Ganesa
Ganesa, who is said to be the eldest son of Siva and Parvati, is the Hindoo god of prudence and policy, patron of letters, guardian of gates, etc. Ganesa is a word composed of Isa, the governor or leader, and gana, a company (of deities)Ganesa is said to be the elder son of Siva and Parvati, but the Puranas that describe his origin differ very considerably in their narratives of this event. Sir W. Jones says that "Ganesa, the Indian god of Wisdom, has the same characteristics as Janus of the Latins.
All sacrifices and religious ceremonies, all serious compositions in writing, and all worldly affairs of importance are begun by pious Hindus with an invocation to Ganesa. Before beginning any undertaking, whether warlike or pacific, the pious Hindu invokes the aid of Ganesa, and propitiates him by such salutations and other means as are supposed to please him. The Hindu banker indited the words "Sri Ganesh" at the commencement of evepy letter; the warrior implores his counsel; the architect plans his image in the foundation of every edifice; and the figure of Ganesa is either sculptured or painted at the doors of houses as a protection against Jevil; and, in the southern part of India, it is set up by the wayside as a protection to travelers. Few books are begun without the words, 'Salutation to Ganesa;' and he is first invoked by Brahmans who conduct the trial by ordeal, or perform the ceremony of the homa or sacrifice to fire.
The god of prudence is represented as a short, fat, red-colored man, with the head of an elephant. As a frontispiece to Moor's "Hindu Pantheon" there is a large, handsome plate of Ganesa, which represents him seated in state upon a kind of throne which rests upon the back of a large, alert-looking rat. Behind him, and forming a part of the back of his throne or chair, is the five-headed serpent, and, crowning all, the serpent of eternity swallowing its tail. In this picture the elephantheaded god has the "third eye " in the middle of his forehead, and in each of his four hands is a symbol. Many of the representations of Ganesa omit his vehicle, the rat; and there is some difference of opinion as to the meaning of this little animal. Ganesa is sometimes given four hands, sometimes six or eight, and in a few instances only two; one characteristic, however, is always shown — the elephant head, without which Ganesa would not be himself.
The 'Brahmavaivarta Purana' gives the following account of his birth :— "Parvati, after her marriage with Siva, being without a child, and very desirous to obtain one, is advised by her husband to perform the Panyakavrata. This is the worship of Vishnu, to be begun on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of Magha, and continued for a year, on every day of which flowers, fruits, cakes, vessels, gems, gold, &c., are to be presented, and a thousand Brahmans fed; and the performer of the rite is to observe most carefully a life of inward purity, and to fix his mind on Hari (Vishnu). Parvati having, with the aid of Sanat kumara, as directing priest, accomplished the ceremony on the banks of the Ganges, returns after some interval, in which she sees Krishna', first as a body of light, and afterwards as an old Brahman, come to her dwelling. The reward of her religious , zeal being delayed, she is plunged in grief, when a viewless voice tells her to go to her apartment, where she will find a son who is the lord of Goloka, or Krishna, that deity having assumed the semblance of her son as a recompense for her devotions.
In the 'Varaha Purana' Ganesa is said to have been produced by Siva alone. "The immortals and holy sages observing that the actions which they or others commenced, whether good or bad, no difficulty occurred in accomplishing them, consulted together respecting the means by which obstacles might be opposed to the commission of bad actions, and then repaired to Siva for counsel, to whom they said: 'O Mahadeva! God of gods, three eyed, bearer of the trident, it is thou alone who canst create a being capable of opposing obstacles to the commission of improper acts.' Hearing these words, Siva looked at Parvati, and whilst thinking how he could effect the wishes of the gods, from the splendour of his countenance there sprang into existence a youth shedding radiance around, endowed with the qualities of Siva, and evidently another Rudra, and captivating by his beauty the female inhabitants of heaven.
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