Do you remember those nights when you eagerly waited for your grandparents to tuck you in bed and narrate stories that would transport you to a magical world? The world where mighty kings and warriors fought battles, fairies granted wishes, and angels watched over us? But amongst all these enchanting tales, there was always one that held a special place in our hearts. The stories about the beloved Ganesha.
As our grandparents wove tales about Ganesha’s mischievous childhood, his love for sweets, and his wisdom beyond his years, our tiny hearts would fill with warmth and wonder. The way they narrated how Ganesha would use his wit and intelligence to overcome challenges, and how he became the lord of success and destroyer of obstacles, left us in awe. It’s no surprise that these stories about Ganesha continue to enchant and captivate generations. And today these tales of this beloved deity remind us that no obstacle is too big to overcome and that with intelligence and perseverance, success can be achieved.
Let’s relive some of the most favourite stories of Lord Ganesha:
The Birth of Lord Ganesha
Lord Ganesha was born to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. One day, while Lord Shiva was away, Goddess Parvati created a boy out of sandalwood paste and brought him to life. She named him Ganesha and asked him to guard the entrance to her chambers while she took a bath. When Lord Shiva returned, he was surprised to find a young boy blocking his way. He asked the boy who he was, and Ganesha replied that he was Parvati’s son. Lord Shiva did not recognize Ganesha as his son and became angry. He asked his army to attack Ganesha, but Ganesha defeated them all with his wisdom and strength.
Lord Shiva then realized that Ganesha was no ordinary boy and asked him to remove himself from the entrance. Ganesha refused, and a fierce battle ensued. In the end, Lord Shiva beheaded Ganesha. When Goddess Parvati saw what had happened, she was heartbroken and begged Lord Shiva to bring her son back to life. Lord Shiva then sent his army to bring the head of the first creature they found. They brought back the head of an elephant, and Lord Shiva attached it to Ganesha’s body, thus giving birth to the elephant-headed god.
The Story of Lord Ganesha and the Broken Tusk
One of the most popular stories associated with Lord Ganesha is the one about his broken tusk. According to the story, Lord Ganesha was once guarding his mother’s palace when he saw a mouse trying to enter. The mouse was afraid of Ganesha and ran away. In his haste, the mouse got caught in a snake’s coil, and Ganesha saw the snake’s venom affecting the mouse.
Ganesha knew that the mouse was his vehicle and could not let it die. So, he took his broken tusk and used it as a weapon to free the mouse from the snake’s coil. He then gave the mouse the responsibility of being his vehicle and blessed it with immortality. This incident shows Lord Ganesha’s kindness, compassion, and intelligence, which are all qualities that are associated with prosperity.
The Story of Lord Ganesha and Kubera
Kubera, the god of wealth, once invited Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati to a feast at his palace. Lord Ganesha was also invited, but he arrived late. When he arrived, Kubera had already started serving the food, and there was no place left for Lord Ganesha to sit. Lord Ganesha did not want to disrupt the feast, so he came up with a clever solution. He asked Kubera for a single grain of rice and placed it on a plate. He then proceeded to eat the grain of rice as if it were a full meal. Kubera was impressed by Lord Ganesha’s ingenuity and asked him to take whatever he wanted from his treasury. Lord Ganesha declined and said that he was satisfied with the single grain of rice. Kubera insisted, and Lord Ganesha asked for a promise that he would never be deprived of his basic needs, such as food and shelter. Kubera agreed, and this is why Lord Ganesha is known as the god of prosperity, who provides abundance and wealth to his devotees.
The Story of Lord Ganesha and the Modak
Another popular story associated with Lord Ganesha is the one about his love for the modaks. According to the legends, Lord Ganesha was very fond of modaks and would often ask his mother, Goddess Parvati, to make them for him. One day, when Goddess Parvati was making modaks, Lord Ganesha arrived and asked for one. Goddess Parvati had only made one, but she wanted to test Lord Ganesha’s intelligence. She told him that he could have the modak if he could go around the world three times. Lord Ganesha took this as a challenge and immediately set off on his journey. However, he soon realized that going around the world three times was impossible. He then went back to his mother and told her that he could not complete the task. Goddess Parvati was pleased with Lord Ganesha’s honesty and gave him the modak as a reward.
Why does every prayer start with Ganpati’s name?
These stories just happen to be a few of the interesting stories from his childhood. Although, with all of his wit, Ganesha is known as Vighnaharta, that is the one who dissolves sorrows from the life of people. Lord Ganesha is worshipped by millions of people around the world, and his blessings are sought for wealth, success, and happiness. His teachings and stories continue to inspire people to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. To this day all the prayers start with his name and the tradition of beginning prayers with the name of Lord Ganesha, is deeply rooted in Hinduism and has a fascinating story behind it. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha is considered the god of wisdom, knowledge, and new beginnings. He is also believed to be the remover of obstacles and the one who bestows success and good fortune upon his devotees. The story goes that once Lord Shiva, one of the most powerful gods in Hinduism, was about to embark on an important journey. He knew that he would face many challenges and obstacles along the way and needed someone to help him overcome them. So, he called upon his son Ganesha and asked him to be his companion and guide. Ganesha, who was known for his wisdom and intellect, agreed to help his father. He also suggested that they begin their journey by invoking the blessings of the gods and seeking their protection. To do this, Ganesha advised Lord Shiva to start all his prayers and rituals by invoking his name and seeking his blessings. Impressed by his son’s wisdom, Lord Shiva agreed to follow his advice. From that day onwards, the tradition of starting all prayers and rituals with the name of Lord Ganesha became a common practice among Hindus.
The aartis and stotras dedicated to lord Ganesh are considered auspicious and full of positivity. Starting your day with Ganpati’s name is surely going to help you kickstart your day with tons of positive vibes, and to help you do that we have just the device for you! Saregama Carvaan Mini Ganesh is a compact device filled with the best of aartis and stotras dedicated to Lord Ganesha like Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh, Shri Ganpatichi Aarti and many more. So start your day on a high note with the auspicious name of Ganesha every day! With 300 pre-loaded Ganesh Mantras, Pooja, Marathi Bhajan, Katha, Aarti, and Hindi Bhajan, this speaker is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. But that’s not all – it also comes packed with additional features such as Bluetooth, USB, and FM/AM. Take the Carvaan Mini Ganesh with you wherever you go and feel the power of music, devotion, and technology all in one device.