GANAPATI OR GANESHA, THE POPULAR GOD OF GOOD-LUCK.. An idol commonly worshipped and found in almost every house and shop in India. Hindu tradition makes this god to be the Son of Shiva, one of the Tri-murti, or triad of deities, which consists of Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Preserver; and Shiva, or Siva, the Destroyer and Renovator. Mythology teaches that Shiva, in a quarrel with his son, in anger smote off his head. Parvati, Shiva's wife, wrathfully commanded him to restore their son to life. Shiva sought for Ganapati's head, but, failing to find it, seized an elephant's head and stuck it on the headless body. At the same time this compensation was granted to the elephantheaded god, that he should be first worshipped in all ceremonies. He is always represented as above, a a four-handed god. The idol is thus reproduced, in chromo-lithography, that it may be seen what sort of objects receive idolatrous homage even in India l |