Lord Ganesha is the Son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Since he is born out of their union, he personifies life, duality, and manifestation in diverse aspects. Ganesha is highly charming and mesmerizing. He is the remover of problems and obstacles. Lord Ganesha is worshiped by both Jainism and Buddhism.
The head of Lord Ganesha symbolizes the Atman or the soul, considered the ultimate reality of humanity, and his human body symbolizes Maya, the trappings of earthly existence. Below are some of the interesting facts about Lord Ganesha.
Lord Ganesha Wrote the Mahabharata
It is believed that Rishi Vyasa requested Lord Ganesha to write the Mahabharata as he recited it. He decided to do it after Vyasa agreed to recite it without any interruptions, and Vyasa, in turn, made him promise he would understand what was being said before he wrote it down.
Meaning of Ganapati
‘Gana’ means category. Everything we perceive through our senses or grasp through our mind can be expressed in terms of category. Ganapati, the Lord of categories, is the principle from which all such categories have manifested themselves. In effect, it means the origin of the whole creation, God Himself;
Meaning of Gajanana or Gajamukha
A common Sanskrit word to denote elephant is ‘Gaja.’Hence the name Gajanana or Gajamukha (elephant-faced) for Ganapati. But the word ‘Gaja’ has a deeper connotation. ‘Ga’ indicates ‘Gati,’ the final goal towards which the entire creation moves. ‘Ja’ stands for ‘Janma’ or birth or origin. Hence ‘Gaja’ signifies God from whom the worlds have come out and towards whom they are progressing, ultimately dissolved in Him. The elephant head is thus purely symbolic and points to this truth;
A factor we observe in creation is its two-fold manifestation as the microcosm (Suksmanda) and macrocosm (Brahmanda). Each is a replica of the other. They are one in two and two in one. The elephant head stands for the macrocosm, and the human body for the microcosm. The two form one unit. Since the macrocosm is the goal of the microcosm, the elephant part has been given greater prominence by making it the head.
Elephant-Human form of Ganapati
The elephant-human form of Ganapati is the iconographical representation of the great Vedantic dictum, ‘tat-tvam-asi'(which means You, the limited individual, are the Cosmic Truth, the Absolute). The elephant stands for the cosmic, whereas the human stands for the individual.
Lord Ganesha in Buddhism
Lord Ganesha’s popularity isn’t restricted to Hindus alone — he appears as the Buddhist god Vinayaka in Mahayana Buddhism, too — and is often seen dancing. He has distinct regional characteristics in Tibet, China, and Japan. The earliest stone statue of the Elephant God in North China dates back to as early as AD 531.
Indonesia prints Lord Ganesha on its 20,000 Rupiah note. Indonesia has strong cultural ties with India and Hinduism. Hinduism is practiced by 1.7% of the total population and by 83.5% of the population in Bali as of the 2010 census. Hinduism is one of the six official religions of Indonesia. In 2010, there was an estimated total of over 4 million Hindus in Indonesia.
Wives of Lord Ganesha
According to the scriptures, Lord Ganesh had two wives, Ridhhi (representing Prosperity) and Sidhhi (representing Intellectual Enlightenment). Furthermore, he had two sons – Ridhhi bore him Subha (representing Auspiciousness), while Sidhhi bore him Labha (representing Profit).
Birth of Lord Ganesha
According to Shiva Purana, it was Parvati’s friends Jaya and Vijaya’s decision to make Lord Ganesha. They had suggested to Parvati that Nandi and others only follow Lord Shiva’s instructions. Therefore, there should be someone who follows Parvati’s orders too. Hence, Parvati made Ganesha from the dirt of her body.
108 Names of Lord Ganesha
- Akhurath = One who has Mouse as His Charioteer
- Alampata = Ever Eternal Lord
- Amit = Incomparable Lord
- Anantachidrupamayam = Infinite and Consciousness Personified
- Avaneesh = Lord of the whole World
- Avighna = Remover of Obstacles
- Balaganapati = Beloved and Lovable Child
- Bhalchandra = Moon-Crested Lord
- Bheema = Huge and Gigantic
- Bhupati = Lord of the Gods
- Bhuvanpati = God of the Gods
- Buddhinath = God of Wisdom
- Buddhipriya = Knowledge
- Buddhividhata = God of Knowledge
- Chaturbhuj = One who has Four Arms
- Devadeva = Lord of All Lords
- Devantakanashakarin = Destroyer of Evils and Asuras
- Devavrata = One who accepts all Penances
- Devendrashika = Protector of All Gods
- Dharmik = One who gives Charity
- Dhoomravarna = Smoke-Hued Lord
- Durja = Invincible Lord
- Dvaimatura = One who has two mothers
- Ekaakshara = He of the Single Syllable
- Ekadanta = Single-Tusked Lord
- Ekadrishta = Single-Tusked Lord
- Eshanputra = Lord Shiva’s Son
- Gadadhara = One who has The Mace as His Weapon
- Gajakarna = One who has Eyes like an Elephant
- Gajanana = Elephant-Faced Lord
- Gajananeti = Elephant-Faced Lord
- Gajavakra = Trunk of The Elephant
- Gajavaktra = One who has Mouth like an Elephant
- Ganadhakshya = Lord of All Ganas (Gods)
- Ganadhyakshina = Leader of All The Celestial Bodies
- Ganapati = Lord of All Ganas (Gods)
- Gaurisuta = The Son of Gauri (Parvati)
- Gunina = One who is The Master of All Virtues
- Haridra = One who is Golden Coloured
- Heramba = Mother’s Beloved Son
- Kapila = Yellowish-Brown Coloured
- Kaveesha = Master of Poets
- Krti = Lord of Music
- Kripalu = Merciful Lord
- Krishapingaksha = Yellowish-Brown Eyed
- Kshamakaram = The Place of Forgiveness
- Kshipra = One who is easy to Appease
- Lambakarna = Large-Eared Lord
- Lambodara = The Huge-Bellied Lord
- Mahabala = Enormously Strong Lord
- Mahaganapati = Omnipotent and Supreme Lord
- Maheshwaram = Lord of The Universe
- Mangalamurti = All Auspicious Lord
- Manomay = Winner of Hearts
- Mrityuanjaya = Conqueror of Death
- Mundakarama = Abode of Happiness
- Muktidaya = Bestower of Eternal Bliss
- Musikvahana = One who has mouse as charioteer
- Nadapratithishta = One who Appreciates and Loves Music
- Namasthetu = Vanquisher of All Evils & Vices & Sins
- Nandana = Lord Shiva’s Son
- Nideeshwaram = Giver of Wealth and Treasures
- Omkara = One who has the Form Of OM
- Pitambara = One who has Yellow-Colored Body
- Pramoda = Lord of All Abodes
- Prathameshwara = First Among All
- Purush = The Omnipotent Personality
- Rakta = One who has a Red-Colored Body
- Rudrapriya = Beloved Of Lord Shiva
- Sarvadevatman = Acceptor of All Celestial Offerings
- Sarvasiddhanta = Bestower of Skills and Wisdom
- Sarvatman = Protector of The Universe
- Shambhavi = The Son of Parvati
- Shashivarnam = One who has a Moon like Complexion
- Shoorpakarna = Large-Eared Lord
- Shuban = All Auspicious Lord
- Shubhagunakanan = One who is The Master of All Virtues
- Shweta = One who is as Pure as the White Color
- Siddhidhata = Bestower of Success & Accomplishments
- Siddhipriya = Bestower of Wishes and Boons
- Siddhivinayaka = Bestower of Success
- Skandapurvaja = Elder Brother of Skand (Lord Kartik)
- Sumukha = Auspicious Face
- Sureshwaram = Lord of All Lords
- Swaroop = Lover of Beauty
- Tarun = Ageless
- Uddanda = Nemesis of Evils and Vices
- Umaputra = The Son of Goddess Uma (Parvati)
- Vakratunda = Curved Trunk Lord
- Varaganapati = Bestower of Boons
- Varaprada = Granter of Wishes and Boons
- Varadavinayaka = Bestower of Success
- Veeraganapati = Heroic Lord
- Vidyavaridhi = God of Wisdom
- Vighnahara = Remover of Obstacles
- Vignaharta = Demolisher of Obstacles
- Vighnaraja = Lord of All Hindrances
- Vighnarajendra = Lord of All Obstacles
- Vighnavinashanaya = Destroyer of All Obstacles & Impediments
- Vigneshwara = Lord of All Obstacles
- Vikat = Huge and Gigantic
- Vinayaka = Lord of All
- Vishwamukha = Master of The Universe
- Vishwaraja = King of The World
- Yagnakaya = Acceptor of All Sacred & Sacrificial Offerings
- Yashaskaram = Bestower of Fame and Fortune
- Yashvasin = Beloved and Ever Popular Lord
- Yogadhipa = The Lord of Meditation