Lord Ganesh is one of the most beloved and widely worshipped deities in Hinduism. Known as the “Remover of Obstacles” (Vighnaharta) and “God of Beginnings”, Ganesh is invoked at the start of any new venture, ceremony, or ritual. His unique appearance — with an elephant head, large ears, and a plump human body — carries deep symbolic meaning.
Ganpati or Ganesh is an extremely popular elephant-headed, potbellied Hindu deity. There are several meanings of his name originating from Sanskrit. Gana is believed to be a group of people and Isha or Pati is associated with master or lord, equating to the lord of people. Ga and na separately also translate to intellect and wisdom respectively, making Ganpati the god with profound knowledge. He is the son of Lord Shiv, the god of destruction, and Parvati. Ganpati is believed to be the destroyer of obstacles. If one faces a challenge in any aspect of their life in the form of obstruction, praying and invoking the blessings of lord Ganpati are deemed to bring solutions quickly. The Indian festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated to embark and honour Ganesh’s birth.
Key Names of Ganesh
- Vighnaharta: Remover of obstacles
- Ganapati: Lord of the Ganas (Shiva’s attendants)
- Ekadanta: The one with a single tusk
- Lambodara: The one with a large belly
- Gajanan: The one with the face of an elephant
- Vinayaka: Supreme leader or guide
Family
One of the famous tales of his origin is a widely known one. His mother, goddess Parvati is said to have collected the dirt off of her body while bathing and kneaded it into the shape of a child. With her divine powers, she put life into the human structure she had designed with her spiritual energies and happily accepted him as her son. Her husband, lord Shiv was not made aware of it so when he found Ganesh outside his house barring him from entering, the god of destruction grew furious and chopped off Ganesh’s head. Parvati was heartbroken to know this and ordered Shiva to bring her son back to life. With such a hurry, Shiv went to search for a head and used the first one in the sight, which was of an elephant. He placed that elephant head on Ganesh’s lifeless corpse and joined them, giving another life to the body. While attaching the head, one of Ganesh’s tusks broke off and till date all the images of his are shown with him having a broken tusk.
His younger brother is Kartikeya, the god of war. Although it is sometimes believed that Ganpati remained a celibate, his consorts are Riddhi and Siddhi, portraying prosperity and spiritual forces.
Physical Attributions
This god is identified clearly with his multiple intriguing features. The elephant head in itself depicts intelligence as that animal is known for its exceptional smartness. On his head, he is bestowed with wide ears. Such ears illustrate his ability to listen and acquire knowledge, the ability to absorb information quickly and effectively, elaborating on his learnings. The cobra wrapped around his big belly is a symbol that he is the esteemed son of Shiv, who himself has a serpent surrounding his neck. His potbelly is known to engulf multiple Universes, the infinite knowledge they carry within. His stomach protects everything that lies within, the energies and wisdom. It also indicates his love and hunger for food. He has four arms, representing the four attributes of the inner body; Manas – Mind, Buddhi – Intellect, Ahamkar – Ego and Chitta – Senses and conscience. The hands carry an axe, a lotus, a whip, sometimes sweets and he simply holds up an open palm in devotion and blessing his followers. He sits on the lotus flower, radiating purity and divine energy.
Legends and Stories of Ganesh
- How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head: Parvati created Ganesh to guard her while she bathed. When Shiv tried to enter, Ganesh stopped him, leading to a battle where Shiv severed Ganesh’s head. To appease Parvati, Shiv revived Ganesh using an elephant’s head.
- Why Ganesh Is Worshipped First: After gaining his elephant head, Shiv declared that Ganesh would be worshipped before all other deities at the start of any new task or ritual. This is why Ganesh is known as Pratham Pujya (the first to be worshipped).
- The Race Around the World: In a race with his brother Kartikeya, Ganesh displayed his wisdom by circling his parents, Lord Shiv and Parvati, symbolizing that they represented the universe. His intelligence earned him the title of Ganapati (leader of the ganas) and Vighnaharta (remover of obstacles).
Here is the link of the popular stories : https://sameedh.com/why-lord-ganesh-is-elephant-headed-why-is-he-worshipped-before-any-god/
Prayers and Mantra’s
Here are some popular and powerful prayers dedicated to Lord Ganesha. These prayers are chanted to invoke his blessings for wisdom, success, and the removal of obstacles before starting any new venture or undertaking.
1. Ganesh Mantra
This is one of the most well-known and widely chanted mantras for Lord Ganesh. It is simple yet powerful.
“ॐ गं गणपतये नमः”
“Om Gam Ganapataye Namah”
Meaning:
This mantra means “Salutations to Lord Ganesh.” It is used to remove obstacles, bring prosperity, and invite wisdom. The word ‘Gam’ is the bija (seed) mantra of Ganesh, symbolizing his cosmic energy.
2. Ganesh Shloka (Before Starting a New Task)
This shloka is recited at the beginning of any work, puja, or important task.
“शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम्।
प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये॥”
“Shuklambaradharam Vishnum Shashivarnam Chaturbhujam,
Prasanna Vadanam Dhyayet Sarva Vighnopashantaye.”
Meaning:
This verse praises Ganesh as the one who wears white robes (symbolizing purity), has a pleasant (calm) expression, and removes all obstacles. This prayer is often recited at the start of auspicious events or new beginnings.
3. Vakratunda Mahakaya Mantra
This is one of the most famous Ganesha mantras, often chanted before starting a new journey or project.
“वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥”
“Vakratunda Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha,
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada.”
Meaning:
This mantra invokes Lord Ganesh as the one with a curved trunk (Vakratunda) and a large body (Mahakaya), who shines with the brilliance of a million suns. The devotee prays to Ganesh to remove all obstacles in every task they undertake.
4. Ganesh Atharvashirsha
The Ganesh Atharvashirsha is one of the most revered Vedic hymns dedicated to Lord Ganesh. It describes his divine form, glory, and essence in the universe. Chanting this hymn is believed to bring wisdom, spiritual strength, and the ability to overcome obstacles. Full Prayer https://sameedh.com/ganpati-atharvashirsha/
“त्वमेव प्रत्त्यक्षं तत्त्वमसि।
त्वमेव केवलं कर्ताऽसि।
त्वमेव केवलं धर्ताऽसि।
त्वमेव केवलं हर्ताऽसि।”
Meaning:
The devotee declares that Ganesh is the ultimate truth, the creator, sustainer, and destroyer of everything in the universe. This prayer is a profound philosophical declaration of Ganesh’s divine status in the cosmos.
5. Ganesh Gayatri Mantra
The Gayatri mantra of Lord Ganesh invokes his divine presence and calls for his guidance and blessings.
“ॐ एकदन्ताय विद्महे,
वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि,
तन्नो दन्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥”
“Om Ekadantaya Vidmahe,
Vakratundaya Dhimahi,
Tanno Danti Prachodayat.”
Meaning:
This Gayatri mantra is a call for Ganesh’s guidance and wisdom. The devotee meditates on Lord Ganesh, who is known as Ekadanta (the one with a single tusk) and Vakratunda (the one with a curved trunk). The devotee asks Ganesh to illuminate their intellect and guide them on the right path.
6. Siddhi Vinayak Mantra
This mantra is often chanted to seek Ganesh’s blessings for wealth, wisdom, and prosperity.
“सिद्धि बुद्धि प्रदे देवा
मोहितार्क गणेश्वराय नमः॥”
“Siddhi Buddhi Prade Deva,
Mohitarka Ganeswaraya Namah.”
Meaning:
This prayer addresses Ganesha as the bestower of Siddhi (spiritual power) and Buddhi (intellect). The devotee offers their salutations and asks for the removal of confusion, obstacles, and ignorance.
These Ganesh prayers are not only spiritually uplifting but also believed to remove negativity, bring prosperity, and grant wisdom to overcome life’s obstacles. They are an essential part of Hindu rituals and are chanted with devotion before starting any new journey or venture.
An offering of modak, an Indian sweet dumpling, Ganesh’s favourite snack, is often made while performing rituals and worshipping the deity. His ride is a rat, or Mooshak, the symbol of wisdom. Rats are known to trace their way out from the deepest and darkest of tunnels with speed and alertness. Similarly, lord Ganesh assists in overcoming hurdles by displaying the path of light towards success, wealth, health, knowledge and progress.
Significance of Worshiping Lord Ganesh
- New Beginnings: Ganesh is worshipped before starting new ventures, ceremonies, or important tasks.
- Remover of Obstacles: Invoking his name before any activity removes unseen challenges.
- Patron of Arts and Learning: He is the god of knowledge, intellect, and the arts. Writers, artists, and students often seek his blessings.
Famous Festivals
- Ganesh Chaturthi: A grand 10-day festival celebrated with devotion, processions, and prayers, especially in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa. People install clay idols of Ganesh at home or in public pandals, offer prayers, and end with the Visarjan (immersion) of the idol in water.
