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The Vinayaka Purana is a Sanskrit text that describes the features of Lord Vinayaka, who is also known as Ganesha, Ganapathy, Gajanan and by various other names. It is an important Purana, and it includes the miracles performed by Lord Vinayaka.
This famous text was written by Vyasa, who is also known as Veda Vyasa, and he lived during the previous Dwapara Yuga. The Vinayaka Purana is considered as a very holy text by the Ganapatyas, who consider Lord Ganapathy as their main god, and they believes Lord Vinayaka controls the entire universe through his extraordinary powers.
The text is considered as very popular since it relates to the First god Vinayaka, who is considered to be the most important deity in Hinduism and he is worshipped during the beginning of the day, and also worshipped before starting any new ventures.
BIRTH OF LORD VINAYAKA
Once the divine mother, Devi Parvati has created a little boy out of her sweat, and named him as Vinayaka.
LOSING OF HEAD AND FITTING OF ELEPHANT HEAD
Once while Parvati was taking bath, Vinayaka guarded her, and even when Lord Shiva tried to enter, the little boy Vinayaka stopped him from entering into the place of his mother Ma Parvati, where she was taking bath. Due to that Lord Shiva had got angry with Lord Vinayaka, and chopped his head with his trident, and made him to lose his head. On hearing this incident, Ma Parvati was got very much anger with Lord Shiva, and in order to please her, Lord Shiva had ordered his divine attendants, to fit an elephant head into the body of Lord Vinayaka.
ACQUIRING ENORMOUS POWERS
After Lord Vinayaka was brought back to life, many Devas including Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma had granted him enormous boons, and he has also become the “FIRST GOD”.
AVATARS OF LORD VINAYAKA
Lord Vinayaka also called as Ganapathi and Ganesa, as we know, is the first god in Hinduism. Due to destroy the evil forces, he took several avatars. All these avatars were taken to destroy the demons and to safeguard the divine devas. The details of his various avatars are explained as below:-
1.Ekdant Avatar
Lord Ganapathy took this avatar in order to destroy the Demon Madasura in order to safeguard the divine devas from the clutches of Madasura.
2.Vakratunda
Lord Ganesa took this avatar to destroy the Demon Matsrasur. He got a boon from Siva, that he will not be destroyed by any living creatures in this world and after then started harassing the Devas. Hence he was destroyed by Lord Vinayaka.
3. Gajanana
This avatar was taken in order to defeat Demon Lobhasur. Knowing about Lord Ganesa’s power, the demon surrendered to lord Ganesa without commencing a war.
4. Lambodar
When Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini during the churning of ocean, Lord Shiva got attracted and followed her due to the result Krodashur was born. With the blessings of Sun God, he got enough powers, and then he started attacking the Devas. And as per the request of the Devas, Lord Ganapathy took the avatar of Lambodar and attacked him and pacified the Devas.
5. Mahodar
When Lord Muruga killed Tarakasur, Sage Sukracharya has created a demon ‘ Mohasur’. He attacked devas and tried to kill the Devas. Lord Ganapathy took the avatar of Mahodar and eliminated Mohasur.
6. Vikat
This avatar for taken for destroying the demon Kamasur.
7.Vighnaraj
In this Avatar, Lord Vinayaka defeated the demon mamkasur who was born from mountains.
8.Dhumravarna
This avatar was taken to defeat the demon ahamkarasur.
MARRIAGE WITH SIDDHI AND BUDDHI
Siddhi and Buddhi are considered as the two consorts of Lord Ganesha. There are believed to have been created by Lord Brahma for the specific purpose of marrying them to Lord Ganesha. According to ancient puranas, Once Lord Ganesha wants to get married a girl containing the qualities of his mother Parvati Devi. Since no matching girl was found similar to Parvati, Brahma used his entire powers, and created two lovely girls and named them as Siddhi who gives enlightenment and Buddhi who gives cleverness. Their marriage took place in a wonderful manner and they are worshipped along with Lord Ganesha
ANCIENT STAUNCH DEVOTEES OF LORD VINAYAKA
1. VALLALAN
Several centuries back, there lived a pious Brahmin boy along with his family at a village in Tamil Nadu. His name was Vallalan. He was mentioned in the Vinayaka Purana. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Vinayaka, and used to offer regular prayers to him at his home, and in the temples. Though he has studied well, his father was not pleased with his performance in the studies, and put more pressure on him, with regard to his studies.
The young Vallalan after finishing his school, daily would take his friends at the Vinayaka Idol which was seated under a fig tree. He would collect flowers from the nearby flower gardens, and also gather the fruits which were fallen out from the trees, and use it for performing the puja for Vinayaka idol. His father was not aware of that. One day, while his father was passing by that side, he suddenly saw his son performing the puja to the idol of Vinayaka. He got very angry with his son, and hit him hardly with a stick. The young boy was injured and got fainted and fell down on the floor. Even after that, his father could not control his angriness, and started hitting him hardly again and again with the stick. Due to that, he was very much wounded and laid in an unconscious state.
After some time, his father, has went home, and narrated the entire incident to his wife. She was very much upset, and went to the temple of Vinayaka, and given first aid to her son, and took him to a village physician. After some time, Vallalan got relieved from his pains, and become normal. But his father could not raise his hands, and the bones of his right hand were broken automatically. He realized his mistake, and asked his son to apologize him, and also prayed to Lord Vinayaka.
The young vallalan also felt pity on his father, and asked him to chant the ganesa mantra “OM SRI VINAYAKAYA NAMAHA”, his father has chanted the mantra, and miraculously his bone got attached, and he was healed through the help of his son the great Vinayaka Devotee Sri Vallalan. Then the entire family were become sincere devotees of Lord Vinayaka. After his death, he reached the divine abode of Lord Vinayaka, the Ganesha Loka.
2.PURUSHUNDI
Purusundi was an ancient sage who lived during the Treta Yuga. His birth name was Vipradhan and he was a hunter, before attaining the status of the divine sage.
Hunter Vipradhan was used to hunt the animals and through that he had earned for his livelihood. Once, there occurred a severe drought in his place, he suffered from poverty, and hence started doing robbery. Once he tried to take the belongings of a great rishi Sree Mukkala Munivar, and due to his kind approach and through his advice, he stopped doing sinful acts, and he had started doing severe penance on Lord Vinayaka. After several years, Lord Vinayaka appeared in front of him and granted him a wish fulfilling tree and also blessed him. Due to the blessing of Lord Vinayaka, Sage Purusundi’s appearance had been changed to that of Lord Vinayaka.
Once a newly married couple laughed at him and commented his appearance, and he immediately cursed them to become a tree. And as per their request, he felt pity on them, and granted them the boon of becoming holy trees, and also Lord Vinayaka will dwell between the trees, and people will worship the holy trees, while worshipping Lord Vinayaka. Lord Indra was attracted by the divine tree, and approached sage purusundi and asked for the divine wish fulfilling tree, KALPAKAVRIKSHA in order to take it to the swarka loka. And immediately, Purusundi gave him the divine tree and continued his penance on Lord Vinayaka.
Seeing his noble act, Lord Vinayaka had granted him salvation.
3.KASIRAJAN
During his avatar as Mahorkada, he befriended Kasirajan, who was the then king of Kasi. He used to eat lot of delicious food at his palace, especially the tasty mothakams which was prepared by the holy consort of Kasirajan, queen Deviprabha, and she herself used to serve it affectionately to Lord Vinayaka, who was in the form of Mahorkada. In course of time, pleased by the act of King Kasirajan and his queen Deviprabha, Lord Vinayaka has directly taken them to his Ganesha Loka in their physical body itself.
SIGNIFICANCE OF LORD VINAYAKA AS MENTIONED IN SRI VINAYAKA PURANA
Lord Vinayaka is the first god in the Hindu tradition. Every Hindu worship Lord Vinayaka as the obstacle remover and people will worship him daily before doing their daily routines.
Lord Vinayaka is the symbol of Wisdom and Faith. He is regarded as the god of gods. Lord Ganesh Temple is situated in almost all parts of India. Even under a tree, he will be available.
It is mentioned in our puranas, that even divine gods worship lord vinayaga before doing any new activity. Such a kind of importance is given for Lord Ganapathi. Since he emerged from Goddess Parvathi, he contains the Shakti element. That is, protecting and safeguarding the people and removing the evil elements in their life.
Hence let us worship Lord Vinayaka as a regular activity, in order to get his blessings forever in our life.
“OM SRI VINAYAKA MOORTHY NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR