Ganesha Purana

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Foreword Early man realized the necessity to preserve ancient literature for posterity without allowing them to be destroyed as they comprise the core of the growth of our civilization. It is essential to spread and propagate the age-old puranas among the present generation of humanity. This will give scope for accommodating disparate views on all matters in tune with the democratic system of our governance, thereby nurturing a healthy society. For man to have a balanced approach in his day to day activities, he should develop an attitude for objective and dispassionate judgment with a broad and selfless outlook free from expecting gainful returns. A study of the puranas helps to serve as training ground for shaping such a character.

This ancient purana carries in it, a large number of fascinating stories that will rejoice and enliven our minds, spiritual secrets that will refresh our intellect, thoughts that will enlighten our ideas besides being filled with elevating concepts on evolution, the functioning of nature, enlacing universe, environmental cycle, biology, physiology and others which can offer beneficial nourishment to the advancements of modern scientific research. Some of the statements relating to binding orthodoxy of caste restrictions, strict adherence to age old social customs and traditions, and passages depicting sexual relationships may not be acceptable and palatable to many of us today. However while publishing divine episodes of ancient origin, it is considered proper and a bounden duty not to introduce one's own personal opinions or indulge in omissions and commissions of any nature, and offer to posterity the true texts, to enable historical continuity and scope for research. Therefore this book has retained the original contents and flavour of the purana without in any manner tampering with the originality of the narrations to ensure its pristine authenticity and credibility.

Preface Not an iota of obstruction would visit a devotee who, at the start of learning an art, or celebrating a wedding ,or entering a newly constructed house, or venturing out of the house on any errand, or in battle, or at the time of encountering any difficulty, hears someone reading out the most auspicious sixteen sacred names of Lord Ganesha, namely, the propitious-countenanced Sumuka, the single-tusked Ekadhantha, the brown-complexioned Kapila, the elephant-eared Gajakarna, the pot-bellied Lambodara, the dwarf-statured Vikada, the monarch of all obstacles, the Vignaraja, the destroyer of all evil acts and impediments, the Vinayaka, the fire-, like brightly effulgent Dhoomakethu, the master of all bootha ganas, Ganadhyaksha, the Balachandra wearing the crescent moon on the forehead, the elephant-faced Gajanana the curved-tusked Vakradhunta, the Surpakarna with winnow-like broad ears, the Heramba who showers His blessings on all His innumerable devotees, and Skanda Poorvaja, the elder brother of Sri Skanda.

Ganesha means Lord of the Ganas, the symbols of the senses. He is the first son of Shiva and Parvathi. The Lord of wisdom and the remover of all obstacles .Another name is Vigneshvara -Promoter of all forms of wealth such as riches, knowledge, health, bliss, beauty etc on those who worship Him. He is also Ganapathy with the head of the elephant. It indicates the Intelligence through which obstacles in the path of achievement, secular as well as spiritual can be overcome. He is known as Siddhi Vinayaka, who grants whatever is sought. As Vinayaka's vehicle, the mouse signifies an object that leads man from darkness to light.

We live in an era, when the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, and to an equally good extent Bhagavad Gita are widely known and read in our country. The world at large too is familiar with these titles to some extent. However, Hindu puranas containing mythological stories, though abounding in our country are relatively rarely read and more often the legends are confined to local pockets of small towns and villages. When that is so, the name of one deity or God, namely, Ganesha is recognized throughout the world as the elephant-faced God, much revered and whose idol is longed for possession and preservation.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages