8 Interesting Facts About Lord Ganesha You May Not Know

Lord Ganesha is the Son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Since he is born out of their union, he personifies life, duality, and manifestation in diverse aspects. Ganesha is highly charming and mesmerizing. He is the remover of problems and obstacles. Lord Ganesha is worshiped by both Jainism and Buddhism.

The head of Lord Ganesha symbolizes the Atman or the soul, considered the ultimate reality of humanity, and his human body symbolizes Maya, the trappings of earthly existence. Below are some of the interesting facts about Lord Ganesha.

Lord Ganesha Wrote the Mahabharata

It is believed that Rishi Vyasa requested Lord Ganesha to write the Mahabharata as he recited it. He decided to do it after Vyasa agreed to recite it without any interruptions, and Vyasa, in turn, made him promise he would understand what was being said before he wrote it down.

Meaning of Ganapati

‘Gana’ means category. Everything we perceive through our senses or grasp through our mind can be expressed in terms of category. Ganapati, the Lord of categories, is the principle from which all such categories have manifested themselves. In effect, it means the origin of the whole creation, God Himself;

Meaning of Gajanana or Gajamukha

A common Sanskrit word to denote elephant is ‘Gaja.’Hence the name Gajanana or Gajamukha (elephant-faced) for Ganapati. But the word ‘Gaja’ has a deeper connotation. ‘Ga’ indicates ‘Gati,’ the final goal towards which the entire creation moves. ‘Ja’ stands for ‘Janma’ or birth or origin. Hence ‘Gaja’ signifies God from whom the worlds have come out and towards whom they are progressing, ultimately dissolved in Him. The elephant head is thus purely symbolic and points to this truth;

A factor we observe in creation is its two-fold manifestation as the microcosm (Suksmanda) and macrocosm (Brahmanda). Each is a replica of the other. They are one in two and two in one. The elephant head stands for the macrocosm, and the human body for the microcosm. The two form one unit. Since the macrocosm is the goal of the microcosm, the elephant part has been given greater prominence by making it the head.

Elephant-Human form of Ganapati

The elephant-human form of Ganapati is the iconographical representation of the great Vedantic dictum, ‘tat-tvam-asi'(which means You, the limited individual, are the Cosmic Truth, the Absolute). The elephant stands for the cosmic, whereas the human stands for the individual.

Lord Ganesha in Buddhism

Lord Ganesha’s popularity isn’t restricted to Hindus alone — he appears as the Buddhist god Vinayaka in Mahayana Buddhism, too — and is often seen dancing. He has distinct regional characteristics in Tibet, China, and Japan. The earliest stone statue of the Elephant God in North China dates back to as early as AD 531.

Indonesia prints Lord Ganesha on its 20,000 Rupiah note. Indonesia has strong cultural ties with India and Hinduism. Hinduism is practiced by 1.7% of the total population and by 83.5% of the population in Bali as of the 2010 census. Hinduism is one of the six official religions of Indonesia. In 2010, there was an estimated total of over 4 million Hindus in Indonesia.

Wives of Lord Ganesha

According to the scriptures, Lord Ganesh had two wives, Ridhhi (representing Prosperity) and Sidhhi (representing Intellectual Enlightenment). Furthermore, he had two sons – Ridhhi bore him Subha (representing Auspiciousness), while Sidhhi bore him Labha (representing Profit).

Birth of Lord Ganesha

According to Shiva Purana, it was Parvati’s friends Jaya and Vijaya’s decision to make Lord Ganesha. They had suggested to Parvati that Nandi and others only follow Lord Shiva’s instructions. Therefore, there should be someone who follows Parvati’s orders too. Hence, Parvati made Ganesha from the dirt of her body.

108 Names of Lord Ganesha

Akhurath = One who has Mouse as His Charioteer
Alampata = Ever Eternal Lord
Amit = Incomparable Lord
Anantachidrupamayam = Infinite and Consciousness Personified
Avaneesh = Lord of the whole World
Avighna = Remover of Obstacles
Balaganapati = Beloved and Lovable Child
Bhalchandra = Moon-Crested Lord
Bheema = Huge and Gigantic
Bhupati = Lord of the Gods
Bhuvanpati = God of the Gods
Buddhinath = God of Wisdom
Buddhipriya = Knowledge
Buddhividhata = God of Knowledge
Chaturbhuj = One who has Four Arms
Devadeva = Lord of All Lords
Devantakanashakarin = Destroyer of Evils and Asuras
Devavrata = One who accepts all Penances
Devendrashika = Protector of All Gods
Dharmik = One who gives Charity
Dhoomravarna = Smoke-Hued Lord
Durja = Invincible Lord
Dvaimatura = One who has two mothers
Ekaakshara = He of the Single Syllable
Ekadanta = Single-Tusked Lord
Ekadrishta = Single-Tusked Lord
Eshanputra = Lord Shiva’s Son
Gadadhara = One who has The Mace as His Weapon
Gajakarna = One who has Eyes like an Elephant
Gajanana = Elephant-Faced Lord
Gajananeti = Elephant-Faced Lord
Gajavakra = Trunk of The Elephant
Gajavaktra = One who has Mouth like an Elephant
Ganadhakshya = Lord of All Ganas (Gods)
Ganadhyakshina = Leader of All The Celestial Bodies
Ganapati = Lord of All Ganas (Gods)
Gaurisuta = The Son of Gauri (Parvati)
Gunina = One who is The Master of All Virtues
Haridra = One who is Golden Coloured
Heramba = Mother’s Beloved Son
Kapila = Yellowish-Brown Coloured
Kaveesha = Master of Poets
Krti = Lord of Music
Kripalu = Merciful Lord
Krishapingaksha = Yellowish-Brown Eyed
Kshamakaram = The Place of Forgiveness
Kshipra = One who is easy to Appease
Lambakarna = Large-Eared Lord
Lambodara = The Huge-Bellied Lord
Mahabala = Enormously Strong Lord
Mahaganapati = Omnipotent and Supreme Lord
Maheshwaram = Lord of The Universe
Mangalamurti = All Auspicious Lord
Manomay = Winner of Hearts
Mrityuanjaya = Conqueror of Death
Mundakarama = Abode of Happiness
Muktidaya = Bestower of Eternal Bliss
Musikvahana = One who has mouse as charioteer
Nadapratithishta = One who Appreciates and Loves Music
Namasthetu = Vanquisher of All Evils & Vices & Sins
Nandana = Lord Shiva’s Son
Nideeshwaram = Giver of Wealth and Treasures
Omkara = One who has the Form Of OM
Pitambara = One who has Yellow-Colored Body
Pramoda = Lord of All Abodes
Prathameshwara = First Among All
Purush = The Omnipotent Personality
Rakta = One who has a Red-Colored Body
Rudrapriya = Beloved Of Lord Shiva
Sarvadevatman = Acceptor of All Celestial Offerings
Sarvasiddhanta = Bestower of Skills and Wisdom
Sarvatman = Protector of The Universe
Shambhavi = The Son of Parvati
Shashivarnam = One who has a Moon like Complexion
Shoorpakarna = Large-Eared Lord
Shuban = All Auspicious Lord
Shubhagunakanan = One who is The Master of All Virtues
Shweta = One who is as Pure as the White Color
Siddhidhata = Bestower of Success & Accomplishments
Siddhipriya = Bestower of Wishes and Boons
Siddhivinayaka = Bestower of Success
Skandapurvaja = Elder Brother of Skand (Lord Kartik)
Sumukha = Auspicious Face
Sureshwaram = Lord of All Lords
Swaroop = Lover of Beauty
Tarun = Ageless
Uddanda = Nemesis of Evils and Vices
Umaputra = The Son of Goddess Uma (Parvati)
Vakratunda = Curved Trunk Lord
Varaganapati = Bestower of Boons
Varaprada = Granter of Wishes and Boons
Varadavinayaka = Bestower of Success
Veeraganapati = Heroic Lord
Vidyavaridhi = God of Wisdom
Vighnahara = Remover of Obstacles
Vignaharta = Demolisher of Obstacles
Vighnaraja = Lord of All Hindrances
Vighnarajendra = Lord of All Obstacles
Vighnavinashanaya = Destroyer of All Obstacles & Impediments
Vigneshwara = Lord of All Obstacles
Vikat = Huge and Gigantic
Vinayaka = Lord of All
Vishwamukha = Master of The Universe
Vishwaraja = King of The World
Yagnakaya = Acceptor of All Sacred & Sacrificial Offerings
Yashaskaram = Bestower of Fame and Fortune
Yashvasin = Beloved and Ever Popular Lord
Yogadhipa = The Lord of Meditation

ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ

“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.