In Dravidian times, Ganesha was worshipped as an elephant, signifying the wisdom and majesty of the universe. The invading Aryans, adopted the Dravidian godling and affirmed their belief in Ganesha. Ganesha made a ceremonial entrane as an Aryan god. 'The auspicious god', he would be worshipped at the beginning of all rites, an unbroken tradition that continues to this day.
In myths, the birth of Ganesha is celebrated as a divine twist of fate. The most popular myth brings alive the story about the elephant head. It all began when Parvati, wanted to bathe. She needed privacy and since there was no one at hand, she created a guard with the sweat and oils from her body. She brought the figure of a young man to life and told him to stand guard while she bathed.
When Shiva, her husband returned and strode towards their home, he found his way blocked by an unknown soldier. The soldier blocked Shiva's entry. Shiva was furious, a duel began. The soldier fought well, but was no match against the might of Shiva, who killed him. Parvati came out and saw the dead body, she demanded he be brought back to life.
Shiva sent his hordes to collect the head of the first living being, who was sleeping with head facing north. The north was associated with wisdom, and was also the direction from which the Aryans had invaded.
Airavat, Indra's white elephant paid the price for Shiva's blunder. While Airavat slept facing the north, Shiva's hordes beheaded him. His elephant head was carried away for the dead body. An incensed Parvati demanded that her child be promoted to the status of a primary god. Shiva and all the other gods knew this was the only way they could placate her and Ganesha took his place before all the gods.
All rituals (samskaras), begin with the worship of Ganesha. His image invokes the universe, his head signifies wisdom and his body is globular, Vishwaroopa. Ganesha represents the majesty of the animal kingdom with his head and his vehicle the mouse shows subjugation of pestilent rats.
His trunk is twisted into an embodiment of 'Om', the syllable that created the world. To combat evil, he carries weapons the discus, trident, sword and shield. A broken tusk is a reminder of his battle with a demon, and the fight with the forces of evil. Yet, the same 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 to writing quill. Vyasa dictated the entire epic in verse. Ganesha recorded every word for Gods and men alike.
He carries a modak (sweet dumpling) in one hand, for his appetite is insatiable, and conscious of his role the other hand shows in the 'abhaya mudra'(do not fear, I am here to protect).
Another legend, explains Ganesha's role in changing astronomy. In the month of Shravan/Bhadrapad, after a feast of modaks Ganesha was on his way home. He was riding his mouse, a snake slithered into their path, the mouse tripped and Ganesha took a tumble. His stomach split, and the modaks fell out, Chandra (the moon) was watching and he began to laugh. Ganesha picked up the snake and used it as a belt to hold his stomach together. He looked up, cursed Chandra and banned him from the night skies.
Soon the gods and humankind were dazed glare of the relentless sun. There was no respite of darkness when the moon was banished from the sky. The gods took a delegation to Ganesha and pleaded their case. Ganesha gave in, but made an astronomic condition. The moon would never shine like before. Full moon would be just once a month (earlier every day was a full moon). On other days the Chandra as a reminder of his misdemeanour would wax or wane!
Ganesha straddles the divide between the believers of Shiva and Vishnu. Ganesh idols are worshipped both by Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Ganesha temples are seen in almost every village in India. Chubby and gleeful and elephant headed, Ganesha easily finds his place in the hearts of Gods and people.
---------- Source: http://timepiece.shubhkaamna.com/ganesha.htm
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B) 101 Names for Lord Ganesha (and their meanings)
1 Akhurath One who has Mouse as His Charioteer 2 Alampata Ever Eternal Lord 3 Amit Incomparable Lord 4 Anantachidrupamayam Infinite and ConsciousnessPersonified 5 Avaneesh Lord of the whole World 6 Avighna Remover of Obstacles 7 Balaganapati Beloved and Lovable Child 8 Bhalchandra Moon - Crested Lord 9 Bheema Huge and Gigantic 10 Bhupati Lord of the Gods 1 11 Bhuvanpati God of the Gods 12 Buddhinath God of Wisdom 13 Buddhipriya Knowledge Bestower 14 Buddhividhata God of Knowledge 15 Chaturbhuj One who has Four Arms 16 Devadeva Lord of All Lords 17 Devantakanashakarin Destroyer of Evils and Asuras 18 Devavrata One who accepts all Penances 19 Devendrashika Protector of All Gods 20 Dharmik One who gives Charity 21 Dhoomravarna Smoke Hued Lord 22 Durja Invincible Lord 23 Dvaimatura One who has two Mothers 24 Ekaakshara He of the Single Syllable 25 Ekadanta Single Tusked Lord 26 Ekadrishta Single Tusked Lord 27 Eshanputra Lord Shiva's Son 28 Gadadhara One who has The Mace as His Weapon 29 Gajakarna One who has Eyes like an Elephant 30 Gajanana Elephant Faced Lord 31 Gajananeti Elephant Faced Lord 32 Gajavakra Trunk of The Elephant 33 Gajavaktra One who has Mouth like an Elephant 34 Ganadhakshya Lord of All Ganas (Gods) 35 Ganadhyakshina Leader of All The Celestial Bodies 36 Ganapati Lord of All Ganas (Gods) 37 Gaurisuta The Son of Gauri (Parvati) 38 Gunina One who is The Master of All Virtues 39 Haridra One who is Golden Coloured 40 Heramba Mother's Beloved Son 41 Kapila YellowishBrown Coloured 42 Kaveesha Master of Poets 43 Kartik Lord of Music 44 Kripalu Merciful Lord 45 Krishapingaksha Yellowish - Brown Eyed 46 Kshamakaram The Place of Forgiveness 47 Kshipra One who is easy to Appease 48 Lambakarna Large - Eared Lord 49 Lambodara The Huge Bellied Lord 50 Mahabala Enormously Strong Lord 51 Mahaganapati Omnipotent and Supreme Lord 52 Maheshwaram Lord of The Universe 53 Mangalamurti All Auspicious Lord 54 Manomay Winner of Hearts 55 Mrityuanjaya Conqueror of Death 56 Mundakarama Abode of Happiness 57 Muktidaya Bestower of Eternal Bliss 58 Musikvahana One who has Mouse as Charioteer 59 Nadapratithishta One who Appreciates and Loves Music 60 Namasthetu Vanquisher of All Evils and Vices and Sins 61 Nandana Lord Shiva's Son 62 Nideeshwaram Giver of Wealth and Treasures 63 Omkara One who has the Form Of OM 64 Pitambara One who has Yellow - Coloured Body 65 Pramoda Lord of All Abodes 66 Prathameshwara First Among All 67 Purush The Omnipotent Personality 68 Rakta One who has Red - Coloured Body 69 Rudrapriya Beloved Of Lord Shiva 70 Sarvadevatman Acceptor of All Celestial Offerings 71 Sarvasiddhanta Bestower of Skills and Wisdom 72 Sarvatman Protector of The Universe 73 Shambhavi The Son of Parvati 74 Shashivarnam One who has a Moon like Complexion 75 Shoorpakarna Large- Eared Lord 76 Shuban All Auspicious Lord 77 Shubhagunakanan One who is The Master of All Virtues 78 Shweta One who is as Pure as the White Colour 79 Siddhidhata Bestower of Success and Accomplishments 80 Siddhipriya Bestower of Wishes and Boons 81 Siddhivinayaka Bestower of Success 82 Skandapurvaja Elder Brother of Skand (Lord Kartik) 83 Sumukha Auspicious Face 84 Sureshwaram Lord of All Lords 85 Swaroop Lover of Beauty 86 Tarun Ageless 87 Uddanda Nemesis of Evils and Vices 88 Umaputra The Son of Goddess Uma (Parvati) 89 Vakratunda Curved Trunk Lord 90 Varaganapati Bestower of Boons 91 Varaprada Granter of Wishes and Boons 92 Varadavinayaka Bestower of Success 93 Veeraganapati Heroic Lord 94 Vidyavaridhi God of Wisdom 95 Vighnahara Remover of Obstacles 96 Vignaharta Demolisher of Obstacles 97 Vighnaraja Lord of All Hindrances 98 Vighnarajendra Lord of All Obstacles 99 Vighnavinashanaya Destroyer of All Obstacles and Impediments 100 Vigneshwara Lord of All Obstacles 101 Vikat Huge and Gigantic 102 Vinayaka Lord of All 103 Vishwamukha Master of The Universe 104 Vishwaraja King of The World 105 Yagnakaya Acceptor of All Sacred and Sacrficial Offerings 106 Yashaskaram Bestower of Fame and Fortune 107 Yashvasin Beloved and Ever Popular Lord 108 Yogadhipa The Lord of Meditation
--------- Source: http://www.krislon.net/Religion/other/Ganesh/108_names.htm
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An article on Goa's unique Ganapati celebrations - By Chandrakant Keni
'While no Hindu family was willing to invite the wrath of Ganesh by skipping his worship during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, they did not dare to install a clay idol as that would instantly draw the attention of the rulers. The colonial rulers would not hesitate to do sacrilege to the holy idol and punish the family severely. The Hindus in Goa during those days decided to worship the pictures of Ganesh drawn on a plain paper.'
'No other festival has attained such an eminence and sentimental involvement of the entire community, as Ganesh Chaturthi is not merely a religious festival but is an occasion for family reunion.'
Welcome Ganapati bappa There's something peculiar about the Ganesh celebrations in Goa By Chandrakant Keni
'Ganesh Chathurthi' is an important festival in Goa and the adjoining coastal regions of Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is on the fourth day of the first (bright) fortnight of Hindu month Bhadrapada that the idol of Lord Ganesh is installed with full religious rites and worshipped in practically every Hindu household in Goa, irrespective of caste and sect. No other festival has attained such an eminence and sentimental involvement of the entire community, as Ganesh Chaturthi is not merely a religious festival but is an occasion for family reunion.
The idol is normally installed in the original or ancestral house and all its members living in different places and households congregate in this house to celebrate the Ganesh Chaturthi. For how many days the festival should continue is left to the family to decide. But the fourteenth day of Bhadrapada (Anant Chaturdasi) is the day beyond which the festivity cannot be prolonged and the clay idol is necessarily immersed by that day.
How the Ganesh Chaturthi came to be celebrated in Goa and how it came to occupy the eminence that it enjoys today is a matter for research scholars to determine. But one can safely conclude that the Ganesh worship was brought to this land by the early Aryan settlers.
Today Ganesh Chaturthi is also celebrated on a grand scale throughout Maharashtra and large parts of Karnataka and in almost all major cities in the country. But there is a basic difference in the traditional festival in Goa (and Konkan). While Ganesh Chaturthi is a family festival in Goa (and Konkan), it is a collective socio-cultural religious event elsewhere. It was Lokmanya Tilak who in the heyday of the national movement for freedom started the Ganesh Festival movement.
It was an alibi for holding a congregation and it provided a healthy-cultural recreation, sense of religious fulfillment and above all, political enlightenment. Assembly of people during the freedom-movement attracted the attention of the British authorities who would at once apprehend the organisers and disperse the crowds.
All attempts to hold such political gatherings having failed, Lokmanya Tilak decided to celebrate a public Ganesh festival. But it was not merely a religious event but useful occasion for mass awakening, which in turn gave a new boost to freedom struggle. Being a religious congregation, the British authorities would not intervene and the festival would go on smoothly.
In Maharashtra there is a village called Morgav near Pune. The lord of Morgav (Mayurgram) was known as Mayureshwar (an idol of Ganesh). One of the its ardeant devotees was Morya Gosavi. After the death of Morya Gosavi in the 14th century, devotes of Ganesh began associating with the name of the saint with the Lord himself.
That's why in Maharashtra Ganesh is also called Morya. This is an additional name to the already existing hundreds of names of Ganesh. All these names are associated with some mythological story or the other. Some of the popular names are Vighnesh, Heramb, Gajanan, Vinayak, Ekdanta, Ganadhipati etc.,
The chanting of the following cuplets are invariably heard in Goa during Ganesh festival.
Ganapati Bappa Morya... Fudlea Varsa Lavkar Ya
Very few must be knowing that Morya also means Ganapti and the name has nothing to do with immersion.
Visit any Goan Hindu house during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, you will find that that a clay idol is installed prominently. The installation is ceremoniously done by the head of the family, under supervision of the priest, and the pooja and aartis are performed twice a day, on Ganesh Chaturthi day and the immersion day.
It is not mandatory to immerse the idol in the sea, a well, a river or a tank. Visarjan could also by symbolic by moving the idol from the installed place for a while. Once the installed idol is moved, it marks the conclusion of the religious part of the festival.
The installation of a clay idol and its immersion is a reminder that no life is perpetual in this world. Those who are born have to die some day or the other, is also a message that this festival seeks to convey. Immersion was introduced to avoid mutilation of the reverently worshipped idol.
While it is a prerogative to install and worship the Ganesh idol on Ganesh Chaturti day, the Visarjan can be made on any day after the Rishi Panchami, the second day. Normally, most of the idols are immersed on the second night but some families continue to worship it till the fifth, seventh, or tenth day, either because of family tradition or to fulfill a vow.
In Goa one finds that paper portraits of Ganesh along with those of Mahadev and Parvati (considered to be his parents) are also installed and worshipped in addition to the clay idol of Ganesh. This practice is not prevalent outside Goa. This tradition began during the hostile days of Portuguese colonial rule, when idol worship was banned by the rulers and any violation of the order attracted stringent punishment.
While no Hindu family was willing to invite the wrath of Ganesh by skipping his worship during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, they did not dare to install a clay idol as that would instantly draw the attention of the rulers. The colonial rulers would not hesitate to do sacrilege to the holy idol and punish the family severely. The Hindus in Goa during those days decided to worship the pictures of Ganesh drawn on a plain paper. These pictures were pasted inside the top cover of an empty wooden box which could be closed, if the authorities arrived for inspection.
Rules were relaxed subsequently, but the practice continues till today, as a poignant reminder of the dark days of history.
-------- Source: http://www.goacom.com/goatoday/98/aug/religion.html
==== Compiled by Cecil Pinto Goan Trivia Service ====
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