mythological story of mahagannpati

While coming from Siddhatek to Ranjangaon you will come across Srigonda sugar factory.
STORY OF MAHAGANAPATI FROM MYTHS
This story is from Tretayug. There was a great & intelligent Sage Gritsamada. He had composed mantra. ‘Gananam Tvam Ganapati’. As such his name was taken before chanting this mantra.
Once Rishi Gritsamada had a very big cough. From that came alive a reddish child. He told Gritsamada, “I am your son, When I become big, I shall conquer the three worlds & also defeat Indra.” In order to turn his ambitious sons mind towards devotion, he taught him Ganesh Mantra “Gananam Tvam ganapati Havamahe” & advised him to worship Gajanan.
The child chanted the mantra for 5000 years & pleased Ganpati. He asked for Lordship over the entire universe, fulfilloment of all his desires & control over men, yaksha, Gandharva etc. Ganapati said, “Only Lord Shivshankara will be able to defeat you, I give you three cities made of iron, gold & silver. As long as they are there you can not be defeated by Gods etc. You will be called Tripura. All your desires will be fulfilled. Through one arrow from Shankara all your three cities will be destroyed.”
Tripurasur came back & defeated all kings, Gods like Indra & serpents like Vasuki & gained control over three worlds. Vishnu, Brahma & other Gods were hiding in Himalayas. Shankar & Parvati started living in Mandara mountain. Tripurasur created two sons, namely Chand & Prachand & gave kingdom of Brahmalok ( Lord Brahma’s abode) to one son & Vishnulok ( Lord Vishnu’s abode) to another son.
Dev Rishi Narad came there to help Gods. He told them the history of Tripurasur & told them that only Shankara can kill him. He told them to please Gajanana & taught them the mantra ‘OM’. The Gods worshipped ganapati & he appeared before them. The Gods praised Him by singing eight shloka, stotra ( Pranamya Shirasa Devam Gauri Putram Viinayakam). To get rid of the danger of calamity Gods praised Gajanan with eight shloka stotra, as such it is called as ‘Sankatnashanam Ganapati Stotra’.
Ganapati said, “Whoever utters this stotra when in danger will be protected by me. I shall bring about Tripura’s defeat through Shankara’s hands.”
Then Ganapati in the guise of Brahmin went to Tripura’s abode 7 told him, “O king! I am learned Brahmin & have mastery over 64 arts. As such I am called as ‘Kaladhar’. Hearing your fame I came to meet you.” Triprasur told him, “Hey Kaladhar, you show me your art, If I am pleased, I will give away my life also.”
Kaladhar said, “O king, I will give you three aeroplanes.
You can go anything you desire. Except Lord Mahdev nobody can destroy these planes.”
Trippurasur was very pleased with his art & told Kaladhar to demand whatever he wants. Kaladhar demanded idol of Chintamani which is in possession of Lord Shankar.
Tripurasur sent his messenger on mount Mandar 7 arrogantly demanded idol of Chintamani. Shivshankar refused to give idol of Chintamani, as such war was ensued between Tripurasur & Shankara. All Gods, Shivganas & Shiva himself started off for the war in a hurry forgetting to worship Ganesh before leaving.
The axle of the chariot in which Shivshankar started was smashed into powered by Ganapati.There were other obstacles too.The Gods had retreated,unable to cope up with great onslaught of the demos.Shivshankar was left alone in the battle field . Knowing about defect of the Shivshankar in the war, Goddss Parvati left MAndar mountain & went to her father Himalaya’s house.
On his victory , triputasur came on mount Mandar & found the idol of Chintamani . While returning back,the idol of chintmani ,suddenly disappeared from the hands of Tripurasur.Thinking it to be an ill omen Tripurasur returned back with heavy heart.
Because of Gods defect,sacrificial work wasstopped & all the three worlds were ruled by unrighteousness.
Sage Narad told Shivshankar that they got defected because he forgot to worship Ganesha before beginning the war.He also said “Tripurasur has pleased Ganesha through his long penance. You have to please him better.Then alone you can get victory.”
Lord Shivshankar was convinced . He went to Dandakaranya . In a solitary place he set in Padmasna posture,performed Pranayam & chanted six letters mantra of Ganapati.At the time Gajanana emerged from his face with a peculer form. He had five faces,ten hands,moon on the crest,garlands of heads on the neck & also the ornament of serpents. He was looking both like Shankara & Gajanana .
He told Shankra,” In future whenver you remember me I will appear before you & remove your obstacles. After chanting my Beejamantra , send an arrow on the aeroplanes of Tripurasur. By that time all his three cities will be burnt. then you can easily kill tripurasur. I will also tell you my Sahastranam(one thousand names) stora . By chanting the same one gets victory everywhere,enemies are destroyed & desired fruits are obtained.
Lord Shivshankra learnt that Ganesha Sahastranama & then Ganapati appeared before all Gods. At that place Shiva established a Ganesha temple & around it a city called Manipur, which is presently called as Ranjangaon.The deity here is hence rightly called as Mahaganapati.
Lord Shiv Shankra came back to fight with demon (Asura) This time he made chariot of special nature. Prithvi (earth) became the chariot. Sun & Moon became the wheels. Brahma Deva was the charioteer. Meru became the bow. Vishnu was the arrow.Ashwinikumar became the horses. Shivshankra chanted the Ganesh Sahastranama. After chanting Om Kara he the bow. After chanting the six letter mantra,he fixed the arrow & with the sankalpa (determination) of destroying Tripurasura,released the arrow. At that time there was light everywhere like that of lighting Tripurasura fainted & fell down dead. His three cities were burnt. The demos Prana (life) came out of his body in the Jyoti (flame) & entered Shiv Shankar’s body. The asura attained Moksha(salvation).
This incident happened on Kartiki Purnima. Hence it is called Tripuri Purnima. Gods got their respective posts. Sages started studing vedas. All the three worlds were happy. Shankara was called illumination (deepotsava) was also started in the night of this Purnima (full moon day) . Alongwith Magha & Bhadrapada Chaturthi , this tripuri purnima is also celepreted in some of the Ganapati temples. Various deeds like snan(bath) & Dan(charity) on this day leads to abundance.