Hindu God Ganpati’s Family
By Roberto Garabell
Elephant-headed Ganesh, India’s most popular God, is a study in dichotomy. He is held in awe and respect as a powerful energy who removes impediments in people’s lives. But Ganesh also conjures a very down-to-earth warmth. Some of this benevolence stems from his near involvement in our everyday lives and from the mythological tales about Ganesh and his family. The legends about Ganesh depict him as a devout son and a loving sibling.
There’s no Hindu grandma who doesn’t love narrating the story of Ganesh’s parentage and birth. Many explanations abound, but here’s the popular one. Officially, Ganesha’s father is Shiv 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 charming wife, presides over all of creation. Without her, the earth would be barren and perennially cold. During her husband’s long absence, Parvati created a small boy for herself from a dollop of clay - none other than Ganesh. When Shiva, unaware of his ’son’s’ existence, returned back, Ganesh refused him from access to Parvati, who was bathing and had told her son to guard against intruders. Shiva, whose fury could destroy the universe, chopped off the child’s head. When he realized his error, he replaced the boy’s head with that of an elephant. Shiva also granted Ganesha a boon - that he would be worshipped prior to the start of any earthly enterprise. Notwithstanding this dramatic event in childhood, Ganesh grew up to be regarded as the epitome of filial devotion.
Hindu mythology has few legends about Ganesh and his younger sibling, Karthikeya. Where Ganesh is revered all over India, Karthikeya’s influence is predominant in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu, where he is also known as Murugan, Subramanya or Arumugham. You couldn’t find two more different personalities. Ganesh is comfortably tubby, gentle, 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 mankind. One time, a mango infused with divine knowledge was brought to Mount Kailas in the Himalayas, where Shiva and Parvati hold court. Since only one individual could consume the fruit, a race was suggested between their two sons - whosoever circumambulated the earth three times and returned first would win the mango. Certain that his peacock would outrace Ganesha’s mouse, Kartikeya flew 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 earth. He won the fruit, but then magnanimously offered it to his sulking brother.
There are contradictory 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 Ganesh 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.
Chip is an artist, designer, and a devoted follower of Ganesha. His Ganesh inspired art can be viewed at Ganesh Mall. Visit Hindu God Ganesha’s Family.
