|
GANESHA
|
|
 Ganesha is one of the most popular deities
in the Hindu pantheon. He is closely associated with the daily lives of millions of Hindus even today.
As he is reputed to be a remover of obstacles he is propitiated before the beginning of any new venture
whether it is the building of a new house, the writing of a book, the beginning of a journey or the
starting of a new business. His images adorn the walls of innumerable business establishments across
India. It is customary for businessmen to seek his blessings each morning before they get down to
business. Ganesha is also the god of wisdom and prudence.  Ganesha is represented as a short, pot-bellied man with yellow skin, four arms and an elephant's head
with only one tusk. In his four hands he customarily holds a shell, a chakra (discus), a mace and a
water-lily. His unusual steed is a rat. Ganesha is the second son of Shiva and Parvati. There are many
versions of how he was conceived. The most popular version is narrated hereunder.  One evening Vishnu Ji appeared as a priest
in front of Shiv ji and requested him to let him be their son. Bemused, he gave his concent. The priest
(Vishnu Ji) then transformed himself into a beautiful child, to delight the new parents. On this happy occasion
all the gods came over to bless the new child. Vishnu Ji(himself) blessed him as a repository of knowledge.
Brahama ji blessed him with fame and to let the foremost god for worship and Lakshmi ji blessed that she will dwell
whatever this child is adored. Similarly other god and godesses also blessed him with other qualities.
 At birth, Ganesha was a perfectly normal boy.
How he got an elephant's head is another story. Parvati was so pleased at his birth and so proud of his
beauty that she invited all the gods and goddesses to come to Kailash and admire him. All the celestial
beings came and admired and blessed the boy except Sani (Saturn), Parvati's own brother. This was
because Sani had been cursed by his wife and the impact of the curse was that as soon as he looked at
someone that person was instantly reduced to ashes. Sani was somewhat reluctant to cause the
incineration his own sister's newborn baby but Parvati was feeling so elated that she threw caution to
the winds and pleaded with Sani to at least cast his eyes once upon the boy. Sani, perforce, to please
his sister, came and, holding his newborn nephew in his arms, hesitatingly gave him one look. That was
enough to do the damage. Ganesha's head flew off as soon as his uncle looked at him. Parvati started
crying bitterly but Brahma, who was present at this time, comforted her and said that if the head of
the first creature that was found would be cut off and transplanted on Ganesha's neck he would live.
So Vishnu, who was also present, set off on Garuda in search of any animal he may find. He had to
travel all the way down Mount Kailash before, at the foothills, he found an elephant dozing on a
riverbank. He immediately cut off the elephant's head and came back.Thus, this is how Ganesha got
his pachyderm head. That he is pot-bellied is not a sign of any particular ugliness. The Hindu idea
of beauty portrays both men and women with pot-bellies as these are signs of well-fed prosperity.
 The elephant's head that Vishnu brought
for Ganesha was perfect in all respects, with two tusks, but the pot-bellied god is habitually shown
with only one tusk. The story behind how he lost one tusk makes interesting telling. One day, when the goddess was about to get
a bath in the water of a pool inside a cave, she took the precaution of positioning Ganesha, her
favorite son, at the entrance of the cave. She strictly instructed him not to let anybody in while
she was inside. So it was that Ganesha stood guard while his mother bathed inside till he saw his
father ambling towards the cave. Coming up to the cave entrance, Shiva demanded admittance but
Ganesha stood his ground bravely and refused to allow his father in.  Shiva was astounded at this. He protested
that no-one had the right to keep him away from his wife but Ganesha did not budge from his
post saying that he would not disobey his mother's instructions. Shiva, hot-tempered as he was,
flew into a terrific rage and attacked his own son. Ganesha parried his father's attack and both fought
for quite some time. All this while Parvati unwittingly went on bathing inside, unaware that her
ablutionary precaution was causing unforeseen dissension within her family. Son and father fought till,
at last, Shiva hurled his trident, his supreme weapon, at his son. Ganesha would not parry this as,
to do so, would be to show great disrespect for his father. So he took the blow from the trident on one
tusk, which broke off. At this point in time, Parvati emerged from her bath and, perceiving what has
been going on, hastened to bring amity back to her family. Since then Ganesha, benevolent initiator,
has had one tusk. According to another legend, Ganesh Ji was
produced from the sweat of Parvati Ji who deputed him to gaurd his palce when she was wanted privacy
while having a bath. When Shiv Ji arrived, Ganesh Ji did not allow him in, as he was unaware of the
identity of Shiv Ji. This enraged Shiv Ji who cut off Ganesh's head. When Parvati Ji discovered this
and explained the truth to Shiv Ji he felt sorry. Shiv Ji the orderd his attendants to bring head of
any baby whose mother may be asleep. Attendants saw a baby elephant in such a position and brought
his head which was then transplanted by Shiv Ji on Ganesh Ji's body. To further console Parvati Ji,
who was still in tears seeing an elephant's head on his son's body, Brahama Ji annocunced that Ganesh Ji
will have precedence over other gods in the matter of worship. |
