About Vinayaka Swamy:
Vinayaka is one of the famous and greatly worshipped deities in Hinduism. Vinayakar is also known as Ganesh, Vinayaka Vigneswara, Ganapathy, Pillaiyar. The main identity of Vinayaka is his elephant-like head. Ganesha is the son of Shiva and Parvati and he is the brother of Karthikeya (or Subrahmanya), the god of war. Puranas says that if we pray to Ganapathy, then all the obstacles in front of us will remove quickly. Because of that Vinayaka is known as the Lord of obstacles and the God of new beginnings. Thus got the name ‘Vighneswara’, the one who removes ‘Vighna’ from our path. For all new beginnings, Hindus do ‘Ganapathy Homam’ properly in temples and even at homes. The vehicle of Vinayaka is a mouse.
Many stories are there about the birth of Vinayaka. Once Devi Parvathy created a very powerful boy for preventing anybody from entering into her room, without her permission. Then Lord Siva came there for visiting Parvathi Devi and asked that boy to allow him to enter. Parvathi Devi was then having a bath. But the boy didn’t allow Lord Siva to enter. Then the uncontrolled Lord Siva cut off that boy’s head. Hearing this news, Goddess Parvathi became furious and asked Lord Shiva to get back her son. Shiva was helpless in returning his head. Repentant, Shiva ordered a new head to be found for the boy and, as the first animal available was an elephant, so Ganesha gained a new head and became the most distinctive of the Hindu gods. Thus Lord Siva gave him a new birth and named him as Vinayaka. He is the God of art, music and prosperity. Devotees of Vinayaka offers him ‘Modhaka’ and laddus for getting his blessings.
List of Ganapathy Temples in Kerala:
Balaganeswarapuram Ganapathy
Bhatheri Maha Ganapathy, Wayanad
Edapilly Ganapathy
Edayattukavu Ganapathy
Eeswaramangalam
Enthiyannur Ganapathy
Eranakulanelloor Ganapathiyen Kavu
Kakkad Ganapathy, Thrissur
Kanayannur Ganapathy
Kanjirapilly Mahaganapathy
Kannanchery Ganapathy
Kottarakkara Ganapathy, Kollam
Kshipra Ganapathy, Palakkad
Kunduparambu Ganapathy
Malliyoor Sree Maha Ganapathy, Kottayam
Ongallur Ganapathikavu
Parapally Ganapathy
Pazhavangadi Ganapathy, Trivandrum
Peringannur Ganapathy
Puthumana Ganapathy, Kottayam
Velam Ganapathy
