Chapter 142 - Greatness of the Trio of Gaṇapatis

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-2. Further there is the trio of Gaṇapati deities, that accords heavenly and worldly pleasures. It is meritorious and keeps off Naraka.

It destroys all obstacles. It is worshipped by Suras and Dānavas. It bestows all cherished things and increases learning and reputation.

The sages said:

3. O Sūta, three types of people are born on the earth. They are: the best, the middling and the worst or basest.

4. The best ones seek only salvation, after attaining which they never return to the earth.

5. The middling seek the path to heaven and enjoyment of divine pleasures. They seek to sport with Apsarās caused (attained) by Yajñas and other rites.

6. The base ones divert themselves in the mortal world identifying themselves with the objects of the senses, it is as though they take great pleasure therein like a worm in poisonous fluid.

7. How does a mortal wish for that after discarding heavenly pleasures and salvation? And why is this Martyada (one that bestows human pleasures) Gaṇanāyaka prayed to by human beings?

8. By whom have those Gajānanas installed in that holy spot? At what time should they be visited? Explain everything in detail.

Sūta said:

9. Formerly in the mortal world, excellent Brāhmaṇas performed severe penance and went joyously to heaven as they pleased. Similarly others whose minds become open through meditation, take to the path of Mokṣa (liberation from Saṃsāra).

10. Therefore, Svarga was completely filled by excellent men once. Thanks to their power, the Devas were ousted all round.

11. Then, accompanied by all the groups of Devas, the Thousand-eyed One himself went to Śaṅkara who was seated along with Gaurī occupying the same seat and said to them:

Indra said:

12. O supreme Lord, everything connected with our glory such as (the possession of) abodes etc. is pervaded by human beings who have attained perfection, thanks to the power of penance.

13. Hence do this favour to us now. Think about some means whereby we can stay happily here in Śivālaya (abode of śiva).

14. O Brāhmaṇas, on hearing their words, Virūpākṣa (Śiva) glanced at the moon-like face of Pārvatī sitting by his side.

15. Thereupon, the goddess massaged her own body very well repeatedly and gathered the dirt thereof entirely. She made an elephant-faced one out of that lump of body-dirt.

16. It had a huge body with four hands and protruding belly. It excited the curiosity and fancy of all the Heaven-dwellers.

17-18. The newly created one spoke humbly to the goddess staying on the peak (of the mount): “O mother, tell me the job for which I have been created. Do not delay. With your favour, there is nothing which I cannot accomplish in all the three worlds."

The goddess said:

19. Obstacles should be created by you in the auspicious rites of those men in the mortal world, who are desirous of the attainment of Svarga and Mokṣa (liberation).

20-21. The Lords of rivers are thirty Śaṅkus (ten billions) and seventy-seven. There are eighty Nikharvas (billions) of the Mahāsarojas. There are various other Gaṇas numbering one hundred million ten thousand ninety-five crore fifty-five lakh twenty-five thousand sixty-nine hundred.

22. Of these Nandin is proclaimed as the foremost and Mahākāla as the next. May all those excellent Gaṇas function under your control.

23. O dear one, the overlorḍship thereof has been given to you by me. Be established in the overlordship of all these groups of Gaṇas and administer them.

24-25. After saying thus, the goddess fetched highly auspicious gold pots filled with waters from excellent Tīrthas and containing medicinal herbs as well. The goddess of Suras sprinkled the sacred water over him to the accompaniment of music, playing of musical instruments and auspicious chantings of the Mantras along with dances.

26. There are thirty-three crores of Devas stationed in heaven. All of them came there and celebrated that auspicious rite for him.

27. The Bull-emblemed Lord who was pleased with him, gave him a sharp axe as his permanent excellent weapon.

28. O highly esteemed ones, Pārvatī was full of motherly love for him and gave him a vessel filled with perennial supply of Modakas (round-shaped sweets) for his food.

29. Kārttikeya joyously considered him his brother. Endowed with the affection of a kinsman he gave him a mouse as his vehicle.

30. With a delighted mind, Brahmā bestowed divine knowledge on him comprising everything past, present and future.

31. Viṣṇu granted him intellect. The Thousand-eyed One gave him the great and excellent fortune. Kāmadeva gave him conjugal felicity. Kubera gave him riches etc.

32. Lord Sūrya granted him valour. Moon granted him excellent lustre.

33. In the same way, in order to please the goddess and the Lord, all the other Devas gave him various things belonging to them, and desired by him.

34. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, having obtained excellent things by way of boon thus Gaṇanātha became interested in the work of Devas and therefore worked out obstacles on the earth.

35. He produced the obstacles in the way of those who endeavoured for piety, salvation and meritorious acts. Then he came down to the earth and was remembered there as Gaṇeśa.

36. O Brāhmaṇas, Vaimānikas (persons moving about in aerial chariots) came there and installed him so that people seeking Svarga adored him as the first in all the sacred rites, because they were desirous of extermination of obstacles.

37. At that very time, Brāhmaṇas hailing from Camatkārapura, who had great interest in the knowledge of Brahman with salvation as their aim, installed Īśāna there. He was cited as Mokṣada (‘bestower of salvation’).

38. Heramba, Svargadvāraprada (the bestower of the portals of Svarga), was installed there by those who desired heavenly pleasures. He was true to his name given.

39. Gaṇeśa named Martyada was installed by others. Thanks to him, even those who slip down from Svarga never go to Naraka etc., or attain the state of a brute, worm or immobile being.

40. For this reason, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Heraṃba (Gaṇeśa) became martyada in that meritorious holy spot. He was always martyada unto heaven-dwellers.

41. Thus the meritorious story of Heraṃba has been completely narrated to you all. On being listened to, this story destroys all obstacles.

42. If a man worships this deity on the fourth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Māgha, he will never meet with any obstacle for the period of a year.