Facts About Lord Ganesh That You Must Have Never Heard Before

Some call him Ganesh, while others say Ganapati. Lord Ganesh is the Hindu god of all auspicious beginnings, adorned with an elephant head. Lord Ganesh is the patron of bankers, authors, and scribes. Ganesh means "Lord of the people" and "The Lord of the Ganas". Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival where all the Hindus worship the statue of this elephant-headed god. Well, if you are a believer in Lord Ganesh, keep reading to learn some interesting facts that you might not have heard before:

The Mystery Behind His Birth

Ganesh is the eldest son of Lord Parvati and Lord Shiva. There are many stories about his birth. But it is believed that once, Lord Parvati took turmeric paste with her to bathe. She then constructed a human out of that paste and induced life in it. Thus, a baby boy, Lord Ganesh, was born.

Is Lord Ganesh Married or Unmarried?

Some consider Lord Ganesh an unmarried Brahmachari. Others consider him married to Riddhi (prosperity) and Siddhi (spiritual power), daughters of Prajapati Vishwaroopa.

Who Wrote the Mahabharata?

Lord Ganesh wrote the epic Mahabharata. The great sage Vyasa recited it and told Ganesh to write it.

Lord Ganesh Cursed the Moon

It is believed that once, the moon laughed at Ganesh's body weight. This sight made Lord Ganesh angry, and he then cursed the moon. The curse was that if anyone looked at the Moon God on the night of Ganesh Chaturthi, that person would be falsely accused of something they did not do. That's why people don't look at the moon on that particular night.

The Tale of the Banana Bride

Now, this is an interesting story. When Ganesh was carrying his wedding procession, he saw Mother Durga eating a bowlful of rice in an odd manner. When asked, she replied, "What if after marriage, your wife does not feed me?" Reacting to this, Lord Ganesh took a banana leaf and addressed it as his wife to his mother. This symbolizes a gesture to indicate that she never had to go hungry. From that day, the banana leaf is decorated like a married bride's while worshipping Ganesh.

Why is He Called Ekdanta?

Lord Vishnu took the avatar of Parashurama to battle against the arrogant and evil Kshatriyas. Parashurama worshipped Lord Shiva, who is the father of Ganesh. While worshipping, he acquired an axe as a weapon. After fighting against the Kshatriyas, he went to receive a blessing from Lord Shiva and Lord Parvati. He was stopped by Ganesh at the entrance of Kailash, and in the ensuing conflict struck one of Ganesh's tusks with his axe — hence the name Ekdanta, "the one with a single tusk."

The Special Grants of Ganesh

Lord Ganesh is worshipped before worshipping any other God. This is because he is blessed with some special grants.

The Story of Lord Ganesh and Tulsi

Once, Tulsi saw Lord Ganesh meditating and was impressed by the sight. She then went to him and asked him to marry her. On refusal, Tulsi cursed him that he would be married soon against his will. In reply, Ganesh cursed Tulsi, saying she would be transformed into a plant.