Ganesh was the son of Lord Shiv.
We read in the Puranas (Indian mythologies) as to how there was a scramble for precedence among the gods, each of whom claimed the first position for himself.
They approached Brahma for a ruling.
He told them that they should race round the world and that whoever finished the round quickest of all would be accounted the highest.
Ganesh, who rode on no better animal than a rat, naturally lagged behind. He met on the way the celestial sage Narad, who advised him to scratch the word 'Ram' on the ground and pace round it, as the word comprised in itself the entire creation.
Ganesh did accordingly and was naturally the first to finish the round of the universe.
Brahma appreciated this act of Ganesh and conceded his title to precedence over all the other gods.
Since then Ganesh has uninterruptedly enjoyed the right of being worshiped first of all.
We read in the Puranas (Indian mythologies) as to how there was a scramble for precedence among the gods, each of whom claimed the first position for himself.
They approached Brahma for a ruling.
He told them that they should race round the world and that whoever finished the round quickest of all would be accounted the highest.
Ganesh, who rode on no better animal than a rat, naturally lagged behind. He met on the way the celestial sage Narad, who advised him to scratch the word 'Ram' on the ground and pace round it, as the word comprised in itself the entire creation.
Ganesh did accordingly and was naturally the first to finish the round of the universe.
Brahma appreciated this act of Ganesh and conceded his title to precedence over all the other gods.
Since then Ganesh has uninterruptedly enjoyed the right of being worshiped first of all.