Vinayahar Sathurthi: Birthday of Ganesh the Elephant headed Hindu God

Elephant-headed Hindu God Ganesh

There are many auspicious days pooja (prayers), fasting & festivals in the Hindu (religious) calendar. Today is one of them.

It is called `Vinayahar Sathurthi’  where Vonayagar is one of the names for the Elephant-headed Hindu God, also known as Ganesh and  Pillayar. Sathurthi’s are special days that happen every month, but the one on this month is the most sacred of all, and belongs to God Ganesh.

Myth of the Elephant-headed God Ganesh.

Ganesh, son of Parvathi (Shakthi) and Shiva (in a manner of speaking)  was not born with the elephant head! That came later. He was originally born as a human. Born is the wrong word, as he was `made’ or created by his mother – the great Goddess Shakthi  (which means `power’ amongst other things).

The mythology goes that Shakthi was fed up of being intruded by her husband the God Shiva, whenever…