14. Story of Ganesha (Devotional)

      Ganesha is lord of obstacles who is worshipped before starting any mission to get succeed. Once there was a demon called Gajasura who worshipped Lord Shiva and asked him a boon that Shiva should reside in his stomach. Shiva granted his request and started residing in Gajasura's stomach. Parvathi searched for Shiva everywhere and felt sad after knowing what happened to him from Lord Vishnu. Vishnu consoled her promissed that he will bring Shiva back. Vishnu went to Gajasura in disguise with Nandi(bull of Shiva) as a dancing bull and conducted some enchanting performance. Gajasura liked their performace and asked them what they desire. Vishnu asked him to promiss that he will give what ever they wish for and asked to give back Shiva. Gajasura agreed to give back Shiva as promissed. Then Vishnu and others started praising Shiva who emerged out of Gajasura's stomach after hearing their devotion. Gajasura asked Shiva a last boon before dieing that he should be immortal in the memories of people. Shiva said that his wish will be fulfilled in his next life so Gajasura died and born as an elephant and started praying Shiva to fulfil his last desire.

      Shiva liberated from Gajasura's stomach by Vishnu was coming back to Kailasha (Shiva's residence). Parvathi was happy after knowing this and was preparing for his warm welcome. She wanted to take bath so she created a doll out of the dough that she uses in her bath, and called him Ganesha. She told him to look after till she return from bath. Ganesha unknowing Shiva, prevented his entry into Kailasha. They started quarelling and finally Shiva beheaded Ganesha. After returning from bath, Parvathi was shocked to see his son beheaded. She pleaded Shiva to bring him back to life. Shiva commanded his troops to bring head of any living being which is sleeping with it's head facing north. They found no living being except Gajasura whose head was brought to Shiva. Shiva added that elephant head to Ganesha and brought him back to life. Thus he got the name Gajanana (Elephant head). Parvathi was still not happy. Then Shiva granted Ganesha a boon that before beginning any task, people would worship Ganesha first. Ganesha has the power to remove any obstacles that come in the way of all true devotees. So Ganesha was called Vigneswara (lord of obstacles) or Vinaayak (Vigna nayak).

      There was a demon called Mushikasura. He did penance to Shiva and got several boons by which he became extremely powerful. He started pestering gods who pleaded Ganesha to save them. Ganesha went with several weapons to kill him. As one of the boon to Mushikasura was that he will not be destroyed by any weapon. So all weapons of Gnaesha were useless. Finally Ganesha broke off his right tusk and used it to kill Mushikasura. As Mushikasura's wife was a great devotee of Parvathi, she worshipped Parvathi to save her husband. So Parvathi had to save him by throwing her bangle which confronted Ganesha's tusk. Finally Mushikasura surrendered to Ganesha who later became his ride and his wife became Ganesha's umbrella.

      Karthikeya was younger than Ganesha. Karthikeya born immediately after Shiva and Parvathi's marriage but he was raised by six Karthikas as explained in Story of Karthikeya. During that time, Parvathi created Ganesha so Ganesha must be younger than Karthikeya but as Parvathi created Ganesha as approximately 10 year old boy, he was elder than Karthikeya. Oneday Shiva wanted to appoint one of them as leader of all Ganas (troops). He called both of them and offered them the position who ever encircle the whole universe three times faster. Karthikeya started his race with his peacock immediately but Ganesha's ride is a mouse. Ganesha thought a lot and got an idea. He went to his parents Shiva and Parvathi and encircled them three times with devotion. Karthikeya was seeing Ganesha ahead whereever he went. Finaly he came back after completing race and agreed that Ganesha won the race. Ganesha explained him that encircling parents with devotion is equal to encircling the whole universe. Thus Ganesha was also called Ganapathi as he got appointed as leader of all Ganas (troops).

      Once Kubera (the God of wealth) invited Shiva and Parvati to dinner wishing to show off his riches. The couple denied his request and sent Ganesha instead. Ganesha went to his palace and started eating all the food placed in front of him. Soon there was no more food in the palace and so Kubera ordered his troops to get more food from the surrounding villages. But Ganesha continued eating and there was no more food to be found. Ganesha started eating all the furniture. Kubera became very frightened and ran to Shiva and pleaded to save him from Ganesha. Shiva asked Kubera to give up his pride and serve Ganesha a handful of rice. Kubera did the same with humility, Ganesha's hunger was satisfied.

      Once on the occassion of Rakhi when sisters will tie a thread named rakhi to their brothers, Ganesha was unhappy as he dont have any sisters. Then goddess Lakshmi (Wife of Lord Vishnu) tied Rakhi to Ganesha. Thus people wants to have a son like Ganesha and daughter like Lakshmi. Some believe that Ganesha has two wives, Riddhi/Budhi and Siddhi. Riddhi/Buddhi and Siddhi were two beautiful daughters of Vishwabrahma representing knowledge (Riddhi/Buddhi) and perfection (Siddhi). Lord Ganesha had two sons Kshema and Labha.