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G A N E S H A - T H E G O D W I T H E L E P H A N T H E A D 
PART 3GANESHA HAS IN HIS ABDOMEN THE COSMIC EGG There is also a legend about Ganesha's prominent abdomen. It is said that the god of wealth, Kubera, once invited the divine couple Shiva and Shakti for dinner, to boast with his wealth. The divine couple declined the invitation, sending instead their divine son, and asking Kubera that he should feed Ganesha. Kubera laughed, saying "I can feed many children such as this one!". Ganesha sat calmly at the table and started eating. First he ate the food, then the furniture, than the palace. Frightened, Kubera heard the little god saying: "you promised my parents to feed me. Now I will have to eat you as well." Kubera ran for his life, and asked Shiva for help. Shiva gave him some rice, and advised Kubera to give this rice with deep humility to Ganesha. Kubera came back. Meanwhile, Ganesha's stomach had become gigantic, and he was ever joyful. When Kubera offered him with great humility the rice, Ganesha's hunger was finally quenched. It is also considered that Ganesha is represented thus because he has the Cosmic Egg within him. THE PATRON OF THE GANA-S (BEINGS) There is a very significant story revealing the way in which this god had become the patron of the Gana-s, and earned the name "Ganesha". In the old times, Shiva was the unique master of the gods, semi-gods, people, demons, phantoms, spirits, and all other existing beings. But because he was always in the state of divine ecstasy, samadhi, the gods and the other beings found it very difficult to communicate with him. Any time they were in trouble, they needed to spend hours on end praying and singing songs so that Shiva could come to their state of consciousness. 
Therefore, the gana-s felt the need for another leader, who would be easier to call and to solve their problems, and to protect them when needed.They came to Brahma, but he could not help them with this problem, so they turned to Vishnu to persuade Shiva to appoint a new Ganapati (leader of the gana-s). Vishnu suggested that they should pick one of Shiva's sons Kartikaya or Lambodar (Ganesha) as a leader. In order to decide whom of the two deserved the title of Ganesha, the gods and semi-gods decided to organize a contest. At the established day, all came for the contest presided by Vishnu and attended by Shiva and Shakti. Vishnu announced the test: the two should make the tour of the universe, and the first to arrive back would be appointed Ganesha, the lord of all gana-s. After announcing the trial, Kartikeya flew into space, riding his fast peacock, to cross the universe as quickly as possible. During all this time, Ganesha stood still on his rat, without moving an inch. Vishnu, noticing that Ganesha does not move, told him to hurry. On Vishnu's insistence to enter the competition at once, Ganesha smiled, paid his homage at the feet of his mother and father, humbly saluted all the present ones, and then flew on his rat.
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