Indian festival – Ganesha Chaturthi

Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva - the Hindu God of Destroyer and Goddess Parvati - the Hindu Goddess of fertility & love. Lord Ganesh has a brother as Lord Karthikeya - the Hindu God of War & Victory!

The name of Ganesha derived from two different Sanskrit words: “isha”, meaning Lord and “gana” meaning group. Hence, Ganesha considered as the God of masses.

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1. Why INDIA celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi?

Goddess Parvati, collected some clay from her body mixed her hairs and molded the most cute and handsome little boy she could image, and breathed life into him. Soon after his creation, Goddess Parvati, requested little boy to guard her side of the mountain while she bathed. As she was away, Shiva came but unaware of the newly created little boy. Suddenly he was confronted by little boy telling him he couldn't see his Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva got angry. Shiva orderd his ganas to fight little boy, but ganas failed, other gods including Lord Braham, Lord Vishnu too join the fight, but all failed. Finally, Shiva himself get in to the battel and cut down little boy's head. After knowing who he really was, Shiva decided to bring him back to life and told his fellow Nandi and others to bring the head of the first sleeping being they found with it's head facing towards the North. (Know, why not to sleep head towards north direction?) Well, the first thing they found was an elephant, so Shiva attached the elephant head to little boy's body and bring him back to life and named him as Ganesha. That’s we celebrate this day as Ganesh Chaturthi.

2. What is the story of Lord Shani and Ganesha?

Parvati fasted for a year to earn Lord Vishnu’s blessing so that he would grant her the wish of a son. When Lord Vishnu was pleased by her sacrifice and dedication, he announced that he would reincarnate himself as her son. Eventually, Parvati had a son and his birth was celebrated with great enthusiasm where all the gods came to see the charming baby. Among the guests were Shani (Saturn), the son of Surya (sun) who avoided the baby since Shani was cursed with the gaze of destruction. But, Parvati insisted that Shani should look at the baby and when he followed her wish, the unthinkable happened—the baby’s head fell off from his body. However, Lord Vishnu brought back the head of an elephant from the banks of the Pushpa-Bhadra river and joined it with headless body of the baby. Parvati’s child was revived and he was named as Ganesha.  

3. When do we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?

It is celebrated on Shukla Paksha Chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period) of Bhaadrapada month which typically falls in the months of August or September.

4. Only Indians worship Ganesha?

No, Apart from INDIA, Ganesha is being worshipped in Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and other counties too.

Many of us know that Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, but many of us do not know the fourth largest Hindu population is in Indonesia! This is the country which has highest number of Hindus outside Indian subcontinent (next to Nepal and Bangladesh). It is a country with 17,000 islands and 300 volcanoes. See the currency of Indonesia with Ganesha in it:

Statues of Ganesh, Agastya, Vishnu, Shiva and other Sanskrit inscriptions are kept in Jakarta Museum. A lot of sculptures were taken by foreigners and seen around the world in museums and private collections. Victoria and Albert Museum in London has an Agastya statue.

Borobudur was the largest Buddhist temple and Prambanan Shiva temple was the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. Prambanan temple has a 140 feet tower and three corridors. Fa Hien (337-422 AD), the Chinese traveller of fourth century AD mentioned that there were many Shiva temples in Java.  A traveller of first century AD referred to Prambanan temple. The temple was rebuilt in 850 AD. But whether it is Hindu or Buddhist, the sculptures of all the Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Goddess Chandi and Ganesh are seen everywhere.

5. Where is the original head of the little boy.. Ganesha?

When Lord Shiva attacked Ganesha with his trident or trishul which is a weapon with three spears which is very powerful. It is said that anything severed with this trishul cannot be put back together. It means that only the object that was severed from its original place cannot be fixed. Any other object can be replaced. So, Ganesha got elephant’s head.

Some data says, as Shiva hit with his trishula, ganeash head turned to ashes completely.

According to some data, as Shiva used trishula on the head of Ganesha, trisula took the head of Ganesha to Chandra lokha. On the emergency situation, all decided to replace the head of him with elephant’s head.

6. Why not to see moon on Ganesha Chaturthi?

God Moon is often considered to the smartest and most handsome god and was on in all the entire days of every month.

Ganesha likes sweets very much and cannot stop eating the sweets. Modaka are sweet dumplings, the traditional offerings and prasada in Ganesh Chaturthi. Left: steamed with fillings, Right: Fried.

 

Once Lord Ganesha's devotee offered him many sweets. Lord Ganesha was so pleased that he stayed there the entire day and ate most of the sweets and he carried the remaining with him. He had eaten too much and his stomach was full. As Lord Ganesha was walking back he stumbled and fell down. All the sweets scattered everywhere and his dress was torn. He dusted himself and collected all his sweets. He looked around hoping no one had seen him. Unfortunately the Moon – Chandra Deva had seen everything and was laughing at him. Chandra Deva thought of himself as very handsome. He always thought that the pot bellied Ganesha with his stumpy feet and elephant head looked funny...He wiped tears from his face as he watched Lord Ganesha pick himself up. Lord Ganesha bellowed angrily as Chandra Deva stopped laughing. Ganesha curse Moon the CHANDRA deva that henceforth you will disappear from the sky and never show your face again. That stopped Chandra Deva cold. Now no one would be able to see me...Chandra Deva shook his head. The punishment was too harsh... Chandra Deva immediately came up to Lord Ganesha and said I am sorry... Chandra Deva begged the Lord Ganesha looked at Chandra and realised that Chandra's pride had been broken. Lord Ganesha is always quick to forgive. He smiled and nodded his head and gave relaxation in the curse.

Secondly, Brahma got a good fruit to Shiva. There Karthikeya and Ganesha were playing and started that they want that fruit. Brahma told that the fruit shall be given to Karthikeya, but Ganesha got angry at this. After few days, Shiva and Ganesha went to meet Brahma. When Shiva was busy in talking to someone, Ganesha started showing his terrible strength to Brahma, the Moon who was on the head of Shiva started laughing on Ganesha. So Ganesha curse God Moon to lose this beauty and the visibility every day and gain it on the full moon day only.

7. Do we celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi once in year? What is Sankashti Chaturthi?

No, we celebrate on every month of the year when this worship is said to be at its peak. Known as Sankashti Chaturthi or Sakat Chauth, this day is even more auspicious, especially if it falls on a Tuesday or Friday. Celebrated across India, Sankashti Chaturthi is observed on the fourth day, or chaturthi, of every month in the Hindu calendar. The day is also linked with the Krishna Paksha, or the waning phase of the moon. While people in many states of India celebrate this day, especially in Maharashtra, it is known by a number of different names. Known as Sankat Hara Chaturthi in Tamil Nadu, the day is also celebrated as Angaraki Chaturthi when it falls on a Tuesday.

There was a sage named Bhrushundi  who had an elephant trunk due to constant thinking of Lord Ganesh. He was so powerful due to his devotion and therefore a lot of people visited him to receive blessings. Once Lord Indra came to visit the sage and was returning to his abode in his celestial flight. As he flew on the kingdom of King Shursen, a sinner in the kingdom looked at Indra’s flight and therefore the flight landed on the ground losing its power due to the sinful look. 

King Shursen came running to greet Indra and received his blessings. Indra said due to the sinful look casted by a sinner in his kingdom his flight lost its power and therefore he needed to recharge it with some Punya (merits) to get it flying once again. The previous day was Sankashti Chaturthi. Therefore Indra said if anyone in the kingdom who attained punya (merit) due to observing the Sankashti Chaturthi vrat could give the merits to him, the flight would fly once again. The soldiers searched the kingdom and found none had observed the vrat. 

During that time, the soldiers of Lord Ganesh were carrying a sinner who had died that morning to Svananda Loka (abode of Lord Ganesh). Indra asked why the sinner is being carried. The soldiers replied that the sinner had fallen sick the previous day (Sankashti Chaturthi) and therefore had not eaten anything for the whole day till she died in the morning. Therefore though she fasted unintentionally on the day, she had attained a lot of merits enough to wash all her sins and earn a place in the abode of Ganesh. 

During this time, the air that touched the body of the sinner touched the plane of Indra and the plane started flying once again. Thus, it is said that the merits derived from observing Sankashti Chaturti are enormous.

According to some data, as Shiva used trishula on the head of Ganesha, trisula took the head of Ganesha to Chandra lokha. On the emergency situation, all decided to replace the head of him with elephant’s head.  That’s why, when we do the vart of Sankashti Chaturthi, the fasting will be accomplished by seeing the moon where the original head of the Ganesha is there.

8. Why Ganesha had elephant’s head not of any other animal?

Very long ago, there was an elephant Gajasura, who was done penitance (tapasya), and lord Shiva was satisfied by it. When asked for a boon, he said, he wanted to live near him, all his life, and Lord Shiva granted him this boon, and said it would come true soon. It was for the fulfillment of his boon, that Lord Ganesha's head was replaced by that of an elephant. 

9. Ganesha has bones or not in his body?

There was saying that, since Goddess Parvati, collected some clay from her body mixed her hairs and molded the most cute and handsome little boy she could image, and breathed life into him; there were no bone in Ganesha’s body.

10. Why Ganesha is immersed in water?

Once Ganesh chaturthi festival ends on the tenth day (it depends on the infrastructure a person has) after start, wherein the idol is carried in a public procession with music and group chanting, then immersed in a nearby body of water such as a river, well, ocean (now a day in bucket in house). ... thereafter the clay idol dissolves and Ganesha is believed that Ganesha will return to Mount Kailash to Parvati and Shiva.

11. Why Ganesha is worshiped first among all the lords?

After the war between the Ganesha and all most all god, when Ganesha got his Elephant Head, then Lord Shiva declared that a first and foremost prayer must be made to Lord Ganesha before beginning with any other god.

There is one more data, which says…. Once in heavens a great discussion started that who is the superior among all.. The competition was held among all god.. that he will be the superior who take 7 rounds of the entire world first. Everyone mounted with the carriers and the competition was about to start under the judgment of lord Shiva, Bhrama and Vishnu. Ganesha also mounted on his Mouse and reached the starting line. Many gods straight away discarded little Ganesha includeing the Nandhi Maharaj. But, Ganesha politely rejected and took the challenge. As everyone took off in a brisk speed to take 7 rounds of the world, Ganesha immediately did 7 rounds of his parents and came in front of Shiva, Bhrama and Vishnu, that he won the race. Amused 3 great lords asked “HOW”? The whole world to everyone is their parents and he rounded 7 times and he won. Then Lord Shiva announced Ganesha as “The Superior God” to be worshipped first among all the lords / gods.

12. Why no Tulsi (holy basil) with Lord Ganesha?

Tulsi (holy basil) plant has a holy relevance in most Hindu rituals but the worship of Lord Ganesh excludes any involvement of the Tulsi plant. Tulsi once cursed Lord Ganesh when he refused to marry her and in turn lord Ganesha, cursed her and excluded her from ever being linked to his worship.

13. Do Ganesh has wife and children?

Ganesha had two wives Siddhi (embodying idea of Lakshmi) and Buddhi (embodying idea of Saraswati ). Moreover, he had two sons -Subha (Riddhi's son, representing Auspiciousness) while Labha (Siddhi's son, representing Profit).

14. Why Collective Worship of Ganesha with Sarswathi and Lakshmi?

Ganesha is often worshiped alone but on the auspicious occasion of Diwali , Lord Ganesh is worshiped with Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati.  When anyone worship all the three, any activity we start will goahead with out any interruption by Ganesha, needed knowledge will be provided by Sarswathi and required funds from Lakshmi. By this, all, we all can start and complete any task we do.

15. Why Ganesha’s one broken tusk?

Ganesha is also named as 'Ekdant' meaning 'one-toothed'. He is always represented with a one broken tusk. One day, as Ganesh was guarding his father Shiva who was in one of his deep meditations, Parashurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who is known for his serious temper. Ganesh was in trouble because he was told to not let anyone disturb his father in meditation, Unable to disobey a direct order from his father he didn't let Parashurama's in, and as a result Parashurama lost his temper and threw an axe at Ganesh. Ganesh knowing that the axe was a gift from his father allowed the axe to hit him out of respect. Hence got this broken tusk since then.

16. How was the Lord Ganesha's writing skills?

Ganesha is the original writer of the great Hindu epic Mahabharat. It is believed that the narrator of the Mahabharat -Ved Vyasa - chose Ganesha to be his scribe because no other being in the Universe had the wisdom like lord Ganesha. This was written on the condition that Ved Vyasa would not stop while reciting the epic and that Ganesha would not stop while writing, besides the condition that Ganesha would not merely write it, but also understand every verse of it. Popular legends say that it took both of them three years of continuous speaking and writing to complete the epic.

17. Mouse is Lord Ganesha’s vehicle, why?

Ganesha did not had one of his own. During a bet, Ganesh and his brother Kartikeya challenged each other to see who could go around the world 3 times the fastest. As Kartikeya jumped onto his huge bird of a vehicle and flew at records speeds to get around the world and win the challenge, Ganesh was left on the ground. He never had a vehicle of his own so he quickly asked his father for some form of a vehicle to ride upon, to which Shiva gave a tiny mouse. Ganesh, knowing that the mouse could never carry him started brainstorming. An idea came to him and he went up to his parents, walked around them 3 times and announced he had won the challenge, because parents are the highest respected members of any family they are respected as symbolic of the world. (Everyone should respect your parents and other elders) Shiva was pleased that he won his challenge and forever after he was revered for his incredible intellect.

Secondly, rodents were one of the biggest obstacles to prosperity - as they are for farmers even today. Destroying crops, eating stored grains are all in a day's work for a rodent. Lord Ganesha, in having a mouse / rat as his vehicle, is symbolically shown to have conquered this pest, thus staying true to his name and work as the destroyer of obstacles, according to biodiversity of India.

Third, Lord Ganesha was able to reach all the nooks and crannies of the world - and do his duty as the destroyer of obstacles - because his vehicle was a mouse - because mice / rats can slither through tiny holes and narrow pathways. Soo small and big, everone is the god’s creature and usefull… you just need to know..How?

18. What is the relationship between the Ganesha and river Kaveri?

Once upon a time, Sage Agastya sought the blessings of Lord Brahma and Shiva. The sage wished to create river in a suitable location to offer water to the southern lands of INDIA. The Gods, listening to his prayers, had his kamandalu filled with sacred water. The Sage then reached the Coorg Mountains. On his way, he spotted a small boy and requesting him to take good care of his pot containing water as he needed to go to toilet. The small boy was none other than Ganesha and he placed the small pot on the ground as he felt that location was perfect for a river. Then a crow landed on this pot and Sage Agastya shooed off the bird. The crow flew off tipping the pot to the ground and spilled off some water. This water formed River Kaveri and is considered as a sacred river. Every action happens for a good cause. So do not be worried even if something bad happens in your life, eventually there will be a good ending.

19. What was the Lord Ganesha and Kubera Story?

Kubera, God of Wealth, was quite proud of the fact that he was the richest God. One day, he held a lavish dinner and invited many popular guests, among them were Lord Shiva and Parvati. As the Divine couple could not attend the dinner, they sent their son, Ganesha who was a small child.

Ganesha began to devour all the food and soon there was no food available in the venue. He then began to eat all the vessels, dishes, furniture and other things at Alakapuri, Kubera’s city. Ganesha then proceeded to swallow the host of the dinner and the terrified Kubera ran to Lord Shiva’s abode and sought his help. Lord Shiva handed a cup of roasted cereals to Ganesha and his hunger for food ceased immediately. Lord Kubera realized his mistake and sought forgiveness for his pride.Do not be proud of what you possess. Instead, concentrate on how you can make use of your possession for good things.

20. What was the Relationship between Lord Ganesha and animals?

One day child Ganesha was playing with a cat and was torturing the animal by pulling his tail and throwing him on the ground. He left the cat and went to Mount Kailash to meet his mother Goddess Parvati. He was shocked to see her wounded. When he asked her about it, his mother replied that it was his action that caused the wound. As Parvati herself came as cat to see and to play with Ganesha, but he handle torturing the cat. She also said that it is unfair to treat animals cruelly and Ganesha was sorry for injuring the cat. Animals have every right to live in this world, just as humans do. So do not cause any injury or ill treat any animal.

21. What was the story of Lord Ganesha and Thrissuras?

When Lord Ganesha was born, Lord Shiva made a rule that Lord Ganesha must be worshiped first to ensure success in any endeavor. However, Lord Shiva forgot about his own rule and left for a war with Thrissuras in Tripura. He did not worship Lord Ganesha before doing so! While he was on his way in his carriage, the wheel peg got damaged. It was only then Lord Shiva remembered that he forgot to offer prayers to Lord Ganesh before departing for the war. He offered his prayers to Ganesha and proceeded to the battle ground. Lord Shiva won the war! Everyone must follow certain rules, even if you feel you are exempt from doing so.

22. How Ganesha dealt with Ravana?

Ravana, the king of Lanka was an asura, but he was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. He 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 rooted at that spot.

Ravana when he is on the way to Lanka, 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 Gokarnam (Go-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).

23. Ganesha in INDIA freedom fight! Why we pay Ganesha on roads?

Ganesh Chaturthi was observed after the Maratha empire was set up by Chhatrapati Shivaji in the 16th century and it was an important day in the festival calendar of the Peshwas, the prime ministers of the Maratha rulers, but was largely confined to individual homes.

In 1892, one of the stalwarts of India’s freedom movement, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, reinvented the festival as a rallying ground for nationalists. The streets of Mumbai and Pune turned into venues for the 10-day celebrations and huge gatherings of devotees.

“Tilak channelised the patriotic spirit by bringing the household Ganapati out onto the streets of Pune. He was able to bring a feeling of unity among the masses against the British through the festive fervour as opposed to a political gathering that the British would not allow,” Tukaram Raut, treasurer of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), said.

A year later Tilak met with a number of freedom fighters and progressive thinkers in what was known as Bombay then and decided to bring the festival to the city where the Keshavi Naik Chawl Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, the first and oldest mandal came into being at Girgaum in 1893.

Between 1940 and 1950, while the festival rituals continued to be simple, themes related to the first and second World War were a sign of a progressive society.

24. What is Ganesha Mudra?

Ganesha mudra is a yogic hand gesture, which helps the practitioner to connect to and awaken the energy within. The term is so named after the Hindu god Ganesh, who is considered the remover of obstacles. As such, practicing the Ganesha mudra is said to bring about self-confidence and the courage to overcome anything that is holding one back.

Ganesha mudra is practiced by placing the left hand in front of the chest, palm out, and grasping the left hand with the right hand. The hands stay at the level of the heart as they are energetically pulled apart without releasing the grip.

25. How tall is the Ganesha idol?

The 66 feet Ganesha statue is the world tallest statue present in presiding deity of Chinmaya Sandeepany Ashram situated on the Pune-Bangalore National highway 4, Kolhapur, Maharashtra.

Tallest Ganesha Idol of 70 feet from Hyderabad, INDIA, 2015 with visarjan / immersion process. For the past several years it is a Ganesha idol in Hyderabad that is crowned the tallest Ganesha in the country every Vinayaka Chaturthi.

26. Which are the very old or famous Ganesha temple in INDIA?

The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai. It is also popular amongst its devotees as “Navasacha Ganapati” or “Navasala Pavanara Ganapati” which means the Lord who answers the prayers.

Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple in Pune is visited by large number of devotees to seek Bappa’s Blessings. This temple celebrates the Ganesh Chaturthi festival with much pride. Dagdusheth Ganpati trust is one of the richest in Maharashtra and famous all over the country for its Golden idol.

Dodda Basavana Gudi (the Nandhi Temple) is located in Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore. The main attraction of this temple is the huge idol of Lord Ganesha which is 18 feet in height and 16 feet in width.

Vinayaka Temple also known as Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple is located in Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh. Devotees from all across the country visit the temple as it is famous for its purity and rich heritage.

Ashtavinayak actually means “Eight Ganesha” in Sanskrit language. These eight Ganesha temples are namely, Mahaganpati, Moreshwar, Girijatmaj, Chintamani, Siddhivinayak, Vigenshwar, Ballaleshwar and Varadvinayak.

Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathy Kshethram is the most important and sacred Ganapathi temple located in Kerala. The main deity is Lord Shiva but the temple is still famous as Ganapathi temple. It is also widely known as Kizhakkekara Siva Kshethram.

Effervescent Hindu temple popular for its elephant blessings, ornately carved stone walls & golden chariot.  It is located in Union Territory of Puducherry, India.

Ranthambore fort of Rajasthan state of India and is about 12 kms from Sawai Madhopur. The Trinetra Ganesha Temple is the famous and oldest temple of Lord Ganesha and is a must visit once in lifetime for every Ganesh Bhatka.

Ganesh temple is located at a distance of 6 km from Gangtok, near to the Tashi Viewpoint. The sweeping hill top views, the canteen at Ganesh Tok is an added attraction to the place.

Kokan Coastline in Ratnagiri District Ganapatipule has gained much popularity amongst the tourist destinations. The uniqueness of the temple is that the idol of Ganapati faces the west whereas all the deities in India face the east. This is because it is believed that Lord Ganapati safeguards the Western Ghats of Kokan coats from any calamity.

27. What is the meaning of Ganesha's image / idol?

Etc……

Many thanks to google.com, touchmeworld.blogspot.com, epic of India, eocabs.com…etc…. from where the data has been collected.