Significance of Ganesh Jayanti - “Ganesha’s Birthday” from Ganesh Purana
According to the Hindu Lunar Calendar, 11th month of the year is called “Maagh Maas”. For Ganesha devotees; the most auspicious day is the 4th day of first quarter of Maagh Maas (Maagh Maase, Shukla Pakshye, Chaturthi Tithye) for on this day, the most brave – warrior incarnation of lord Ganesh named “Vinayak” was born. We celebrate this day annually as the “Ganesh Jayanti” (this year we celebrate this occasion on A.D. - Tuesday, January 31, 2017).
In order to protect the mankind from evildoers, Ganesha was born to Sage Kashyap and Godmother Aditi, on this day at noon (one of Ganesha’s incarnations) and was named “Mahotkat”. At age of 5 years, Mahotkat’s Upanayan (Thread Ceremony) Sanskar was performed and at that time the King of Gods “Indra” presented Mahotkat his mighty “Ankush” weapon and named him “Vinayak”.
As he grew, Mahotkat acquired knowledge of Vedas from his father & Guru Sage Kashyap and Ayurveda, from Sage Ashwini Kumar. Mahotkat also acquired Archery skills and studied the Art & Science of War from visiting all 21 kingdoms of Aryavarta and learning from their great teachers.
In those days, demon King Bhasmasur’s son Durasad, used to constantly attack the Holi Kingdom of Kashi and harass its populace. The Sages and godly people of Kashi prayed Vinayak to rid them of this scourge and menace. Vinayak thus defeated Durasad in a fierce battle and instead of killing Durasad, Vinayak mercifully spared his life and appointed him to the post of the Protector of Holi Kingdom of Kashi – this too was Maagh Maas, Shukla Paksha, Chaturthi day or the Ganesh Jayanti Day.
Mahotkat – Vinayak – Ganesha, in order to maintain strict discipline and be combat ready; organized his armed forces in groups of 21. For every 21 soldiers (Ganas) he appointed a chief, called Ganapati. For every 21 Ganapati’s chief was called Ganesh, every 21 Ganesh’s chief was called Gana Nayak and for every 21 Gana Nayak’s supreme chief was called Gana Nath.
Mahotkat – Vinayak used his leadership and organizational skills to unite the “Bhutgana” aborigine people. He developed and manufactured modern weapons. He encouraged and trained women to be warriors and he built a mighty warrior force under the able leadership of young and mighty females Riddhi and Siddhi.
Ganesh Purana describes this Mahotkat – Vinayak incarnation of Ganesha for his might, mastery of Art & Science of War, and Supreme Organizational Skills. We celebrate this day to remember Ganesha’s mighty brainpower and his godly deeds of shielding us all from harm and bad fortune.
माघ शुद्ध चतुर्थीचा दिवस गणेश भक्तांसाठी अतिशय महात्वाचा कारण याच दिवशी श्री गणेशाचा महापराक्रमी अवतार विनायक जन्माला आला
असहाय्य मानवाच्या रक्षणासाठी अवतार धारण करणाऱ्या गजाननाने कश्यप ऋषी व देवमाता अदिती यांच्या पोटी माघ चतुर्थीला माध्यान्हाच्या वेळी जन्म घेतला कृतयुगाच्या काळात जन्मलेल्या ह्या दैदिप्यमान बालकाचे नामकरण झाले . त्याला महोत्कट असे संबोधले जावू लागले
पाचव्या वर्षी महोत्कटावर उपनयन संस्कार झाले .देवराज इंद्राने महोत्कटाला आपला अंकुश देऊन विनायाक असे नाव ठेविले
वडील आणि गुरु कश्यपांकडून महोत्कटाने वेद-विद्येचे शिक्षण घेतले आयुर्वेदाचार्य अश्विनीकुमारांकडून आयुर्वेदाचा अभ्यास पूर्ण केला . त्यानंतर धनुर्विद्या आणि युद्ध शास्त्राचे शिक्षण घेण्यासाठी त्या काळातील आर्यावर्तात असलेल्या २१ राज्यांमध्ये जाऊन तेथील श्रेष्ठगुरूंकडून धनुर्विद्या हस्तगत केली
भस्मासुराचा पुत्र दुरासद काशीनगरीवर सतत हल्ले करीत निष्पाप प्रजाजनांना छळत असे. ऋषी, मुनी ह्यांच्या विनंतीनुसार विनायकाने दुरासदाला युद्धाचे आव्हान दिले . घनघोर युद्धात दुरासदाचा पराभव झाला परंतु विनायाकांने त्याला जीवदान देऊन काशीनगराचा रक्षणकर्ता होण्याची आज्ञा दिली तो दिवस माघ शुक्ल चतुर्थीचा होता
सैन्यगणात शिस्त राखण्यासाठी महोत्कटाने २१ २१ चे गट करून अधिकार पदे निर्माण केली २१ गणांचा नायक गणपती, २१ गणपतींचा नेता गणेश, २१ गणेशांचा मुख्य तो गणनायक, २१ गणनायकाचा अधिपती गणनाथ.
भूतगण नावाच्या आदिवासीना एकत्र करणे,शस्त्रास्त्राची निर्मिती, स्त्रियाना लढण्यास प्रवृत्त करणे, रिद्धी सिद्धी ह्या तेजस्वी तरुणीच्या नेतृत्वाखाली सामर्थ्यशाली सेना उभारणे अशी अनेक कामे विनायकाने संघटन कौशल्याच्या जोरावर केली
गणेश पुराणातील हा अवतार पराक्रमाचा संघटन कौशल्याचा आदर्श अवतार आहे .त्याच्या बुद्धीसामर्थ्याचे व कार्याचे स्मरण होण्यासाठी हा त्याच्या जयंतीचा दिवस भक्त जन मनोभावे साजरा करतात