Ganesha

Amar Chitra Katha Stories of Shiva #4

by Kamala Chandrakant (Script), Anant Pai (Editor)

Alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here

No traditional Hindu will launch upon a new undertaking without invoking Ganesha, for it is he, as Vighneshwara, prime remover of obstacles, who clears the path to success. The Sarvajanik puja or public worship of Ganesha, however, is popular mostly in Maharashtra and Orissa. Contributions are collected from the neighborhood and a huge idol of the deity, is installed in a public place. A variety entertainment is held after the daily worship each evening, when the devotees assemble before the deity. The idol is later taken in procession and ceremonially immersed in water. The legends about the birth and exploits of this deity are many; different Puranas giving different versions of the same incidents.

Our story, however, is based solely on the Shiva Purana version. On the heights of Mount Kailasa, the divine household of Shiva and Parvati stood divided; for, Shiva came and went as he pleased and Parvati was irked by his intrusions on her privacy. Out of that divine dissension was born Ganesha, who rose to become perhaps the most lovable deity in the Hindu pantheon. His lineaments are familiar - for song, story and ritual have made them so - elephant head with trunk curled gracefully over a generous pot-belly, four arms bearing his distinctive emblems of godhood and his portly figure mounted on a tiny mouse, his chosen vehicle. There are many interpretations of this unique combination. The most popular is that in the deity are embodied the power and the wisdom of the elephant and the mobility of the agile mouse.

Genres: Comics, Mythology, Religion, Graphic Novels, India, Fantasy, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful introduction to Ganesha! Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) comics have become a favorite of mine; a great way to learn about India and Hinduism. I have talked to several Indian friends who tell me that ACK comics are a trusted source in India - I wish other countries had similar comics that taught you about their history and culture.

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its always good to read such books.
Om Gan Ganpataye Namo Namah!

[Pranav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book and this will let us know about Ganesha's past and how he was born but there is no mention of why lord Ganesha and his parents went to the human world and I think it would have been better if that would have been mentioned. Overall it was a good book.

[Harry Collier IV]

Great retelling!

[Naomi Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a Hindu festival, and I am glad I did. This was really quite enjoyable. The artwork has a classic feel to it, the story is well-told and engaging. I will definitely have to find more of these and start making people read them.

[Loree · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fantastic reference, good illustrations

[Barnak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like when that little boy became Ganesh

[Girija Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good bedtime read

Good book and quite informative. Loved reading this to my daughter who's 6 years old. Would recommend parents to read it to kids so that they learn history.

[Vellanki Sriharsha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Created Mythology if Ganesh not something I had ever come across

The fiction is good... But this isn't the Mythology that I heard of or read of.

The story of Ganesh I am aware of is -
Shiva was on earth in the stomach of a rakshasa and was set to be brought back by Vishnu, Brahma, Nandi and others while Parvati coming to know of this was getting ready and has created Ganesh to ensure no one enters.

Shiva comes to Kailash and tries entering the house but was stopped by the kid and Shiva kills him off and later when in discussion with Parvati he realizes that Ganesh was created by her and inturn was his son too.
He then resurrects with Elephant's head and bestows him to Vignesha.
More importantly Karthikeya is the younger brother of Ganesh not elder.

[vinay kumar pandey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read if you're religious

As you know Ganesha is the remover of obstacles (written also on the title)
You should read this book of you want to know about our ancient ancient times...
About god's, goddesses etc
I suggest you to read this book by Kamala chandrakant and more of his books for kids

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a “waiting at Mass Eye & Ear for two hours” grab that I had somehow downloaded years ago. It is essentially a comic book version of the origin story of Ganesh, boy with an elephant head thanks to his warring parents. My interest was because I’ve spent a fair amount of time on India for work and had forgotten the details of the story. Illustrations were decent and it was satisfying to finish before the doctor was finally able to see me!

[Deepa T · Rating 5 out of 5]

An all-time favourite book. Love the illustrations in this book. I could feel Goddess Parvati’s pain when her brilliant son was killed through treachery. I love how her anger forced the Gods to repent their actions and make reparations. A tale that depicts the immense power of the Goddess, both for creation and for destruction. This was the Indian concept of womanhood in ancient times.

[Akshay Kamath · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest of all gods!

I had forgotten the actual back story of Ganesha over the years. Today, on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, I decided to pick up this book and read again. Ganapati bappa moraya!

[Sumon Sarkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know that Ganesh had so much power to destroy them all alone. It was so much fun to read and to be enlightened about all these stories.

[Savita Ramsumair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative

I enjoyed reading about Shri Ganesha's story. It is written in a way that children will be able to understand and relate.

[Ravi Kumar Dandapani]

nice

[Udaykiran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

Author has tried to incorporate all the stories behind Ganesha keeping him as a protagonist
Can change male to masculine for better understanding for kids

[Tansu Akar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read but too short

[Agni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice

Very nice book.. Fast and detailed read. Recommended as a starting read.

Good read. Jai Shree Ganeshaya namaha . om

[maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about how Ganesha became Ganesha.

[Anjalica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Jason Baldauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely short read in a comic book format, but well done. Gives only the one story about how Ganesha comes into being, gains his elephant head and status among the other deities.

[Rahul Panelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Story of Shiva's youngest son - Ganesha.... Morya Re Bappa Morya Re...

[Abhishek Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ganesha

I love Ganesha as my son, so I loved this book very much, specially this is fairy tale version. Great story.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this but really interesting. It helped conceptualize stories because the art was there along side of it.

[Namratha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told in classic Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) style, this is the origin story of the much adored and most revered god of the Hindu Pantheon : Lord Ganesha.

Find out how a battle of marital wills between the powerful pair of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva led to the creation of a loyal son, a fierce warrior who could not be qwelled by the greatest of the great and ultimately....the elephant headed cuddly God, Vighnaharta Shree Ganesha.

The artwork has a beautiful, vintage ACK touch and the story is told in a clear, precise manner leaving no room for hidden interpretations.

I am reading this quick read for probably the gazillionth time since my childhood and I still feel like giving the cherubic, modak-loving Lord Ganesha a big squishy hug on his birthday today, Ganesh Chaturthi.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great little comic book! In the western world, at least in my experience, there is so little exposure to Hindu mythology. This comic book does a fantastic job of explaining the origin of Ganesha, that elephant-headed deity that is seen so much in popular culture. The artwork is fantastic and there's very little that you have to know going into the story.

[SRS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book 😁

Such a nice book . I loved it a lot . I hope so that all the books of ACK may contain the meanings because in some books of ACK , a few words which should give the meanings have not given the meanings .