Ganesha Purana – Chapter 1

Ganesha Purana – Khanda 1  – Mahotkata Vinayaka

a) The birth of Asuras,  Devantaka and Narantaka

Long Long ago,  Sage Kasyapa and his wife Aditi were living happily in their ashram. One day, Aditi approached Kasyapa and said :

“I have begotten as sons all the Gods like Indra, Varuna, Vayu, …. but,   I wish to have the Supreme Lord Himself as my son, so that I can love Him and serve Him in the form of my son. Kindly instruct me on the tapas and mantra (austerities) that I should follow so that my desires are fulfilled.

Sage thereupon initiated Aditi into the secrets of meditation on Lord Vinayaka .  She performed severe penance  for many years and propitiated Lord Vinayaka. The Lord promised to be born as her son in Satya Yuga.

In Satya Yuga there lived a Sage named Rudraketu along with his wife Sharada near Jhanavi River, Angadesha (Bengal).  The couple had no children.  Rudraketu and Sharada prayed to Lord Ganesha, pleased by their devotion Lord Ganesha appeared before him and asked,

Rudraketu, what do you want? Why have you been praying so fervently to me??

Rudraketu replied, “Lord, I have no children. It has been very long but my wife has not conceived so far.   Please grant us a boon.

Lord Ganesha granted their wish and in a few months the couple had twins.  An overjoyed Sage Rudraketu, organized for a Ganesha Puja and fed many Brahman pundits.  The new born twins received many blessings from all present in the ceremony and were named Devantaka and Narantaka respectively.

Days passed by, the twins grew up into a very intelligent, and  handsome youth.  They were well versed in scriptures and warfare too.  People around praised them and this made the parents very happy.   During this time, Sage Narada visted the ashram and seeing both the sons of Rudraketu, predicted   that they will be very powerful and famous.  An overjoyed Rudraketu request Sage Narada to bless his sons and give them mantropadesh.  Sage Narada agrees and tells them to do Shiva upasana and imparts the Panchakshari mantra to them.

As directed by Sage Narada, both Narantak and Devantak, bid a farewell to their parents and left to the forest to perform penance.  The brothers meditate on Lord Shiva for more than 10,000 years.  Finally a pleased Lord Shiva appears before them and asks them the reason for their penance.

One of the twins, Narantak replies

Oh! Lord Shiva, please grant me a boon that I may rule over the three worlds.

Shiva, turns to Devantak and asks what he wanted?  Devantak replies

No one, created in this world should be able to destroy me or my brother.

Lord Shiva  granted them their wish and disappeared.  Both the brothers were thrilled to be granted their wishes and returned home.  They convey the happenings with their parents and both Sage Rudraketu and his wife are pleased.

Soon Devantaka attacks Amaravati and destroys Nandavana and after a fierce fight, won and captured the throne of Amravati. Indra looses the battle.  The asuras (demons) started troubling the Gods, and  they flee to Sumeru Parvat  for protection.  Devantaka is crowned as the king of Swargaloka.   Meanwhile Narantak took over control over the earth and sent an army of asuras to capture Pataal loka (hell).

End of Chapter 1, Ganesh Puran

b) The birth of Mohatkata Vinayaka

All the three worlds were suffering from the demonic rule of Narantak and Devantak and it was high time that the rhythm and harmony of universal life was set right.  Seeing the deteriorating condition Sage Kashyap’s wife Aditi began to pray to Lord Ganesha to save them from such an existence.  Lord Ganesha decided to descend to the world as the son of Aditi as Mahotkata Vinayaka

Mohatkata Vinayaka is the first Incarnation of Lord Ganesh in Krita Yuga.  His body was strong and muscular, and his face was serene and beautiful.  His complexion was red (Raktavarna) and had dashabhuja (10 arms).   Sage Kasyapa named him Mahotkata, which meaning a person of strong physique. Hearing the news of divine incarnation, all the rishis came to Kasyapa’s Ashram and blessed him.  Word spread across like fire.  The Asuras who were having a great time under the demonic rule of Narantak and Devantak also heard about the child and him being the divine child.

Viraja, an asura comes in a disguise as a Rishi to the Ashram to get rid of the new born enemy, Mahotkata.   But the strong and powerful child slays Viraja and turns her into ashes as soon as she appears in front of him .  Narantak sends many other demons to kill the new enemy, but they were all slain as stealthily by the child, as they approached.

Days pass and Mahotkata shows many miracles during his childhood.   Narantaka sends to demons Uddadha and Dundura  to destroy Mahotkata.  The demons assume the form of a parrot, Ganesha, in the form of Mahotkata  sees the parrots and gets fascinated.  He tries to hold them, in return the demons in parrot forms attack him and in the fight, Mahotkat using his strength squeezed their life out of them.

On finding the two parrots killed, Devantak and Narantak realized that there was no escape for them now and that it was indeed Ganesha who had taken birth as Mahotkat.

End of Chapter 2 Ganesha Puran

To be continued, Chapter 3 ” Slaying of Asura Dhoomraksha”

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah