by Teetant

Created on: October 12, 2009   Last Updated: March 05, 2010

How is Ganesh Puja done on Diwali?

The Importance of Lord Ganesha

The word Ganesha is composed to two words: Gana meaning people, and Isha meaning god, therefore the God of People. He is also known as Ganapati meaning leader of people, and Gajanana meaning one with elephant head.

According to the legend, once when goddess Parvati was taking bath, she created Ganesha and asked him to guard the entrance and not allow anyone to come. Following her order, Ganesha refused to allow even god Shiva, Parvati's husband, enter. Angered by this, Lord Shiva attacked Ganesha and cut off his head. When Parvati found out that Shiva had killed Ganesha, she was overcome with grief. So to appease her, Shiva attached an elephant's head to the body and brought Ganesha back to life. There are many other legends as to how Ganesha came to be. However, in all of them, he is the son of Parvati and Shiva either by blood or by adoption.

True to the name, Lord Ganesha is by far the most popular and most commonly worshiped deity among Hindus. He is invoked by Hindus of all denominations, and is worshiped at religious as well as secular occasions. He is not only worshiped on festivals devoted to him, but also at the beginning of all prayers, all important personal and business undertakings, and all religious ceremonies devoted to other gods and goddesses.

His popularity as the first deity to be worshiped at virtually all occasions stems from the belief that he is a God of good beginnings for all important occasions and ventures. He is considered the Lord of Obstacles: while he removes obstacles from the path of those who deserve his help, he is also known to place obstacles in the way of those who need a lesson in humility. He is also considered the lord of letters and learning, knowledge, wisdom, intelligence and intellect. He is associated with the concepts of Buddhi (intellect), Siddhi (spiritual power), and Riddhi (prosperity), often personified as three goddesses and Ganesha's wives. He is often worshiped along with Sarasvati, goddess of knowledge, and Laxmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity. People believe that Ganesha's blessings will grant them intelligence, success, material and spiritual prosperity, and protection from all adversities.

The Importance of Ganesh Puja in Diwali Celebrations

Diwali is the most important and commonly celebrated festival of Hindus in India and around the world. Diwali, derived from the Sanskrit word Dipawali, literally means a row of lamps. It is a celebration

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