GODS and GODDESSES
Ganesha - Lord who removes obstacles
(last updated on 27 May 2025)
Lord Ganesha, the elder son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi is the
most widely worshipped Hindu God. He is worshipped at the start of any
action or venture, for he is considered to be the Lord who removes obstacles
(vignam) and hence is also called Vigneshwara. His brother is Lord Murugaa.
He has an elephant head, four arms.
In his upper hands he holds the paasam (noose) and ankusam. The lower two
hands are held in the abhaya and varada mudras. He is also seen holding
his broken tusk in his right lower hand and a modhakam in his left lower
hand. He has a huge belly and is fond of various sweets and fruits. He
wears a snake as an ornament round his belly. He is depicted in seated,
standing and dancing postures.
He is considered a bachelor,
but according to another school of thought, he has two Sakthis - Siddhi
& Buddhi. Siddhi represents success and prosperity. Buddhi represents
wisdom.
His vahana is a tiny mouse (mooshikam
or minjur).
Other Vahanas: Lion in Kritha yuga,
peacock in Thretha yugam, Mooshikam in Dwapara yugam, horse in Kaliyugam.
He is also depicted on rishabam and elephant.
He is also populalry known by other namavalis
such as:
Ganapati (head of Siva ganas)
Gajanana (one with elephant face)
Vigneshwara (one who removes obstacles)
Pillayar
Vinayagar
Goddess Parvathi had created a very beautiful boy. One day
she placed him on guard while having a bath. Lord Shiva tried to
enter but the boy refused admission. Angered Shiva chopped of his
head. To appease the grieving Parvathi, he asked Lord Vishnu to
fetch him the head of the first creature he saw. Lord Vishnu
happened on an elephant and brought the elephant head which Lord Siva
fixed on to the boy. Thus, was born the elephant headed God Lord
Ganesha, the most worshipped among the Hindu Gods.
In another version on how Lord Ganesha got his elephant head - Siva
& Parvati live happily on mount Kailasa. Parvati is blessed
with a beautiful son. When all the Gods & Devas bless the new
born on the cradle ceremony, Lord Saniswara avoids looking at the
baby. Parvati considers this an insult and asks Saniswara to bless
the child. Saniswaran is afraid that his glance will harm the
baby, but on Parvati's insistence looks and blesses the baby. The
baby's head bursts into flames. Lord Siva provides an elephant
head to the baby and hence Lord Ganesha with his elephant head was born
(head in the shape of the Tamil letter OM). Thus Lord Saniswara's
glance turned out to be favourable to Lord Ganesha.
Festival
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Pillayar Chaturthi
is a festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha with his elephant
head.
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The prayer invoking Lord Ganesha by 108 names
Ganesha Ashtothram ( Ashtottara Shatanamavali)
*
108 Names in Tamil
Ganapati Potri (Thamizh)
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Other Ganesha slokams & Ganesha Gayatri mantrams
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Stories
on Lord Ganesha
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Photographs of Ganesha idols during the immersion in Fore shore Estate beach, Chennai Sep 2004
on
display
during
the procession
immersion
*
Images
of
108 Ganeshas - paintings in
traditional styles by Sumathi
*
Tanjore paintings of Lord Ganesha by Sumathi
Ashtalakshmi temple, Besant Nagar, Chennai
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