Who is Ganesha?  

Ganesha — the elephant-deity riding a mouse — has become one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. This not only suggests the importance of Ganesha, but also shows how popular and pervasive this deity is in the minds of the masses.

The Lord of Success
The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.

Answered by Jitendra at 3:00 AM on October 02, 2008

Ganesh is one of the most worshiped gods in the Hindu religion. He is the destroyer of vanity, selfishness, pride and is the remover of obstacles. He also is the symbol of abundance since there is nothing stopping you between you and your ideal. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. Many Hindus have a statue, painting or symbol to assist in praying to Ganesh at some time in their day. Since his main job is to remove obstacles in your life's path, he has become one of the most praised and worshiped of Hindu gods.

If you're wondering why he has the head of an elephant, there is a great story behind this. As depicted in the ancient Hindu text called the "Shiva Purana", the goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his people to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. They found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader of his troops, hence his original name 'Ganapati'. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.

Ganesh is a highly symbolic deity for Hindus. The head of Ganesh represents the Atman (the soul or ultimate reality), while his body signifies the world and earthly realm of human beings. The elephant trunk had the symbol of OM on it, which is the primal sound and symbol of the Universal reality. In his upper right hand Ganesh holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesh's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.

The broken tusk that Ganesh holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata. The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.

Answered by Yogeshwar at 8:07 PM on October 01, 2008

Known as the God of New Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles, Ganesha is central to the rituals of Hindu weddings. In fact, you'll rarely find an invitation card that does not include an image of Ganesha, with the result that it becomes difficult to throw away these cards. Ganesha fans sometimes clip his image from the cards to serve as book markers.

Appropriately so. After all, Ganesha is not only the Lord of Wisdom, but also the scribe who sacrificed his own tusk, breaking it off to use as a quill when transcribing the epic tale of Mahabharata from the sage Vyasa. Without him, this mighty tale and the Bhagvat Gita would not be written. Not surprisingly, he is beloved by Indian writers as a guard against writer's block.

Accessible and human as he seems to ordinary mortals, Sri Ganesha hreflects, Hinduism's supreme power.

"His four arms stand for His immense power in helping humanity. The noose and the goad borne in two of His hands stand for His all-pervasiveness and grace. The broken tusk held in the right hand shows that He is the hrefuge for all," writes M. Arunachalam in Festivals of Tamil Nadu. "His huge belly is indicative of His tolerance and also signifies that all things, the entire Universe, are contained in Him. His feet stand for the bestowal of siddhi and buddhi, attainment of desires and knowledge. The modaka (sweet) in His hand is symbolic of jnana, conferring bliss. His mount, the shrew, represents the worldly desires, which are to be overcome."


Ganesha is believed to be the Pitcher of Prosperity, the Granter of Boons and the Guarantor of Success and yet He is so much more. The noted writer Gita Mehta, author of Karma Cola and Snakes and Ladders, introduces people to this benign, chubby deity in Eternal Ganesha (Vendome Press), her new coffee table book about the God who is beloved the world over for his interactions with the affairs of humans.

http://www.littleindia.c om/news/135/ARTICLE/1656/2007-02-02 .html

Answered by Arle Rambabu at 11:42 AM on September 29, 2008

Ganesha is created by Prvathi wh was slain by Shiva and later SHIVA gives life again
and keeps an elephant head
ramanamury_m

Answered by Ramanamurty at 9:56 AM on September 29, 2008

well,Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेश; Gaṇeśa; listen (help·info)), also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon.[5] His image is found throughout India.[6] Hindu sects worship him regardless of other affiliations.[7] Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains, Buddhists, and beyond India.[8]

Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him easy to identify.[9] Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles[10] and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha, Vighneshvara),[11] patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom.[12] He is honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions.[13] Several texts relate mythological anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits and explain his distinct iconography.

Ganesha emerged as a distinct deity in clearly recognizable form in the 4th and 5th centuries CE, during the Gupta Period, although he inherited traits from Vedic and pre-Vedic precursors.[14] His popularity rose quickly, and he was formally included among the five primary deities of Smartism (a Hindu denomination) in the 9th century. A sect of devotees called the Ganapatya, (Sanskrit: गाणपत्य; gāṇapatya), who identified Ganesha as the supreme deity, arose during this period.[15] The principal scriptures dedicated to Ganesha are the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana, and the Ganapati Atharvashirsa.
en.wikipedia.o rg/wiki/Ganeshasource:

Answered by Debashis at 6:55 AM on September 28, 2008

Ganesh is one of the most worshiped gods in the Hindu religion. He is the destroyer of vanity, selfishness, pride and is the remover of obstacles. He also is the symbol of abundance since there is nothing stopping you between you and your ideal. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. Many Hindus have a statue, painting or symbol to assist in praying to Ganesh at some time in their day. Since his main job is to remove obstacles in your life's path, he has become one of the most praised and worshiped of Hindu gods.I
If you're wondering why he has the head of an elephant, there is a great story behind this. As depicted in the ancient Hindu text called the "Shiva Purana", the goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his people to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. They found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader of his troops, hence his original name 'Ganapati'. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.

Ganesh is a highly symbolic deity for Hindus. The head of Ganesh represents the Atman (the soul or ultimate reality), while his body signifies the world and earthly realm of human beings. The elephant trunk had the symbol of OM on it, which is the primal sound and symbol of the Universal reality. In his upper right hand Ganesh holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesh's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.

The broken tusk that Ganesh holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata. The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.
source; http://www.enlightenedbeings.com/ga nesh.html

Answered by Tingtong at 8:45 PM on September 27, 2008

Ganesh is one of the most worshiped gods in the Hindu religion. He is the destroyer of vanity, selfishness, pride and is the remover of obstacles. He also is the symbol of abundance since there is nothing stopping you between you and your ideal. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. Many Hindus have a statue, painting or symbol to assist in praying to Ganesh at some time in their day. Since his main job is to remove obstacles in your life's path, he has become one of the most praised and worshiped of Hindu gods.

If you're wondering why he has the head of an elephant, there is a great story behind this. As depicted in the ancient Hindu text called the "Shiva Purana", the goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his people to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. They found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader of his troops, hence his original name 'Ganapati'. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.

Ganesh is a highly symbolic deity for Hindus. The head of Ganesh represents the Atman (the soul or ultimate reality), while his body signifies the world and earthly realm of human beings. The elephant trunk had the symbol of OM on it, which is the primal sound and symbol of the Universal reality. In his upper right hand Ganesh holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesh's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.

Answered by Om Prakash at 8:11 PM on September 27, 2008

Ganesh is arguably the most beloved Hindu deity of all. Eldest son of Lord Shiva the Destroyer, and his wife, Parvati, Ganesh is the god of wisdom, scribes, learning, and the remover of obstacles. Before any undertaking is begun, a prayer to Ganesh is said to ensure success.

Ganesh appears as a gentle, pot-bellied figure with the head of an elephant, four arms, and a broken tusk. He is most often depicted as sitting with one leg folded beneath him. In three of his hands he holds various objects that are symbolic tools for enlightenment: a pasam or rope, goad or axe, and a bowl of rice of or a sweet dessert ball.

visit www.wisegeek.co

Answered by Jyothi at 7:28 PM on September 27, 2008

Ganesha is the Hindu god of prosperity and success, in the form of a human body and an elephant head. He is the son of Shiva and Parvati, born from the sari of his mother in some stories, from the dirt of her body while she was bathing in others. He lost his head to his own father, when he barred the way to Parvathis bath. Because of Parvathis grief, Shiva sent out soldiers to find it, but they brought back, instead, an elephant head.

He is a very popular deity in India, often prayed to before exams or job interviews.
There are many sites on the web which deal with Ganesha.

Answered by Ashish Yadav at 6:55 PM on September 27, 2008