Ganesha, Vinayaka, Ekdanta, Vignaharta, Akhurath

jayvenk thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#1
Sumukh ,.
Ekdanta (with one Tooth) ,
. Kapil, ,
Gajkarna
Lambodar
Vikat
Vighna-Nashan
Vinayak
Dhumraketu
Ganadhyaksh
Bhalchandra
Gajanan
He is known by a 1000 names. Are we going to see him soon on DKDM. Will we have a twist in the tale of his birth.
Listing some of the versions of his birth.

Many variant legends relating to the source of the Ganesh elephant head are described in various texts, more or less ancient :

At gods' behest who needed a deity able to remove all the obstacles from their path of action and realization Shiva himself was born from the Prvat's womb, under his form of Gajnana Gaja : elephant, anana : face.

According to the Linga-Purna, Ganesh was created by Shiva in order to triumph over the Asura devils, semi-gods and other enemies of gods; indeed, the Dev supplicated the Allmighty Shiva to lend assistance to them, because they were tormented by the devils.

Shiva agreed and the superb and wonderful image of a child shout out of his mind. He had the head of a powerful elephant, he brandished a trident in one hand (indeed, Ganesh is sometimes represented with a trident). The gods were delighted to see this child, born-from-Shiva's mind, able to protect them from this time forward. Looking at this nice young boy, Prvat took him on her lap and made the vow that any human or divine undertaking, should not be successful unless Ganesh would be worshipped first. Then Shiva declared that he would be the Lord of the celestial hosts, the Gana, giving him the name Ganapati, which means Lord of the Gana.

In another Purna, the Varha-Purna, Ganesh is depicted like a wonderfully handsome young man originating from the glittering forehead of Shiva absorbed in a deep meditation. This mnasika putra, son-born-from the Shiva's mind, was a dazzling human boy. Prvat was disappointed that the boy was born without her intervention. So, she wished that his head became the head of an elephant. However, when she saw the elephant-headed child, she loved him immediately, and declared that any human or divine undertaking, should not be successful unless Ganesh/Ganapati, Lord of the Gana, would be worshipped first.

Another Puranic legend tells that Prvat longed for getting a child; she informed Shiva about her desire. He requested her to observe a one-year penance period (tapas or tapasya ) designated as puyaka. She did. Thus, the Sage Sanatkumara submitted Prvat to various severe tests in order to ascertain the force of her will. Afterwards, she heard a voice asking her to proceed to the room and to bring her new-born baby.

She rushed forward, saw the child and could not believe her eyes, since he was more glorious than all the gods assembled and his face shined like the sun at dawn. She felt overcome with joy.

All the gods and goddesses darted to the mount Kailash, the dwelling of the divine parents, to admire this glorious child; they worshipped him and marveled his beauty.

The nine Planets, the Navagraha, came also to congratulate the divine couple and their beloved child. One of them, Shani Saturn did not accept to raise the eyes to look at the baby; Quite the contrary, Shani wanted the child to hang down the head.

Prvat was vexed and did not believe him; she requested Shani to do as other gods and admire the baby. So he did and the baby's head was instantaneously separated from the body, flying to the space to the Goloka, the Krishn world (indeed, one legend of the Brahmavaivarta-Purna tells that Ganesha was originally Krishn himself, as a human being).

Prvat cried, lamented noisily and created a total confusion. Realizing the dramatic situation, Vishnu left immediately on his vehicle Garuda White eagle with a human face in search of a new head to replace the lost one.

On the banks of the river Pushpabhadra, he met a herd of sleeping elephants. Choosing a resting animal, whose head was turned northwards, he cut the head and brought it back. According to a version of this legend, this elephant was actually a Gandharva kind of celestial being who desired to obtain the liberation from his terrestrial life. According to another version, one of the elephant Airvata's sons, the Indra god vehicle, gave his head.

Whatever it was, when Vishnu came back, he put the head on the child's neck. Blowing life energy in the lifeless body, he presented him to Prvat who felt delighted to get a child empowered with the elephant's wisdom and power.

Vishnu dressed the child with exquisite ornaments, fitting his beauty; Himavn, the Prvat'father, did the same. Vishnu mustered all the heavenly beings, and worshipped the child, giving him the eight names who designate him henceforth :

Vighneshvara, Ganesha, Heramba, Gajnana, Lambodara, Ekadanta, Soorpakarna and Vinyaka.



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Karunima thumbnail
12th Anniversary Thumbnail Voyager Thumbnail
Posted: 12 years ago
#2
Thank you for the valuable information.
DeewaniRimi thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#3
Wonderful. Just awesome Jayashree. Thanks for sharing these various stories from various scriptures.This is for you dear👏🤗
Gopiii thumbnail
14th Anniversary Thumbnail Dazzler Thumbnail
Posted: 12 years ago
#4
So many versions of Ganesha. DKDM will have it's own version 😆.
Thanks a ton Jaya this is just awesome😊

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