Ganesh Chaturthi: This festive season, let’s take a look at some little-known facts about Lord Ganesha
Ganesh Chaturthi has finally begun today and everyone is filled with the spirit to celebrate the festival of joy. While you perform aartis, dance, and prepare prasad for Ganesha, Do you know these things about him
1. Shiv Puran says that Parvati’s friends Jaya and Vijaya Persuaded her to make Lord Ganesha. They told Parvati that Nandi and everyone else follows the orders of Lord Shiva only and there should be someone who follows Parvati’s orders as well. So, Parvati constructed Ganesha from the dirt of her body.
2. The actual body colour of Lord Ganesha is red and green
3. He has mastered 64 arts. This is why he is termed as ‘चौसष्ट कलांचा अधिपती’ in Marathi.
4. His Vahan is Moshak who was actually a demon.
5. Lord Ganesha is the original author of Mahabharata and Maharishi Ved Vyas Just narrated it.
6. Mahadev Killed Ganesh Ji and it was due to a curse Rishi Kashyap gave him. It’s because Mahadev once killed his son Surya Dev temporarily. Rishi Kashyap cursed him in anger that he will cut his son’s head one day.
7. Gajasura, an elephant whose head was used to bring Ganpati Bappa back to life was a big devotee of Lord Shiva and he willingly gave his head.
8. Parshuram broke Ganesha’s tusk with an unfailable axe which actually belonged to Lord Shiva and he gave it to him.
9. Ganpati Bappa is also called Heramba, one who protects the weak. Heramba is Panchmukhi (five-headed) and sits on a lion.
10. Lord Ganesha was once meditating on the banks of river Ganga and Tulsi spotted him. She then wished to marry him. However, Ganesha humble refused and told her that he wants to meditate, dedicate his entire life to his parents, and would stay away from family life. Tulsi in anger cursed him that he will have to marry one day. Even lord Ganesha cursed her that she will first marry a monster and then a plant. Later, he blessed her to be sacred and worshipped by people.
11. When all the Gods were blessing Lord Ganesha, Parvati saw Shani Dev standing with his head downwards. When she asked, he said that if he looks directly at Ganesha, he will lose his head. But Parvati insisted and Shani Dev looked at Ganesha. As a result, Ganesha lost his head from his body. Shri Hari then flew towards North and took away a baby elephant’s head which was given to Ganesha then to bring him back to life.
12. As per religious beliefs, seeing the back of Ganpati Bappa is forbidden. It can cause financial loss and extreme poverty in the house. All the evil powers that he defends us from, reside there.