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Lord Ganesh
- The First to be Paid Homage The legend about Ganesha having preference over all other
gods establishes his sharpness of intellect. There was a keen
competition amongst all gods to gain the first place of worship
amongst the laity. It was decided that the god who would return
first after traversing the whole universe shall be declared the
winner. All gods and goddesses ran on their fast vehicles.
Ganesh's primary cometitor was his brother Kartik, who sped of
on his peacock. Ganesh with his pot-bellied body and mouse's vehicle could never
hope to compete. He took a round of his parents, Shiva
and Parvati, and just sat there at the starting point.
He was declared the winner because one who goes round his
parents and touches their feet traverses the whole universe.
Pleased by his intellect Shiva granted
him a boon, saying that before undertaking any important task,
people would pray to Ganesha. Since then Ganesha is always worshipped first and every other
god takes a back seat. Another legend says that when Parvati saw
an elephant's head being fixed on her son's body, she burst into
tears and could not be soothed. To pacify her Brahma announced
that amongst the worship of all the gods, that of Ganesha should
forever bear the first preference.
The
Puranas say that the fourth day of the month, known as Chaturthi,
is specially Ganesha auspicious for Ganesha worship.It is
believed that Ganesha was born on the chaturthi of Bhadra. The peculiar manner in which we worship him by rapping at our
forehead with our knuckles and pulling at the earlobes with
crossed hands etc. helps nadi-suddhi or purification of the
nadis and puts our psychic powers in proper tune for his
worship. The materials of worship for Ganesha, the dhruv-grass,
arka-flower and leaves etc. which are the least coveted by
common people. This provides the important lesson that all God's
creations are dear to him including the most humble ones. It is
also said that breaking coconuts before Ganesha coaxes us to break the hard
nut of our ego before God.
Although many Hindus believe that Ganesha is a bachelor in
some parts of the country it is believed that he has two wives,
one named Siddhi (Success) and the other named Riddhi
(Prosperity). Of course one who pleases the Lord automatically
comes into the good books of his two wives!
As the Lord of Obstacles and the personification of those
qualities which surmount all difficulties, Ganesha is often
honored at the outset of any project or test and consequently
has become particularly popular with modern businessmen and
students. He is the typical lord of success in life and its
accompaniments of good living, prosperity and peace. In all
ceremonies (except funeral rites) Ganesha is first involked. He
is revered by most Hindus, whether followers of Shiva
or Vishnu.
Ganesha represents the unity of the Small Being, the man,
with the Great Being, the elephant. It is the blending of the
microcosm with macrocosm, of drop of water with the ocean and of
individual soul with divinity.
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