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Introduction to Lord Ganesha in Sanatana Dharma
The Vedas and Puranas form the knowledge repository of Sanatana Dharma; they are the Shrutis (श्रुति that which is heard) and Smritis (स्मृति that which is remembered) respectively.
According to this knowledge repository there are 5 major forms and 5 prime, authorized paths to attain the Supreme Brahman. These 5 ways are also called the Pancha Deva Upasana Paddhati (पंच देव उपासना पद्धति).
It depends on the spiritual aspirant as to which path is suitable for him. So it becomes imperative that the aspirant should develop faith in one form of Upasana and pursue that way alone.
It is that means alone, that shall prove useful and fruitful towards attaining the final goal of life. Their main following is in a place called Moreshwar, in Maharashtra, India.
The Supreme Personality is beginningless and timeless. The Lord incarnates and disappears according to time, place, and circumstance. According to Ganpatya, the Supreme Being is Lord Ganesh and the chief of all living beings.
The pastime of Lord Ganesha is as follows, in the line of Vedic Scriptures.
Story of Lord Ganesha’s Birth from the Puranas
Sri Uma-Maheshwar (Shiva-Parvati), wished for a son. Their elder son, Lord Karthikeya, was in the Land of the Devas, Swarga (heavens).
After his Victory over Tarakasura, he became the chief lieutenant of the Army of gods. Lord Karthikeya was close to his six foster mothers, the Krittikas.
This was another reason for Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati to expect another child.
Once, Lord Shiva and Parvati happened to spend some time alone.
There appeared a Brahmana at the door who called out Bhiksham dehi (भिक्षाम् दही), which meant “Kindly lend me alms”.
Mother Parvati arrived at the door with the alms only to find that the Brahmana had disappeared from the door. Mother Parvati called out to Lord Shiva and told Him about what happened.
To this, Lord Shiva said that Lord Ganesh had personally appeared and blessed them. When the couple went back, they saw a fair-complexioned divine baby happily making babyish sounds.
This is one such story about Lord Ganesh’s appearance in the Puranas.
Why did Lord Shiva behead Lord Ganesha?
Once Mother Parvati was smearing Her transcendental body with freshly ground turmeric powder. With the excess powder that fell away from her body, she created an idol.
Out of deep attachment for the figure, she infused life into it. On attaining life, the idol turned boy child. He prostrated before Mother Parvati and asked humbly “Mother, how can I serve you?”
To this, Mother Parvati asked him to guard the door. She commanded: “Stop anyone who tried to enter My chamber. ” This was the order that the child received as his first service from Mother Parvati.
He held a stout stick in his hand and guarded the door. Lord Shiva, just returned after a sojourn on earth and tried to enter the chamber which was being guarded by the idol-turned child.
But the child stopped Lord Shiva. Not in a mood to face opposition from others, Lord Shiva immediately left that spot and sent His lieutenants to fix the small boy.
But all of the Lord’s men were easily defeated by the boy and the infantry of Lord Shiva ran off with their feet over their heads.
The Devatas try to intervene and the son of Parvati, created from her dust and turmeric took no time to defeat the Ganas of Lord Shiva.
In the end, angry and having lost His patience, Lord Shiva beheaded the boy, with one stroke of His Trishul (त्रिशूल Trident).
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How did Lord Ganesha get an Elephant’s head?
Having got the boy out of the way, Lord Shiva barged into His chamber. Mother Parvati had just finished Her bath. She asked Lord Shiva: “Did nobody stop you?”
He replied: “Your foolish doorkeeper lies beheaded at the door.” Mother Parvati rushed to the door, wailing.
She said: “My son has been slain.”
Enraged by the scene Mother Parvati assumed the form of Mother Kali, in a ferocious mood.
She roared brandishing Her deadly sword.
The heavens began to tremble and all inauspicious omen start erupting all over Creation.
With great difficulty, singing Her glories to appease Her, the gods finally pacified the Mother.
Lord Shiva, arranged for an elephant’s head and got it fixed on the child’s beheaded body. Life was infused into the child once again. Lord Shiva appointed this elephant-headed son as the chief of His army of ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and other followers.
Why is Lord Ganesha called Ekadanta?
There was once confusion among the Gods as to who will receive the first worship amongst all Gods.
Lord Brahma then communicated to the entire entourage of the Gods that whoever were to finish circumambulating the earth first, would be offered the first worship by humans.
All the Devatas had swift vehicles. However, Lord Ganesh had the slowest vehicle, the rat. He was thoroughly disappointed and sat morosely in one corner.
Sage Narada saw that Lord Ganesh sitting gloomily. He approached Lord Ganesh and gave him a solution. After hearing the solution Lord Ganesh sprang up with a big smile.
He wrote the letters (राम RAM) on the ground. Prostrated it and circumambulated it 21 times and went to Sri Brahma with folded hands. Sri Brahma happily declared Lord Ganesh as the winner.
From that day onwards, for every auspicious occasion on earth, we worship Lord Ganesh before any other devata.
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