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Hindu God Ganesha's Family

Published by Robert Thomson | February 2nd 2009 | Views:

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Elephant-headed Ganesha, Hinduism's most popular God, is a study in polarity. He is held in awe and reverence as a powerful energy who removes problems in people's lives. But Ganesh also conjures a very down-to-earth affection. Some of this benevolence exudes from his direct involvement in our everyday lives and from the mythological stories about him and his family. The legends about Ganesh depict him as a caring son and a loving sibling.

There's no Hindu granny who doesn't love narrating the story of Ganesha's parentage and birth. Many explanations abound, but here's the popular one. Officially, Ganpati's father is God Shiva the Destroyer, one of the holy trinity in the Hindu pantheon, a rather fearsome figure with matted locks and an ash-smeared body who spends eons meditating in the Himalayas. Parvati, his divine wife, presides over all of creation. Without her, the earth would be barren and perennially cold. During her husband's extended absence, Parvati created a small boy for herself from a dollop of clay - none other than Ganesh. When Lord Shiva, incognizant of his 'son's' existence, returned back, Ganesha refused him from access to Parvati, who was bathing and had directed her son to guard against intruders. Shiv, whose rage could destroy the universe, chopped off the child's head. When he realized his blunder, he replaced the boy's head with that of an elephant. Shiva also granted little boy a boon - that he would be worshipped befm. You couldn't find two more different personalities. Ganesha is comfortably plump, kind, and patience personified; brother Karthikeya is all radiant energy and an impulsive lad. Ganesha has the lowly mouse as his vehicle while Karthikeya prefers the flashy peacock.

Like many Hindu myths, stories of the Ganesh-Kartikeya interactions are possessed of a childlike simplicity, yet imbued with teachings for human race. One time, a mango infused with divine knowledge was brought to Mount Kailas in the Himalayas, where Shiv and Parvati hold court. Since only one individual could consume the fruit, a competition was suggested between their two sons - whosoever circumambulated the planet three times and returned first would win the fruit. Convinced that his peacock would outrace Ganesha's mouse, Kartikeya went off into space. Ganesha, on the other hand, simply folded his palms in prayer and walked around his seated parents, returning to his starting point ahead of Kartikeya. His reasoning? Shiva and Parvati contain the world within them; walking around his parents is equivalent to actually going around the planet. He won the fruit, but then magnanimously offered it to his sulking brother.

There are conflicting views regarding the marital status of Ganesha. Some regions of India worships Ganesha as a bachelor while the rest of India worships him along with his two consorts. Ganesha is thought to be married to Siddhi (spiritual strength) and Buddhi (intellect) - the daughters of Brahma the Creator - one of the holy trinity in the Hindu pantheon. This is popularly taken to mean that where Ganesha is present, intellectual acumen and spirituality will follow. Legend also has it that Kartikeya grew up to marry Valli, a tribal maiden and Devayani, the daughter of Indra, the wind god. However, he is widely worshipped as a child-god possessed of a warrior's skills, one who protects his devotees against all harm.
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