambhavi : The Son of Parvati Shashivarnam : One who has a Moon like Complexion Shoorpakarna :Large-Eared Lord Shuban :All Auspicious Lord Shubhagunakanan : One who is The Master of All Virtues Shweta : One who is as Pure as the White Colour Siddhidhata : Bestower of Success and Accomplishments Siddhipriya : Bestower of Wishes and Boons Siddhivinayaka : Bestower of Success Skandapurvaja : Elder Brother of Skand (Lord Kartik) Sumukha : Auspicious Face Sureshwaram :Lord of All Lords Swaroop : Lover of Beauty Tarun : Ageless Uddanda : Nemesis of Evils and Vices Umaputra : The Son of Goddess Uma (Parvati) Vakratunda : Curved Trunk Lord Varaganapati : Bestower of Boons Varaprada : Granter of Wishes and Boons Varadavinayaka : Bestower of Success Veeraganapati : Heroic Lord Vidyavaridhi : God of Wisdom Vighnahara : Remover of Obstacles Vignaharta : Demolisher of Obstacles Vighnaraja : Lord of All Hindrances Vighnarajendra : Lord of All Obstacles Vighnavinashanaya : Destroyer of All Obstacles and Impediments Vigneshwara: Lord of All Obstacles  Vikat : Huge and Gigantic  Vinayaka : Lord of All  Vishwamukha : Master of The Universe  Vishwaraja : King of The World  Yagnakaya : Acceptor of All Sacred and Sacrificial Offerings  Yashaskaram :Bestower of Fame and Fortune  Yashvasin : Beloved and Ever Popular Lord  Yogadhipa : The Lord of Meditation

Shri Ganesh worshiped in abroad  Ganesh takes a palanquin ride in US   New York, September 18, 2007: Hundreds of Indian American  devotees from all over the US have been thronging a Hindu-Jain temple in Philadelphia since last week to celebrate the 10-day Ganesh festival. Lord Ganesh is the presiding deity of this temple, one of the oldest in North America, where Indians immigrants are increasingly making their presence felt culturally. Over 2,000 devotees joyously danced to devotional music and beating of drums and playing of nagaswaram as Lord Ganesh's idol, sitting in a well-decorated, 16-ft high silver chariot, was taken in a procession in the neighbourhood.

A Japan's  bank note illustrate the image of Ganesha.

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