Vinayaka Chaviti (Ganesh Chaturthi) - Gajanana Becomes Ganapati

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At a time when all the Ganas - celestial subjects and kings - approached Lord Shiva and prayed to him to provide them with a leader who could lead them through the hurdles they were facing, Gajanana claimed leadership as he was the eldest son. Kumaraswamy contended that as Gajanana was having a short stature and a disfigured body, Ganesh did not deserve to play the role.

Shiva wanted to test them by setting the task where each would go around the universe and come back first. Kumaraswamy immediately started off on voyage on his peacock, but Gajanana knowing that he can not go round so fast on his rat, prayed to Shiva and went around (Pradakshinas) his parents. "Going around you, who represent the entire manifested universe, is equivalent of going around the universe!"

Thus the dispute was settled in favour of Ganesh. Ganesh, who is now the elected leader of the Deva Ganas is thus also known as Ganapati – ‘chief of the celestial army.’ The day on which he was crowned as Ganapati happened to be the Chaviti (fourth) day of the month of Bhadrapada.