Stories Related to Elephant Head of Ganesh

Ekdantam Mahakayam Lambodharam Ganananam |

Vighnanasakaram Devam Herambam Pranamamyaham ||

With one tooth, a great body, a big belly, an elephant’s face, he is the destroyer of all obstacles; a God to whom we bow with all our devotion.

Our beloved Ganesha represents wisdom, discriminative authority and fidelity with his elephant head. The fables of how Lord Ganesha got the elephant head are both intriguing and epic.

One goes as –

It was a beautiful spring morning at the Kailash mountain, when Lord Shiva was away for saadhana and Devi Parvati was about to take a bath. She instructed Nandi to guard the door and not let anyone in. But when Shiva returned, Nandi allowed him to pass through the gates. Angry with this slight, she decided to find someone who would be more loyal to her.

As she prepared for her bath the next day, Parvati created Ganesha – a body with turmeric paste and mud, breathing life into it. Adoring him as her own son, she instructed Ganesha to guard the door. “Do not let anyone enter” – she said to Ganesha who agreed nodding his innocent head. When Lord Shiva arrived, Ganesha confronted him and did not allow him to enter his own home. Lord Shiva, furious with rage ordered his army to destroy the child. When they failed to do so, Shiva violently struck Ganesha with his trident, severing his head.

Enraged Parvati vowed to invoke all yoginis to destroy the entire universe. Lord Brahma pleaded to her to not do so. She agreed on one condition that Ganesha is brought back to life. Shiva asked his clan to bring back the head of first creature lying with his head facing north. They returned with a giant elephant head which Shiva placed on Ganesha’s body and brought him back to life.

Another story from Brahma Purana suggests a different version. Pravati longed to bear a child and observed a yearlong fast to please Lord Vishnu to grant her a son.

Content with Parvati’s penance, Vishnu announced – “I will reincarnate myself as your son.” And Ganesha was born. Thrilled parents invited all Gods to visit Kailash and bless the new-born. As everyone blessed Ganesha, Shani was hesitant to look at his face. When he did look at him upon Parvati’s insistence, Ganesha’s face fell off.  Both parents were stunned in silence with grief.

Lord Vishnu rushed to the banks of Pushpa Bhadra River and brought back the head of a young elephant which was joined to Ganesha’s body, reviving him back to the life.

Yet another famous fable is that of a mighty Asura named Gajasura who bore an elephant head. A devotee of Shiva, he observed stern ‘Tapa’. Pleased by his repentance, Shiva asked for his request.

He replied – “Lord, I want you as inherent part of me and desire you to inhabit my stomach.’ Shiva obliged.

Unable to find her husband anywhere, Parvati felt dejected and seeked Lord Vishnu’s help. He assumed the appearance of a flutist and transformed Nandi into a dancing bull. Staging an exhilarating performance, he enthralled Gajasura. Gajasura asked him what he wanted in return.

“Liberate Shiva from your stomach” – He commanded. Realising that he is no ordinary flutist, Gajasura released Shiva and asked for forgiveness. Gajasura pleaded Shiva –“I only want to be remembered lovingly for my elephant head after my death.”

Shiva acknowledged Gajasura as his devotee, and replaced his son, Ganesha’s head with Gajasura’s elephant head.

Source: https://www.wheresmypandit.com/blog/stories-related-to-elephant-head-of-ganesh

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Why Lord Ganesha Has An Elephant Head?

There are as many as 330 million gods in Hindu mythology. But the one who is always worshipped before reminiscing others is Lord Ganesha. He is considered as the one who brings auspicious fortunes and a remover of obstacles. With his soft looks and wisdom, Lord Ganesha is ever so popular and loved by all. He looks all cute and cuddly bearing an elephant head, a long trunk, two large ears, four hands, round big belly with snake tied around and riding his mouse. Each of his physical attributes signifies something important.

There are versions of stories explaining why Lord Ganesha bears an elephant head. It is said that both Lord Shiva and Parvati would now and then observe long episodes of meditation and penance which would last months. Once Lord Shiva went away for dhyana (meditation) and Goddess Parvati was left alone in Mount Kailash. She wanted to go off for a bath but was anxious as she was alone. She scrubbed off her skin of dirt and oil and created a young human form figure. Blowing a soft breath over it, Goddess Parvati brought the young child to life. She considered him as her own son. Goddess Parvati asked him to guard the entrance door and not let anyone pass it as she went inside to bathe.

In the meanwhile Lord Shiva returned home. While entering the house he saw this young child at the door who stopped him from going in. At first Lord Shiva reasoned with the young child that he was Goddess Parvati’s husband and Mount Kailash was his home, hence he had every right to enter his own home. However, the young child, loyal to Parvati and abiding her instructions stopped Lord Shiva in his tracks again saying that he is only performing his duty to Mother Parvati. Furious with rage Lord Shiva challenged the young child to battle and beheaded him with his trident. Hearing the cry of the young kid, Goddess Parvati rushed outside and was stunned by the horrifying sight of her young son lying in pool of blood and decapitated. She lost control of her rage and vowed to destroy all of the earth and heaven. This is when Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva tried to pacify her. Goddess Parvati agreed on two conditions. One – her son should be brought back to life and another – her son should be prayed first before prayers are offered to other deities. Lord Shiva sent his clan with specific instructions to bring back the head of the first living creature found in the north direction (as it is associated with wisdom). His ganas brought back the head of a young elephant they found sleeping with his head in north direction. Lord Shiva placed the elephants head on the body and breathed life into him. He also announced him as a leader of all Ganas (tribes and classes) hence naming him ‘Ganapati’. Lord Brahma blessed him with vardaan that Lord Ganesha will always be remembered before commencing any puja or new ventures for bringing in luck and removing hurdles. 

Source: https://www.wheresmypandit.com/blog/why-lord-ganesha-has-an-elephant-head

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Story behind Ganpati Pule Temple

Story behind Ganpati Pule Temple

Immaculate beaches with shorelines decorated with mangroves and coconut palms, beautiful mountain ranges, pleasant weather, warm people and the abode of the Hindu lord of prosperity; doesn't it make it sound like heaven on earth? Indeed, and that is what Ganpati Pule is! The place is more than just a quiet weekend getaway. Some very interesting folk lore’s and local fables associated with this coastal town and the Ganpati Shrine at Ganpati Pule, have made this abode find a special place in the hearts of nature lovers, vacationers and devout Hindus. The Ganpati Pule town is about 25 kms from the coastal district of Ratnagiri in Konkan, Maharashtra. This town is known for a Ganpati or Ganesh temple that houses a swayambhu (self manifested) idol of the elephant god Ganesh or Ganpati. The history attached to this town and the temple is replete with legends on how this town got its name.

The legend has it that in the ancient times Lord Ganesh used to live in a small place named Gule, which is to the south of Ratnagiri and is also referred to as Ganesh Gule. It is believed that a not so kind lady residing in the same village as Lord Ganesh made some snide remarks about Ganesh that irked him and made him leave Ganpati Gule. He is said to have moved northwards to another small village named Pule and made it his permanent abode since. Thus the place where Ganesh himself lived came to be known as Ganpati Pule. Also, the temple built on the shore of the Ganpati Pule beach, to enshrine the Swayambhu Ganesh acquired the name Ganpati Pule Mandir or Ganpati Pule temple.

Often times, the histories of Ganpati Pule also have another legend tucked in, on how the 4000 year old temple came into existence. There was a Brahmin named Balbhatji Bhide who was distraught at that time with some personal crises bogging him down. He was believed to have own a cow that in spite of being healthy had stopped tendering milk except at one spot in the entire town. This piqued the curiosity of Balbhatji, who was convinced the spot had some spiritual connotation and decided to clean it up. As a result of which he found an idol of Lord Ganesh which he decided to enshrine. The idol faces westwards; believed to be guarding the Western Ghats, with a musak or a mouse; believed to be Ganesh's vehicle, installed at the entrance and facing the main deity. The devotees can be seen circumambulating the hillock at the base of which this shrine has been erected.

So, a visit to this beach town should be equal to experiencing serenity, tranquility, peace of mind, rejuvenation, harmony, happiness and almost all of those emotions that one seeks on a journey of purification of their soul!

Source: https://www.wheresmypandit.com/blog/story-behind-ganpati-pule-temple

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