Why Ganesha And Laxmi Are Worshipped Together?
One of the most important things that no Indian want to miss is the worship of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi (Lakshmi) on the day of Diwali. However, most people have always wondered why both Ganesha and Laxmi are worshipped together on the day of Diwali.
Well, if you are among the many people wondering why both worships occur on the same day, here is an answer for you. Both are celebrated to bring in prosperity into the family. Lord Ganesha is the deity of knowledge and intelligence, while Goddess Laxmi is the deity of wealth. Worshipping both on the eve of the Diwali festival is considered to bring fortune and prosperity coupled with knowledge and intelligence.
Indians believe it is better to start the festival on an auspicious note and a way to achieve this is to worship Lord Ganesha. It also believed that the worship of Lord Ganesha would remove any obstacle on the way during the festival and makes the festival run more smoothly.
On the other hand, the worship of Goddess Laxmi brings a strong conviction that the goddess would visit every home during the festival to wish every family with fulfilment, love, and prosperity.
If you are not yet convinced about why both Ganesha and Laxmi are worshipped together during Diwali, this short story may be helpful to you. Here is a story behind the worship of Ganesha and Laxmi together during Diwali:
Once upon a time, a conversation began between Lord Vishnu and his wife, Goddess Laxmi. Laxmi, being the goddess of wealth, was so proud in her speech to her husband. According to the scriptures, her power and ability to bestow anyone with prosperity and affluence made her grew so arrogant and full of herself.
Lord Vishnu, displeased with her character, decided to make her very humble. He told Laxmi in a gentle voice, it doesn’t matter how much power or wealth a woman has, if she doesn’t have a child, she is incomplete. Vishnu added that only the happiness of childbearing makes a woman complete and wealth has no role to play in that. These words; it pained Laxmi, who didn’t have a child then.
With a heavy heart, Laxmi consulted Goddess Parvati to help her. She asked if she could adopt one of Parvati’s children. Though Parvati refused initially, she obliged after Laxmi convinced her that she would take good care of her child and give the child all the necessary happiness.
The now convinced Parvati considered Laxmi’s pain and gave her one of her children – Ganesha – to adopt as her son. Lord Ganesha is the deity of knowledge and intelligence. Laxmi became very happy and excited that she declared that anyone who must worship Goddess Laxmi must worship Lord Ganesha first. And, no one will get the blessing of Goddess Laxmi without worshipping Lord Ganesha first.
So, anyone who wants to acquire wealth must first acquire knowledge and intelligence. So wealth cannot be obtained without prior acquisition of knowledge and intelligence to use the wealth.
Moreover, this is the major reason why both Ganesha and Laxmi are worshipped together on the day of Diwali with Ganesha being worshipped first. So, when next it’s Diwali festival, don’t forget to worship Lord Ganesha before you worship Goddess Laxmi.
