Lord Ganapati or Ganesha is one of the most important gods of Hindu pantheon. He is commonly known as the elephant God due to his elephant head. And he is widely known as the remover of obstacles. He is the son of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva and is the brother of Karthikeyan. He was created by his, mother from a mold of earth that took a shape of a small boy. Mythology has it that Ganesha had the head of a boy before it was chopped off by the demons summoned by lord Shiva due to some misunderstanding created. Later when lord Shiva found out he ordered a new head for the boy. And the first animal head that was found was that of an elephant and so Ganesha gained a new head and emerged as the most distinctive of the Hindu gods.
The elephant God is popular in Hindu culture and epitomizes knowledge and wisdom. He is the Vighnaharta or the destroyer of all obstacles. So before the commencement of any task Ganesha is worshipped.
Worshipping Ganesha
If you want to worship Lord Ganesha then you have to follow certain steps. Firstly, sit before an image or idol of the deity in your home or office. Offer him dhup for incense sticks and chant his mantra. It is better if you worship the deity on Wednesdays. If you are affected by Ketu in your horoscope then fasting is advised in the name of the deity. Offer laddoo to the deity helps to fulfill your desires..
Festivals Based Of Lord Ganesha
Ganesh Chaturthi is the Hindu festival that is celebrated in the honor of the elephant god. The festival is celebrated in public and at home as well. The festival lasts for ten days and ends on the fourteenth day of the Fortnight. The month of Bhadrapada in the Hindu calendar and in the month of August or September marks the festivities of the deity. Aarti is also performed with friends and family during this festival typically in the morning and evening.
Benefits of Worshipping Lord Ganesha
The worshipping of the God leads to destroying of the evils and gives success to his devotees. He is worshipped as the God of knowledge, wisdom, wealth and education.
Region where Ganesha is worshipped
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated throughout India and particularly in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and many other parts of western and Southern India. Outside India, the festival is observed in regions of Nepal, United States, Mauritius and Canada. I hope this article has given you lot of information about Lord Ganapati or Ganesha. Please do comment if you need more infomartion.