॥ Shri Pushtipati Vinayak Mahatmya ॥
Bhagwan Ganesh took many incarnations for the welfare of His devotees and the destruction of demons. In the Mudgala Purana, it is said that Pushtipati Vinayak is one of those divine incarnations.
The Story of Pushtipati Vinayak
In ancient times, a demon named Durmati ruled over all the three worlds. He had obtained immense power by performing severe penance to the primordial Goddess Jagadamba. Because of this boon, all the gods became powerless before him.
Durmati attacked Mount Kailash and cast his sinful eyes upon Goddess Parvati herself, the very Goddess who had granted him power. As a result, Bhagwan Shiva and Goddess Parvati were forced to leave Kailash.
When every effort of the gods to defeat Durmati failed, Sage Narada advised Shiva and Parvati to worship and invoke Bhagwan Ganesh. He instructed them to install a fresh clay idol of Ganesh every day, worship it with devotion, and immerse it in water in the evening.
After observing this sacred vow continuously, on the full moon day of the month of Vaishakha, Bhagwan Ganesh manifested before Shiva and Parvati in His most magnificent and divine form. Seeing His grand cosmic appearance, Shiva and Parvati became overwhelmed and requested Him to remain with them in the form of a child.
Accepting their request, Bhagwan Ganesh assumed the form of a young boy and lived lovingly with Shiva and Parvati.
Around the same time, Pushti, the daughter of Bhagwan Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, was born. Later, she was married to Bhagwan Ganesh. Therefore, in this incarnation, Ganesh became known as Pushtipati Vinayak — The Bhagwan of Pushti. Pushtipati represents the embodiment of divine wisdom and spiritual nourishment. Know about
Pushtipati Vinayak Jayanti.
The Destruction of Durmati
When Pushtipati heard about the cruel atrocities committed by Durmati, He first tried to reform him peacefully. Bhagwan Vishnu Himself was sent to request Durmati to abandon his wicked nature. However, Durmati instead challenged Pushtipati to battle.
A fierce war began between them. Durmati shot an arrow toward Bhagwan Ganesh. Ganesh stopped the arrow with His tusk, but in doing so, one of His tusks broke. Then Bhagwan Ganesh hurled the broken tusk at Durmati, severing the demon’s head and freeing the worlds from fear and oppression.
This is also why the broken tusk of Bhagwan Ganesh symbolizes sacrifice, wisdom, and victory over evil. Read about
Pushtipati Ganesh Mandir.
Other Legends of Pushtipati Vinayak
❀ After marrying Rukmini, Bhagwan Krishna worshipped Pushtipati Vinayak at a temple located in Darwha in the Yavatmal district of Vidarbha.
❀ In the famous story of the Syamantaka Mani, Bhagwan Krishna worshipped Pushtipati Vinayak at Supa in Pune district to regain His intuitive wisdom.
❀ By the grace of Pushtipati Vinayak, the destructive curse associated with the gaze of Shani Dev was neutralized.
❀ Another legend says that Sage Agastya received the power to drink the waters of the ocean through the blessings of Pushtipati Vinayak and destroyed the demon Vatapi hidden in the depths of the sea.