Legends Of Lord Ganesh Part 1
June 25, 2007
Lord Ganesh’s position in the Hindu pantheon is of high distinction because of His magnanimous qualities. We as mortals can only understand and hope that we can imbibe some of them through the lessons that are described in the following legends.
The Survival Of The Wisest:
One can walk down the path of success and accomplishments by use of intellect and salvation can be attained using wisdom. This truth is called Vinayaka Tattvam. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati had two wonderful sons, Lord Ganesh and Lord Kartikeyan / Karthikeyan / Skanda. One day, they thought that their sons had reached the right age to get married. They discussed their views with them. The two brothers were excited and they started squabbling as to who would get married first. To settle this argument, the parents thought of an exceptional plan.
“My dear sons, you both are unique and we adore you equally. We cannot decide who should marry first so let us play a game. You will go around Mother Earth and the one who returns the quickest, will be married first.”
Lord Karthikeyan’s vehicle is the peacock and when His parents signaled for the race to begin, He swiftly flew away on his bird. Lord Ganesh remained there and instead asked His parents to sit in the seats that He provided. The parents were astonished by His unusual request but they complied. Lord Ganesh joining His hands, prayed before them to accept His humble prayers. He then worshipped them with sincere devotion and circumbulated seven times, paying His obeisance. As He was completing His last circumbulation, Karthikeyan flew in. He had completed the task as per the instructions of his parents but his elder brother had not traveled around the earth at all.
Lord Ganesh explained, “The Vedas say that those who go around their parents or circumnavigate achieve the blessing of Bhu Pradakshina (Bhu – Earth, Pradakshina – Going around deity or temple). If that is meant for mortals then what will be its significance when it is done around universal parents. By going around my divine parents I have not only covered the distance around Mother Earth but the entire universe. Do I need to go anywhere else?” Everyone was speechless. Needless to say they had a clear winner. Prajapati Vishwaroopa’s two daughters Riddhi and Siddhi were selected to be His wives. The wedding plans were managed with great care and the arena where the union took place was designed by the divine sculptor Vishwakarma. Lord Ganesh thus proved that He is truly an embodiment of wisdom.Lord Ganesh is an eternal Brahmachari (Celibate) and so are all the gods. They are mentioned as married so that we in the mundane world can understand and can relate to them.
There is another legend where the gods had given Shiva and Parvati a divine fruit which contained the ambrosia of knowledge and immortality. Both Lord Ganesh and Lord Karthikeyan yearned for it. So to find who deserved this fruit the divine parents devised the above mentioned plan to single out their winner and it was Lord Ganesh.
©Nayna Chakrabarty, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
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4 Responses to “Legends Of Lord Ganesh Part 1”
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an you explain me why Ganesh is sometimes on a three headed elephant?This animal is reserved to Indra usually?
thanks for your reply
Hello,
Thank you for writing in. I haven’t seen Lord Ganesh riding a three-headed elephant. Could you tell us in which context have you come across this image and where?
The Lord has used peacock as his mount but an elephant? You are absolutely right, the elephant Airavat is the mount of Lord Indra, but he is not depicted with 3 heads. If you have seen such an image, do send it across. We would love to put it up and ask our readers if anyone is aware of it.
Thanks
I send the picture of the statue by mail
Hello again,
Thank you, I have received the photos. To me, it looks like an artist’s impression of making that statue. Here He is armed with a Trishul, Pasha (the noose), and instead of Modaka or sweet, He has a conch. Around His neck, there is a snake which is a bit unusual because the snake is usually wrapped around His stomach. Here the Lord resembles his father Lord Shiva’s image. I say this not just for the snake around his neck but also the trident or Trishul marked on His forehead.
There are references of Lord Ganesh with several heads and Him mounting on a lion where He is known as Simha Ganapati. Simha which denotes the lion. So far I haven’t come across any photograph, painting or carvings that resembles the picture that you have sent.
Nevertheless, I will still keep researching and keep you informed.