The sage said,
“O King! In time, this tree will return to its original form. Until then, I will keep narrating the Ganesha Purana to you. But before we begin, you must worship Lord Ganesha and take a vow to listen to this Purana.”

Following the sage’s instructions, the king made his vow to hear the sacred text. At that very moment, he felt something change within him. All his pain disappeared. When he looked, the spots of leprosy had vanished, and his body was healthy again.

The king was amazed and overwhelmed with gratitude. Falling at the sage’s feet, he said,
“Lord, please bless me by narrating the Ganesha Purana in full detail.”

The sage replied,
“O King! This Purana removes all sins and misfortunes. Listen to it carefully. Only true devotees of Lord Ganesha should listen to it, not others.

In the age of Kali, sins will grow, people will be weak, and life will be short. So, there had to be a way to help. With this thought, Sage Vyasa himself taught me this Purana.

By his grace, I have been fortunate to hear the great deeds of Lord Ganesha.”

He continued,
“Maharaj, Lord Ganesha grants everything to his humble devotees. He always showers his grace on the simple and the egoless. But he never spares the proud and arrogant.

Once, he even humbled the great Sage Vyasa, who was master of all scriptures. Ganesha sees no difference between the high and the low, the weak and the strong, or the wise and the foolish. For him, breaking human pride has become a sacred duty.”

The king, astonished, asked,
“Revered one, how could Sage Vyasa—who is said to be free of all faults and considered an incarnation of Lord Narayana himself—become proud? Please explain this to me.”

Sage Bhrigu answered,
“O King, Sage Vyasa once divided the Vedas into four parts and composed separate collections, making their secrets easier to understand. Scholars worldwide have praised this great work.

Because of such praise, a feeling of pride grew in his heart. Later, to make Vedic wisdom even more accessible, he began composing the Puranas.”

When Vyasa Lost His Wisdom

O King, Lord Ganesha is the Adideva—the first among gods. That is why, since ancient times, it has been a tradition to remember him before starting any work.

But when Sage Vyasa began composing the Puranas, he forgot to invoke and worship Lord Ganesha.

This mistake caused his memory to fade. Important things slipped from his mind. No matter how hard he tried, he could not recall what to write next.

Confused and restless, Vyasa went to Lord Brahma, bowed before him, and said: “Lord! After dividing the Vedas into four parts, I started composing the Puranas.

But now, to my great surprise, my mind has gone blank. I don’t know what to write. Please tell me why my wisdom has left me.”

Brahma meditated for a moment and then replied:
“Vyasa, you have become proud of your knowledge. In that pride, you forgot Lord Ganesha.

At the very beginning of your work, you did not honour him with an invocation. That is why your wisdom is fading. Now, only by pleasing Ganesha can you regain it.”

Vyasa realised his mistake. Yet, he admitted humbly:
“Lord, I know nothing about Ganesha. Please tell me—who is he? What does he look like? What are his divine qualities?”

Brahma answered:
“Son of Satyavati, listen carefully. Ganesha is the supreme and eternal Brahman, beyond all. The scriptures hold seventy million mantras dedicated to him.

Among them, the six-syllable and single-syllable mantras are the simplest. Just looking at a devotee of Ganesha removes obstacles. Once, Lord Shiva himself revealed the method of worship, and I will share it with you now.

At dawn, after bathing in pure water and wearing clean clothes, sit facing the east on a sacred seat. Perform achaman (sipping of water), practice breath control, and meditate.

Then, with the Pranava mantra, chant either the six-syllable or the one-syllable mantra of Ganesha. Continue the chanting until the divine form of Lord Ganesha appears within your heart. By such worship, Ganesha surely becomes pleased.”

Hearing this, Vyasa bowed and asked eagerly:
“Lord Brahma, what exactly is the Ganesha mantra? Who has practised it before me? And what powers or blessings have they gained through it?”

Brahma replied:
“Vyasa, Lord Ganesha is one with Om—the Pranava. All the Vedas sing of him. Om is the seed of all mantras, and through it one chants the name and praises of Ganesha.

The power of Om is limitless. By chanting it, gods, sages, and humans have all attained the fulfilment of their desires.”

Vyasa then said:
“Please explain this in greater detail. My curiosity about the greatness of Lord Ganesha is only increasing. Kindly bless me with deeper knowledge.”

When Ganesha Guided the Tridev

Once, Brahma said, “Dvaipayana! I will tell you an ancient story. Long ago, the Earth was devastated by the mighty forces of wind and water. Everything in creation sank into illusion and became invisible.

At that time, Vishnuji, Shivaji, and I sat together, thinking about what to do. We could not find any solution. Even if we wanted to ask someone, there was no one in sight.

So, we three went to the netherworld and performed intense penance, but it brought no results. Exhausted, we came back to Earth and wandered around. Everywhere we looked, there was darkness.

Finally, we saw a lake. A bright light shone from it, which seemed to make travelling in the sky easy. But we were too hungry and tired to explore further.

As we rested, a magnificent light appeared before us, shining like millions of suns. Looking carefully, we saw Lord Ganesha seated there, the leader of all beings. We bowed and began to praise him:

“Salutations to you, Lord of the universe, master of all! Salutations to you, cause of all causes! Salutations to you, invisible even to the wise, bestower of all boons!”

Hearing our praise, Lord Ganesha said, “Tridev, I am pleased. Ask me for a boon.”

We replied, “Lord, we don’t know what to ask. Please give us instructions. Whatever you say will be the best.”

Ganesha smiled and said, “Brahmaji, Vishnuji, Shivaji, I will assign each of you a task. Brahmaji, you create the universe. Vishnuji, you maintain it. And Shivaji, you will ultimately destroy it.”

He then gave Brahmadev the power to create, Shri Vishnu the power to sustain, and taught him the sacred mantra, “Gum Kshipraprasadanay Namah.” To Shiva, he gave the single-syllable mantra “Gum,” the six-syllable mantra “Vakratundaya Hum,” all the knowledge of the scriptures, and the power to destroy.

Brahmadev humbly said, “Lord, I have never seen or heard of creation before. How can I create it?”

Ganesha replied, “Chaturanan (four-faced one), to understand creation, behold the infinite universes within me. By my grace, you will then be able to perform all tasks effortlessly.”

With Ganesha’s blessing, Brahmadev received divine vision and entered his body. Inside, he saw countless universes. There, he also saw himself, Shri Vishnu, and Shivaji among all living beings.

The same scenes appeared in other universes as well, leaving him amazed. Then Ganesha gently released him.

When Brahma returned outside, no one was there—not Shri Vishnu, not Shiva, not even Ganesha. Yet, he felt ready to create the universe. He instantly grasped the entirety of the Vedas and religious texts.

Since he alone knew the Vedas, everyone praised him. But this praise filled him with immense pride, which obstructed his work.

While creating the universe, many obstacles appeared. Then Brahmadev focused his mind on Lord Ganesha, praising him and saying, “Lord, save me from this danger. Heramba, please bless me.”

At that moment, he heard a divine voice: “Chaturanan, sit under a banyan tree, meditate, and continue chanting my mantra.”

How Brahma Gained Ganesha’s Blessings

Sage Bhrigu once told King Somakanta:

“O King, Brahmadev once explained to Vyasa what had happened to him. After hearing the divine voice, Brahma had a dream. In the dream, after the great flood, only a giant banyan tree was left. On one of its leaves lay a tiny child.

When Brahma looked carefully, he saw the child looked just like Lord Vinayaka. The sight filled him with joy, and he began chanting Ganesha’s mantra.

Soon, the child slowly came near and spoke:
‘Chaturanan (four-faced one), give up all worries and chant my single-syllable mantra ten lakh times. When this practice is complete, you will see me in person.’

The dream ended, and Brahma awoke.

He immediately began the mantra practice with devotion. After he finished the ritual, Ganesha appeared to him. The Lord’s radiant and extraordinary form was so bright that Brahma’s eyes were dazzled, and even his memory faded away.

Then Ganesha’s deep voice echoed:
‘Chaturanan, I had promised to appear before you in your dream. Now I have fulfilled it. Ask me for your desired boon.’

Bowing down, Brahma prayed:
‘Lord, may all obstacles in my work disappear, and may I gain pure knowledge so that I can sing your praises worthily.’

The Lord blessed him with the words, ‘So be it,’ and vanished.

Sage Bhrigu continued:

“After this, Brahma began the work of creation. First, he created fourteen sons from his mind, starting with Marichi, and told them to continue creation. But they, being great sages and absorbed in penance, did not listen to him.

So Brahma himself had to continue the creation. Whatever success he gained in this work was only due to his worship of Lord Ganesha.”

Hearing this, Shaunaka asked Suta:

“Tell me, did only Brahma worship Ganesha, or did other gods also? After all, Vishnu and Shiva are themselves supreme. Vishnu sustains the universe, and Shiva destroys it. They are already powerful in their roles, so why would they worship Ganesha?”

Suta laughed gently and said:

“O sage, I understand why you ask such tricky questions—you do so for the good of all people, and that makes your question most praiseworthy.

Listen: Not only Brahma, but all the gods have worshipped Lord Ganesha at different times. Whenever obstacles appeared in their work, those very gods turned to Ganesha in devotion. Even the goddesses, who embody great powers themselves, worshipped him and attained their goals.”

Lord Vishnu’s Devotion to the Vighneshvara

Hey sage! I have already told you how even Brahma worshipped Lord Ganesha. Lord Vishnu, too, worshipped Ganesha when he faced danger and gained success.

Brahma shared this tale with Vyas, and later Bhrigu repeated it for King Somakanta.
Listen carefully — this story will bring you great joy.

Once, while Brahma was busy creating the world, two demons named Madhu and Kaitabha sprang from the ears of Lord Vishnu.

They became extremely hungry and started looking for food. When they saw Brahma, they mistook him for food and ran toward him.

Brahma was terrified. He begged Yogamaya to wake Lord Vishnu, saying, “Please awaken Vishnu, or these demons will eat me.”

Yogamaya helped, and Vishnu woke from his sleep. Seeing Brahma in danger, Vishnu blew the sound of his conch, the Panchajanya. The sound shook the three worlds.

Hearing it, Madhu and Kaitabha turned their attention toward Vishnu and attacked him. A fierce war began.

The war lasted five thousand years, and the demons still wouldn’t fall. When victory still did not come, Vishnu took on the form of a Gandharva musician.

He went into a forest and began to play the vina. His music was so beautiful that the three worlds were enchanted.

Lord Shiva heard that music too. He sent his followers, Nikumbha and Pushpadanta, to bring the musician to him.

The Gandharva (who was actually Vishnu in disguise) bowed to Shiva and played the vina at his command.

Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Kartikeya, and all the other gods were charmed by the tune. Shiva was pleased and said, “Ask for a boon.”

Vishnu asked, “Please grant me the power to destroy the demons Madhu and Kaitabha.”
Shiva laughed and asked, “Why are you here in this disguise? Did you hide yourself because you were afraid of the demons?”

Vishnu replied, “I came like this only to please you, O Ashutosh (Shiva). Now, please tell me the way to defeat those demons.”

Shiva smiled and said, “If you want victory in battle, first please and worship Lord Ganesha.

By worshipping Ganesha, you can make those demons lose their senses with his maya (divine illusion), and then they will fall under your control.”

Vishnu then asked, “How should I worship him? Tell me the method, Parvati-natha, for without the proper ritual, the worship will not succeed.”

Shiva taught him the sixteen-step method of worshipping Lord Ganapati. After learning the ritual, Lord Vishnu worshipped Ganesha for one hundred divine years.

Ganesha was pleased by Vishnu’s great penance. The elephant-faced Lord appeared and said, “I am happy with your tapas.”
He asked Vishnu, “What do you wish for?”

Vishnu replied, “The demons Madhu and Kaitabha have grown very powerful. I cannot control them. O son of Parvati, please show me the way to destroy them.”

Ganesha said, “Vaikuntha-natha, had you prayed to me sooner, the demons would already be gone.”

Vishnu admitted, “Ganesha, I did not know your power. Please grant me your special devotion and help so I can slay those two demons.”

Moved by Vishnu’s plea, Ganesha promised help. He said Shri Vishnu himself would soon kill the two demons. He also said Vishnu’s fear would vanish, and great fame would come to him.

After giving this boon, Ganesha disappeared.
Vishnu returned to the battlefield and saw the two demons ready for war. The demons mocked him for leaving the field earlier.

Vishnu smiled, entered the fight, and destroyed Madhu and Kaitabha.
The place where he had worshipped Ganesha became famous as the Siddha Kshetra — the field of attainment.

Once, Sage Shaunaka was sitting with his revered teacher, Sutaji. At that time, Suta began to speak about the greatness of Lord Ganesha.

He said,
“O Shaunaka! Always remember this – whatever happens in this universe takes place only by the power of Lord Ganesha. Even the greatest of gods, when faced with obstacles in their tasks, turn to Him for help. For only Ganesha has the strength to remove troubles and bring success.”

After a pause, Sutaji continued,
“Lord Shiva is known as Ashutosh – the one who is pleased in an instant. But Ganesha is even quicker to shower grace upon His devotees. One who worships Ganesha never remains trapped in troubles. And if fate brings sorrow to him, by devotion to Ganesha, that sorrow vanishes, and peace and happiness take its place.”

Hearing this, Shaunaka’s curiosity grew. He said,
“O Sutaji! I wish to know the stories of Ganesha – His deeds, His divine plays. In which scripture can I read about them? If you narrate them to me yourself, it will be the greatest blessing of my life.”

Sutaji smiled and said,
“Ah, Shaunaka! The stories of Ganesha are like an endless ocean. They are countless. No tongue can ever narrate them all. That is why the wise sages say: ‘The Lord is infinite, and so are His stories.’

Since Ganesha was honoured with the first worship, connected to the tales of every other deity, his presence and influence are everywhere. He is all-powerful, and indeed, the affairs of all three worlds move according to His will.”

Then Sutaji added,
“About this, Ganesha Himself has declared:

Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Surya and I –
the one who sees no difference among us,
That person is the true yogi.

Thus, O noble sage, all the gods are but forms of Ganesha. They take different names and roles according to the work they perform, but the essence remains the same – Ganesha Himself. And though His stories are endless, and some of the best are written in the Ganesha Purana.”

The Story of King Somakanta

Once, Sage Shaunaka asked Sutaji,
“O revered one! How did the Ganesha Purana begin? Please tell me.”

Sutaji replied,
“O Shaunaka! The Ganesha Purana is very ancient because Lord Ganesha Himself is the primordial deity. His deeds and divine acts are endless, so many that their collection alone could form a great Purana. Once, Lord Narayana narrated these stories to Narada, and Lord Shiva narrated them to Parvati. Later, Brahma told them to Sage Vyasa, who in turn passed them to Sage Bhrigu. Finally, Sage Bhrigu shared them with King Somakanta of Saurashtra. From then on, the Ganesha Purana spread in many forms among the people.”

Hearing this, Shaunaka grew curious and asked,
“O master! Who was this King Somakanta? Where did he hear the Purana? And what blessings did he receive from it?”

Sutaji then narrated,
“In the land of Saurashtra, there was a great capital city called Devnagar. Its ruler was King Somakanta. He cared for his people as if they were his own children. He was wise in holy knowledge, fearless in war, and powerful like a lion. His wealth was so vast that even Kubera, the god of riches, would have felt ashamed in comparison. Through his might, he conquered many lands.

His queen was Sudharma, a woman of great beauty, virtue, and devotion. King Somakanta followed the vow of one wife. Together, they had a son named Hemakanta – wise, brave, and noble.

Yet, as time passed and the king grew older, fate struck. He was afflicted with the dreaded disease of leprosy. Despite countless treatments and remedies, the illness only worsened. The king became deeply distressed. Finally, he called his ministers and said,
‘O faithful ones! Surely this disease is the result of sins from my past life. I can no longer rule. My son Hemakanta will be your king now. Support him and help him govern righteously.’

On an auspicious day, Somakanta crowned Hemakanta as king. Then, with his queen Sudharma and two trusted ministers, he left for the forest.

When they reached the borders of the kingdom, the people wept bitterly, begging him not to go. But the king consoled them, saying,
‘O people! This world is ever-changing. What exists today may not be tomorrow. Do not grieve my departure. My son will rule in my place. Stay loyal to him and stand by him.’

Turning to his son, the king said,
‘My child, every person must one day renounce. Our ancestors, too, left for the forest in their old age. If I go a little earlier, what harm is there in that? Never abandon the duty of a Kshatriya, and always keep your people happy.’

With these words, King Somakanta entered the forest with his queen and the two ministers. They found a peaceful, beautiful spot and rested there.

Just then, a young sage appeared before them. The king asked,
‘Who are you, child? Where do you live?’

The boy smiled and replied,
‘I am Chyavana, son of Sage Bhrigu. Our ashram is nearby. But who are you?’

The king answered,
‘I am Somakanta, king of Devnagar. I have given my throne to my son and come to the forest. I suffer from leprosy. Please tell me if there is any cure.’

Chyavana said,
‘I shall ask my father.’

He ran to the ashram and soon returned.
‘O king,’ he said, ‘my father has asked you to come to our ashram. There he will speak to you about a cure for your disease.’

King Somakanta’s Past Life

King Somakanta, along with his queen and ministers, went with young Chyavana to Sage Bhrigu’s ashram. Bowing respectfully, the king said,
“O revered sage! I have come to your shelter. Please have mercy on me, for I suffer from this dreadful disease of leprosy.”

Sage Bhrigu replied,
“O king, this is not without cause. It is the result of sins you committed in a previous birth. I will think of the remedy for you. But for now, bathe, eat, and rest for the night.”

As instructed, the king and his companions performed their ablutions, took food, and spent the night there. The next morning, after their daily rituals, they came to serve the sage.

Bhrigu looked at the king and said,
“O king, I have come to know of your past life, and I also know which sin has led you to this miserable disease. If you wish, I will tell you.”

The king folded his hands and said eagerly,
“O great sage, it would be a great kindness! I long to hear it.”

Bhrigu then began to narrate:
“In your previous birth, you were the pampered son of a wealthy merchant who lived in a village called Kolhar near the Vindhya mountains. His wife’s name was Sulochana, and you were born to them as their son. Your name then was Kamanda.

You grew up surrounded by love and care. After you came of age, your parents arranged your marriage with a beautiful young woman named Kutumbini. She was gentle and virtuous, always wishing that you would follow the path of dharma. But your nature was reckless and overcome by passion. Day by day, you became more unrestrained.

While your parents were alive, you kept your misconduct somewhat hidden. But after their death, you became completely lawless. You stopped listening to your wife, and you no longer cared for her words. Your behaviour saddened her, but she was powerless to stop you.

Your arrogance grew to its peak. You became cruel even toward your own people. Murder and violence became common for you. Killing others seemed to you an ordinary thing.

The people, suffering from your actions, appealed to the king. The king judged you and then sent you away from the kingdom.” Cast out, you went to live in a lonely forest. There, your life turned to robbery and murder.

One day, around noon, a learned Brahmin named Gunavardhaka passed that way. He was on his way to fetch his wife from her parents’ home. You caught hold of him and robbed him. When he resisted, you attacked him. The poor man cried out,
‘Do not kill me! Please, do not kill me! I am newly married and am going to bring my wife home!’

But you, blinded by anger, did not listen. Even as you struck, final words became a curse upon your fate,
‘O murderer! For the sin of my death, you shall suffer in the terrible hells for a thousand ages!’

Still, you paid no attention, and you cut off his head.

O king, it was not only this one life you took. You slaughtered many innocent people. So many that even to count them would itself be a sin.”

The sage paused, then continued,
“In that life, you committed countless sins. And when old age finally weakened you, the wicked companions who once followed you abandoned you. They thought, ‘Now we would have to feed him as well – better to let him die here.’ And so, they left you to perish.”

The Power of Ganesha’s Worship

Sage Bhrigu continued,
“O King, after your sinful life in your past birth, you became helpless. You could not walk properly, hunger tormented you, and sickness surrounded you. People who passed by looked at you with disgust.

One day, struggling for food, you stumbled into an old, broken temple. Inside was the idol of Lord Ganesha. By the grace of some unseen merit, devotion for Ganesha awakened in your heart. You began to worship Him, even while fasting. Through that worship, you found peace, your suffering lessened, and your illness grew lighter.

In time, death came. The messengers of Yama seized you and brought you before the Lord of Death. Yama said,
‘O soul, you have performed both sins and good deeds. You must suffer and enjoy both results. Which will you choose first—the fruits of sinful actions or of merit?’

You replied, ‘Let me enjoy the fruits of my merit first.’
So you were sent to be born in a royal family. Because you rebuilt Ganesha’s temple with love, you were reborn with a shining form and the glory of a king.”

At this point, Sage Bhrigu stopped, noticing doubt on King Somakanta’s face. At once, countless fierce birds sprang out of the sage’s body and rushed at the king. Their sharp beaks tore at his flesh, causing unbearable pain.

The king cried out in agony,
“O revered one! Your ashram is pure, free of faults and hatred. I have come seeking your shelter. Why then are these birds tormenting me? Save me, O sage!”

Hearing his desperate plea, Bhrigu calmly replied,
“O king, you doubted my words. When someone doubts my words, these birds come to eat him. But with my thunderous sound, they turn to ashes.”

Then Bhrigu roared, and instantly, all the birds vanished in smoke and ash.

The king, filled with tears and reverence, bowed and said,
“Master, please tell me how I can be free from my sins.”

The sage thought for a while and said,
“O king, Lord Ganesha’s grace rests naturally upon you. He alone has the power to destroy your sins. So, listen carefully and faithfully to His stories. The Ganesha Purana contains the holy tales of His deeds. Fix your mind upon them with faith.”

The king pleaded,
“O great sage! I had never even heard the name of the Ganesha Purana before today. How shall I be blessed to hear it? Who else but you is wise and learned enough to narrate it? Please have mercy on me.”

Seeing the king’s humility, Bhrigu sprinkled sacred water from his holy pot upon him. At once, the king sneezed, and from his nose came out a tiny black figure of a man. The little figure began to grow larger and larger until it stood tall and terrifying. The king trembled in fear, while the other residents of the ashram fled.

The dark figure, however, folded his hands before the sage and said,
“I am itself. I dwell within the bodies of sinners. Because of your holy water, I have forced out of the king’s body. Now I am hungry. Tell me, what shall I eat and where shall I live?”

Sage Bhrigu replied,
“Go and live in that mango grove, and survive by eating its leaves.”

The figure did as he had told, but the moment he touched the mango tree, it burned up and turned to ashes. With no place to stay, Sin himself vanished into nothingness.

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.