Hindu Mythological Legends Stories of Shri Lord Ganesha's Broken Tusk

There are a number of legends centered on the reasons for Shri Ganesha’s one broken tusk.

One of the most popular legends is that Lord Ganesha broke one of the tusks to write the epic Mahabharata. It is said that Maharshi Vyasa had asked Ganesha to write the Mahabharata while he dictated it. Lord Ganesha readily agreed, but said that His pen would not stop writing until the entire epic was completed. Maharshi Vyasa agreed, but also put his own condition, that Lord Ganesha should write only after he has properly understood what was being dictated. Hence, Maharshi Vyasa took quite a long time to narrate the verses as Lord Ganesha would stop him from time to time to understand the more complicated verses. Together, they thus compiled the words of wisdom that are enshrined in the epic Mahabharata.

The tusk on the left side of the trunk is broken

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Another Hindu mythological legend narrates this story of the reason for Lord Ganesha’s broken tusk: Lord Ganesha attended a feast specially arranged for his birthday by Lord Indra. At the feast, he ate lots of modaks. Subsequently, Lord Ganesha lost his balance from His mount, the mouse. All the modaks Lord Ganesha had eaten fell out of  His belly. Seeing this, the other Gods smiled but did not laugh loudly, unlike the Moon God who not only laughed loudly and for long, but also mercilessly teased Lord Ganesha, making fun of His huge belly. In anger, Lord Ganesha broke off one of His tusks and flung it at the moon and gave a curse: He told the Moon that since the Moon was always arrogant about his beautiful face, that face would blacken and forever be hidden from everybody. Immediately, dark spots started appearing on the Moon's face. The other Gods pleaded with Lord Ganesha not to give such a terrible curse, as otherwise the world would only have the burning heat of Lord Surya, the Sun, and no cooling effects which are created by the Moon God. The Moon, too, apologized to Lord Ganesha, who then changed the curse slightly and declared that for 15 days, the Moon would shine brightly and for 15 days the face would darken - thus we see the waxing and waning of the Moon. Due to the curse given by Lord Ganesha, it is believed that whosoever looked at the moon on Lord Ganesha's birthday (Ganesh Chaturthi) could possibly be accused of being a thief. Today, it is believed that the dark dent on the moon was caused by Lord Ganesha’s throwing of the tusk piece at the moon; and on Ganesh Chaturthi devotees avoid looking at the moon.

As for the modaks which fell out of Lord Ganesha's belly, Lord Ganesha put all the modaks back in His belly and tied it up with a snake. Some Ganpati idols are thus depicted with the snake around the belly.

Lord Siddhivinayak with snake around belly

Read here for more details and photo of Ganpati idol with snake: Lord Ganesha Symbolism
{Note: Some legends state Lord Ganesha did not break His tusk to throw at the Moon God, but only gave the curse}

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Yet another legend has it that the broken tusk is due to Lord Ganesha’s respect for His father, Lord Shiva. As the legend goes, the sage Parashurama once visited Lord Shiva’s abode. However, as Lord Shiva was asleep, Lord Gansha did not allow Parashurama to enter. Parashurama was adamant on entering, but Lord Ganesha was equally determined that His father should not be disturbed. A battle began between Lord Ganesha and Parashurama, during which the enraged sage threw his axe forcibly at Lord Ganesha. Although Lord Ganesha could have warded it off with His own power, He did not do so as the axe is one of Lord Shiva’s weapons. Hence out of respect to His father, Lord Ganesha did not stop the axe from hitting Him. Instead, he bowed in reverence to the weapon, and one of His tusks took the impact of the axe, thereby breaking it. 

Shri Lord Ganesha Ganpati Symbolism Features

Every aspect of Lord Ganesha has a symbolism to it. The profile of Lord Ganesha takes the shape of ॐ . Om is a Sanskrit symbol.

How to Send SMS Ganapati Images on Mobile Phone

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I did not quite get the mouse right - it looks more like a rabbit - and actually it should be a horizontal mouse!
To send SMS Greetings click here:  Ganesh Chaturthi SMS Greetings
Read also:
Shri Ganesha Symbolism

Legends of Ganpati's Broken Tusk

What are Eco-friendly Ganesha Ganpati Idols for Ganesh Chaturthi Vissarjan

Lord Ganesha is formless and thus an eco-friendly being, yet we humans worship the Lord in the form of idols that are decidedly not eco-friendly as they are made from plaster-of-Paris. These Ganapati idols are harmful because they incorporate chemicals and these chemicals are released into the seas in which the idols are immersed. The water thus gets polluted and is extremely harmful to marine life, more so because plaster-of-Paris does not dissolve in the water right away and could take months to do so. Equally worse, the paints used by idol-makers to add colour to the idols are harmful as they are oil-based and contain harmful elements like lead, mercury, etc. Similarly, the decorations of beads and artificial gemstones, the artificial garlands and gleaming head crowns are immersed in large plastic bags along with the Ganapati idol – the plastic bags and decorations do not dissolve at all for years and years. Some people install their Ganapati idols in makars made of thermocol, which are immersed too with the idol – as dangerous as the idol itself.

The solution is to bring home eco-friendly Ganapati idols which are made from clay. Such Ganesh idols are made entirely from natural clay and the colour yellow which is used is made from natural turmeric powder. The skin-colour tones are applied with multani mithi and darker shades of brown are given with natural geroo (the same material used to make Diwali diyas).

You can also bring home paper-mache Ganapati idols or idols made from brass. You need not fully immerse the brass idol in the sea, but just hold it under water for some time and take it back home.

As for the decorations, you can make them from paper and natural flowers. Instead of immersing the flowers in the sea, bury them in your garden or in the building compound.

Check with the local Municipal Corporation where provisions are made for immersion of Ganapati idols in artificial ponds in your city. Instead of immersing the idols in the sea, immerse them in these ponds.

You can immerse clay idols at home itself, in a bucket of water. Be even more environment-friendly by not throwing away that water down the drain! Instead, you can use it to water the plants in your home or building or even the trees at the roadside.

Buy Eco-friendly Ganapati Idols like the one shown in the picture above by clicking here:-
Where to Buy Eco-friendly Ganpati Idols India USA

List of vendors in Mumbai, Thane & Navi Mumbai selling eco-friendly Ganesha idols

Shendoor Laal Chadayo Lyrics Shri Ganesh Aarti for Ganesh Chaturthi

शेंदूर लाल चढायो 

शेंदूर लाल चढायो  अच्छा  गजमुखको |

दोंदिल  लाल  बिराजे  सुत गौरीहरको  |

हाथ  लिये  गुडलडू  साई  सुखरको |

महिमा  कहे  न  जाय  लागत  हूँ  पदको || १ ||

जय  जय  जी  गणराज  विद्यासुखदाता |

धन्य  तुम्हारा  दर्शन  मन  रमता  || धु ||

अष्टो  सीधी दासी  संकटको  बैरी  |

विग्नविनाषक मंगलमूरत  अधिकारी  |

कोटीसूरजप्रकाश  ऐसी  छबी तेरी  |

गंड स्त्ल्मदमस्तक  झूले  सशिबिहारी  || २ ||

जय  जय  जी *  ||

भावभगतसे  कोई  शरणागत  आवे |

संतत  संपत  सबही भरपूर  पावे  |

ऐसे  तुम  महाराज  मोको  अति  भावे  |

गोसावीनंदन  निशिदिन  गुण  गावे || ३ ||

जय  जय  जी ||

Sukhkarta Dukhharta Lyrics Shri Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Aarti in Marathi

Ganapati Aarti Sukhkarta Dukhharta Marathi Lyrics

सुखकर्ता दु:खहर्ता वार्ता  विघ्नाची | 

नुरवी  पुरवी  प्रेम  कृपा  जयाची |

सर्वांगी  सुंदर  उटि शेंदूराची |

कंठी शोभे  माळ मुक्ताफलांची  || १ ||

जय  देव  जय  देव जय मंगलमूरति दर्शानामाथ्रे मन:कामना  पुरती || धु ||

रत्नखचित  फरा  तुज  गौरीकुमरा |

चंदनाची  उटि  कुमकुम  केशरा |

हीरेजडित मुकुट  शोभतो  बरा |

 रुन्ज्हुन्ति  नूपुरे  चरनी  घागरिया || २ ||

 जय  देव  जय  देव ||

 लंबोदर  पीताम्बर  फनिवरबंधना  |

 सरल  सोंड  वक्रतुंड  त्रिनयना |

 दास  रामाचा  वाट  पाहे  सादना |

 संकटी  पावावे , निर्वाणी  रक्षावे , सुखरवंदना || ३ ||

 जय  देव जय  देव ||

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सदा सर्वदा प्राथना शब्द

Where to Buy Eco-Friendly Ganapati Idols Mumbai Pune Maharashtra India USA

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With Global Warming and saving the environment  very much current issues that are increasingly raised time and again, more and more people have become very conscious of the products they use and the activities they do. One of these activities is the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi, welcoming the King of Gods, and Ganapati Vissarjan, sending the God's idol back to its earth-source.