One finds a detailed description of Lord Ganapati’s birth in Shiv Purana as well as in Ganesh Purana. To cut the long story short, once Ma Parvati along with her ‘sakhis’ was to take bath in her bhavan. As no attendant was available, she created a beautiful child out of her pious body’s dirt and declared him as her son. She instructed him to obey her only, stand as a gate-keeper and do not allow anyone to enter the bhavan without her permission and gave him a stick as a weapon for protection. Lord Shiva came in a hurry and was in the process of entering the bhavan when Ganeshji stopped him and said “my mother is taking bath and she has instructed me not to allow anyone to enter the place without her permission. You may please wait till she has finished her bath and has properly clothed herself”. Lord Shiva first took him as one of his ganas, but hearing these words, He got annoyed and remarked, “Do you not know that I am Parvati’s husband and the Lord of this place. How can you stop me from entering into my own place?” Ganeshji very politely answered, “Sir, whoever you are, I can allow you to enter the place only after getting permission from my mother. You may please wait here till she is ready. An altercation ensued between the two and there was a fierce battle. Ganeshji fought single handedly with the entire army of Lord Shiva, that included Brahma and Vishnu. Ganapati made devastating attacks on Lord Shiva’s army and injured many of His ganas, but when Ganapatiji was engaged in the battle with Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva attacked Him with his Trishul and chopped off his head.
When Ma Parvati came to know that her dear son has been beheaded, she was furious, and created thousands of Mahashaktis who unleashed destruction all over the world which terrified Devis and Devatas. To contain Ma Parvati’s anger, on the wise counsel of Naradji, all Devis, Devatas, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, went to her and beseeched her to cool down and stop the destruction. Ma Parvati put a condition that her son must be revived and given the position of a leader among all Devis and Devatas. Lord Shiva advised his ganas to go towards north and if they find any mother sitting or lying with her back to her new born child, they should bring the child’s head and fix it on the body of Parvati’s son after giving him bath with holy water. The ganas saw a mother elephant lying in that posture and brought the baby elephants’s head which was fixed on the body of Ma Parvati’s son. Lord Shiva sprinkled holy water on the child chanting some sacred mantras and the child opened his eyes as if he had woken up after a long slumber. Ma Parvati, all Devis and Devatas including Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh heaved a sigh of relief and there were scenes of jubilations. The apsaras started dancing; trees were loaded with fruits and flowers; there was greenery all around and sweet smell permeated the atmosphere.
Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and all other Devis and Devatas had already witnessed Ganapati’s bravery and valour in the fierce battle with them, so Lord Shiva declared Shri Ganesh the leader of all Devis and Devatas and proclaimed that He should be worshipped before all the other gods in three worlds. Lord Shiva bestowed upon Shri Ganeshji tremendous powers and blessed Him saying, “You are the son of Mahashakti and thus an extremely imposing personality. You are the Lord of wisdom and the destroyer of obstacles and foes of your devotees. As you are born on the fourth day of ascending moon in the month of Bhadrapad, which is auspicious, all the devotees who observe fast on this day, would receive from you the blessings they seek”
In Ganesh Purana, it is recommended to observe twelve fasts on the 4th day of ascending moon (shuklapaksh) every Month and similarly twelve fasts on the 4th day of dark phase (krishnapaksh) of every month because each fast has its own significance. In Shiv Purana as well as in Ganesh Purana, there are instances of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and all Devis and Devatas worshipping Lord Ganapati. In Ganesh Purana, there is also a mention of Mahashakti Parvati, on the advice of Lord Shiva, going into intense meditation and carrying out rigorous tapasya for twelve years. Pleased with her devotion, Lord Ganesha appeared before her and, as a boon, promised to be born as her son. As per our ancient scriptures as well as the practice followed from time immemorial, worship of five Devas is prescribed – Lord Shiva, Mahashakti Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Surya. They are considered to be of the highest order. All the five have no beginning and no end. They are immanent, primeval and eternal and are manifestations of the same ultimate power.
Lord Ganapati, Ganesha, Ganadhyaksh, Gananayak, all these names have only one meaning and i.e. Leader of the People. He had two wives – Riddhi and Siddhi. He is the master of nine Nidhis and eight Siddhis and is also called Siddhi Vinayak. His vehicle is the mouse, which indicates humility and simplicity. Let us have a look at his body, where each part has a spiritual significance. His large elephant head symbolizes that He is an ocean of knowledge and is the Lord of intelligence. He has big ears because, as a good leader, he has the capacity to listen to everybody patiently. He has a big nose which projects his exalted status, and gives a signal to human race to uphold human dignity, self esteem and decorum. He has a huge belly, which shows that He has a tremendous capacity to digest good or bad things and maintain his cool. It also suggests that He has full control over dualities. He has a snake tied around his waist. Although passion and sensuous desires are tamoguni and poisonous, He has tightened the belt and kept them under his control. Similarly, his devotees should also learn to exercise control over their passions, sensuous desires, and curb tamoguna. Like Lord Shiva, he carries a Trishul signifying that He is the destroyer of three types of pains and agonies, and is therefore regarded to be the Vighna-vinashak.
As per Pujya Guruji’s instructions, being Shiv-bhakts, we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi on the 4th day of dark phase (krishnapaksh) in the month of Maagh (January) with great devotion. The shishyas and the devotees observe nirjala upvaas from early morning (Brahm mahurat) till the rise of moon. Shishyas and devotees assemble at Sector 10-A, Gurgaon where laddoos made of til and gurh are distributed. After sighting the moon, the fast is broken with these laddoos followed by a cup of tea infused with herbs/spices and gurh (instead of sugar). One laddoo is retained to be taken the next morning after sunrise, whereafter cereals can be taken. Medically speaking, nirjala upvaas culminating with til-gurh ladoos and tea prepared with herbs/spices and gurh generates such a degree of heat that it is capable of killing germs and ensures good health.
On such an auspicious occasion, good saadhaks and devotees inwardly recite Ganapati’s mantras and contemplate on Him throughout the day. Japa done on this day has manifold effect than it has on any other normal day. And that is how Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated.