Once again we enter that time of the year where the air is going to be filled with the fragrance of incense and flowers and the only sound will be Dhol-taasha or Aarti. Lets welcome the King once again! Without taking his name or praying to him no work can prosper and no worship will fulfil, exactly why he is called “Ganpati” (the lord of lords).
Keeping a Ganpati at ones place at this time of the year is considered to be auspicious since taking care of the elephant lord for a period of 10 days brings in good luck and omits all the negative aspects in one’s home and life. According to our mythology Ganesha is the lord of wisdom, knowledge, literature, fire and arts. His head which is like one of an elephant is said to epitomise everything related to wisdom. He has small and sharp eyes, long ears that don’t miss out on anything and a long curled up trunk which can smell even the tiniest of thing. Ganesha is the only other God after Vishnu to have 108 names. Here are a few names which can help you get a deeper understanding on the miracles of “Ganesha”!
- Vighnaharta ( destroyer of all obstacles) – we all pray and worship to eradicate all obstacles and mis-happenings in our lives to Ganesha as he is known as the creator and the remover of obstacles in our mythology. This according to Vishnu is one of Ganesha’s duties as the son of Shiva and Parvati…
- Siddhidata (bestower of accomplishments and success)- Ganesha is known as siddhidata as he grants wishes of his disciples in the form of success in any chosen arena of their lives. ‘Siddhi’ which means accomplishments is unfolded only to those who have the power of self realisation about their needs and not greed. The ‘siddhivinayak’ temple in Mumbai is known to be a wish fulfilling place for people and holds a lot of importance in the hearts and minds of believers.
- Gunina (the lord of virtues) - he is called gunina as he is the most gracious and makes everything around him auspicious. His grace on his devotees has never gone unnoticed, the very reason being of why Ganesha is loved by all.
- Mangalamurti (the all auspicious lord) - Ganesha is the personification of all that is auspicious. As our manuscripts prove that Ganesha was worshipped by Lord Shiva before his vanquishing Tripurasur, by Lord Vishnu before his tying of Bali in the rope, by Lord Brahma before creating the world, by Parvati before her slaying the demon Manisha,which makes it even more clear why he is called mangalmurti!
- Nideeshwaram (the bestower of wealth) - Ganesha is not only the Lord of all materialistic wealth but is the lord of spiritual endowed wealth as well,that command the respect of all. In his eyes no one is big money wise but is only big when the fulfil all their duties in this lifetime!
- Avaneesh (Master of the Whole Earth) – Ganesha is the lord and Master of the whole Earth. He is the protector of the visible and the helpless, destroying all evil and bad that takes place.
- Ekadrishti (single-focused) - Ganesha stands for one direction. He gathers information from various directions, but having decided his course of direction, he does not waver. The single tusk represents the non-dualistic nature of reality.
- Devadeva (the lord of all lords) - Ganesha is the Master of all. He has always been worshipped in the three worlds by all, and is the first to be reverenced among the celestial. No prayer is complete without his name!
- Amit (One who is incomparable) – Ganesha is the embodiment of 'OM'. He is the Eternal Spirit, the Beginning of all beginnings, beyond comparison. There can be no one as beautiful, radiant, auspicious, giving and forgiving as him!
- Yashaskaram (the bestower of fame and fortune) - Lord Ganesha is worshipped by both the devas and the asuras, for he is the Lord of the gods. He gives prosperity, fame and glory to all without any condition.