Just about every decorator knows that if a customer asks for a room that’s calm as well as beautiful, there’s just one route to go with the interior decoration, and that’s East. Consider water features, bonzai, graceful flowers, beautiful screens and unique sculptures. It is easy to bring a hint of the orient in lots of ways, but among the easiest is to add a statue of the Buddha. There are more than one hundred ’standard’ positions and three different orientations for these statues, so there will be one that will be perfect for any living space, even when it is an unusual shape or dimensions.

Buffets and desks almost all seem to cry out for a seated Buddha, gardens and balconies may be perfect for a standing Buddha, yet quite a few areas require an subject much broader than tall. Here the perfect decor item is a reclining Buddha.

Almost all Buddha statues share 32 features said to have been physical features from the first Gautama Buddha who was born in approximately 563 BC. They are also referred to as the ‘Thirty Two Signs of a Great Man’, and include:

•    flat feet

•    a pointed head

•    beautiful golden skin

•    long fingers the same length

•    long toes all the same length

•    a robe draped over one shoulder

•    long ear lobes

The Buddha wasn’t in favor of idolizations of his own body, and so the real question is, why are there any statues of the Buddha at all?

It seems this may be yet another thing that may be blamed on  the Greeks, and on one Greek in particular, Alexander the Great. When Alexander  occupied India and Afghanistan, the leader left lots of soldiers and artisans in the regions, hence the art of the region was to a great extent influenced by classical sculpture, and by Greek ideas of Gods and men. Alexander was widley known for taking pleasure in the imitation of his own visage, understanding the worth of portraits and statues as items of propaganda.

This may be why Alexandrian India, with a partly Greek populace and ties to Greek culture, was the earliest area to produce Buddha statues. These proved hugely popular and the concept spread with Buddhism itself, however as Islam restricted the representation of the human form and viewed such sculpture as idolatry,  many of the ancient and amazing statues of the Buddha in that area have been destroyed.

There are a few well defined poses for these sculptures that refer to distinct principles or times in the life of the Buddha.

But the most significant is the reclining pose of the Buddha. There are 2 versions. One shows the Buddha, relaxing with his head in his hand. This is the sleeping Buddha, but the other similar pose, where Buddha’s feet are together, represents the day the Buddha went into Nirvana.

Aged 80, the Buddha sat down to rest and informed his disciples he was about to enter parinirvana, the state which occurs whenever the body of an individual that has accomplished total awakening or enlightenment finally dies. He ate his last meal and then became strongly ill. He asked his followers for any requests that they had and when there were none he gave them his final instructions. “All composite things pass away. Strive for your own liberation with diligence.” Convention states that that when his body was placed among the sala trees, the plants bloomed, even though it was not the time of year.

This is the occasion commemorated by the reclining Buddha statue.  In Thailand the most common pose shows the Buddha with legs crossed and with his left hand in his lap while the right points to the ground, palm inward in a pose called ‘Calling the Earth to Witness’ and refers to the specific of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

Whichever shape your area, generally there is a Buddha statue which will probably match, delivering a sensation of peace and tranquility to your home.

Just about every decorator knows that if a customer asks for a room that’s calm as well as beautiful, there’s just one route to go with the interior decoration, and that’s East. Consider water features, bonzai, graceful flowers, beautiful screens and unique sculptures. It is easy to bring a hint of the orient in lots of ways, but among the easiest is to add a statue of the Buddha. There are more than one hundred ’standard’ positions and three different orientations for these statues, so there will be one that will be perfect for any living space, even when it is an unusual shape or dimensions.

Buffets and desks almost all seem to cry out for a seated Buddha, gardens and balconies may be perfect for a standing Buddha, yet quite a few areas require an subject much broader than tall. Here the perfect decor item is a reclining Buddha.

Almost all Buddha statues share 32 features said to have been physical features from the first Gautama Buddha who was born in approximately 563 BC. They are also referred to as the ‘Thirty Two Signs of a Great Man’, and include:

•    flat feet

•    a pointed head

•    beautiful golden skin

•    long fingers the same length

•    long toes all the same length

•    a robe draped over one shoulder

•    long ear lobes

The Buddha wasn’t in favor of idolizations of his own body, and so the real question is, why are there any statues of the Buddha at all?

It seems this may be yet another thing that may be blamed on  the Greeks, and on one Greek in particular, Alexander the Great. When Alexander  occupied India and Afghanistan, the leader left lots of soldiers and artisans in the regions, hence the art of the region was to a great extent influenced by classical sculpture, and by Greek ideas of Gods and men. Alexander was widley known for taking pleasure in the imitation of his own visage, understanding the worth of portraits and statues as items of propaganda.

This may be why Alexandrian India, with a partly Greek populace and ties to Greek culture, was the earliest area to produce Buddha statues. These proved hugely popular and the concept spread with Buddhism itself, however as Islam restricted the representation of the human form and viewed such sculpture as idolatry,  many of the ancient and amazing statues of the Buddha in that area have been destroyed.

There are a few well defined poses for these sculptures that refer to distinct principles or times in the life of the Buddha.

But the most significant is the reclining pose of the Buddha. There are 2 versions. One shows the Buddha, relaxing with his head in his hand. This is the sleeping Buddha, but the other similar pose, where Buddha’s feet are together, represents the day the Buddha went into Nirvana.

Aged 80, the Buddha sat down to rest and informed his disciples he was about to enter parinirvana, the state which occurs whenever the body of an individual that has accomplished total awakening or enlightenment finally dies. He ate his last meal and then became strongly ill. He asked his followers for any requests that they had and when there were none he gave them his final instructions. “All composite things pass away. Strive for your own liberation with diligence.” Convention states that that when his body was placed among the sala trees, the plants bloomed, even though it was not the time of year.

This is the occasion commemorated by the reclining Buddha statue.  In Thailand the most common pose shows the Buddha with legs crossed and with his left hand in his lap while the right points to the ground, palm inward in a pose called ‘Calling the Earth to Witness’ and refers to the specific of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

Whichever shape your area, generally there is a Buddha statue which will probably match, delivering a sensation of peace and tranquility to your home.

Just about every decorator knows that if a customer asks for a room that’s calm as well as beautiful, there’s just one route to go with the interior decoration, and that’s East. Consider water features, bonzai, graceful flowers, beautiful screens and unique sculptures. It is easy to bring a hint of the orient in lots of ways, but among the easiest is to add a statue of the Buddha. There are more than one hundred ’standard’ positions and three different orientations for these statues, so there will be one that will be perfect for any living space, even when it is an unusual shape or dimensions.

Buffets and desks almost all seem to cry out for a seated Buddha, gardens and balconies may be perfect for a standing Buddha, yet quite a few areas require an subject much broader than tall. Here the perfect decor item is a reclining Buddha.

Almost all Buddha statues share 32 features said to have been physical features from the first Gautama Buddha who was born in approximately 563 BC. They are also referred to as the ‘Thirty Two Signs of a Great Man’, and include:

•    flat feet

•    a pointed head

•    beautiful golden skin

•    long fingers the same length

•    long toes all the same length

•    a robe draped over one shoulder

•    long ear lobes

The Buddha wasn’t in favor of idolizations of his own body, and so the real question is, why are there any statues of the Buddha at all?

It seems this may be yet another thing that may be blamed on  the Greeks, and on one Greek in particular, Alexander the Great. When Alexander  occupied India and Afghanistan, the leader left lots of soldiers and artisans in the regions, hence the art of the region was to a great extent influenced by classical sculpture, and by Greek ideas of Gods and men. Alexander was widley known for taking pleasure in the imitation of his own visage, understanding the worth of portraits and statues as items of propaganda.

This may be why Alexandrian India, with a partly Greek populace and ties to Greek culture, was the earliest area to produce Buddha statues. These proved hugely popular and the concept spread with Buddhism itself, however as Islam restricted the representation of the human form and viewed such sculpture as idolatry,  many of the ancient and amazing statues of the Buddha in that area have been destroyed.

There are a few well defined poses for these sculptures that refer to distinct principles or times in the life of the Buddha.

But the most significant is the reclining pose of the Buddha. There are 2 versions. One shows the Buddha, relaxing with his head in his hand. This is the sleeping Buddha, but the other similar pose, where Buddha’s feet are together, represents the day the Buddha went into Nirvana.

Aged 80, the Buddha sat down to rest and informed his disciples he was about to enter parinirvana, the state which occurs whenever the body of an individual that has accomplished total awakening or enlightenment finally dies. He ate his last meal and then became strongly ill. He asked his followers for any requests that they had and when there were none he gave them his final instructions. “All composite things pass away. Strive for your own liberation with diligence.” Convention states that that when his body was placed among the sala trees, the plants bloomed, even though it was not the time of year.

This is the occasion commemorated by the reclining Buddha statue.  In Thailand the most common pose shows the Buddha with legs crossed and with his left hand in his lap while the right points to the ground, palm inward in a pose called ‘Calling the Earth to Witness’ and refers to the specific of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

Whichever shape your area, generally there is a Buddha statue which will probably match, delivering a sensation of peace and tranquility to your home.

Just about every decorator knows that if a customer asks for a room that’s calm as well as beautiful, there’s just one route to go with the interior decoration, and that’s East. Consider water features, bonzai, graceful flowers, beautiful screens and unique sculptures. It is easy to bring a hint of the orient in lots of ways, but among the easiest is to add a statue of the Buddha. There are more than one hundred ’standard’ positions and three different orientations for these statues, so there will be one that will be perfect for any living space, even when it is an unusual shape or dimensions.

Buffets and desks almost all seem to cry out for a seated Buddha, gardens and balconies may be perfect for a standing Buddha, yet quite a few areas require an subject much broader than tall. Here the perfect decor item is a reclining Buddha.

Almost all Buddha statues share 32 features said to have been physical features from the first Gautama Buddha who was born in approximately 563 BC. They are also referred to as the ‘Thirty Two Signs of a Great Man’, and include:

•    flat feet

•    a pointed head

•    beautiful golden skin

•    long fingers the same length

•    long toes all the same length

•    a robe draped over one shoulder

•    long ear lobes

The Buddha wasn’t in favor of idolizations of his own body, and so the real question is, why are there any statues of the Buddha at all?

It seems this may be yet another thing that may be blamed on  the Greeks, and on one Greek in particular, Alexander the Great. When Alexander  occupied India and Afghanistan, the leader left lots of soldiers and artisans in the regions, hence the art of the region was to a great extent influenced by classical sculpture, and by Greek ideas of Gods and men. Alexander was widley known for taking pleasure in the imitation of his own visage, understanding the worth of portraits and statues as items of propaganda.

This may be why Alexandrian India, with a partly Greek populace and ties to Greek culture, was the earliest area to produce Buddha statues. These proved hugely popular and the concept spread with Buddhism itself, however as Islam restricted the representation of the human form and viewed such sculpture as idolatry,  many of the ancient and amazing statues of the Buddha in that area have been destroyed.

There are a few well defined poses for these sculptures that refer to distinct principles or times in the life of the Buddha.

But the most significant is the reclining pose of the Buddha. There are 2 versions. One shows the Buddha, relaxing with his head in his hand. This is the sleeping Buddha, but the other similar pose, where Buddha’s feet are together, represents the day the Buddha went into Nirvana.

Aged 80, the Buddha sat down to rest and informed his disciples he was about to enter parinirvana, the state which occurs whenever the body of an individual that has accomplished total awakening or enlightenment finally dies. He ate his last meal and then became strongly ill. He asked his followers for any requests that they had and when there were none he gave them his final instructions. “All composite things pass away. Strive for your own liberation with diligence.” Convention states that that when his body was placed among the sala trees, the plants bloomed, even though it was not the time of year.

This is the occasion commemorated by the reclining Buddha statue.  In Thailand the most common pose shows the Buddha with legs crossed and with his left hand in his lap while the right points to the ground, palm inward in a pose called ‘Calling the Earth to Witness’ and refers to the specific of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

Whichever shape your area, generally there is a Buddha statue which will probably match, delivering a sensation of peace and tranquility to your home.

translates from Sanskrit to mean 'touching the earth.' A mudra is a [motion or gesture of the hands and body to express a feeling.|Mudras are gestures or motions of the hands and body intended  to communicate a feeling or thought non-verbally.]  Mudras are [an important part of Buddhist meditation rituals.|Buddhist meditation rituals are based on the many different mudras.] Buddha statues and is also referred to as the 'earth witness' mudra.|Buddha statues are often depicted in the earth touching mudra which is also known as 'the earth witness' position.]

can be recognized by the position of the right hand. The fingers reach downward with the palm facing toward the body.|To perform this mudra, the hand is placed on the ground with all fingers touching. The palm faces inward.] symbolic of the moment when Buddha summoned the Earth goddess to witness the moment in which he achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.|It's believed that Buddha assumed the earth touching position after he achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree to call the goddess Shthavra to witness the event.] Occassionally, you may see this mudra referred to as 'Summoning the Earth Goddess to Witness.'

Buddha figurines in the earth touching mudra have the right arm resting on the right knee with the fingers of the hand extended downward. The left hand rests in the lap, palm up in the mudra of meditation (dhyana mudra). The combination of mudras is intended to symbolize the union of wisdom and method, Nirvana and Samasra. (Buddhist teachings tell the tale of how Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, assumed the earth touching pose to resist against the temptations and distractions of the demon Mara who sought to lure the Buddha from his spiritual life.|The teachings of the Buddhist faith speak of how the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, resisted the temptations of the demon Mara by taking the earth touching pose.] Mara existed in many incarnations in Buddhist lore, from all powerful, evil creature to impish nuisance. One story tells of how Mara summoned his daughter's to seduce the Buddha and distract him from his spiritual journey. This has parallels to the mythology of other cultures, similar to Greek sirens.

The earth touching pose is associated with Akshobhya, one of the Five Great Buddhas. Akshobhya is a manifestation of strength, confidence and determination and the use of the Bhumisparsha mudra is a reflection of that. The concept of the Five Great Buddhas was an evolution of the Buddhist theology. Initially only two existed, wisdom and compassion.

Akshobhya sits in the Eastern position and is thought to possess the mirror wisdom that converts anger to wisdom. He is associated with the element water, mirror-like itself and symbolic of Akshobhya's ability to help people see things as they truly are.

The simple beauty of this mudra is a welcome reminder that temptation can be confronted by strength and this is the reason many Buddhists display Buddha decor in the earth touching pose.

[Gaze at a Buddha statue and you are probably only seeing a reflection of one specific aspect or discipline of Buddhism.|A statue of Buddha usually reflects the region and Buddhist discipline from where it was created]. [Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Buddha which are referred to as “Dharma” or "the Dharma."|The religion of Buddhism follows "the Dharma," teachings of the Buddha.]  Buddhist believe they are on a spiritual journey to attain a state of complete enlightenment known as Nirvana.   Like all religions, Buddhism has evolved over time, fractured and adapted as the religion spread to the continent of Asia and around the globe.  There are three main sects of Buddhism today along with several smaller variants of the religion.  

Like Christianty’s belief in one true God, for all Buddhists, the Buddha is considered the spiritual leader.  The Four Noble Truths are core to their philosophies and teachings.  Those who practice Buddhism follow the principles of the Eightfold Path and believe that Buddhahood is the highest possible state that one could achieve.  The different Buddhist religions are all united under some core Buddhist principles.

[Around 300 BC, the Theravada, or “Traditions of the Elders” was first established|The Theravada or "doctrine of the Elders" was established around 300 BC.].  [This religion centered around the teachings of Buddha and|Based on the teachings of Buddha, it] encouraged [the sangha (followers)|it's followers] to [use meditation as a means to teach the mind and eliminate suffering|teach the mind to eliminate suffering through the use of meditation] with the [ultimate goal of reaching Nirvana|goal of achieving Buddhahood].  Theravada Buddhism [gave life to the Tripitaka, the Pali|established the] canon of Buddhist [teachings|scriptures] and the [Ten Precepts which govern the lifestyle of Buddhist monks|laws governing the practices of Buddhist monks referred to as the Ten Precepts].

[This discipline of Buddhism|Theravada Buddhism] [originated in India|began in India] and [migrated to|moved through] southeast Asia into [Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam|Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Sri Lanka] and other Asian countries.  [As it was adopted by the indigenous peoples|As this form of Buddhism was embraced by the indigenous people], the Theravada was [altered to incorporate|adapted to include] the religious [viewpoints|beliefs] of the various [geographic regions|regions]. [It is still practiced|this form of Buddhism is still popular] in [Sri Lanka, Laos and Cambodia|Laos, Sri Lanka and Cambodia] today.

[Mahayana, or Eastern Buddhism,|Eastern Buddhism known as Mahayana] [expands the Pali Canon and includes| broadens the Buddhist scriptures to include] other religious [texts and philosophies|philosophies and texts] that [encourage altruism and the need to live a life of universal compassion|champion of belief in universal compassion and altruism].  [This is central to their belief in|These beliefs are central to their concept of] an “Awakened mind.”  [Practiced primarily in China, Korea and Japan, Mahayana Buddhism|Mahayana Buddhism is most popular in Korea, Japan and China. It] incorporates elements of [mysticism and cosmology|cosmology and mysticism].  [Mahayana Buddhism itself|This form of Buddhism] has [splintered into two variants|divided into two main sects].  Zen Buddhism, which focuses more on internalization of the spiritual path and self-reliance and Pure Land Buddhism which teaches that dedication to the Amitabha Buddha is required to reach Nirvana.

[Although deeply influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism or Vajrayana is another distinct discipline of the Buddhist faith.| Vajrayana or Tibetan Buddhism is very similar to Mahayana Buddhism with subtle variations].  [Also known as “tantric Buddhism,”|referred to as Tantric Buddhism,] Vajrayana [incorporates text and scriptures from both Mahayana and Theraveda Buddhism|melds the scriptures and text of both Mahayana and Theraveda Buddhism] along with Buddhist Tantras.  [A major difference of Vajrayana Buddhism is that it teaches that Buddhahood can be achieved in a single life time without need for reincarnation|Vajrayana teaches that it is possible to achieve Buddhahood in a single lifetime without the journey of reincarnation].  

[The method in which one achieves enlightenment is the most significant difference between the various types of Buddhism|The Path to Enlightenment and Buddhahood is the most significant difference between the various Buddhist disciplines].  [While all believe in the core principles of meditation and spiritual questing guided by the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, the attainment of Nirvana varies considerably|each value meditation and spiritual journey guided by the eightfold Path and the four Noble truths, but the attainment of Buddhahood differs in each version of the Buddhist faith].

Qwan Yin–sometimes known as Guan Yin or Kuan Yin–has been called the “female Buddha.” Qwan Yin is an important religious icon in the Buddhist faith, as well as a popular folk heroine among the Chinese and many other Asian nations. She is known as the Goddess of Compassion, whose name translates roughly to “She who hears the cries of the world.”Wearing a Kwan Yin necklace can remind you to have the positive qualities this goddess was said to have possessed, even if you’re not a Buddhist.

Choose a pendant that represents Kwan Yin. EBay has a huge variety of Kwan Yin pendants, mostly from China and Tibet; some are sold for a few pennies, plus shipping. Kwan Yin pendants are also available at any Chinese store that sells jewelry. Kwan Yin pendants are available in every imaginable medium, including Yak bone, turquoise and crystal although they are made of jade or agate. Many come with an attached bale (a metal clip or ring that goes through a hole at the top of the pendant, so it can hang from a string), or you can purchase and add a silver bale.

Thread it through the pendant bale which places the Qwan Yin pendant in the center of the string after cut a length of beading string,.

Tie a knot on either side of the pendant. Begin adding beads on either side, tying a knot between each bead.

To represent her position as the goddess who watches over sailors and anyone in danger;considered the most lucky color to the Chinese; black, which represents wisdom and honor; pink, for her compassion to all living things; pearl, a reference to the “Pearl of Light” in a folk tale that showed Kwan Yin’s generosity; and blue;add beads in any of the following colors: red. They represent:as you place the beads, meditate on the qualities,onfidence in good fortune, wisdom, compassion to all living things, generosity and protectiveness.

Add other beads if you like, to fill out the string. As the goddess in charge of rice (and therefore abundance),White or brown beads to represent Kwan Yin would be appropriate. Simply tie the ends of the string in a strong double knot (if the necklace is long enough to be slipped over your head) and try the quan yin pendant and necklace on to measure the appropriate length you want it to be.

You know him by the name of Ganesh, but how do others address your beloved elephant-headed God? And, what are the meanings possessed by each of these names that add to the popularity of this God of luck? Here is some interesting information about the most admired names of Ganesh.

With other members of the family,some of the names of Ganesh depict his relationship. For examples: his names Eshanputra and Nandana means ‘Lord Shiva’s son’. Another name is Rudrapriya that means ‘beloved of Lord Shiva’.

Shambhavi, Umaputra and Gaurisuta are other names of Ganesha and they translate to ‘the son of Parvati’. His name Skandapurvaja implies that he is the ‘elder brother of Lord Skanda’.
From one’s life and this forms the basis for an array of his popular names,ganesh is known to remove the obstacles. Avighna and Vighnahara are the names that recognize the Lord as ‘remover of obstacles’. Vignaharta also describes him as ‘demolisher of obstacles’ which is his another name. The other names of Ganesh in this category are: Vighnavinashanaya ,Vighnaraja, Vigneshwara and Vigneshwar.

There are many names of Lord Ganesha that recognize various attributes of his glorious and divine physical appearance. One of these popular names identifies him as ‘one with single tusk’ is Ekadanta. For his appearance as ‘elephant-headed God’,Gajanana is the name given to Ganesh. Similarly,while Vakratunda also highlights the curved trunk of the Lord,Gajavakra is another popular name of Ganesh, meaning ‘one with elephant trunk.

As ‘one having four arms’,Chaturbhuj represents Ganesh. The names Kapila and Pitambara make Ganesh statue familiar as one with ‘yellowish-brown body’. Other names make him popular as ‘Lord with large ears’,such as Lambakarna and Shoorpakarna. Apart from them, there are many names of Ganesh that highlight his huge and gigantic appearance. For instance, Vikat and Bheema are some of these names. Mahabala is another name that depicts Ganesh as ‘the strong Lord’.

Buddhism, contrary to Hinduism- the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths clearly define it, is quite a homogenous path to liberation. The difference between Buddhism and Hinduism is that Buddhists do not consider Gods so important as Hindus do; for Buddhists relevant is only the path to liberation or to nirvana the direction of which described Buddha and Buddha statues. Buddhism has two basic schools of teaching – Pali Canon Theravada, also called the Southern School (Sri Lanka, Indonesia…) and Mahayana – the Northern School (Tibet, China, Mongolia, Japan…). These two schools have their subschools.

In Japan at about the end of the first millennium (700-800 AD),Shingon is an esoteric school of Buddhism started by a mysterious monk named Kukai. In Japan,this form of Buddhism is also known as Mikkyo (secret path). Mikkyo originated in India and its practice is very similar to the Ganapatyas sect (worshippers of Lord Ganesh who consider Ganesh, contrary to mainstream vaishnavists or shaivists, Supreme God of the universe). Ganapatyas still exist in India, but they are not documented very well, as their practice is secret like that of Shingon. Most information from both teachings has never come out to the public.

Shingon is typical with rituals, magic, with invoking Gods, which you may also notice, for example,which priests in Japan hold from the public eyes and keep in great respect,, by looking at quite very unusual statues of Kantingen (two Ganeshas, a female and male form of the elephant God making love ).

Kukai went to China where Hui-Guo, a master of Buddhism, initiated him to Chen-yen or Zhenyan, which is Shingon in Japanese (or Mantrayâna in Sanskrit). In Japan back to times when this great monk started his Shingon sect in Japanese Buddhism,most historians date the presence of Ganesha. The means of worshiping Ganesha, Ganabachi, Vinayaka, or Kankiten hold attributes that make this cult different from all other Buddhist streams.

Ganesha is the youngest member of Lord Shiva’s family and is known to be very dear to all the Hindu deities mentioned in the Hindu mythology. Though, the most popular is that in which his mother prepares a statue from clay and blesses it with life,there are many famous tales associated with the birth of Ganesha or Ganesh. The statue turns into none other than Ganesha, who is known to be fond of sweets. The following information talks about other members of the family to which Lord Ganesha belongs.

Lord Shiva, the father of Ganesha, is one of three supreme Hindu Gods, the other two being Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. Known to reside at Kailasa Mountain, Shiva is worshipped with different names like Sankara, Rudra, Neelkanth and many more.

When the latter denied him permission to enter the quarters of Goddess Parvati, Shiva’s wife,Shiva is held responsible for unknowingly cutting the head of his own son, Ganesha. However, after discovering the latter to be his own son,Shiva restored Ganesha to life. Apart from that, Shiva also announced that Ganesha would be worshipped before any other God or Goddess by people in the universe during any type of ceremony.

Goddess Parvati, popularly known as Shakti, the power, is the mother of Ganesha. The Goddess is considered to be the centre of whole of the energy prevailing in the universe. Parvati is believed to be the second incarnation of Sati, the first wife of Lord Shiva. Kown by other names like Gauri, Bhairavi, Bhavani and many more, Parvati is considered to be very near to her son, Ganesha.

As mentioned earlier,while she went to take a bath,Parvati created Ganesha as a statue from clay to guard the quarters. Another famous tale tells how Ganesha got an elephant head apart from the story mentioned in the last section. Ganesha’s head was turned to ashes, when the cursed God Shani had a look at the newborn child. However, Lord Vishnu soon replaced Ganesh’s head with one of elephant.