Introduction to Lord Ganesha
Lord Ganesha is one of the most popular and revered deities of Hinduism. He is known by many sacred names such as Ganapati, Vinayaka, Vighnaharta and Gajanan. Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and the brother of Lord Kartikeya. Lord Ganesha is worshipped before starting any auspicious work in Hinduism.
Importance of Lord Ganesha
Lord Ganesha is considered the god of intelligence, knowledge, prosperity and auspiciousness. He removes obstacles and hurdles from the lives of his devotees, hence he is also known as Vighnaharta. Worshipping Lord Ganesha brings happiness, prosperity and success in life.
Family of Lord Ganesha
The family of Lord Ganesha has special significance in Hinduism. Lord Shiva is his father and mother Parvati is his mother. Lord Kartikeya is his brother.
According to mythological beliefs, Riddhi and Siddhi are considered to be the wives of Lord Ganesha. Riddhi is a symbol of prosperity and Siddhi is a symbol of spiritual power. According to some beliefs, Shubh and Labh are the sons of Lord Ganesha, who are considered to be symbols of happiness and financial prosperity.
Description of Lord Ganesha's form
The form of Lord Ganesha is very unique and divine. He is depicted with a human body and an elephant's head. Lord Ganesha is usually depicted in a quadrilateral form.
He is shown holding a noose, ankush, a modak pot filled with sweets and the Abhaya Mudra. Lord Ganesha's vehicle is a mouse, which is considered a symbol of humility and intelligence.
Lord Ganesha and Modak
Modak is considered a very favorite food of Lord Ganesha. It is a tradition to offer modak prasad during Ganesh Puja. Modak is considered a symbol of happiness, prosperity and knowledge.
Importance of Ganesh Chaturthi
The birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi. This holy festival is celebrated on the Chaturthi Tithi of the Shukla Paksha of the month of Bhadarva. During Ganesh Chaturthi, devotees install the idol of Lord Ganesha and perform special puja, aarti and bhajan.
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm all over India, especially in Maharashtra.
Incarnations of Lord Ganesha
According to the Mudgal Purana, there are eight main incarnations of Lord Ganesha, which are known as Ashtavinayaka. Apart from this, 32 different forms of Lord Ganesha are also worshipped.
Mantras of Lord Ganesha
Chanting the mantras of Lord Ganesha brings intelligence, success and positive energy.
॥ ॐ गण गणपते नमह ॥
॥ Om Vakratundaya Hoon ||
| Om Ekadantay Vidmahe Vakratundaya Dhimahi Tanno Danti Prachodayat ||
Famous Temples of Lord Ganesha
There are many famous temples of Lord Ganesha in India. Among them, Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai, Ashtavinayak Temples in Maharashtra, Kanipakam Vinayak Temple and Dagdusheth Ganapati Temple are particularly famous.
Spiritual Significance of Lord Ganesha
Lord Ganesha is considered the god of knowledge, wisdom and new beginnings. Students, businessmen and devotees worship Lord Ganesha before any auspicious work. With his grace, success, happiness and peace are achieved in life.