Ganesha Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is the Hindu festival celebrated on the occasion of birthday of Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati,
who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in
the duration of this festival. It is the day Shiva declared his son Ganesha
as superior to all the gods, barring Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva and
Parvati. Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity
and good fortune and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new
venture or at the start of travel.The date usually falls between 19 August and 20 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi
The birth of Ganesha, the god of wisdom and destroyer of all obstacles, hasoften been a story that Hindu children grow up listening to. Though
there are many different stories describing his birth and the reason
behind his elephant head, (for example, Brahma Vaivarta Purana tells
that Lord Shani was responsiblefor baby Ganes
ha getting an elephant head), the following is the most
popular one. Validity of the story from the eyes of today's scientific
beliefs can be debated. But there is something that can only be
appreciated and learnt lessons from: Symbolism in the birth of Lord
Ganesha.
Mythology: The Divine Birth of Ganesha
One day Parvati was at home on Mt. Kailash preparing for a bath. As she didn't want to be disturbed, she told Nandi, her husband Shiva's Bull, to guard the door and let no one pass. Nandi faithfully took his post, intending to carry out Parvati's wishes. But, when Shiva came home and naturally wanted to come inside, Nandi had to let him pass, being loyal first to Shiva. Parvati was angry at this slight, but even more than this, at the fact that she had no one as loyal to Herself as Nandi was to Shiva. So, taking the saffron paste (for bathing) from her body and breathing life into it, she created Ganesha, declaring him to be her own loyal son.
The
next time Parvati wished to bathe, she posted Ganesha on guard duty at
the door. In due course, Shiva came home, only to find this strange boy
telling him he couldn't enter his own house! Furious, Shiva ordered his
army to destroy the boy, but they all failed! Such power did Ganesha
possess, being the son of Devi Herself!
This
surprised Shiva. Seeing that this was no ordinary boy, the usually
peaceful Shiva decided he would have to fight him, and in his divine
fury severed Ganesha's head, killing him instantly. When Parvati learned
of this, she was so enraged and insulted that she decided to destroy
the entire Creation! Lord Brahma, being the Creator, naturally had his
issues with this, and pleaded that she reconsider her drastic plan. She
said she would, but only if two conditions were met: one, that Ganesha
be brought back to life, and two, that he be forever worshipped before
all the other gods.
Shiva,
having cooled down by this time, and realizing his mistake, agreed to
Parvati's conditions. He sent Brahma out with orders to bring back the
head of the first creature he crosses that is laying with its head
facing North. Brahma soon returned with the head of a strong and
powerful elephant, which Shiva placed onto Ganesha's body. Breathing new
life into him, he declared Ganesha to be his own son as well, and gave
him the status of being foremost among the gods, and leader of all the
Ganas (classes of beings).
108 Names of
Lord Ganesha
| Name | Meaning |
| Starting with A Alphabet | |
| Akhurath | 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 |
| Starting with B Alphabet | |
| 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 |
| Buddhividhata | God of Knowledge |
| Starting with C Alphabet | |
| Chaturbhuj | One who has Four Arms |
| Starting with D Alphabet | |
| 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 |
| Starting with E Alphabet | |
| Ekaakshara | He of the Single Syllable |
| Ekadanta | Single-Tusked Lord |
| Ekadrishta | Single-Tusked Lord |
| Eshanputra | Lord Shiva's Son |
| Starting with G Alphabet | |
| 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 |
| Starting with H Alphabet | |
| Haridra | One who is Golden Coloured |
| Heramba | Mother's Beloved Son |
| Starting with K Alphabet | |
| 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 |
| Starting with L Alphabet | |
| Lambakarna | Large-Eared Lord |
| Lambodara | The Huge Bellied Lord |
| Starting with M Alphabet | |
| 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 charioteer |
| Starting with N Alphabet | |
| Nadapratithishta | One who Appreciates and Loves Music |
| Namasthetu | Vanquisher of All Evils & Vices & Sins |
| Nandana | Lord Shiva's Son |
| Nideeshwaram | Giver of Wealth and Treasures |
| Starting with O Alphabet | |
| Omkara | One who has the Form Of OM |
| Starting with P Alphabet | |
| Pitambara | One who has Yellow-Colored Body |
| Pramoda | Lord of All Abodes |
| Prathameshwara | First Among All |
| Purush | The Omnipotent Personality |
| Starting with R Alphabet | |
| Rakta | One who has Red-Colored Body |
| Rudrapriya | Beloved Of Lord Shiva |
| Starting with S Alphabet | |
| 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 Color |
| Siddhidhata | Bestower of Success & 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 |
| Starting with T Alphabet | |
| Tarun | Ageless |
| Starting with U Alphabet | |
| Uddanda | Nemesis of Evils and Vices |
| Umaputra | The Son of Goddess Uma (Parvati) |
| Starting with V Alphabet | |
| 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 & Impediments |
| Vigneshwara | Lord of All Obstacles |
| Vikat | Huge and Gigantic |
| Vinayaka | Lord of All |
| Vishwamukha | Master of The Universe |
| Vishwaraja | King of The World |
| Starting with Y Alphabet | |
| Yagnakaya | Acceptor of All Sacred & Sacrficial Offerings |
| Yashaskaram | Bestower of Fame and Fortune |
| Yashvasin | Beloved and Ever Popular Lord |
| Yogadhipa | The Lord of Meditation |
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