Questions tagged [ganesha]
Ganesha is the elephant headed god and the elder son of Lord Shiva. He was created by Goddess Parvati to guard her place.
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What is the origin of Ganapathi Atharvasheersh?
Where do we find the Ganapati Atharvasheersh in scriptures? What is the meaning of the word 'Atharvsheersh'. Who is the writer of it (Rishi Ganak or Atharvan)?
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Do any Deities, other than the Pancha Mahadevatas, have Swayambhu representations?
The Pancha Mahadevatas are Ganapaty,Shiva,Vishnu,Devi(Ambika) & Surya.
There is a Smarta tradition of worshiping them together in the Panchayatana Puja..In this Puja instead of idols or images of ...
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Why was Surya killed by Lord Shiva?
I heard of an incident in which Suryadev was once killed by Lord Shiva. Can somebody explain to me what is this incident and what Surya's mistake was? And also, please let me know how he became alive ...
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Was the Sri Vaishnava Acharya Nathamuni an incarnation of Ganesha?
The Alwars (also spelled Azhwars) are a group of 12 ancient Vaishnava saints who lived in Tamil Nadu and are famous for their poetry in praise of Vishnu. The 4000 verses of the Alwars were compiled by ...
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Why is the Sloka "Suklambaradharam Vishnum..." used as Ganapaty Dhyanam when it is clearly a Dhyana Sloka for Lord Vishnu?
As is well known, before starting any ritual Lord Ganapaty (also known as Vighneswaram,or the Lord of obstacles) is invoked first.
Usually, almost everywhere, the following Sloka(in bold) is used ...
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Is there a list of the 8800 difficult verses of the Mahabharat?
Mahabharat is the world's largest poem containing around one lakh (100000) verses composed by Vedavyasa. Because writing such a large text is a difficult task Vedavyasa took the help of lord Ganesha ...
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Why didn't Lord Shiva realize that he was beheading his own son?
As Lord Shiva is himself one of the Trimurti, he must be a त्रिकालज्ञ (trikālajña) i.e., knower of past, present and future.
If he's a trikālajña, why didn't he know that he was going to behead his ...
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Why is Rig Veda Book 2 Hymn 23 Verse 1 not used for summoning or praying to ganpati?
As mentioned in answer to this question, Rig-veda verse 1 as follows
ॐ गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् ।
ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणां ब्रह्मणस्पत आ नः षृण्वन्नूतिभिः सीदसादनम् ॥
cannot ...
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What is the story behind lord Ganesha's broken tusk?
In many idols of lord Ganesha, I saw that the left tusk is broken.
Credit: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/64.102
What is the story behind that broken tusk? Does it signify something?
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Were Ganesh and Kartikeya mentioned in Vedas? Is Ganapati Elder to Kartikeya?
Kartikeya was mentioned in the Ramayana, but not Ganapati and his First Adoration in Pujas.
Kaartikeya as mentioned in Srimad Ramayana is the same character as mentioned in Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
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Why we do not keep Tulsi on Prasada offered to lord Ganpati?
Generally we keep leaves of Tulsi over Prasāda( SACRAMENT) we offer to Gods. But recently in Ganesh Festival our priest while doing pooja told us that "Tulsi is not offered to Lord ganesha, it is ...
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Why did Vyasa seek the help of Lord Ganesha?
It is widely known that Mahabharata was written by Lord Ganesha under the dictation of Sage Vyasa. Quoting from Wikipedia:
The first section of the Mahabharata states that it was Ganesha who
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Who is sage Ganaka, the seer of so many mantras to Ganesha?
This excerpt from the Narada Purana describes a certain mantra called the Ganesha Nyasa, a hymn to Ganesha. Here's the preamble to that mantra:
The matrikas of Ganesha have Ganaka as its sage, the ...
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Which scriptures portray Lord Ganesha to be the supreme God?
I have seen many scriptures to portray Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lalita Devi and Lord Surya to be the supreme. However, I would like to know whether any scripture portrays Lord Ganesha to be the ...
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Why does Lord Ganesha have an elephant head?
A lot of Hindu gods have human heads. However, this is not the case with Lord Ganesha, who has an elephant head. Why does he have an elephant head?
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Which scriptures other than the Ramcharitmanas mention that during Shiva Parvati marriage ceremony Ganapaty was worshipped?
In the hundredth doha of the Balakanda of Ramcharitmanas it is mentioned that Ganapaty was worshipped during the marriage of Shiva & Parvati.
मुनी अनुसासन गनपतिहि पूजेउ संभु भवानी ।
कोउ सुनी...
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What happened to the body of elephant whose head was attached to Lord Ganesha?
What happened to the body of elephant whose head was attached to Lord Ganesha and what is the name of the place where the head of Lord Ganesha fall?
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Why didn't Lord Shiva put back the original head of Lord Ganesha?
Every one knows the story of Lord Ganesha, how he got Elephant head but one doubt comes to my mind,
Why wasn't Lord Shiva who is so powerful able to put back the original head of Lord Ganesha? Why he ...
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Do we have any information about other wives (except Riddhi, Siddhi) and grandsons of Lord Ganesha mentioned in any texts
I recently came across a WhatsApp message which showed that there is a temple in Indore, India called Shri Shri Vidya Dham which is the only temple that has idols of full family of Lord Ganesha. Full ...
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Is Lord Ganesha considered same as the ultimate truth and reality (Brahman)?
Many Texts associate OM with cosmic creation and that OM is everything. Ganesha is associated with OM and hence known as oṃkārasvarūpa (Aum is his form).
The Ganapati Atharvashirsa states that Lord ...
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About UcchistaGanapathi and why its regarded as highest Ganesha form
I have heard about the UcchistaGanapathi mantras, and why this form of Lord Ganapathi is regarded as highest and more Tantric. However, am not sure whether its regarded as highest! (saw in one ...
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Why is Lord Ganesha depicted with a snake around his belly?
Lord Ganesha is always seen with a snake wrapped around his big fat belly.According to the Ganesha Purana,the serpent Vasuki is wrapped around his neck. Other depictions of snakes include use as a ...
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Why do idols of Lord Ganesha only rarely have the trunk turning to the right?
I've rarely seen idols of Lord Ganesha with his trunk turning towards the right.
As far as I know, people say that Ganesha idols having the trunk turning towards the right should be given extra care ...
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What script did Ganesha write the Mahabharata in?
The first chapter of the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata describes how Vyasa dictated the Mahabharata to Ganesha, who wrote it down:
Brahma said. 'I esteem thee for thy knowledge of divine mysteries, ...
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Who is the eldest son of Lord Shiva?
In South India, people worship Lord Ganesh and consider him to be Lord Shiva's first son and elder to Lord Kartikeya.
In the North and remaining parts of India however, people have a faith that Lord ...
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Why did Lord Ganesha curse the Moon?
When there's Ganesha Chaturthi going on, people say that we shouldn't look at the moon on the day of immersion (visarjan) as its counted as a bad omen.
So why did he cursed the moon and why is that, ...
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What was the name of Ganesha before beheading done by Lord Shiva?
What was the name of the Ganesha before beheading done by Lord Shiva?
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Which puranas contain the story of the contest between Ganesha and Kartikeya for vighnadhipatyam?
One of the famous stories associated with Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya is their competition between them for the leadership over the Ganas and obstacles. This story is also a part of the Vinayaka ...
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Incarnations of Lord Ganesha?
According to Ganesha Purana, there are four incarnations of Lord Ganesha:
Mahotkata (Krita Yuga)
Shri Mayureshwar (Treta Yuga)
Shri Gajanana (Dwapara Yuga)
Dhuraketu (Kali Yuga)
According to Mudgal ...
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Why Durva grass is dear to Lord Ganesha
Why is Durva grass offered to Lord Ganesha ? What is the significance of praying Ganesha with durva grass ?Can any other flower or leaves used as a substitute for this.
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Did Lord Vishnu pray to Lord Ganesha? If yes, in which scripture is it written?
Certain websites claim that Lord Vishnu prayed to Lord Ganesha. Now if this story is true, in which scripture is this story written? The following is the story as presented by these websites:
One ...
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Which forms of God are considered Supreme? [closed]
What forms of God are considered to be the Supreme Being? Lord Krishna says about demigods that who worship demigods will get material desires, but to get moksha one must worship me only.
Are Ganesha,...
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When was Lord Ganpati Discovered?
From what I know of...
A boon bestowed upon Lord Ganpati made mandatory that first shloka(verse) of any religious book should start with shree ganeshaya namaha.
But after reading mahabharta in its ...
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Which scriptures mention Kartikeya as the elder brother of Ganesha?
This Answer mention Ganesha as the elder brother of Kartikeya. But most of the North Indians believe that Kartikeya is elder. So, is there any scripture which mention Kartikeya as the elder brother of ...
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Why is Saraswati shown with Ganesha and Lakshmi?
Picture frames, especially the one in Diwali, Lord Ganesha is shown with Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi.
Why is that so? I know the story of Lakshmi adopting Ganesha as his son from Parvati.
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Why does Lord Ganesha have a mouse as his vehicle?
How did Lord Ganesha get a mouse as his vehicle? Is there a story behind this?
And what does the mouse signify?
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Why is the mantra Gananam Tva Ganapatim used to worship Lord Ganesha?
There is a popular mantra which people use to worship Lord Ganesha which is as:
ॐ गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् । ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणाम् ब्रह्मणस्पत आ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिःसीदसादनम् ॥...
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What is Sri Ganesh Gita?
Like we have Lord Krishna's Bhagavad Gita, did Lord Ganesha also give a teaching of Gita? If yes, to whom?
It is said that both Bhagavad Gita and Ganesh Gita are the same, with the only difference ...
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Which scripture wrote the "Ganapathi Moola Mantra"?
For removal of Drishti the remover should wash his/her hands and legs before entering the home and we believe Mantra can prevent Dhristi Doshas.
The following Mantra to prevent Dristi Doshas/ Evil ...
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What is the legend behind Mayureshwara?
Mayureshwara is an incarnation of Lord Ganesha in the Treta Yuga. Mayureshwara's vehicle is a peacock (and hence the name, Mayura which means "peacock" in Sanskrit), unlike Ganesha's usual vehicle, ...
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Who are the wives of Lord Ganesha?
I sometimes read that Lord Ganesha's wives were 'Siddhi' and 'Buddhi' and sometimes 'Riddhi' and 'Siddhi' and also sometimes that all 3 'Riddhi', 'Siddhi' and 'Buddhi' were his wives.
Can anyone ...
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What scriptures describe Ganesha having five hands?
The term "Shaivite" is overused nowadays. For instance, Iyer Brahmins are often called Shaivites, but they're actually followers of Adi Shankaracharya's Smartha sect (which I discuss here and here), ...
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Tapping temples (on forehead) and worship of Mahaganapaty
It is usually believed that tapping temples on forehead five times with closed fists, accompanied with the recitation of the "Suklambaradharam..." sloka is a shortcut method of worshiping Lord ...
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Which scripture contains the event of Shiva beheading Vinayaka?
Consider the sequence of events : Parvati making Vinayaka, Vinayaka disallowing Shiva, Shiva beheading Vinayaka, Shiva joining Elephant's head on Vinayaka's body, etc.,
Which scripture contains this ...
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Source reference for Lord Kartikeya's peeling off skin incident
I came across an information that there exists a temple for Lord Kartikeya in Kurukshetra where entry for women is prohibited. The reason for that is an incident in which there was a competition ...
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Is Lord Ganesha immortal?
I know that there are 8 immortals as per Hindu scriptures.
(e.g Ashwaththama, Mahabali, Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishan, Kripacharya,
Parshurama, Markandeya)
But, is Lord Ganesha immortal? If not, is ...
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Who is the Lord of Obstacles - Vighnaraj?
The Markandeya Purana mentions the following story about Harishchandra's tryst with Brahmarishi Vishwamitra in the forest:
In Treta Yug, there was a king named Harishchandra. Once he was hunting in ...
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Who is Gajasura whose head is attached to Lord Ganesha?
There is a popular story on how Ganesha got an elephant head. There was an ardent devotee called Gajasura. He does severe penance Lord Shiva beheads Lord Ganesha who was guarding the entrance of ...
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Why Ganesha is covered with saffron(sindoor)?
We know Hanuman is covered with Saffron paste. But why is Ganesha covered with saffron paste. It is not seen in temples in southern part of India but most of the Ganesha's idols in northern part of ...
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How do we know that Lord Ganesha wrote the Mahabharata?
It's common to hear that Ganesha himself wrote the Mahabharata dictated by Vyasa muni. But wasn't all these epics passed down generation after generation orally?
They were written down fairly ...
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