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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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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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, ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
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Should Ganesh idol not be taken on Tuesday after the Ganesh festival and put it in water in a temple?

Ganesh chaturthi festival happened on 2nd September and it is considered that at 9th day one should take his idol and put in water in a temple. 9th day being Tuesday today, can we do this process? ...
Agamas Tantras's user avatar
8 votes
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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), ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
7 votes
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English translation of Ganesh Sahasranam

Any interpretation and translation available in English for Ganesh sahasranam as in the ganesha purana? Wikipedia mentions of a khadyota commentary by bhaskaraya on the sahasranama. Is there an ...
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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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6 votes
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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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6 votes
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What is the significance of calling Mahalakshmi "Mahodare"?

As we all know that Mahaganapaty is described as having a large belly.In fact one of His many names is "LambaJathara" or "Mahodara" literally meaning one having a big belly. But in the Mahalakshmi ...
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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 ...
Aby's user avatar
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Which scripture mentions the verse "Sanghe Shakti Kali Yuge" used by RSS?

The verse "Sanghe Shakti Kali Yuge" (संघे शक्ति कलियुगे ) means "Unity is strength in Kali Yuga". It's mostly used by RSS(which is also known as Sangha) and other Sangh Parivar ...
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Which scriptures describe Vināyaka as son of Nandi?

Shaiva Siddhanta is based on the Shaiva Agamas and the poems of the 63 Nāyanārs . One of those 63 Nāyanārs is Saint Tirumūlar and also one of the 18 Siddhars and also a Yogi himself. His work ...
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What mantras are given in Vinayaka samhita of sama Veda?

According to this page, vinayaka samhita of sama Veda glorifies Ganesha. what 4 hymns are present in the following samhita?
Anisha's user avatar
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Significance of death on Ganesh Chathurthi

If one's father expires on the same day as Ganesh Chaturthi, I would like to know if there's a significance attached to one's death on an auspicious day like the Ganesh Chaturthi. Secondly, as both ...
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How can Skanda and Ganesha marry Brahma's daughters?

I am a daughter of Prajapati (the lord of all creatures, Brahma) and my name is Devasena. My sister Daityasena has ere this been ravished by Kesin. We two sisters with our maids habitually used to ...
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Where did the beheading of the elephant (which later became the head of Lord Ganesha) happen?

My home town is Tiruchirappalli (i.e Trichy) which is the abbreviated form of Thirucchiram arutha palli (Tamil). In English, it literally means 'the place where the holy beheading took place'. As I ...
Arunachalam Arumugam's user avatar
4 votes
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Who is the descendant of Bhrigu who heard the famous Vakratunda mantra to Ganesha from the gods?

As I discuss in this question, the sage who heard many Ganesha mantras from gods was Ganaka, who I speculated may have been an incarnation of Ganesha himself. Now I have found a mantra to Ganesha ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
141 views

What are the sources relating Uchchhishta Ganapati?

I want to know the sources where I can learn more about worshipping and doing sadhana of Uchchhishta Ganapati?
Aspiring Learner's user avatar
3 votes
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Does the Gāṇapatyas (गाणपत्य) and the Sauras (सौर) have any dedicated sectarian Tilaka?

Each sect/subsect within Hinduism has its own dedicated 'sectarian holy markings" known as Tilaka (तिलक). For Instance: The Śaivaites (शैव) - the worshippers of god Śiva as the Supreme, wears ...
Vivikta's user avatar
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Where can I find the Sanskrit work "Jnyana Bhagwat" attributed to Mareechi

In the Vinayaka Rahasyam Volume IV Part B there is a mention of Jnyana Bhagwat having been told by Mareechi the mind son of Brahma to Mudgal Mahamuni.
Saraswati Raman's user avatar
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What scriptures describe juice coming from Ganesha's cheeks covering Kailash?

The Sankalpa Suryodaya is a play by the 13th century Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan. At one point in the play, a king goes around the world in a Vimana looking for a good place to meditate. He ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
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Mool mantra Vs Astothram

Usually we chant ashtotram.during functions like Vinayak charthurthi, saraswathi Pooja etc , but recently my in laws were there during Vinayak charthurthi and he was of the opinion that ganaoathi ...
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Krishna and Ganesha activities

Is there any scripture in which Krishna and Ganesha are performing super-heroic activities together as duo ?
Frank Hestermann's user avatar
3 votes
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126 views

Why and when is Lord Ganesha worshiped with his wives?

Why would people possibly worship Ganesha with his wives:- Siddhi, Buddhi and Riddhi?
Shreya Chauhan's user avatar
3 votes
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246 views

Why do they put a hole behind some Ganesha idols?

I just bought a Ganesha idol from market to my home for Ganesh chaturadhi puja. I found this small hole behind the idol. What does it indicate?
user11813's user avatar
3 votes
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296 views

Ganapati's Birth in relation to writing of Mahabharata

We know Ved Vyasa told Ganapati to write Mahabharata as he dictated. If a live story can only be written after it is completed, it would mean Mahabharata was written during the start of the Kali Yuga ...
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570 views

Did Lord Muruga and Lord Ganesh have their navels from birth?

Lord Muruga (Kartikeya) born from the third eye of Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesh was made as a doll and given life by Goddess Parvathi. So both of them didn't have their own navels. Generally navel is ...
Ponmari Subramanian's user avatar
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Is seeing indirect images of moon on Ganesh Chaturthi considered inauspicious?

On Ganesh Chaturthi, it is believed seeing moon is inauspicious and is believed to bring curse to the person for an entire year. Will this only matter for the moon in the sky on that day? Or will it ...
Bharat G's user avatar
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2 answers
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Is the vahana (mount) of Lord Ganesha a shrew or a mouse?

Is the vahana (mount) of Lord Ganesha a shrew or a mouse? The internet is ambiguous about this. Some sources say that mooshika is a shrew 1 while others say that it is a mouse 2; both of which are ...
proteus's user avatar
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Ashtavinayaka locations names significance

Ashtavinayaka What is the significance of the eight Ashtavinayak locations names ? Example : Morgaon, Pali, Rangangaon, Theur etc
Prashant Akerkar's user avatar
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Who framed/derived the concept of namavali from sahasranama stotra? Is there any reference in vedas that namavali can be used for Sahasranama stotra?

When there is a sahasranama stotra, why namavali is inferred from it? Did any sages refer to use namavali from sahas stotra in any spiritual texts? Is it because of the pujas in temples, where the ...
Poongundran V's user avatar
2 votes
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139 views

Ganesha is son of Parvati or Sati

Ganesha is considered son of Parvati. However in Sankastahara Chaturthi vrata Katha it says Ganesha instructed his "mother" Parvati (daughter of Himavat), while doing her penance, to perform ...
Kanthri's user avatar
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2 votes
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What is Gauri (Gowri) Ganesh?

It is usually celebrated a day before Ganesh Chaturthi. Wikipedia states below This festival celebrates the goddess Gowri or Gauri, (also known as Parvati) who is venerated as the mother of Lord ...
Up-In-Air's user avatar
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Why do Ganesha temples house doves/pigeons?

Many temples in South India dedicated to Ganapati maintain dovecotes. For instance, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35ocltmUtEw https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g304556-d3268808-r151055818-...
Aravind Suresh Thakidayil's user avatar
2 votes
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Does any scripture recommend Tulasi leaves in Ganesha Puja on Ganesha Chaturthi?

As per this post, Tulasi is included in leaves to be offered to Ganesha on Ganesha Chaturthi. But, Tulasi is prohibited in Ganesha puja on normal days. Is there any scriptural basis which allows ...
YDS's user avatar
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Why is Lord Ganesha's birth celebrated on Chaturthi (Tithi) instead of on a star?

There is a system in Hindu tradition that birthday will be celebrated pertaining to the star on that day. Thiruvonam is the star for Lord Vishnu; Moolam for Hanuman; etc. Then for Lord Ganesha why ...
Parthasarathy Raghavan's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
131 views

What was the age of Lord Ganesha when he wrote Mahabharata?

In which year was load Ganesha was born? What was the age of Lord Ganesha when he wrote Mahabharata?
Amruth A's user avatar
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Paying respects to Lord Ganesha

I try to repeat the shloka in the rhythm of my breath and I find that always saying "om ganeshaya namaha" before the shloka breaks the rhythm.
Teacup's user avatar
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Importance of Bhairav in Kul

Kuldevi is considered to be important in day to day worship. Also, heard about Kul-Bhairav, shankar and ganesh specific to the particular Kul along with Kuldevi. What is significance of the ...
Tushar's user avatar
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Have the nayanar shaiva saints of Tamil nadu wrote poems on lord shiva's sons?

Is there mention of Lord ganesha in the poems of nayanars? I know that shankaracharya wrote ganesha bhujangam and ganesh panchratna but have nayanars wrote about family of Lord shiva?
Anubhav Jha's user avatar
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Is Ganesha created based on Gautama Buddha?

Is Ganesha created based on Gautama Buddha? I have read in many articles from several social platforms that the concept of Ganesha is derived from Buddhism. Various names such as vighnaharta and ...
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2 votes
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150 views

Where can I know about the eight forms of Lord Ganesh from Mudgala purana?

I would like to know where can I find a complete English version of the Mudgala Purana and also the eight forms of Lord Ganesha.
Rajesh Maharaj's user avatar
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247 views

What Puranas cover the stories of Ganesh Chaturdhi Puja

On Ganesh Chaturdhi, Puja called Varasidhi Vinayaka Vrat is performed. In the Vrat, the following stories are told. Story regarding birth of Vinayaka and his head being replaced with that of Elephant....
Student's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Who has written Mahabharat?

Mahabharat that we read starts with the arrival of Ugrshava who tells the story to some Brahmins. It is also told that the story was told to Janmayjey by Vaishampayana. It is also written that ...
river's user avatar
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1 vote
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English translation of Ganesh purana

I'm looking to read Ganesh Puran. what is the best-unabridged copy I can get? if I could get a link or author name. it would be much appreciated.
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1 answer
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Ganesha Chathurthi in Bhadrapad or Magha month?

Someone today told me that Ganesha chathurthi, birthday of Ganesha, is not in Bhadrapada month but in Magha. What does Puranas say about Ganesha's birth (or the day He was made the lord of Ganas) ...
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Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya age difference

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartikeya How many years age difference was between Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya? Thanks & Regards, Prashant S Akerkar
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1 vote
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39 views

What Kavacha's are being read in the attached video by Sachidananda swamy?

Namaste! Does any of you know which Ganesha Kavacham is being read by Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamy in his Kavacha Manjari? I found the Shiva Kavacham on sanskritdocuments.org but I'm unable to ...
mavenuparker's user avatar
1 vote
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856 views

Do Lord Vishnu,Ganesha and Saraswati have multiple consorts? If so who are they?

When I was browsing through some questions here,I came across this: Now in contrast to Sita, who was an incarnation of Vishnu's wife Lakshmi, Vedavati was an incarnation of Vishnu's other wife ...
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Are lord Ganpati and lord maha ganpati the same or different

As per my knowledge lord Ganesh is son of Lord Shivshankar Sambhu and mata Parvati. I asked my question to a Pandit Ji near me, He suggested me that, there are two Ganapati so both are different and ...
Kailash Chandra Polai's user avatar
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Why do people do tap the sides of their head when chanting suklambaradharam vishnum?

At the start of most poojas, I've seen the sloka "śuklāmbaradharam viṣnum..." being chanted with the hands tapping the sides of the head. Some books specify that the sides of the head to be ...
Nikhil Iyer's user avatar