Why is Ganesha worshipped first?

Shiva made Ganesha lord of his ganas and blessed him to be worshipped first in every auspicious act. He is therefore called "Pratham Pujya" and is invoked at every beginning to remove obstacles.

Why does Ganesha have an elephant head?

According to the Shiva Purana, Shiva beheaded the boy Ganesha when he barred the door, then revived him with an elephant's head to console Parvati.

When is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?

Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada, usually in August–September, and the festival continues until Anant Chaturdashi.

What is Ganesha's mount?

Ganesha rides a mouse (Mushaka), traditionally read as a symbol of mastery over the restless mind and its desires.

What offering is dear to Ganesha?

The modak sweet is traditionally regarded as his favourite offering; laddus and durva grass are also specially offered to him.

Ganesha

Remover of Obstacles, the First-Worshipped

Lord Ganesha, son of Shiva and Parvati, is the remover of obstacles, invoked first before any ritual, worship or new beginning. He presides over wisdom, discernment and auspiciousness.

The Story of Ganesha

Ganesha is the son of Shiva and Parvati and the brother of Kartikeya. The best-known account of his birth comes from the Shiva Purana. Before bathing, Parvati shaped a boy from the fragrant paste (ubtan) she had rubbed onto her body, gave him life, and set him to guard her door. When Shiva returned, the boy, obeying his mother, barred even him from entering. After Shiva's attendants were defeated in the struggle, Shiva struck off the boy's head. To console the grieving, furious Parvati, Shiva restored the boy to life with an elephant's head, made him lord of his ganas — Ganapati — and decreed that he would be worshipped first in every auspicious undertaking. Different Puranas tell the story in varying forms. A popular story of his wisdom tells how Shiva and Parvati declared that whichever son first circled the world would be the greater. Kartikeya set off on his peacock, while Ganesha simply walked around his parents, saying that they were the whole world to him. Tradition also holds that Ganesha wrote down the Mahabharata as the sage Vyasa dictated it — the story linked to his broken tusk — though scholars regard this episode as a later addition. The principal text of his worship is the Ganapati Atharvashirsha, and the Ganesha Purana and Mudgala Purana describe his glory at length. In some traditions Riddhi and Siddhi are his consorts and Shubha and Labha his sons. Ganesh Chaturthi, a ten-day festival, begins on the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada and ends with the immersion of his images on Anant Chaturdashi. The monthly Sankashti Chaturthi and Wednesdays are also traditionally kept for his worship.

Iconography & Symbols

An elephant head with one broken tusk (Ekadanta), a large belly, and four arms holding a goad, a noose and a modak sweet, with one hand raised in blessing — his mount is the mouse (Mushaka).

Other Names

Ganapati
Vinayaka
Vighnaharta
Gajanana
Lambodara
Ekadanta
Siddhivinayaka
Gaurinandana

Ganesha: Aartis, Chalisas, Stotras & Festivals

Chalisa

Ganesh Chalisa

Festival

Diwali (Deepavali)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Ganesha worshipped first?: Shiva made Ganesha lord of his ganas and blessed him to be worshipped first in every auspicious act. He is therefore called "Pratham Pujya" and is invoked at every beginning to remove obstacles.
Why does Ganesha have an elephant head?: According to the Shiva Purana, Shiva beheaded the boy Ganesha when he barred the door, then revived him with an elephant's head to console Parvati.
When is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?: Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada, usually in August–September, and the festival continues until Anant Chaturdashi.
What is Ganesha's mount?: Ganesha rides a mouse (Mushaka), traditionally read as a symbol of mastery over the restless mind and its desires.
What offering is dear to Ganesha?: The modak sweet is traditionally regarded as his favourite offering; laddus and durva grass are also specially offered to him.