The document discusses myths, legends, and stories related to the Hindu deity Ganesha. It provides definitions of myths as explanations for the unknown handed down through oral tradition, and legends as stories based on real people but not completely true. It then summarizes several myths and legends about the origins and characteristics of Ganesha, including how his mother Parvati created him as her servant, and how he gained his elephant head. The document also explores how myths illustrate the belief systems of the cultures that create them.

1. Myths and
Legends of
ganesha -
INDIA

2. Q1. Myths and Legends
What are myths?
A simple definition of a myth is 'a
story handed down through history,
often through oral tradition, that
explains or gives value to the
unknown'.
Myths are often stories told by a
particular people such as Indians,
Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and
others. They are especially linked to
religious beliefs and rituals.
What are legends?
Legends are about people and their
actions or deeds. The people lived
in more recent times and are
mentioned in history. The stories
are told for a purpose and are
based on facts, but they are not
completely true. Legends are also
stories that have been made up,
but they are different from myths.
Myths answer questions about how
the natural world works, and are
set in a time long-ago, before
history was written.
Either the person never really did
what the story says, or the
historical events were changed.
The purpose was to make the story
more interesting or convincing, or
to teach a lesson, like knowing right
from wrong.

3. MYTHS AND LEGENDS
• MYTHS:-
• According the very well known Shiva-Purâna
version, the Shiva's wife, Pârvatî the
Mountaineer, was disturbed once by her
husband who entered the house, even though
she was taking her bath.
• The goddess felt annoyed, because she didn't
have any personal servant to guard her door.
So, she rub her body skin and, with the
perfumed unguents obtained, she molded the
shape of a young boy, as glorious as daylight.
LEGENDS
•Lord Ganesha is treated
with a lot of reverence and
respect among Hindus..
•Lord Ganesha is the God of
knowledge wisdom, and fine
arts. He is worshipped
before the start of a new
venture, because he unfolds
the secrets of spirituality as
well as life. We can learn the
secrets of life management
from lord Ganesha.

4. According to one story, Shiva struck off the boy's head, either because Ganesha prevented
him from approaching Parvati or because Shiva believed that his son was doomeSome gods
have more than one name. Shiva is also known as Shankar, Mahadev, Natraj, Mahesh and
many other names. Ganesh is also called Ganpati. God. Others worship only Shiva. Many of
these Goddess worshipers worship Parvati in her images as Kali or Durga. Vishnu worshipers
(Vaishnaites) also worship his appearances. Shiva's worshipers (Shaivites) also worship
images of bull called Nandi, who was Shiva's carrier and a unique stone design connected to
Shiva. There are some Gods who are worshiped all over India like Rama and Krishna and
other Gods who are worshiped more in one region than the other like Ganesh who is
worshiped mainly in west India. Hindus also worship Gods according to their personal
needs. People who engage in wrestling, body building and other physical sports worship
Hanuman, who in Hindu legends was an ape with lot of physical strength. Businessmen
worship Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth to die.
Q3.HOW DO THE TRAITS OF A LORD GANESHA
EXEMPLIFY THE VALUES OF THE CULTURE
FROM WHICH THE LEGEND ORGINATE

5. TheBirthofGanesha. Shiva'swife, Parvati,
producedGanesha—anddidso withoutany
helpfromShiva, accordingto manyaccounts.
SomesaythatShiva, beingimmortal,hadno
desirefor a son,butParvatiwanteda child
andproducedtheboyfromherownbody.In
otherversions,ShivagaveParvatia dollthatat
hertouchmagicallycameto lifeasa baby.
Q4..IN WHAT WAY DO MYTHS
ILLISTRATE THE BELIEF SYSTEMS
AND CUSTOMS OF THE CULTURE
THAT
CREATE THEM ?

6. Q5.CHARACTER PICTURE
ALONG WITH THEIR
SYMBOLS
Ganeshais the formless Divinity -
encapsulated in a magnificent form, for the
benefit of the devotee.
Ganmeans group. The universe is a group of
atoms and different energies. This universe
would be in chaos if there was no supreme
law governing these diverse groups of
entities.
The Lordof allthesegroupsof atomsand
energiesis Ganesha.
He is the supreme consciousness that
pervades all and brings order in this
universe.

7. Mythology is all around us! Have you
seen it.
There are many mythological
anecdotes of Ganesha Ganesha's
elephant head makes him easy to
identify.He is worshipped as the
lord of beginnings and as the lord
of removing obstacles, the patron
of arts and sciences, and the god
of intellect and wisdom.

8. DIFFERENTIATE

9. Lord Ganesha Stories of Oral Tradition
Hindu mythology is basically an oral tradition. The mythical stories are told
several times even before they were scripted. That is why, it is common to
have many versions of the same mythical story. There are several versions of
Lord Ganesha birth story. In some version, it is said that Ganesha is the
manasika putra (mind-born son) of Lord Shiva, in others he is the creation of
Parvathi. But commonly, he is the son of Shiva and Parvathi
Parvathi Created Ganesha
One day Goddess Parvathi was at home on Kailash (Shiva’s abode) preparing for a bath.
She told Nandi (Shiva’s Bull) to guard the door and let no one enter in. Nandi faithfully
guarded the door. But, after Shiva’s arrival to Kailash, being himself loyal to Shiva first,
Nandi had to let him pass.
After this incident, Parvathi wanted someone as loyal to Herself as Nandi was to Shiva.
The next time, while taking her bath, in the desire of owning a loyal son, Parvathi rubbed
off the dust, oil, sandalwood, turmeric paste from her body and created the figure of a
young boy using this material. She breath life into this figure, whom she called Ganesha,
declaring him to be her own loyal son.

10. LORD GANESHA
May Lord Ganesha Give Us
A Rainbow for every storm ,
A smile for every tear ,
A promise for every care ,
And an answer to every prayer !

11. ‘
Made by:
BHOOMI SHAH
JIYA SHAH
HANISHI SHAH
VANSHIKA SHAH
MAHEK SHAH
VEERTI SHAH
LESHA SHAH
TANISHA SHAH
ISHA SAVANT

12. THANK YOU