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Accuracy in the various Puranas and Ganesha

Accuracy in the various Puranas and Ganesha
August 6, 2024
| Questions and Answers

Question

My curiosity is in regard to there being just so many similarities in the pastimes between Krishna and Ganesha.  As a child he kills many demons.  His mother Parvati is unaware of his divinity (like mother Yasoda).  She even looks in his mouth and sees the universal form.  I understand Ganesa Purana is a minor Purana, but still Ganesha is portrayed as the absolute, as is Krishna.  

Answer

H.D. Goswami Profile Picture

Regarding Ganesha, he is mentioned once in the CC, and once in the Brahma-samhita. He is not mentioned in the Bhagavatam. My conclusion is that although we of course respect him, his importance has been greatly magnified in Hinduism, beyond what is found in Shastra. 

I personally have not yet learned to appreciate the Hindu tendency to declare many different people to be God. It strikes me as somewhat chaotic and unnecessarily confusing. In actual Indian history, Lord Krsna towers above others. The most important and influential Shastras glorify Krishna/Vishnu — Bhagavatam, Gita, Mahabharata, Ramayana etc. The similarity of Ganesha-lila to Krishna-lila seems to be an obvious borrowing from Krishna. 

It is well know that Hindu scriptures have often been subject to text corruption. This was clearly stated by Madhvacarya around 750 years ago.

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H.D.Goswami