| Ganesha | |
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Other Names |
Ganesh, Ganapati, Vinayaka, Lambodara, Pillaiyar |
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First Appearance |
Hindu Theology |
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Created by |
Hindu Theology |
Origin[]
Ganesha, also spelled Ganesh, and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, Lambodara and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His wives are Buddhi (attainment), Riddhi (propserity) and Siddhi (attainment). He is the son of Parvati and younger brother of Kartikeya. His depictions are found throughout India. Hindu denominations worship him regardless of affiliations. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains and Buddhists and beyond India.
Although Ganesha has many attributes, he is readily identified by his elephant head and four arms. He is widely revered, more specifically, as the remover of obstacles and bringer of good luck; the patron of arts and sciences; and the deva of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rites and ceremonies. Ganesha is also invoked during writing sessions as a patron of letters and learning. Several texts relate anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits.
Ganesha is mentioned in Hindu texts between the 1st century BCE and 2nd century CE, and a few Ganesh images from the 4th and 5th centuries CE have been documented by scholars. Hindu texts identify him as the son of Parvati and Shiva of the Shaivism tradition, but he is a pan-Hindu god found in its various traditions. In the Ganapatya tradition of Hinduism, Ganesha is the Supreme Being. The principal texts on Ganesha include the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana and the Ganapati Atharvasirsha.
Though Ganesha is popularly held to be the son of Shiva and Parvati, the Puranic texts give different versions about his birth. In some he was created by Parvati, or by Shiva or created by Shiva and Parvati, in another he appeared mysteriously and was discovered by Shiva and Parvati or he was born from the elephant headed goddess Malini after she drank Parvati's bath water that had been thrown in the river.
In a common account, Parvati created Ganesh to guard the door while she bathed. She had previously asked her husband's servant Nandi, to do so. However, he was loyal first to Shiva himself and, when Shiva asked to enter, Nandi let him pass. Enraged at this, Parvati created Ganesh out of turmeric paste.
As she was taking a bath, her husband came to see her. Ganesh, not knowing who he was, stopped Shiva from entering the cave where they lived, claiming his mother was inside. Shiva, angered by his insolence and insubordination, immediately beheaded him. When Parvati finished, she came outside and saw her dead son upon the ground. She asked Shiva to bring him back to life and, having cooled down, he complied. He sent Garuda to find the head of the first animal he saw and bring it to him. This head was that of an elephant. Thus Ganesh was brought back to life with an elephant head.
The Shiva Purana says that Ganesha had begotten two sons: Kşema (safety) and Lābha (profit). In northern Indian variants of this story, the sons are often said to be Śubha (auspiciousness) and Lābha.
The Sangam period Tamil poet Avvaiyar, invokes Ganesha while preparing the invitation to the three Tamil Kingdoms for giving away in marriage of Angavay and Sangavay of Ceylon in marriage to the King of Tirucovalur.
A late interpolation to the epic poem Mahabharata says that the sage Vyasa (Vyāsa) asked Ganesha to serve as his scribe to transcribe the poem as he dictated it to him. Ganesha agreed but only on the condition that Vyasa recites the poem uninterrupted, that is, without pausing. The sage agreed but found that to get any rest he needed to recite very complex passages so Ganesha would have to ask for clarifications.
In the Ganapatya tradition founded in the Ganesha Purana and the Mudgala Purana, Ganesha is worshipped as one of the five principle deities along with Siva, Vishnu, the Sun, Ganesha, and the Goddess.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Ganesha before January 1, 1930 are public domain.
Notable appearances are listed here.
Some Notable Appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Ganesha Purana
- Mudgala Purana
- Ganapati Atharvasirsha
- Mahabharata
Notes[]
- In the Sonic the Hedgehog Franchise, one of the Tantaror is inspired by Ganesha.
- Rumsshi from the Dragon Ball Franchise, probably inspired by Ganesha.
- Zunesha from the One Piece Franchise, was named after Ganesha.
- God of War: Ascension's Juggernaut enemy is inspired by Ganesha.
- Gammoth from the Monster Hunter Franchise was named after Ganesha.