CHAPTER VIII.

SONS OF SIVA AND PARVATI.

1. GANESA.

GANESA is usually regarded as the elder son of Siva and Parvati, but the Puranas differ very considerably in their

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GANESA.

accounts of his origin. Sir W. Jones says [**] that " Ganesa, the Indian god of Wisdom, has the same

characteristics as Janus of the Latins. All sacrifices and religious ceremonies, all serious compositions in writing, and all worldly affairs of importance are begun by pious Hindus with an invocation to Ganesa; a word composed of Isa, the governor or leader, and gana, a company (of deities). Instances of opening business auspiciously by an ejaculation to him might be multiplied with ease. Few books are begun without the words, 'Salutation to Ganesa;' and he is first invoked by Brahmans who conduct the trial by ordeal, or perform the ceremony of the homa or sacrifice to fire." M. Sonnerat represents him as highly revered on the coast of Coromandel, where, according to him, "the Indians would not on any account build a house without having placed on the ground an image of this deity, which they sprinkle with oil and adorn every day with flowers. They set up his image in all their temples, in the streets, in the high roads, and in the open plains at the foot of some tree, so that persons of all ranks may invoke him before they undertake any business, and travellers worship him before they proceed on a journey." What is true of the Coromandel coast, is true of most parts of India so far as the worship of this deity is concerned.

"Ganesa is the Hindu god of Prudence and Policy. He is the reputed eldest son of Siva and Parvati (the 'Padma Purana' alone declares that he was the actual child of these deities), and is represented with an elephant's head--an emblem of sagacity--and is frequently attended by, or is riding upon, a rat. He has generally four hands, but sometimes six, or eight, or only two." [**] He is always described as being very corpulent; and pictures or images of him are seen over the doors of most shopkeepers. It is not easy to see why Ganesa

has become so universally worshipped, as there are few legends in the Puranas attesting his divine power.