Birth Of Lord Ganesha
One day when Goddess Parvati was taking bath she made a boy from the dough she used for her bath and put life into it. This is how Ganesha was born and she told him to stand on the main doorway of the house. Then, there came Lord Shiva and while going in the house he was stopped on the gate by Ganesha on orders of her mother. Lord Shiva became very angry and cut off Ganeshas head with his trident. When Goddess Parvati came out and saw all this, she, in her anger, asked Lord Shiva to make her son alive or to see her destroying the world. Lord Shiva then went to the earth with Lord Vishnu and took the head of the very first living being to fix it on the body of Ganesha. It was the head of an elephant. After this, Lord Shiva apologised and declared that Lord Ganesha will be worshipped before all the gods and goddesses.
Ganesh Chaturthi special Modak Recipe
Ingredients - 3 cups Rice flour, 6 cups Water, 3 tsp. Desi Ghee, 4 cups coconut grated, 2 cup Sugar powder, 1/2 cup Mix Dry fruits of your choice, 1/2 cup Milk.
Method for Dough - Boil the water with ghee in it and remove from fire and keep aside. Now add rice flour, mix well and cover and wait it gets cool. After 20 minutes knead well and keep aside.
For the Stuffing - Mix all dry fruits of your choice sugar and grated coconut. Put this mixture on a low flame and cook for 5 minutes. Then add the milk, mixing well and remove off the heat once it is totally dry.
Preparation - Make balls of the rice dough. Make a small hollow in the center and fill the filling inside and cover it smoothly like a shape of a ladoo, by covering all the edges. Steam these modak for 10 minutes, take off, cool and keep in air-tight containers.Enjoy home made Modaks on Ganesh Chaturthi.
Shiva And Gajasura
Once there existed an demon (Asura) with all the characteristics of an elephant, called Gajasura, who was undergoing a penitence (or tapas). Shiva, pleased by him, decided to grant him, as a reward, whatever gift he desired. The demon wished that he could emanate fire continually from his own body so that no one could ever dare to approach him. The Lord granted him his request. Gajasura continued his penitence and Shiva, who appeared in front of him from time to time, asked him once again what he desired. The demon responded: "I desire that You inhabit my stomach."
Shiva granted even this request and he took up residence in the demons stomach. In fact, Shiva is also known as Bhola Shankara because he is a deity easily propitiated; when he is satisfied with a devotee he grants him whatever he desires, and this, from time to time, generates particularly intricate situations. It was for this reason that Parvati, his wife, sought him everywhere without results. As a last recourse, she went to her brother Vishnu, asking him to find her husband. He, who knows everything, reassured her: "Dont worry, dyour husband is Bhola Shankara and promptly grants to his devotees whatever they ask of him, without regard for the consequences; for this reason, I think he has gotten himself into some trouble. I will find out what has happened."
Then Vishnu, the omniscient director of the cosmic game, staged a small play. He transformed Nandi (the bull of Shiva) into a dancing bull and conducted him in front of Gajasura, assuming, at the same time, the appearance of a flutist. The enchanting performance of the bull sent the demon into ecstasies, and he asked the flutist to tell him what he desired. The musical Vishnua responded: "Can you give me that which I ask?" Gajasura replied: "Who do you take me for? I can immediately give you whatever you ask." The flutist then said: "If thats so, liberate Shiva from your stomach." Gajasura understood then that this must have been no other than Vishnu himself, the only one who could have known that secret and he threw himself at his feet. Having liberated Shiva, he asked him for one last gift: "I have been blessed by you with many gifts; my last request is that everyone remember me adoring my head when I am dead." Shiva then brought his own son there and substitued his head with that of Gajasura. From then on, in India, the tradition is that any action, in order to prosper, must begin with the adoration of Ganesha. This is the result of the gift of Shiva to Gajasura.