Lord Ganesha is one of the most popular Hindu deities. Ganapati means “Leader of Ganas.”  The word Pati here is used as a leader and not as a husband, which is its other meaning. Ganas are the attendants of Lord Shiva. Not only Hindus but Jains, Buddhists, Christians, and Parsis also worship Ganapati. He is worshiped not only in India but also all over the world.

The head of Lord Ganesha is that of an elephant and the body is that of a human. That is why some people call him “Elephant God.”  He has four arms with having an ax in one hand and a lotus flower on another hand. In the remaining two hands, he has a Modak (Indian sweet) in one hand and one hand is raised to bless the devotees. You would always find a mouse near him.

Every Hindu ritual begins with worshiping Lord Ganapati first. He is also worshiped first at the start of any new project. This is because Lord Ganesha is “the remover of obstacles” and if you begin any work by worshiping him that work would be completed with minimum or no obstacles. Every Hindu temple has the image of Lord Ganesha at its entrance because he has been blessed to be worshiped first amongst all Hindu deities. At the entrance of all Hindu houses, you would find an image or a statue of Ganapati. Generally, it is packed in the wall above the main door. He is a master of 64 arts.

Lord Ganapati is known as the remover of obstacles and the God of Wisdom. His idols are found all over the world including India, Nepal, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. He is known by different names in different countries.

Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The name of his elder brother is Kartikeya. Very little is known about his sister. Her name is Ashoka Sundari. Ganesha is depicted as having two wives, Riddhi and Siddhi. A mouse is the carrier of Lord Ganapathi. He travels from one place to another riding the mouse.

Lord Ganesha likes Modak (a cone-shaped food made up of wheat, sugar, coconut), the flower of Jaswand (Hibiscus), Durva (a three-headed grass), and lotus very much.

Vinayak, Gajanan, Ganesh, and Ganapati are other popular names of Lord Ganesha.

Lord Ganapati killed many demons and freed the Earth and mankind from their tortures.

Sankashta Chaturthi, Angarak Chaturthi, and Vinayak Chaturthi are the holy days of Lord Ganesha. Hindus observe fast on these days and visit Ganesh temples nearby. They offer him coconuts, Durva, red-colored flowers like Jaswand or Rose. Tuesday is considered as the day of Ganesha. One should offer a red flower to Lord Ganapati if he/she is in any kind of peril. Lord Ganesha saves that person from peril.

Besides those monthly holy days, the Ganesh festival is celebrated in the month of Bhadrapad (sixth month of Hindu calendar) every year during which people bring the clay idols of Lord Ganesha to their homes and worship him for one and a half, five, or ten days. After that, the idol is immersed in the water.

Ganapatya is a Hindu sect that believes that Ganapati is the Supreme Being, although it is not very popular. Lord Ganesha is known as Maha Ganapati in this sect.

Hindu Scriptures Dedicated to Ganapati:

Ganesh Puran

Lord Ganesha Mool Mantra:

||Om|| Ganpataye Namah|

ओम गणपतये नमः|

Meaning: I bow to Lord Ganapati.

Lord Ganapati Mantra to be recited before the beginning of any work:

Vakratund Mahakay Suryakoti Samaprabhah

Nirvighnam Kurumedevah Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada

(This mantra is chanted before the start of every ceremony, Puja, or Arati)

वक्रतुंड महाकाय सुर्यकोटि समप्रभ:
निर्विघ्नं कुरु में देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा:||

Meaning:

I meditate on Lord Ganesha Who has a Curved Trunk, Large Body, and Who has the Brilliance of a Million Suns,
O Lord, Please make all my Works, free of Obstacles, always.

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Ganesh Chaturthi

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