Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi

Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi

Like Ekadashi, Shivratri, Ganesha’s Chaturthi is observed by the devotees in India. This Chaturthi is very dear to Shri Ganesh. Ganapati Atharvashirsha describes this Chaturthi as ‘Chaturthyamanshnan Japati’. Chaturthi means fourth stage. Ganapati is beyond three stages of human body i.e. awakened stage, dreaming stage & a middle stage between these two stages. When Ganesh is in his Turia Means fourth stage, one can have his darshan. As Such Chaturthi has special importance.

Shree Ganesha symbolizes auspiciousness. Ganesha's image is a strange amalgamated of elephant and man, generally mounted on a mouse with four arms. Every part of his image is symbolic of facts: The Elephant head represents the great strength of elephant. The Human form signifies wisdom, intelligence and ability. The Tiny Mouse denotes presence of mind. His Four arms represent four directions of space.
Shree Ganesha is associated with a wealth of myths and legends, which depict his importance and magnitude of his power and the reason for his popularity.
Among all the Hindu Deities, Shree Ganesha is the closest to the material plane of consciousness, most able to assist us in our day-to-day life and concerns Shree Ganesha has comfortably adopted modern and contemporary form. Surprisingly, there are no religious objections when Ganesha's image is given "new forms" The spread of Ganesha is not confined to India alone his Ganesha's images are found worldwide. Although, his image is altered by devotees as per their perceptions, their faith remains unaltered. To them Ganesha, is the Universe, the most important God.
The Lord of Success
The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.
Ganesha's head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality. In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesha's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.
The broken tusk that Ganesha holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata. The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.

How Ganesha Got His Head

The story of the birth of this deity, as depicted in the Shiva Purana, goes like this: Once goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the bathing powder (turmeric and sandal paste) (in some sites one can find reference made that she created a boy out of dirt of her body) and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his squad (gana) to fetch the head of any sleeping being that was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader (pati) of his troops. Hence, his name 'Ganapati'. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.
However, there's another less popular story of his origin, found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana: Shiva asked Parvati to observe the punyaka vrata for a year to appease Vishnu in order to have a son. When a son was born to her, all the gods and goddesses assembled to rejoice on its birth. Lord Shani, the son of Surya (Sun-God), was also present but he refused to look at the infant. Perturbed at this behaviour, Parvati asked him the reason, and Shani replied that his looking at baby would harm the newborn. However, on Parvati's insistence when Shani eyed the baby, the child's head was severed instantly. All the gods started to bemoan, whereupon Vishnu hurried to the bank of river Pushpabhadra and brought back the head of a young elephant, and joined it to the baby's body, thus reviving it.

Ganesha, the Destroyer of Pride

Ganesha is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. "All Hindus worship Ganesha regardless of their sectarian belief," says D N Singh in A Study of Hinduism. "He is both the beginning of the religion and the meeting ground for all Hindus."

SANKASHTI CHATURTHI: This vow is done by devotees on fourth day of second fortnight of every month. On this day devotees fast for whole day & break their fast after having darshan of Lord Moon & worshipping Lord Ganesha. This vow is observed strictly by devotees to get rid of problems in there life. On this day in the evening after having bath first, worship Lord Ganesh, offer 21 Durvas, do Aarti, show Naivedyam & pray for fulfilling your desires. Then have Lord Moon’s darshan, offer his Naivedyam, give meal to Brahman & break your fast. In this way if vow is observed all your desires are fulfilled.

VINAYAKAI CHATURTHI : Fourth day in the first fortnight of every month is called as Vinayaki Chaturthi. This vow is to be observed for full day.

ANGARAKI CHATURTHI : If Sankashti Chaturthi comes on Tuesday, it is call Angaraki. The vow is completed on the same day. Devotees have their meal in the night after having darshan of lord moon.


The Vaishnavas also worship Lord Ganesha. They have given Him the name of Tumbikkai Alwar which means the divinity with the proboscis (the elephant's trunk).

Lord Ganesha's two powers are the Kundalini and the Vallabha or power of love.

He is very fond of sweet pudding or balls of rice flour with a sweet core. On one of His birthdays He was going around house to house accepting the offerings of sweet puddings. Having eaten a good number of these, He set out moving on His mouse at night. Suddenly the mouse stumbled--it had seen a snake and became frightened--with the result that Ganesha fell down. His stomach burst open and all the sweet puddings came out. But Ganesha stuffed them back into His stomach and, catching hold of the snake, tied it around His belly.

Seeing all this, the moon in the sky had a hearty laugh. This unseemly behaviour of the moon annoyed Him immensely and so he pulled out one of His tusks and hurled it against the moon, and cursed that no one should look at the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi day. If anyone does, he will surely earn a bad name, censure or ill-repute. However, if by mistake someone does happen to look at the moon on this day, then the only way he can be freed from the curse is by repeating or listening to the story of how Lord Krishna cleared His character regarding the Syamantaka jewel. This story is quoted in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Lord Ganesha was pleased to ordain thus. Glory to Lord Ganesha! How kind and merciful He is unto His devotees.


Ganesha and his brother Lord Subramanya once had a dispute as to who was the elder of the two. The matter was referred to Lord Shiva for final decision. Shiva decided that whoever would make a tour of the whole world and come back first to the starting point had the right to be the elder. Subramanya flew off at once on his vehicle, the peacock, to make a circuit of the world. But the wise Ganesha went, in loving worshipfulness, around His divine parents and asked for the prize of His victory.

Lord Shiva said, "Beloved and wise Ganesha! But how can I give you the prize; you did not go around the world?"

Ganesha replied, "No, but I have gone around my parents. My parents represent the entire manifested universe!"

Thus the dispute was settled in favour of Lord Ganesha, who was thereafter acknowledged as the elder of the two brothers. Mother Parvati also gave Him a fruit as a prize for this victory.

In the Ganapathi Upanishad, Ganesha is identified with the Supreme Self. The legends that are connected with Lord Ganesha are recorded in the Ganesha Khanda of the Brahma Vivartha Purana.


 When and how did Ganesha Chaturthi celebration begun as a public festival?

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi finds its origin in the Maratha reign, with Chatrapati Shivaji starting the festival. Ganesh Chaturthi preparations commence from almost a month before the festival. The celebrations last for around ten days (from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to Ananta Chaturdashi). This was reinstated by Shri Bal Gangadhar Tilak during freedom struggle. Localities organize and arrange for pandals and install large idols of Lord Ganesha to celebrate the festival with friends and family. On the final day of the celebrations, the idol of Lord Ganesha is taken on the streets. People exhibit their enthusiasm and joy in the form of dancing and singing on the streets along with the idol. The idol is finally immersed in the river or sea. The day witnesses a large number of devotees expressing their happiness and offering their prayers.

May the blessings of Sri Ganesha be upon you all!  May He remove all the obstacles that stand in your spiritual path! May He bestow on you all material prosperity as well as liberation!