Lord Ganesh in the form of “Gajanana”
Gajanana is the form of Lord Shree Ganesha. The word "Gajanana" is derived from the meaning "the Lord with an Elephant Head and Face." Lord Ganesh defeated the demon "Lobhasura," the "greedy one." Lobahsura was called a demon of greed and lust.
Birth of Lobhasura
Story of the birth of Lobhasura, Lord Kubera, the son of Lord Brahma, is assigned to be a lord and keeper of wealth, like a celestial treasurer. From Lord Kubera's fear and lust manifested a demon named Lobhasura. Lobha means greed and lust, and Lobhasura is the demon king of greed.
Asuras, the demons, raised Lobhasura after his birth; he was a brilliant student of Sukracharya, the Guru of Asuras. Sukracharya, when he knew this boy was special and in need of serving humanity, initiated Lobhasura into the knowledge of Shiva "Om Namah Shivaya." The Asura demon Lobhasura performed severe penance and offerings to Lord Shiva, who blessed him with the boon of "fearlessness and long life." The demon Lobhasura, stronger than ever after Siva's boon, went about conquering the kingdoms, nations, and all three worlds to become sovereign rulers. But, drunk in his power, he forgot that Lord Shiva gifted the boon. So, in his forgetfulness, he attacked Lord Shiva's abode – Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas.
Lord Ganesha defeats Lobhasura.
The Gods and humans, terrorized by this demonic rule of Lobhasura, sought the advice of Guru Raibhya. After understanding the issues, he guided the Gods and Humans to pray to "Lord Gajanana." The Devas and Manavs invoked the grace of the Lord Ganesha and sought His protection and freedom from the tyranny of Lobahsura. Lord Ganesha sought Lord Vishnu's permission to attack Lobhasura to defeat and even kill him. Lord Vishnu wanted to avoid bloodshed. Hence, in his wisdom, he became the messenger of Lord Gajanana and met Demon King Lobhasura to tell him about the strengths of Lord Gajanana. Lord Vishnu's intervention worked; demon King Lobhasura became scared and surrendered without fighting to spare himself from getting killed by Lord Ganesha. In return for his life, the demon Lobhasura freed all the kingdoms he had captured and promised Lord Gajanana that he would never trouble Lord Ganesh's followers and devotees.
We still have greed and lust within us, as Demon Lobhasura is alive in our human mindset. However, as his promise, he will not trouble his devotees in the present day and will never trouble Lord Ganesha's devotees and followers in the future.
Sankashti Chaturthi day in the lunar calendar, the 4th day of the waning Moon. It is a special Sankashti Chaturthi day in July, or Ashad (Sanskrit name of the lunar month). On the Sankashti day in July, demon king Lobhasura was defeated with the efforts of Lord Vishnu in the name of Lord Ganesha. Hence, Lord Ganesh is prayed, as in Vishnu Peeth, on this special day in the form of "Gajanana."
