Namaste -- for Indians only please?

Question

Namaste

I read some time back in the Times of India that Ganesha is the greatest god of the 20th century.

Do you agree?

Peace and Love
LP Mahadevan

Nanaste - I love the answers so far, but I am concerned .... do you not think The Times is teasing us a litttle .... or is it serious? I detected a great smile ...
LPM

Answer 1

Well Ganesh (and the rest) are an expansion of the primordial God so it really doesn't matter. Whichever murti you prefer that's the greatest for you.

Answer 2

For foreigners who are not Indians nor knowledgeable about Hinduism, it is really difficult to understand the real meaning of so many Gods that the Hindus worship and who amongst them is supreme or greater. But for Mr. Mahadevan, which sounds like a hindu name, this should not be such a paradox. Just like in life all seasons have equal importance and all are required for life to flourish on this earth, all the Gods which are imaginary deities of different attributes ( Gunas), are important and depending on the situation, one assumes greater importance. Lord Ganesha is the God of "Buddhi" or wisdom hence in many situattions he is the greatest, except where one is confronted by a wild animal, where strength or physical power is more needed, when Lord Krishna or Hanumana should be remembered.

Answer 3

I can see why they would say that, Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, and in Indian history in the 20th century, there needed to be many obstacles removed so that we could become an independent nation. Of course, Ganesha is just a manifestation of a greater Divinity.

Personally though, I don't see Ganesha as the greatest of those manifestation, but rather, I consider Krishna as the most beloved manifestation of the Supreme Being, in any century, but that's personal bias speaking.

Answer 4

In India earlier there were 6 schools of thought. They were called SHANMATHA.
1. Ganapatya- Ganapathi or Ganesha supreme
2. Kaumaram- Subramanya or Muruga supreme
3. Sauram- Sun God is supreme
4. Saivam - Siva is supreme
5. Vaishnavism- Vishnu is supreme
6. Saktheyam- Shakthi means Durga or Kali is supreme.

When Adishankara was born 7th 0r 8th century A.D. introduced Advaitha philosophy removing all differences. Fro9m that time onwards the 6 schools of thoughts got merged in Advaitha stream.
Here and there may be stray cases but over all one God supreme had totally gone.
There may be a report in the press but no such momentum found any where.

Answer 5

Well my dear friend, do you think Times of India can be the religios guide of Hindus. The materials published in Times of India is written by some editors or any body. How much authority he have over Hindu religion. If you are a Hindu u must search this answer in Veda, Puranas, Gita. These are the books all Hindu must follow & believe unconditionaly. And In all Veda, Gita, Puranas its mentioned that Lord Sri Krishna is the supreme personality of God Head. Pls pls my dear friends dont get disarrayed with what is written in newpapers, magazines.

Answer 6

Lord Ganesha is in all forms and he removes all obstacles. He is not just the greatest god of the 20th century. It is really very difficult to understand our own self and hence we cannot even assume talking about God.

Answer 7

I cannot disagree with this vew that Ganesha is the most powerful of Gods. I was outside Kerala since 1974. I succeeded in getting a job in the year 1975 and could proudly lead a moderate and independent life helping my beloved and parents. I was happy to be in that stage for a long time. But I was an atheist and never allowed the word 'God' in any way come in the tip of my toungue even by mistake. The euphoria continued for nearly two decades. Being an atheist, I was careful to be safe and and avoided any problm which could be answerable to others. Meanwhile I crossed the age of 35 but remained unmarried. All of my contemporaries got married and shifted to family line. I could neither prosper nor settle my life and left alone. Many advised me to go to temble and pray, which was against my principle. Financial problems, illness of parents and a legion of other problems haunted me every moment. One day one of my firends asked me to accompany him to a nearby Ganpati temble. Still I was unable to budge. One came a news that my mother was so ill and I needed to reach home urgently. I was impeccunious and there was no source to start a journey. At last I made up my mind and went to the Ganpati temble and prayed. But my devotion was so genuine and expiated for my false pride and pomposity. I realised that the source everything is God and me and my problems also belonged to him, so the solution to all problems was with him only.

On the way back home I really understood, God is not an imagination, it is a reality, and the only reality we shall have to confide in. Further to this I got all my problems solved one by one and I made journey, met my mother, hospitalized her. Resumed my duties after a month. Sincethen, every sunday I used to be present in front of my ideal God. I still never fail to pray in the morning and evening. I do not know the conventional prayers and recitations but at the instance of many of my experiences I am sure, Maha Ganpati has forgiven me for my wicked deeds and belief. Now I am leading a normal life in Kerala with my wife and child. This is live experience as far as the miracles of Ganpati is concerned, but the problem is that the prayers should come from the soul within. Mine was a true submission and I continued my regular visit to the temble for many years. There are many many occasions sincethen I had to solely depend on Ganpati's action to overcome such tough problems. Based on the real and true experience I would say, though all Gods and powerful, Ganpati is so kind.

Answer 8

No am not agreed bcz Evertime and everysituation Our Parents is the Greatest God in the World and cant change their importance/Reduce them and bcz of these cause they are the real God at Everytime and others are devoloped from Our only Our thoughts and Life's Various Situation When We Faced.

Answer 9

Sri Ganesh is the greatest god of all century, Gods also given greatest & 1st position to Sh Ganesha.

Answer 10

If Ganesha's greatness depends on my nod you can just imagine who is greater. Mahadevan ji this is not an opinion poll. It is a matter of belief. You believe it or not.

Answer 11

All Gods are equal and great.

In Hindu Mythology you pray first to Ganesha before you start any auspicious work.

Hinduism does not differentiate gods as something different from each other