The Beginning of Shri Ganesha’s Story

A very long time ago, there was a sacred place called Naimisharanya. It was no ordinary forest—it had filled with peace, and in that peace shone a special light of wisdom.

At this holy spot, many great sages, saints, and wise men had gathered. Among them was one learned sage named Sutji. His face glowed brightly, as if millions of suns were shining through him.

One day, the sage Shaunak stood up with folded hands and said,
Sutji, you are the one who removes the darkness of ignorance. Please tell us a story—one that will light the flame of wisdom in our hearts, deepen our devotion, and bring us peace and understanding.

Hearing these words, Sutji’s heart filled with joy. For a moment, he closed his eyes, as though searching through a treasure chest of old memories. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face.

He said gently,
Shaunakji, you are truly fortunate. Always seeking knowledge is a great blessing. Today, I will share with you the most precious of stories—the story of Lord Ganesha. From Ganesha, all wisdom begins. So listen with care and respect.

With both hands folded, Sutji bowed in prayer and said:
O Lord Ganesha, you are the giver of all knowledge. You are the form of the eternal truth that is both with form and without. You teach us the oneness of the soul and the universe. You are the one who swallows up all obstacles, just as the sage Agastya once drank the mighty ocean. That is why you are called Vighna-Sagar-Shoshak—the one who dries up the waves of obstacles. To such a wondrous Ganesha, I bow with all my heart.

Lord Ganesha – The One Who Deserves the First Worship

Sutji sat silently for a while. Then he looked at Sage Shaunaka and said,
“Shaunakaji, always remember this – Lord Ganesha is the one who deserves the first worship. No matter which god you want to worship, you must begin with Ganesha first.”

Hearing this, a question rose in Shaunaka’s mind. With respect, he asked,
“O revered one, O Sutji, how did Lord Ganesha receive this special honour? It is a little confusing to me. After all, Lord Brahma is the creator of the universe, ShreeVishnu is the preserver, and Lord Shiva is the destroyer. These three – the Trimurti – are considered the greatest gods. Then why was the right of first worship given to Ganesha before them?”

Suta Ji smiled and replied,
“Shaunakaji, this is indeed a great secret. You see, true honour is not received by asking for it – it comes through worthiness.

In those days, people would begin their worship with whichever deity they personally favoured. Slowly, arguments started: ‘Who is greater? Who should become worshipped first?’

Even among the gods, disputes began – ‘Who deserves the very first worship?’

To settle this matter, all the gods went to Lord Shiva. Bowing before him, they asked,
‘O Lord, among us, who is worthy of the first worship?’

Shiva thought for a while. Each god was great in his own way. Whom should he choose? Then, an idea struck him. He said,
“It would be decided who deserves the right of first worship.”

The Contest of Circling the World

When Lord Shiva announced the contest, all the gods looked at him eagerly.
They wondered, “What kind of contest will this be? Will it be challenging?”

Shiva, understanding their thoughts, smiled kindly and said:
“Do not worry! The task is simple. Each of you must ride your vehicle and circle the entire universe. Whoever returns first will be given the honour of first worship.”

Hearing this, the gods immediately prepared. Some climbed onto an elephant, some onto a crocodile, some onto a deer, and some onto a horse. Each vehicle was different, and their race was colourful and lively.

But Ganesha’s vehicle was just a tiny mouse!
Everyone thought, Oh dear, how can he possibly win such a race riding on a small mouse?

Even Ganesha himself thought, Hmm… with this little mouse, how can I outrun them all? Perhaps I should sit here and watch.

But then, a brilliant idea flashed in his mind:
The whole universe consists within Lord Shiva himself. If I circle Shiva, it is as if I have circled the entire world!

So Ganesha sat upon his mouse, made three rounds (pradakshina) around Lord Shiva, and then stood humbly before him.

Shiva looked surprised.
Ganesha, have you already completed the circle of the world?

Smiling, Ganesha replied,
Yes, O Lord! I have already returned.

Shiva was puzzled, but he was here all along. How could he have completed the journey?

Just then, the other gods came back from their long travels. They saw Ganesha standing there calmly and asked in amazement,
“Ganesha, we never saw you on the path! How could you have finished the circle?”

Ganesha answered softly,
“You all ran across the world outside. But for me, the world itself is Lord Shiva! By circling him, I have truly completed the circle of the whole universe.”

Suta Ji then said,
“And so, through wisdom and devotion, Lord Ganesha won the contest. His reasoning was true, so no one argued. From that day onward, Ganesha has given the honour of first worship.”

✨ And that is why, even today, before any prayer or ceremony, Lord Ganesha is worshipped first.