Anyone else ever wondered why we start off any auspicious activity or every single prayer chanting Ganesh’s name? Why do we describe the start of every new beginning using “Jai Ganesh”?

We have all grown up hearing this chant -

Vakratunda mahakaya suryakoti samaprabha ||
Nirvighnam Kurume deva sarvakaryashu sarvada ||

How many of you actually knows what it means?

O Lord Ganesha, one with a huge body, a curved elephant trunk and whose brilliance is equal to billions of Suns.
May you always remove all obstacles from my endeavours.

Believed to be the destructor of all obstacles, Ganesh is also known as “Vignaharta”. This is commonly the reason Ganesh is prayed to first before the other gods.

There are many stories revolving around why we worship Ganesh first, but these two stories are the most commonly found.

The story of how Ganesh ended up with an elephant head is not a new discovery to many. One school of belief says that it was during this incident Lord Shiva blessed Ganesh that he would be worshipped first before any puja to appease Goddess Parvathi’s wrath.

Another story involves both of Shiva-Parvathi's children, in what one can say was some friendly competition between brothers. When deciding which son to marry first, Ganesh and Kartikeya got into an argument. In order to settle the dispute, Lord Shiva initiated a contest between the two, the winner of which would get married first. The task was simple – the winner would be whoever encircled the universe first. Lord Kartikeya with his peacock vs Lord Ganesha with his mouse, the odds seemed stacked in favour of Kartikeya.

The moment the competition started, Kartikeya was off on his peacock, speeding around the universe. Ganesh, though, was calmly walking towards Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Both seemed confused as Ganesh started walking around his parents, his hands together in prayer. Just as he completed his final circle, Kartikeya returned back, claiming his victory in glee. Lord Shiva asked Ganesh why he chose to walk around his parents while the task was to encircle the universe. Ganesh responded stating that he had encircled his parents who were the universe to him. Hearing Ganesh’s response moved Lord Shiva’s heart who announced him the victor, and acknowledged his intelligence and wisdom. Since then, Ganesh has been worshipped first.

Regardless of the reason why, Lord Ganesh is today worshipped far and beyond, unanimously accepted as the protector from all obstacles and problems. Vignaharta, Lambodara, Vinayaka, Ekadanta, Vakratunda, Gaurisuta or Gajanana – Ganesh is always the first in line regardless of the occasion, or the prayer.

     || ॐ गम गणपतये नमः ||