About Lord Shree MahaGanpati Sansthan Rajur
Ganesh is the Ever-Blissful, elephant-headed deva (god) who is lovingly worshipped and revered by millions of people worldwide. Although Ganesh is known through the Hindu religion, Shree Ganesh transcends religion and is loved by many non-Hindu’s. Ganapati is worshipped by both Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu) and Saivites (devotees of Shiva). It is for this Transcendent, All-Embracing, Auspicious Lord of the Ganas, ShreeGanesh, for whom this site is dedicated. Enjoy and much Peace to you!
The son of Shiva and Parvati, Shree Ganesh, is the God of Good Luck and Auspiciousness and is the Dispeller of problems and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the God of wisdom, wealth, health, celibacy, fertility and happiness. In the panchayatana puja, Ganesh is glorified as one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti and Ganesha) whose worship confers immortality and liberation.
The Ganesha
Maharshi Narada has praised Ganesha as follows: Vidyarthee labhate vidyam Dhanarthee labhate dhanam Putrarthee labhate putram Mokharthee labhate gatim means 'A student acquires education, a man who desires money gains wealth, one who seeks a son gets a son and the aspires of salvation reaches his goal.'
There are several verses on Ganesha, which are well known. One of them is: Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti-sama-prabha Nirvighnam kuru me deva Sarva-karyeshu sarvada means 'Oh, the curved-faced, gigantic Lord Ganesha, you are like a million suns in brilliance; always kindly free us from hurdles in all our endeavors.'
It is the custom to chant such hymns with devotion, and bow down to Lord Ganesha before starting any important work.
Ganesha is the deity of suspiciousness. He is adorable not only to man but also to the gods. The word 'Ganesha' means the Lord of Ganas (the army of the gods), the leader of the army of Shiva. That is why he is also called Ganapati and Gananayaka.
What Ganesha Stands For
Ganesha has four arms which symbolize his status as the universal ruler and establish his power over the four categories of beings – those who can live only in water, those who can live in water and on earth, those who can live only on earth and those who can fly in air.
Significance of four :
It was god Ganesha who instituted the four castes and the four Vedas. One hymn in ShreeBhagavat Tattva , says: ‘In heaven, this child will establish the predominance over gods, on earth over men, in the nether world over anti-gods and serpents. He causes the four principles of the elements to move and is therefore four armed. In one hand, he holds a shell, in another a discus, in the third a club or a sweet and in the fourth a lotus.’ Thus, all aspects of Ganesh’s form are filled with symbolic meanings.
Birth of Ganesha
Kailasa is the abode of Lord Ishwara. Parvati is Ishwara's wife. Ishwara had thousands of servants like Nandi and Bhringi.
One day Parvati went to bathe, as usual, Nandi kept watch at the door. Parvati said to Nandi, "Don't let any one enter" and went in.
After a while Ishwara arrived. Nandi told, him that Parvati was bathing. Ishwara turned a deaf ear to him and entered. Parvati was displeased at the sudden entry of her husband.
Next day it was time for Parvati to go to bathe. Then she made the figure of a boy with the dirt of her body and gave him life. It was this boy who later became Ganesha and Gajamukha.
The boy Ganesha was very handsome. He was equally strong. He bowed to his mother in reverence and devotion and said, "Mother, what shall I do?"
Ganesha was more radiant than the sun and the moon. Parvati was overjoyed at the sight of the lad. She embraced him, caressed his head tenderly and kissed him with affection. Then she gave him a thick stick and said, "Look, my child, I am now going for a bath. Don't allow anybody inside without my permission."
Not Even Ishwara!
Ishwara happened to come there. Ganesha stopped him at the door. Ishwara became angry, Moreover, Ishwara had never seen the boy. Glaring at him, he shouted, "You little brat, who are you? Don't you know that I am the master of Kailasa and that Parvati is my wife? You are trying to stop me! How dare you?"
Ganesha did not flinch, He replied: 'Whoever you may be, I am not afraid -of you. Now mother is having a bath. Without her permission I cannot allow anybody inside. So now, go away!"
He Needed No Help
Ishwara's anger knew no limits when he heard the boy's words. He decided to ignore the tiny brat and, trying to brush him aside took a step. The angry Ganesha pushed him aside and hit him with his stick.
This was an insult to Ishwara. But soon he checked his anger. He thought that it was unbecoming of him as the Lord of the Universe to punish a little boy, with his own hands. It would be like breaking a butterfly on a wheel. So, he decided to send his servants to advise the boy and left the place.
Lord Ishwara's servants obeyed his command and came to Ganesha and gave him advice. They extolled the greatness and the power of Ishwara. They advised Ganesha saying, "Beg Lord Ishwara to pardon your misbehavior and seek his grace." But Ganesha would not listen to them.
Now Ishwara's servants lost patience. They were all enrag Ganesha. But would Ganesha be frightened at this? He held his stick firmly and quickly got ready for the battle. In the long-drawn fight, Ganesha won. Ganesha used a Parighayudha (a weapon like a club). Ishwara's servants ran away, afraid of the dreadful blows of Parighayudha.
The news of this defeat reached Ishwara. Already he was in a rage and now his anger knew no limits. But at the same time, the valor of the tiny boy surprised him. He sent all the gods to fight with Ganesha. They were also defeated by the boy hero fighting alone.
At last Ishwara Himself had to appear. He blew off the head of Ganesha using his trident (Thrishula).
The Elephant's Head
Parvati was full of grief when she heard the news of the death of her beloved son. Her anger rose as she remembered how all the gods had together attacked her son, fighting all alone. Immediately, using her divine power she created thousands of goddesses like Lambasheersha, Kubjaka, Khanja and Karali. She ordered them to go and destroy all those gods who were enemies of her son.
Obeying their mistress, the goddesses attacked the gods with dreadful weapons in their hands. They chopped off the heads of all they met. Some were butchered. The assembly of the gods trembled at the menace of these powerful deities.
Then, the great sage Narada and gods like Brahma, Vishnu and Indra came to Parvati and saluted her with devotion. They prayed to her saying, "Mother Parvati, we beg of you, calm down. First withdraw your deities. Save the gods who are being destroyed."
Parvati replied, "I have lost my darling son. If he is brought back to life I will withdraw the deities."
Now Narada, Brahma and others went to Ishwara. They calmed his anger and pacified him. They prayed to him saying, "Please revive Gowriputra. Otherwise this menace will not end. Heaven cannot survive." Then Ishwara grew calm. He called some gods and said,"Go,find some one laying down with his head towards the north. Cut off the head and bring it here." Immediately the gods went and brought the head of an elephant,which was lying, with its head towards the north, Ishwara joined the elephant's head to the trunk of Ganesha and gave him life.
The First Worship
Parvati was very happy to see her son alive once again. Embracing her son she caressed him. She called back the deities she had sent and saved the gods.
Then Parvati narrated to Ishwara and the assembly of the Gods story of Ganesha's birth. Ishwara embraced the boy Ganesha with a father's affection and was happy. The gods wished that Ganesha should be the Ganadhyaksha (Chief of Ishwara’s servants); Ishwara agreed blessed Ganesha. He then said: "Darling Ganesha, be the leader of our Ganas.
Hereafter. Be the Lord of obstacles. Hence forth let gods and worship you before they worship gods.The person who worships you with devotion will be free trouble. Blessed will be the and men who worship you on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada month."
The Vehicle of Ganesha
Sathya Sai has said, “The mouse is the vehicle of Vinayaka. What is the inner significance of the mouse? The mouse has a keen sense of smell. The mouse is a symbol of the attachment to worldly tendencies (vaasanas). It is well known that if you want to catch a mouse, you place a strong-smelling edible inside the mouse-trap. The mouse also symbolizes the darkness of night. The mouse can see well in the dark. As Vinayaka’s vehicle the mouse signifies an object that leads man from darkness to light. The Vinayaka-principle, thus, means that which removes all the bad qualities, practices and thoughts in men and inculcates good qualities, good conduct and good thoughts.”
Ganesha’s Intellect
Sathya Sai says, “What is the esoteric meaning of Ganesha’s elephant head? The elephant is noted for its acute intelligence. Ganesha’s elephant head symbolizes sharpness of intellect and the highest power of discrimination. Because of the purity of his intellect, Vinayaka is also called the giver of buddhi (intellect). He responds to the prayers of devotees and hence is known as Siddhi Vinayaka (the Vinayaka who grants what is sought). In a forest, when an elephant moves through the jungle, it clears the way for others to follow.
Likewise, by invoking Ganesha, the path is cleared for our undertakings. The elephant’s foot is so large that when it moves it can stamp out the footprints of any other animal. Here, again, the symbolic meaning is that all obstacles in the way will be removed when Ganesha is accorded the place of honor. The journey of life is made smoother and happier by the grace of Ganesha. When an elephant moves among the bushes, its path turns into a regular passage for all animals. It is thus a pacesetter for all animals.” Similarly, Ganesha clears the path leading to Wisdom, Intellect, and Inner Peace.
Two Shaktis Of Ganesha
Ganesha has two Siddhis (symbolically represented as wives or consorts): Siddhi (success) and Riddhi (prosperity). Wherever there is Ganesh, there is Success and Prosperity~ Wherever there is Success and Prosperity~ there is ShreeGanesh.
Ganesha as the Scribe
Ganesha is accepted as the god of learning and the Patron Deity of letters and scriptures. Ganesh’s tusk is used by him in the writing of the epic, the Mahabharata. When Vyasa wanted to compose the Mahabharata, Brahma suggested Ganesha be his scribe. Vyasa agreed and Ganesha brought his broken tusk as a writing quill. Vyasa dictated the entire epic in verse. Ganesha recorded every word for Gods and men alike.
32 Forms of Ganesha in Agamic Scriptures
- Baala Ganapati : Red colored image of a four armed Ganesha.
- Dharuna Vinayakar : Red colored image of an eight armed Ganesha.
- Bhakti Vinayakar : Grey colored image of four armed Ganesha.
- Veera Vinayakar : Red colored image of 16 armed Ganapati.
- Shakti Ganapati : Red colored image of 4 armed Ganapati, seated with his consort to his left.
- Dwija Vinayakar : White colored image of four faced Ganesha with 4 arms.
- Siddhi Vinayakar : Golden colored image of four armed Ganapati.
- Ucchishta Ganapati : Blue colored image of six armed Ganapati with his consort.
- Vigna Vinayakar : Gold colored image of eight armed Ganapati.
- Kshipra Ganapati : Red colored image of four armed Ganesha bearing a ratna kumbham.
- Heramba Vinayakar : Black colored image of ten armed Ganesha with five faces, seated on a lion.
- Lakshmi Vinayakar : White colored image of eight armed Ganesha with two consorts.
- Makara Vinayakar : Red colored image of Ganesha with a third eye, 10 arms, bearing a ratna kumbham, with his consort.
- Vijaya Vinayakar : Red colored image of 4 armed Ganesha on the mooshika mount.
- Nritta Vinayakar : Gold colored image of Ganesha in a dance posture.
- Urdhva Vinayakar : Gold colored image of six armed Ganesha with his consort.
- Ekakshara Vinayakar : Red colored image of Ganesha with a third eye, seated on a lotus.
- Vara Vinayakar : Red colored image of 4 armed Vinayaka with a third eye.
- Dhryakshara Vinayaka : Gold colored image of four armed Vinayakar, decorated with Chaamara ear rings.
- Kshipraprasaada Vinayakar : Red colored image of six armed Ganapati.
- Haridra Vinayakar : Yellow colored image of four armed Ganapati.
- Ekadhanta Vinayakar : Blue colored image of four armed Ganapati.
- Srishti Vinayakar : Red colored image of four armed Ganapati seated on his mooshika mount.
- Utthanda Vinayakar : Red colored image of 10 armed Ganesha with his consort to his left.
- Ranamochana Vinayaka : Crystal image of four armed Vinayakar.
- Dundi Vinayakar : Four armed image of Ganesha bearing a tusk, a garland, an axe and a gem studded vessel.
- Dwimukha Vinayakar : Red colored image of Ganesha with two faces and four arms.
- Trimukha Vinayakar : Red colored image of Ganesha with three faces and six arms seated on a golden lotus.
- Simha Vinayakar : White colored image of Ganesha with eight arms (with an arm bearing a lions face).
- Yoga Vinayakar : Red colored image of Ganesha in the posture of a yogi.
- Durga Vinayakar : Red colored image of Ganesha with eight arms.
- Sankatahara Vinayakar : Red colored image of four armed Ganesha clothed in blue, seated on a lotus peetham with his consort to his left.
The Figure of Ganesha
Ganesha's figure is well known in India. The elephant face (Gaja vadana), winnowing pan like ears (Shoorpa-Karna), a huge belly (Lam bodara), four hands (Chaturbhuja) -three of them carrying Pasha (a rope), Ankusha (a spear-like weapon curved at one end) and Modaka (a pudding like sweet dish) - and the fourth held in a gesture which assures help and protection to the devotee, a beautiful body of red complexion - this is how he is pictured. And he rides a rat.
There is a story that Parvati created Ganesha with the outer dusty layers of her body. On the day of the Ganesha festival an earthen idol is worshipped. This reminds us of his relation to the earth. The idol has four hands. One right hand holds a Pasha. This is endowed with divine greatness. With the help of this, Ganesha attracts the minds of his devotees. The other hand bestows boons. This indicates that those who throw themselves on Ganesha's mercy need fear nothing. Similarly, one left hand carries an Ankusha. This is - a symbol to show that Ganesha will destroy our ignorance. The other hand holds a vessel filled with Modakas. This shows that Ganesha brings joy to every - one.
Ganesha's bulky head symbolizes his extraordinary intelligence. His ears are broad like winnowing pans. You know winnowing- pans are used to winnow grain. What happens then? The husk and the grain get separated. So does Ganesha distinguish between truth and untruth. It may also be said that the broad ears symbolize his capacity to listen to the prayers of all his devotees with great attention. While his ever-moving trunk teaches that one should be active always, his single tusk denotes single-mindedness in action.His huge belly signifies that the entire Brahmanda (universe) is hidden within Ganapati.
He rides a rat. The rat personifies evil qualities like anger, too much of pride and selfishness. Riding on the rat shows that Ganesha checks these evil passions.
Mystery of Ganesha
Once there was neither Being nor Nonbeing. There was neither Form nor Formlessness. Then, That which was hidden within Itself, That One, stirring, emerging, coming to be. From Itself to the Formless to the Form. Immutable, changeless, everywhere, pervading all, yet not physically such is the mystery. Suddenly an ancient note piercing the darkness. A song whose birth stirred the slumbering, summoning an eternal mystery to awaken. Emerging from deep within the hidden cave, the human heart, Ganesha’s truth flows from the icecave of the infinite. Housed within our gated dwelling, Ganesha the guest loved and longed for. That which has no form, can take a form. That which has no name, can take a name. From the formless to form, and back again and again and again. The wheel of time gathers speed, and somewhere between fact and legend, vision and myth, we ask, “Who is Ganesha?" There are those who lovingly sing his praises. There are those who worship and adore him. There are those who represent him in art and literature. There are those who tell stories about him. There are those who chant his glory. There are those who seek his darshana. There are those who invoke and invite his blessings. The thinkers think, the scholars scholasticise, the devotees worship. But what is Ganesha’s hidden meaning?
There is a long and hoary lineage of seekers, scholars, sycophants, who have attempted to plumb the mysteries of the elephant-headed one. Anthropologists, Artists, religious Aspirants, Historians, Indologists, Linguists, Philosophers, Religionists, Sociologists, and contemporary devotees of Ganesha are but some of the most recent representatives of this enquiry. Each group has attempted, and continues to attempt, to make sense of this enormously popular deity. Seemingly incongruous facts simultaneously coincide. Ganesha embodies: An enormous popularity that transcends sectarian and territorial limits; a seemingly rather late, yet dramatic, full-blown appearance into a religious pantheon; a confusing, conflicting, yet interesting and intriguing mythology; and an elephant’s head atop a plump human body! To further complicate the picture is the fact that the physical representation of Ganesha offers more iconographic variations than does that of any other Indian deity. Couple this with the fact that Ganesha literature is rife with a seemingly endless number of stories on an unexpectedly limited number of themes. O Ganesha, who are you really? Tell the others what you want, tell them anything, but between you and me, who are you really?
Tithi associated with Shree Ganesh : Chaturthi
The tithi, that is, the date as per the Hindu lunar calendar on which the frequencies of Shree Ganesh Principle descended on Earth for the first time was chaturthi. Hence on chaturthi the vibrations of Shree Ganesh come on the Earth in higher proportion.
On the day of chaturthi of every month, the Ganesh Principle is hundred times more active on Earth than usual. The worship of Shree Ganesh performed on this day gives more spiritual benefit of Shree Ganesh Principle.
In every month there are two chaturthis.
A) The Vinayaki chaturthi that falls in the bright fortnight of the month, that is, Shuklapaksha
B) The Sankashti chaturthi that falls in the dark fortnight of the month, that is, Krushnapaksha
The chaturthi that falls on a Tuesday is called ‘Angaraki chaturthi'.
Ganesh Chaturthi – Vinayaka Chaturthi
Devotees of Ganesha are known as ‘Ganapatyas’, and Ganesh Chaturthi (also known as Ganesha Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi) is the holy festival that celebrates His Glory through India by all Hindu’s. Vinayak Chaturthi is celebrated on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad. This festival is honored as the birthday of ShreeGanesh. Ganapati transcends all sects and views and is equally worshipped by both Saivites and Vaishnavas because Ganesh is viewed as an Incarnation of both Vishnu and Shiva. Ganesha is even worshipped and revered among Buddhists and Jains.
Right Sided Trunk Ganapati is not worshipped ?
It is a popular belief that an idol with the tip of the trunk pointing towards the right and left are called right-sided and left-sided idols respectively; however this is not the case. One should not decide whether the idol is right-sided or left-sided depending upon which side the trunk is directed. It should be decided depending on the direction in which the initial curve of the trunk points. If the initial curve of the trunk in a Ganesh idol points towards the right and the tip of the trunk points towards the left yet the idol should be considered a rightsided idol. The reason for this is that, the initial curve of the trunk pointing towards the right indicates that the right (that is Sun) channel (nadi) of Ganapati is active.
Right-sided trunk
An idol of Ganapati with the trunk curved towards the right is called dakshinmurti or dakshinabhimukhi murti (the idol facing the south). Dakshin means the southern direction or the right side. The southern direction leads to the region of Lord Yama (Yamalok), the deity of death while the right side belongs to the Surya nadi (Sun channel). One who is able to face the direction of the region of Yama is powerful. So also, one with an activated Surya nadi is also radiant. Thus in both senses, the Ganapati idol with the trunk curved towards the right is said to be ‘active (jagrut)’.
Left-sided trunk
An idol of Ganapati with the trunk curved towards the left is called Vamamukhi. Vam means the northern direction or the left side. The Chandra nadi (Moon channel) is situated to the left. It is believed that it bestows tranquility. Besides, since as per tradition, the northern direction is considered spiritually favourable and bestowing Bliss (Anand), mostly the Vamamukhi Ganapati is worshipped. It is worshipped ritualistically in the usual manner.
Incarnations of Lord Ganesh in each Yug
Mahotkat Vinayak
He was born to Sage Kashyap and Aditi in the Krut era (yug). In this incarnation, He reinstated Righteousness (Dharma) by slaying the two demons, Devantak and Narantak and then ended this incarnation.
Gunesh
In the Tretayug, Ganapati was born to Uma on the fourth day (chaturthi) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapad as Gunesh. In this incarnation, He slew the demon Sindhu and married Siddhi and Buddhi, the daughters of Lord Brahma.
Ganesh
In the Dvaparyug, once again He was born to Parvati as Ganesh. Ganesh then slew the demon Sindurasur and set free several kings and valorous men whom he had imprisoned. It is in this incarnation that Ganesh preached the eternal philosophy in the form of Ganeshgita to His devotee named Varenya.
Dhumraketu
According to the Bhavishya Puran, the fourth incarnation of Ganesh by name Dhumraketu or Dhumravarna will take birth in the Kaliyug and destroy the evildoers.
Read about Sattvik Ganesh Idol
Ganesh and Others
Shiva and Ganapati
Though currently it is believed that Ganapati belongs to the family of Lord Shiva and is His son, yet according to one school of thought, Shiva and Ganesh were formerly one and the same, that is Shiva was Ganesh and Ganesh was Shiva. In Shriganapati Atharvashirsha, Ganesh is referred to as, "त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं विष्णु: त्वं रुद्र:।" meaning "You are Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra as well".
The similarities and prowess of Ganesh and Shiva are so outstanding that they can be easily perceived. The three special characteristics of Shiva, that is adorning the moon on the head, the third eye and embellishment with serpents are also seen in the idol of Ganesh. Ganesh is also named Bhalachandra, the one who adorns the moon on the head. He is also referred to as 'Trinetra (one with three eyes)' in the ' Gajavadanamchintyam', the holy verse of meditation on Ganesh. Ganesh too has a girdle of a serpent around His waist. A legend says that Lord Shankar wore ornaments of the Sun and adorned the moon on His head in order to cool down the intolerable heat generated after consuming poison. One comes across a similar story about Ganesh, in the Ganesh Puran. When the demon Analasur was destroying the world assuming the form of fire, Ganesh swallowed him. The deities then used cooling measures such as serpents, the moon, etc. to cool down the heat generated in Him.
Hanuman and Ganapati
Both of them have a red complexion and the eight great powers (ashtamahasiddhi). In the worship of Hanuman, flowers of the milkweed (rui) are offered while in that of Ganapati, leaves of the coral (mandar) tree are offered.
Omkar (ॐ)and Ganapati
'When speaking about the philosophy of creation of the universe it is said, "Creation began with the sound Om (ॐ इतिध्वनिरभूत्)". The manifest form of this sound is described as " savai Gajakaraha (सवै गजाकरः । )", that is the sound Omkar is like the face of an elephant. Thus initially a sound was generated and that was Om. If viewed vertically, one will realise that the Omkar appears like the countenance of Ganapati. In short, Om and Ganapati are one and the same. Hence worship of Omkar is equivalent to that of Ganapati. At the time of creation of the universe, the two words Om and atha were emitted from the throat of Lord Brahma.
ओंकारश्चाथशब्दश्च द्वावेतौ ब्रह्मणः पुरा ।
कंठं भित्वा विनिर्यातौ तस्मान्मांगलिकावुभौ ॥
Hence these two words are said to be auspicious. Omkar is the very nature of Ganapati.'
Kundalini (spiritual energy) and Ganapati
In the Ganapati Atharvashirsha, Lord Ganesh has been described by the sage as 'मूलाधारस्थितथिसो नित्यं', meaning 'You dwell perpetually at the site of the Muladhar chakra in the body'. Lord Ganesh is considered to be the deity of the Muladhar chakra (a centre of the spiritual energy system). The Muladhar chakra and the lotus within it are both red in colour. Ganapati's complexion too is red. The Muladhar chakra being the first of the six chakras, spiritual progress starts only after its activation. Similarly before commencing any task, Lord Ganapati is worshipped.
No Town without Ganesha's Temple
Ganesha is very dear to Indians. In India there is no town, which does not have aGanesha temple. India's great leader, Balagangadhara Tilak, declared that the Ganesha festival should be celebrated in each and every home. Thus it became a national festival.
Ganesha is the Lord of Obstacles and also the Lord of Knowledge. Is it not true that we can overcome any obstacle by increasing our knowledge? Once upon a time it was difficult for man to cover a distance of ten miles; it was a problem to cross a stream. People would have laughed if they had been told that man could fly; they would have thought it impossible.
Today man travels thousands of miles easily, crosses oceans and even steps on the Moon. How has the impossible become possible? Is it not because man has increased his know- ledge? If man is to progress, he should remove obstacles, by increasing his knowledge.If we know the mechanism of a bicycle, if it breaks down on the way, we can repair it and then proceed. So knowledge removes obstacles. Man understood what obstacles there would be to his journey to the Moon, studied how to overcome them and then stepped on the Moon. Knowledge does not simply mean getting new information.
Learning how to treat others, realizing what is really most important in life and what is not so important, realizing that others also are human beings like ourselves andpracticing this principle without thinking only of our comfort and power, to have high ideals in life-these are the ascending steps of education. As we step higher and higher we learn to live with others. We learn to make our lives worthy and meaningful. We learn to overcome the obstacles in the way of such a noble life.
May such knowledge-knowledge, which brightens us within and without - be ours I may all the obstacles in the way of getting such knowledge melt away! May the blessings of Varasiddhi Vinayaka, of Vidya Ganapati, protect us!
Outside India
In how many lands are Ganesha worshipped! There are Shreenes dedicated to him in many countries, even outside India.
Hundreds of years ago Hindu missionaries went to different countries. They carried with them the idols of Ganesha who was their supreme deity. They spread their ideas about his form, power and the symbolic significance of his form Merchants used to carry the idols of Ganesha to foreign countries so that their journey and trade may be free from obstacles. Perhaps, Ganesha came to be known to people of other lands for these reasons, Anyway, Ganesha is a popular God even in foreign countries.
Ganesha has different names, forms and symbolic significance in some countries. He is famous in different forms in Tibet, Nepal, Ceylon (now Srilanka), Afghanistan, China, Japan, Indonesia, - Cambodia, Thailand etc. In Burma there is one idol of Ganesha touching the ground with his hand. An idol of Vinayaka in Cambodia has only two shoulders. The idol of Ganapati in a Buddhistic monastery at Kung-Hsien in China carries the Chintamani (a precious gem) in the left hand. (The Chintamani is believed to be capable of granting any boon.)
More About Lord Shree Ganesh
A. Being worshipped first in every auspicious event: With the worship and remembering of Shree Ganesh at the commencement of any task, the ten directions are cleared. This means Shree Ganesh makes the necessary Deity’s principle available to us. This is called ‘Mahadvarpujan’ or ‘Mahaganapatipujan’.
B. Understanding man’s sound language and the Deities’ light language and inter-converting them: Shree Ganesh converts man’s language of sound into the language of light of Deities and the language of light into the language of sound and conveys our prayers to the Deities.
C. Combating negative energies: Shree Ganesh controls all the frequencies and hence combats negativity due to raja-tama frequencies.
Spiritual science underlying calling Shree Ganesh ‘Vighnaharta’
Three hundred sixty different frequencies are continuously in motion in the eight directions. The raja frequencies among them are called ‘tiryak’ frequencies and the tama frequencies ‘visphutit’. These clusters of frequencies adversely affect the world of living beings. Shree Ganesh controls these clusters and destroys the obstacles. Hence Shree Ganesh is called ‘Vighnaharta’, that is, the remover of obstacles.