O Lord Ganesh, remover of all obstacles and bestower of blessings, adored by all the divine beings! With your large belly and your curved trunk, the embodiment of wisdom and the adornment of sacred scriptures and rituals, O beloved son of Parvati, master of Lord Shiva’s attendants, I bow to you repeatedly.
In the eternal path of Sanatan Dharma, Shri Ganesh Ji holds a place of honour and reverence. He is always worshipped first as he has the unique power to remove obstacles from the path of devotees striving for divine realization.
The origins of Lord Ganesh vary slightly in the Puranas, the ancient Hindu scriptures, due to his birth being recounted in different eras and cycles of creation. The most widely accepted story tells that Parvati Ma created Ganesh Ji as her son to bring joy and companionship while her husband, Lord Shiva, retreated to the mountains for intense meditation. Following his mother’s instructions, Ganesh Ji stood guard at the home, whereupon Shiva returned. Unaware that this was his father, Ganesh Ji denied him entry, viewing him as an outsider. Enraged by this denial, Lord Shiva struck off Ganesh Ji’s head. When Parvati Ma explained that this was indeed their son, Shiva sought to make amends by replacing Ganesh Ji’s head with that of an elephant. Shiva then blessed him with the title “Gananaatha,” making him the foremost of the divine and granting him the privilege of being worshipped before all other gods.
Ganesh Ji’s elephant face symbolizes wisdom, and he used his tusk to transcribe the Vedas as Sage Veda Vyasa recited them. His large belly signifies the capacity to endure and absorb the world’s problems without spreading them. A variety of sweets, notably laddus, are placed at Lord Ganesh’s feet, symbolizing abundance and enjoyment of divine offerings. His chosen mount, the rat, remains at his feet despite the presence of sweets. This demonstrates steadfast devotion, illustrating the ideal for humanity: to renounce worldly pleasures in devotion to the Divine.
For these reasons, Lord Ganesh Ji is revered first among deities. As the harbinger of prosperity, knower of the Vedas, true devotee, remover of life’s hurdles, and devoted son, he stands as an exemplar for us all.