Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c9.8

v1.c9.8

thus may all thy beauties vanish.’* Śiva thus spoke to his son :—‘ Thy names shall be Gaṇeśa Vināyaka, Vighnarāja, the son of Śiva ; thou shalt be the chief of the Vināyakas and the gaṇas ; success and disappointment shall proceed from thee ; and great shall be thy influence amongst gods, and in sacrifices and all affairs. Therefore shalt thou be worshipped and invoked the first on all occasions, or otherwise the object and prayers of him who omits to do so, shall fail.’ ”†