Who is Ganesha || About Ganesh Ji

Shloka

अगजानन पद्म अर्कं

गजाननं अहर्निशम्।

अनेकदं तम् भक्तानाम्

एकदन्तम् उपास्महे॥

Agajaanana Padmaarkam

Gajaananam Aharnisham।

Anekadam Tam Bhaktaanaam

Ekadantam Upaasmahey॥

We meditate upon Bhagwan Ganesha, who has the face of an elephant, whose appearance resembles the lotus and the sun, who is worshipped day and night, who grants countless blessings to devotees, and who is the one-tusked Bhagwan.

Ganesh Ji is a beloved Hindu god known as the remover of obstacles, the god of wisdom, and the bringer of good luck. He is worshipped at the start of any new journey or task. Bhagwan Ganesha is worshipped across various regions and traditions all over the world. Festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi are celebrated with lots of enthusiasm to celebrate his birth and honour him as the God who brings people together and blesses them with wisdom and prosperity.

myNachiketa presents all the information about Ganesh Ji so that children can learn and understand his greatness.

The Story of Ganesh Ji’s Birth

Ganesha Ji is the son of Bhagwan Shiva and Goddess Parvati. One day, Maa Parvati created a little boy from clay and with divine powers gave life to him. Devi Parvati considered him her son. The boy was guarding her while she was bathing. When Shiv Ji came to meet Devi Parvati, the boy did not allow him to enter. This angered Shiv Ji, which led to a mishap. Later, Shivji realized his mistake and brought the boy back to life by replacing his head with that of an elephant.

Bhagwan Shiva blessed him and made him the leader of his followers (Ganas). This is how the little boy was named Ganesha and got his elephant-like face.

How Does Ganesh Ji Look?

Bhagwan Ganesha has the body of a human, a big round belly, and the head of an elephant. He has large ears, small eyes, and a long trunk. He often carries a sweet called modak, which is his favourite. Ganesha Ji's vahana (vehicle) is a mouse, symbolizing humility and the ability to overcome challenges.

Adventures of Bhagwan Ganesh

Ganesh Ji is known for his cleverness and bravery. In one story, he won a race against his brother Kartikeya. Both brothers were asked to travel the world, and the one who returned first would be the winner. Ganesh Ji won the race by walking around his parents, saying they are the whole world to him.

In another story, Ganesh Ji agreed to write the great epic Mahabharata, but only if Sage Vyasa would recite it without any pause or break. As the verses flowed continuously, Ganesh Ji's stylus broke while writing. To ensure the writing never stopped, he broke off one of his tusks and used it as a pen, showing his deep dedication and focus.

Many Names of Ganesh Ji

Vinayaka - a natural leader who guides his devotees and helps them overcome challenges.
Ganapati - This name means "Bhagwan of the Ganas" or Leader of Ganas. Ganas are the followers of Bhagwan Shiv.
Ekadanta (one-tusked) - Ganesha broke one of his tusks to use as a pen for writing the Mahabharata. This act of self-sacrifice earned him the name Ekadanta.
Lambodara (big-bellied) - Ganesh Ji's large belly symbolizes his ability to digest all the good and bad experiences of life. It also represents abundance and prosperity.
Vighnaharta (remover of obstacles) - Ganesh Ji is known as the one who clears the path of difficulties for his devotees. People pray to him to remove hurdles in their lives.

5 simple teachings of Bhagwan Ganesha for children:

Respect Your Parents - He teaches us to respect, love, and obey our parents as they are our first teachers and guides.

Stay Focused and Determined - Ganesh Ji reminds us to stay focused on our goals. No matter how big the task, with determination and concentration, we can achieve success.

Overcome Challenges with Wisdom - As the remover of obstacles, Ganesha teaches us to face challenges calmly and wisely. Thinking creatively and finding solutions are the best ways to solve problems.

Be Kind and Humble - Ganesha's large ears symbolize listening carefully to others.

Learn from Mistakes - Ganesh Ji's broken tusk reminds us that mistakes are a part of life. Instead of feeling sad, we should learn from them and keep moving forward with confidence.
Bhagwan Ganesha teaches us to be kind, wise, and never give up!