2006-10-09 03:03:00 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are various anecdotes which explain how Ganesha broke off one of his tusks.
(1) Ganesha the scribe
In the first part of the epic poem Mahabharata, it is written that the sage Vyasa asked Ganesha to transcribe the poem as he dictated it to him. Ganesha agreed, but only on the condition that Vyasa recite the poem uninterruptedly, without pausing. The sage, in his turn, posed the condition that Ganesha would not only have to write, but would have to understand everything that he heard before writing it down. In this way, Vyasa might recuperate a bit from his continuous talking by simply reciting a difficult verse which Ganesha could not understand. The dictation began, but in the rush of writing Ganesha's feather pen broke. He broke off a tusk and used it as a pen so that the transcription could proceed without interruption, permitting him to keep his word.
(2) Ganesha and Parashurama
One day Parashurama, an avatar of Vishnu, went to pay a visit to Shiva, but along the way he was blocked by Ganesha. Parashurama hurled himself at Ganesha with his axe and Ganesha (knowing that this axe was given to him by Shiva) allowed himself out of respect to be struck and lost his tusk as a result.
(3) Ganesha and the Moon
It is said that one day Ganesha, after having received from many of his devotees an enormous amount of sweets (Modak), in order to better digest this incredible mass of food, decided to go for a ride. He got on the mouse which he used as his vehicle and took off. It was a magnificent night and the moon was resplendent. Suddenly a snake appeared out of nowhere and nearly frightened the mouse to death, causing it to jump and Ganesha was thrown off his mount. Ganesha's huge stomach smashed against the ground so forefully that it burst open and all of the sweets that he had eaten were scattered around him. Nonetheless, he was too intelligent to get angry about this accident and, without wasting any time in useless lamentations, he tried to remedy the situation as best he could. He took the serpent which had caused the accident and used it as a belt to keep his stomach closed and bandage the injury. Satisfied by this solution, he remounted his mouse and continued his excursion. Chandradev (Moon God) saw the whole scene and laughed. Ganesha, being the short-tempered one, cursed Chandradev for his arrogance and breaking off one of his tusks, hurled it against the Moon, slashing its luminous face in two. He then cursed it, decreeing that anyone who happens to see the moon will incur bad luck. Hearing this, Chandradev realised his folly and asked for forgiveness from Ganesha. Ganesha relented and since a curse cannot be revoked, only softened it. Ganesha softened his curse such that the moon would wax and wane in intensity every fifteen days and anyone who looks at the moon during Ganesh Chaturthi would incur bad-luck. This explains why, in certain moments, the light of the Moon goes off and then begins gradually to reappear; but its face appears whole only for a brief period of time, since it is once again "broken" in half to the point of disappearing.
2006-10-09 03:08:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Why does Lord Ganesha has a broken tusk?
2015-08-18 13:45:41 · answer #2 · answered by Louisa 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ganesh Broken Tusk
2016-10-20 09:02:07 · answer #3 · answered by lolita 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An intriguing aspect of Ganesha's iconography is his broken tusk, leading to the appellation Ekdanta, Ek meaning one and danta meaning teeth. It carries an interesting legend behind it:
When Parashurama one of Shiva's favorite disciples, came to visit him, he found Ganesha guarding Shiva's inner apartments. His father being asleep, Ganesha opposed Parshurama's entry. Parashurama nevertheless tried to urge his way, and the parties came to blows. Ganesha had at first the advantage, seizing Parashurama in his trunk, and giving him a twirl that left him sick and senseless; on recovering, Rama threw his axe at Ganesha, who recognizing it as his father's weapon (Shiva having given it to Parashurama) received it with all humility upon one of his tusks, which it immediately severed, and hence Ganesha has but one tusk.
Blessings )O(
2006-10-09 03:07:40 · answer #4 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Traditional Ganesha Hindu stories tell that Lord Ganesha,son of goddess Parvati consort of Shiva. Parvati created Ganesha out of sandalwood paste that she used for her bath and breathed life into the figure. She then set him to stand guard at her door while she bathed. Lord Shiva, who had gone out, returned and as Ganesha didn't know him, didn't allow him to enter. Lord Shiva became enraged by this and asked his follower Ganas to teach the child some manners. Ganesha who was very powerful, being born of Parvati, the embodiment of Shakti, defeated Shiva's followers and declared that nobody was allowed to enter while his mother was bathing. The sage of heavens, Narada along with the Saptarishis sensed the growing turmoil and went to appease the boy with no results. Angered, the king of Gods, Indra attacked the boy with his entire heavenly army but even they didn't stand a chance. By then, this issue had become a matter of pride for Parvati and Shiva. Angry Shiva severed the head of the child. Parvati seeing this became enraged. Seeing Parvati in anger Shiva promised that her son will be alive again. The devas searched for the head of dead person facing North, but they found only the head of a dead elephant. They brought the head of the elephant and Shiva fixed it on the child's body and brought him back to life. Lord Shiva also declared that from this day the boy would be called Ganesha.
2014-08-25 02:29:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"This broken tusk is symbolic of knowledge, as it is with this tusk that he wrote the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. The depiction of a broken tusk is interpreted by some as indicative of the fact that we should not be trapped between pairs of opposites like pleasures and pains but that we should make conscious efforts to break its grip on us. Ganesha uses the broken tusk as a writing instrument. This shows that one who transcends the pair of opposites becomes creative."
2006-10-09 03:06:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Lord Ganesha was the son of Shiva. When he was a young child (normal human looking kid), he went off to serve Vishnu in his palace. As he grew older, Vishnu made Ganesha a guard of his palace. One day, Shiva was angry about something or other and went to see Vishnu. When the guard tried to stop him, Shiva cut off the guard's head without realizing that it was his own son. Realizing this, Shiva begged Vishnu for a boon to return his son to him. Vishnu told Shiva to go outside and kill the first animal he saw, cut off the head, and place the head of the animal on the body of his son, and his son would be alive again, but with the head of the animal. When Shiva went outside, the first animal he saw was an elephant. When he cut the elephant's head off, he cut half of one of the tusks off with his great sword.
Hope this helps.
2006-10-09 03:11:08 · answer #7 · answered by corwynwulfhund 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He played footbal' without his mouthgard.
2006-10-09 03:04:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I think it was broken while fighting with one of the monsters
2006-10-09 03:05:12 · answer #9 · answered by Friend 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
well i think simply this GOD wanna say hey assholes who worship me how come u worship a GOD who is not perfect with ****** broken tusk.
2006-10-09 03:16:46 · answer #10 · answered by ozy a 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋