Devas’ Stotra to Gaṇeśa at Dharmāraṇya

This is the stotra that the assembled devas sang to Bhagavān Gaṇeśa right after he was made whole again. Bhagavān Śiva had set the head of the elephant Gajāsura on the body of Pārvatī’s son and so brought him back to life. The devas were full of joy at this wonder and praised Gaṇeśa. It is found in the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa, Pūrvārdha, chapter 12.

The setting

Bhagavān Śiva set the head of the great elephant, the asura Gajāsura, on the body of Pārvatī’s son. The boy rose up with great splendour, wearing the elephant head. The devas and munis who were gathered there cried out with joy. Full of respect and wonder, the devas offered this stotra to Gaṇeśa, who was now whole. The Skanda Mahā Purāṇa tells this in the Brahma Khaṇḍa, Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa, Pūrvārdha, chapter 12.

The stotra

The devas praised Gaṇeśa with these names and salutations (namaskāras):

  • Sureśa: the master of the suras (devas).
  • Gaṇa-pati: the lord and master of the gaṇas.
  • Gajānana: the one with the elephant face.
  • Mahādeva’s ādi-daivata: the first deva, the foremost even among those around Mahādeva.
  • Bhakti-priya: the one who is pleased by bhakti (devotion) and who answers devotion above all else.
  • Deva: the divine one.
  • Gaṇādhyaksha: the chief overseer of all the gaṇas.

The salutation that comes again and again is: “Namaskāra to the Sureśa, to the pati (lord) of the gaṇas. Namaskāra to the Gajānana.”

Gaṇeśa’s answer and his place at Dharmāraṇya

Gaṇeśa was delighted with the stotra. He asked the devas what vara (boon) they wished for. The devas asked him: “O Mahābhāga! Stay here and fulfil our purpose. In Dharmāraṇya, be the protector of the brāhmaṇas, the vāṇikas (merchants), the brahmacārins, the householders who follow dharma, and all who belong to varṇāśrama. O Gaṇeśvara! By your grace, let the dvijas live here with wealth and ease. O Mahābhāga! Protect all the powerful vāṇikas. O Deva! Protect them as long as the moon, the sun and the earth last.”

Gaṇeśa agreed. The devas worshipped him with flowers, dhūpa (incense) and tarpaṇa (an offering of water).

The precedence of Gaṇeśa-pūjā

After this, it was declared that, just as every auspicious karma must begin with pūjā to Gaṇeśa, in marriages, in the upanayana, in yajñas and in every sacred rite, so the first place of Gaṇeśa-pūjā was set firmly by this event at Dharmāraṇya.

Gaṇeśa took his lasting place in the south of Satya Mandira, as its Gaṇādhipati. The Skanda Mahā Purāṇa tells this in the Brahma Khaṇḍa, Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa, Pūrvārdha, chapter 12.

Sources

  • Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 12