It is widely known that Modak is Lord Ganesha’s favourite sweet, but there are deep spiritual and mythological reasons behind this belief. It is said that offering Modak to Ganapati brings immense joy and blessings from the deity.
According to ancient legends, Goddess Parvati once received a divine Modak prepared from nectar (Amrit), gifted by the gods. On seeing the Modak, both her sons—Lord Kartikeya and Lord Ganesha—eagerly asked for it. Goddess Parvati then explained the extraordinary significance of the Modak. She said that even its fragrance grants immortality, and the one who smells or eats it becomes a knower of all scriptures, a master of all tantras, skilled in every art, and ultimately omniscient.
After describing its greatness, Parvati declared that she would give the Modak to the son who proved his superiority through righteous conduct and returned first after visiting all the sacred pilgrimage sites.
Hearing this, Kartikeya immediately mounted his peacock and, within moments, completed a journey to all the holy places. Meanwhile, Ganesha, whose vehicle was a mouse, realised that such a journey was not possible for him. Instead, he devotedly circumambulated his parents, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and stood respectfully before his father.
Witnessing this act, Goddess Parvati proclaimed that bathing at all pilgrimage sites, worshipping all deities, performing all yajnas, observing fasts, chanting mantras, practising yoga, and exercising self-discipline—even together—do not equal one-sixteenth of the merit gained by worshipping one’s parents.
She declared that Ganesha was greater than countless sons and hundreds of Ganas. Hence, she offered the divine Modak to him. Due to his devotion to his parents, Ganesha was blessed to be worshipped first in every ritual and yajna.
This sacred story explains why Modak holds such a special place in Lord Ganesha’s worship.(Reference: Ganesh Purana and Padma Purana)
