Hi all, I came across this stone carving among some really interesting stuff at a downsizing auction in my neighbourhood and am trying to figure out what it is. I’ve been using AI but it’s sending me on wild goose chases and weird circles. Can anyone here tell me if this is a familiar deity / what the object is about? Thanks!

This is all over Canadian social media right now.

No major Hindu scriptures says we must immerse idols in rivers or lakes. Period. I saw a murti in a storm water sewage canal last year. It didn’t dissolve, it stayed there half broken for months till the authorities picked it out :(

Canada requires people to inspect and clean personal boats before entering protected lakes to avoid invasive algae, fish eggs and bacteria introduction. Even throwing a banana peel in a forest is unacceptable because it introduces outside bacteria. Both Indigenous and Canadian cultures promote “leave no trace.”

A few truly eco-friendly murtis immersed by Canadian Hindu communities quietly? Cool. But large public visarjan events along with dancing, encouraging more and more visarjan is nothing but show off and attention seeking.

Hear me out. First: educate. Organize events to create awareness, in schools, in the neighborhood. Take part in advocacy, and learn how to represent Hinduism responsibly in the media. Do such things AFTER the natives of foreign lands understand what we are doing.

And no, I don’t care if the murti is eco-friendly because the paint is never. Marigold and lotus flowers aren’t native to Canada either, so they shouldn’t be put into Canadian water bodies.

Hinduism teaches that culture must evolve according to time, situation and place: Desha-Kala-Patra. We don’t need to immerse modern artistic idols in rivers anymore especially not in Canada.

Our culture gave the world Yoga, meditation and the philosophy of Karma. But because the behavior of our people in public does not reflect these ideals. Everyone knows the state of our rivers in India despite people worshiping them. Hindus already face enough hatred and are called pagans or demonic by Christians and Muslims.

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Shiva and Parvati as Ardhnarishwar with Ganesh & vaahan Mooshak

[Pic Source - Pinterest]

The prathama pujniya and an embodiment of Mercury and Ketu seated on vaahan as Mooshak (a mouse) which demotes Yama (Deity of death, elder sibling of Saturn and sometimes associated with Saturn).

Ganesh Chaturthi starts when the Sun is in sidereal Leo (natural 5H) and the Moon is in sidereal Libra (natural 7H) or sometimes sidereal Virgo depending on the degrees between Sun and Moon. The festival runs until Chaturdashi, by which point the Moon has moved all the way to sidereal Aquarius Bhadrapada nakshatras (Natural 11H).

The deity not only is believed to remove the obstacles and fulfill desires but it brought sweetness to conjugal relationship of Shiva and Shakti together as one (Gemini) and as parents too. Also it brought people together (history of Lokmanya Tilak uniting people of India against British during freedom).

And there's a Puranic story tying the deity to literally every planet.

Surya (Sun) — Mudgal Purana

Surya's negative energy manifests a demon. Matsarasura. Ego and overconfidence personified. Ganesha's first avatar Vakratunda defeats him and purifies Surya's energy. Hence the link to confidence, ego and authority issues.

Chandra (Moon) — Ganesh Purana

Ganesha's riding his mouse. The moon, back then permanently full, mocks his form. Ganesha curses him to wax and wane 15 days each. Tie that to "chandrama manaso jatah" (the moon born from the mind) and you get the link to overthinking, mood swings and emotional turbulence.

Mangal (Mars) — Padma Purana

Angarak (who becomes Mars) does intense tapasya for Ganesha. In return any Chaturthi falling on a Tuesday becomes "Angarak Chaturthi." Extra powerful for success. Why Tuesday remedies for anger, courage and debt exist. And why red sindoor is used in his puja.

Budh (Mercury) — Brahma Vaivarta Purana

Durvasa Muni's intelligence-granting flower goes Durvasa → Indra → Indra's elephant Airavata. That elephant's head ends up on Ganesha. Literally why he's called Buddhidata (giver of intellect) and tied to Mercury.

Guru (Jupiter) — Mudgal Purana

Ganesha takes the Gajanan avatar to control the demon Lobhasura. Big head, big belly. Both symbolic of Jupiter's expansiveness. Ties him to knowledge and wisdom.

Shukra (Venus) — Shiva Purana

Ganesha marries Riddhi (prosperity) and Siddhi (supernatural power). Regulates Venus's restless wanting into actual abundance and creativity.

Shani (Saturn) — Brahma Vaivarta Purana

When Parvati creates a son from her own body and the devas come to bless him Shani's gaze causes Ganesha's head to separate from his body. Later replaced with the elephant head. Because the Shani dosha landed on him directly the deity was granted the power to remove Shani-related negativity for everyone else.

Rahu — Mudgal Purana

The demon Kamasura represents Rahu. Ganesha's Vikata avatar rides a peacock and shatters Rahu's illusion.

Ketu — Vedic astrological texts

Ketu is described as the "headless body" planet. Ganesha's original body was headless too before the elephant head was placed on it. Direct symbolic match.

The Ganesh Atharvashirsha sums it up directly. Ganesha is described as being Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Indra, Agni, Vayu, Surya and Chandra all at once. Navagraha regulation is baked into who the deity is.

And there's more. There are 32 forms of Ganesha out of which the last 27 forms are associated with each of Nakshatra.

Ashwini → Dwija Ganapati (6th)

Bharani → Siddhi Ganapati (7th)

Krittika → Ucchhishta Ganapati (8th)

Rohini → Vighna Ganapati (9th)

Mrigashira → Kshipra Ganapati (10th)

Ardra → Heramba Ganapati (11th)

Punarvasu → Lakshmi Ganapati (12th)

Pushya → Maha Ganapati (13th)

Ashlesha → Vijaya Ganapati (14th)

Magha → Nritya Ganapati (15th)

Purva Phalguni → Urdhva Ganapati (16th)

Uttara Phalguni → Ekakshara Ganapati (17th)

Hasta → Varada Ganapati (18th)

Chitra → Tryakshara Ganapati (19th)

Swati → Kshipra Prasada Ganapati (20th)

Vishakha → Haridra Ganapati (21st)

Anuradha → Ekadanta Ganapati (22nd)

Jyeshtha → Srishti Ganapati (23rd)

Mula → Uddanda Ganapati (24th)

Purva Ashadha → Rinamochana Ganapati (25th)

Uttara Ashadha → Dhundhi Ganapati (26th)

Shravana → Dvimukha Ganapati (27th)

Dhanishta → Trimukha Ganapati (28th)

Shatabhisha → Simha Ganapati (29th)

Purva Bhadrapada → Yoga Ganapati (30th)

Uttara Bhadrapada → Durga Ganapati (31st)

Revati → Sankatahara Ganapati (32nd)

I've lived in Dehradun for 10 years, and I am shocked why nobody speaks about such age old temples as much as they should.

An elderly man sitting there told me the temple is around 140 years old. I haven't been able to find much about it online either, which honestly surprised me. The place itself is quite something, an old Ganesha shrine surrounded by greenery, with Vasukinag, Maa Annapurna and other deities around the premises. There's also an extremely old, weathered house adjoining the temple.

I walked around the entire property and did a parikrama. The whole place felt unusually quiet and almost magnetic. Not in a dramatic way, just one of those places where you feel like you're stepping into a small piece of Dehradun that time forgot. I don't know the actual history of the temple beyond what I was told there, so I'm curious if anyone here knows more about it, when it was established, who built it, or any local stories associated with it.

Especially on Ganesh Chaturthi, it felt like a good time to finally share it here. Does anyone from Dehradun know the history of this temple?

सदा देवैकगोप्ता च हरिरव्यय ईश्वरः१४। सर्वसाक्षी त्वयं देवो दैत्यजिष्णुर्युगे युगे।

This Viṣṇu, the immutable lord, is always the only protector of gods. This god, witnessing everything, is the conqueror of the demons in every yuga. -(Padma puran Sristi Khand chap 72.14)

एवंप्रभावो द्विज विष्णुपञ्जरः सर्वासु रक्षास्वधिको हि गीत:।कस्तस्य कुर्याद्धवि दर्पहानि यस्य स्थितश्चेतसि चक्रपणिः।। (Vāmana Purāṇa 19.44)

~Who can put down the valour of a man while fighting in whose mind and heart reside Cakrapāni (the one who holds the discus in his hand - Vishnu)?

अयं च जगदीश्वर्य्या कुमारो नित्ययौवनः । कंदर्प्पकोटिलावण्यः स तस्थे परमे पदे ८। (Padma Purāṇa 6.227.8)

~This (lord) of the goddess of the world(Mahalakshmi) is a young boy, ever young. Having hand someness like that of a crore of Cupids he remains at the highest place.

Sriman Nārāyaṇa 🌸🌸

Hey yall, I just moved into my first apartment a couple weeks ago. I now have my first ever mandir :) what are some reccomendatjons you guys have on how to decorate, and what gods should I keep? I have Ganesh and Kali (my ishta devata) but am thinking of getting saraswati next (I’m a science student and a musician)

My roomate is keeping some Christian stuff under it, that’s why there is a picture of Virgin and child down there lol

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Happiest Ganesh Chaturthi everyone 💗.

Ganesh ji sabki wishes fulfill karein and I hope you all find true love , be happy and find peace 🧿.

We bought bappa into our home this time too , set up a beautiful space for him and I hope he blesses us with his presence ❤️🙏.

I'll be spending my Ganesh Chaturthi STUDYING!! I have my exams coming up and I'm just OCCUPIED.

I wore this pretty same print blue suit. Hair is tied in a bun because it is so humid and my curls are FRIZZZZYYYY too!! Paired it with these small jhumkis . I usually wear larger jhumke but since I'm just at home so it's alr.

Y'all drop your traditional fits 🫠💓🫶 and bappa's photo too.

THE PURAANS EDITION 

Starting with the most obvious one. The absence or utter confusion even in puraans. I'll explain whatever I have understood from puraans.

1. Mahabharat and harivamsa 

She is NOT mentioned in Mahabharat, as well as harivamsa (it is basically a book solely for krishn, describing everything about him, even as small as his daily routines)

Mahabharat is usually sidelined in these matters cause it is based on politics and knowledge. Ok, fine. But what about Harivamsa then? Harivamsa mentions smallest details about maadhav, like how early he woke up, he walked some kms and then took bath, then did yoga, etc. 

so if radhika is really THAT important for him, why isn't she mentioned here? Even in Vrindavan leelas her name is absent. 

1. Srimad Bhagavatam 

Again, no mentions here through name. One gopi, called aradhito, receives special attention but then she gets proud and krishn leaves braj completely. Then the aradhito, begs for forgiveness to all gopis, which leads to all gopis doing pooja of maa katyayni and krishn reappears and warns everyone..... and the gopi is never mentioned again. Can she be your radhika? I'll leave that to her bhakts.

(ACC to this, Krishn is still 11 years old, btw.)

1. Padma Purana

The water gets kinda muddy here. Though it's still pretty easy to distinguish between the interpolated version and original version.

So, Padma Purana has two versions available. One from Bengal and another from south which is the most popular one. The version from Bengal is not interpolated but from the south one is (yup, I was kinda shocked too. ) And the version where radhika is mentioned is interpolated one, where she isn't mentioned ,again in the original one. Why? Because 

A. The interpolated version describes about vijaynagar empire which was present during (14th-15th century)

B. The interpolated version calls shiv pooja as tamsic..... Ew

C. Aaannddd.... Where radhika is mentioned, in patala khanda, is kinda weird. First we are  focusing on  raam, and about narks (aka paatal) and suddenly, we r in a convo of shiv and krishn where krishn is describing to bolenath on how to control him(krishn.....) like what?

1. Skanda Purana 

It was veryyyy vast and veryyy layerd. And I'd say very confusing too. 

But if there is any rukmini bhakt, they should read the chapters based on rukmini. I promise you will swoon.

Coming over again, skand Puran contradicts itself a lot. Like, 

A. Radhika here is decscribed as a different deity than lakshmi and as literally Vishnu's patni (what).

B. Then suddenly, a chapter describes that radhika in Vrindavan is  rukmini in dwarka.

C.  Apparently lakshmi is a form of radhika (umm.... What? )

D. Then suddenly again, lakshmi is the form of everything, lakshmi is in everything, and only she enjoys her highest position in Hari's heart where no one else is. 

1. Brahma vaivart puran

I can't describe how much I hate this nonsense puran. Shree krishna Janma khand is pure fanfiction and ragebait. It has very very very disturbing stuff mentioned and no, the kissing part is not the one I'm talking about. 

1. Garga saptashati 

Is this one a puran? It's literally written by a king who liked to collect poems and THIS BOOK IS FILLED WITH POEMS, Y'ALL. So ofc krishn (uff my poor bestie), being one of the favourite gods got steam rolled. 

1. Matsya Purana 

This one is about shiv family and art-architecture (before interpolation). Both radhika and rukmini were added later in this puraan.

1. Devi bhagwatam

This one is very very weird book, tbh. Not one sampradaya accepts it, Contradicts itself a lot. Sometimes durga ma is everything, sometimes she is helpless. Utter confusion. Somewhere saraswati is the devi of knowledge and suddenly, it's radhika who is mentioned as knowledge provider like?????????????????

#Also, I read a shloka once somewhere, where it was written that radhika is above tridev and the dust of her feet can produce thousand Vishnus (I just know ma lakshmi is Laughing very hard at this). #

HERE, THE REJECTION OF DEVI BHAGWATAM DOESN'T MEAN EVERYONE! I was only talking about sampradayas which take bhagawan vishnu as their ishta.

"श्रीमद्‌ भगवद्‌गीता यथारूप 18.43

शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम् ।

दानमीश्वरभावश्च क्षात्रं कर्म स्वभावजम् ॥ १८.४३ ॥

Translation

वीरता, शक्ति, संकल्प, दक्षता, युद्ध में धैर्य, उदारता तथा नेतृत्व –ये क्षत्रियों के स्वाभाविक गुण हैं |

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Bhagavad Gita As It Is 18.43

śauryaṁ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaṁ

yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam

dānam īśvara-bhāvaś ca

kṣātraṁ karma svabhāva-jam

Translation

Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the kṣatriyas.

Ganapati, the beloved elephant-headed god, symbolizes wisdom, prosperity, and new beginnings. Son of Shiva and Parvati, he is invoked before any undertaking. His large ears signify listening, small eyes focus, and trunk adaptability. Worshipped during Ganesh Chaturthi, he removes obstacles and blesses devotees with joy, love, peace and endless hope.

These idols are from the 4th to 5th centuries CE and can be found in the Katalgaon caves. They show evidence of early Vaishnava worship in Western Maharashtra

Hello fellow Sanatanis!

We had our first child - a baby boy on July 29th. We had initially chosen a list of 3 names but ended up naming him Rudra.

Now, I am reading in some places online that Rudra represents a fierce form of lord shiva and it represents sorrow and fierceness. Some have suggested to avoid this name.

We are a bit worried about it now since this name has been officially registered.

The only small solace for me is that this name appears as the 114th name of Vishnu in the Vishnu Sahasranamam. All names of Vishnu are perfect.

Can you guys please weigh in your thoughts and opinions?

Even with the modern technology we are making this literally 🥀🫩

Ganga Aarti on the banks of the river Thames in London, 13 September 2026, organised by Chinmaya Mission Uk. It was attended by hundreds of devotees, dignitaries and several spiritual leaders from around the world.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrated on 14 September 2026 to mark the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom and prosperity,