Different Forms Of GANESHA
BIRTH
"Once while going to take her bath, Parvati instructed Nandi, to stand guard at the entrance and not to allow anybody to enter the premise without her permission. Lord Rudra arrived there by chance. Despite of Nandi's refusal to allow him, in he went inside. Parvati did not like this.
One day it happened so that , Parvati wanted to take her bath. She made an idol from the dirt of her body. She made the idol and she contained the cosmic Ganesha into the idol She then, instructed him not to allow anybody without her permission. She also gave him a stick for his protection.
Incidentally lord Rudra arrived once again. He tried to enter inside but Ganesha refused to let him go inside. Lord Rudra became furious and ordered his ganas to throw him away.
The ganas of Rudra attacked Ganesha but all of them were no match for him. After being defeated by Ganesha, the ganas went to Rudra and narrated everything.
While the ganas were narrating their stories, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and some other deities arrived there. Lord Brahma then went to Ganesha to convince him, but as soon as Ganesha saw him he tried to attack lord Brahma. Brahma came back without achieving anything. After this lord Rudra himself came to fight Ganesha.
RUDRA SEVERS GANESHA'S HEAD –LATER GIVEN ELEPHANT HEAD
A fierce battle was fought between Rudra and Ganesha, he severed Ganesha’s head with his trishul.
Parvati became extremely furious at the death of Ganesha. Her anger resulted into the manifestation of innumerable goddesses, who started creating havoc on the deities.
The deities became frightened and they were forced to take the refuge of Parvati. They eulogized her and requested to be pardoned. Parvati told them that they could be saved only when Ganesha becomes alive.
The deities went to lord Rudra and requested him to make Ganesha alive once again. Lord Rudra instructed them to go in the northern direction and bring the head of any creature they might find, the creature’s mother should be facing at the other direction to which the kid faces and the creature should be sleeping with its head placed in the southern direction .The deities followed the instruction and went in the northern direction.
They found an elephant whose mother was sleeping with her face away from her kid and whose head was placed in the southern direction. They severed the elephant's head and joined it with the trunk of Ganesha. By the blessings of Rudra, Ganesha became alive once again. The deities worshiped Ganesha and returned back to their respective abodes.
GANESHA'S MARRIAGE
Both Kartikeya and Ganesha grew up to become handsome youths in due course of time. Rudra and Parvati started to think about their marriage.When Ganesha and Kartikeya came to know about the plan of their marriage both of them started quarreling among themselves as to who should get married first.
Lord Rudra and Parvati devised a plan to sort out this problem. They told them that whoever between them return after circumambulating the earth, will get married first of all.
Kartikeya and Ganesha agreed. Kartikeya proceeded on his journey to circumambulate the earth. Ganesha was very intelligent. He requested his parents - Lord Rudra and Parvati; to sit at a place together and circumambulated them for seven times and said-
"According to Veda, Circumambulating one's parents give virtues equivalent to that of circumambulating the whole earth. So now you must get me married first."
Lord Rudra and Parvati were very impressed by his intelligence. They decided to get him married with Siddhi and Riddhi-the daughter of Vishwaroop Prajapati. In due course of time two sons were born to them Kshem and Labh.
While Kartikeya was returning after circumambulating the whole earth, he met sage Narada on the way. He told Kartikeya about Ganesha's marriage. Kartikeya became very sad and felt like having been cheated by their parents.
When Kartikeya reached Kailash mountain he made salutations to lord Rudra and Parvati and without saying anything, went to Kraunch mountain to do his penance.
Parvati was very sad. She went to Kraunch mountain to meet Kartikeya accompanied by Rudra. When Kartikeya saw them coming he moved to another place. Lord Rudra and Parvati followed him and ultimately met him. Both these places have religious significance. Having a darshan of Kartikeya on the full moon day of Kritika nakashatra is considered to bestows immense auspicious and destroyes all the sins of a man.
GANESHA IS WORSHIPED BY
-LORD RUDRA
The moment of invocation is the moment of calm reflection and concentration on the forces of good, before beginning any enterprise or a long journey.
-LORD VISHNU
Vishnu one day found that his Valamburi Shankh (his sacred conch with swirls towards the right) was missing, and was perturbed. He then heard the deep resonant sound of a conch and knew that it was his Paanchajanya Shankh being blown in the vicinity of Mount Kailash. He now meditated on Shiva who said that anyone wishing to retrieve the conch should pray to Valamburi Ganesha (Ganesha in the rare posture of his trunk turned to the right). Vishnu did accordingly and Ganapati then returned the Paanchajanya Shankh to its rightful owner, Vishnu, who was overjoyed to have it back. It is for this reason that when a Valamburi Ganesha image is found, it is believed to be very lucky for the owner.Ganesha is considered as a face of Brahman just like the Trinity in some belief systems. Ganesha gets born in different cosmic Eras as well as earthly eras whenever necessary. Ganesha is also considered a son of cosmic Shiv and Adi Shakthi during the starting of creation. He takes material body whenever needed. He also considered as a direct derivative of Paramathman like Shiv- Shakthi.
01) Mahotkat Vinayak
Ganesha with ten arms and a red complexion.His mount is either elephant or a lion.He was born to Kashyap and Aditi.In this form Ganesha killed two demons by the names Dhumraksha,Devantak and Narantak.
02) Mayureshwar
He has six arms and a white complexion.His mount is a peacock.He was born to Shiva-Parvati in the treta yuga.He appeared for the slaying of the demon Sindhu. Mayureshwar gifted his mount peacock to his younger brother Skanda at the end of his incarnationThe peacock mount is generally associated with Skanda.
03) Gajanan
He has four arms and was born with a red complexion. He has a mouse as his mount. He is born to Shiv-Parvati in Dwapara yuga.The purpose of his incarnation was the killing of the demon Sindurasan,who was reddish in complexion.Ganesh Gita was explained to the king Varenya by Gajanan.
04) Dhumraketu
He is grey(dhumra) in colour,like ash.He has either two or four arms.Blue horse is his mount.He will come to end the decline of the Kaliyug.In this incarnation he kills many demons.
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| Art by Nalanda |
Parasurama and Ganesha
One day when Lord Shiva wanted to do meditation, he asked Lord Ganesha to guard at the door and asked him not to allow anyone inside the room until he completed the meditation. When Lord Ganesha was guarding, Parasuram came there and without asking for permission, he tried to enter into Lord Shiva's room. Lord Ganesha stopped him and for which Parasurama became very angry there broke a fight between them both. In the furious battle between the both, Parasurama threw his axe towards Lord Ganesha which cut his left tusk.
Later when Parasurama came to know that Lord Ganesha was Lord Shiva's son he apologized and got the blessing of the Lord.
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