Shami Patra

Shamipatra, also called Vanhipatra is very dear to Lord Ganesh. It is offered to Ganesha considering his liking for it. Here is the story why Ganesha likes Shamipatra -

Long back in time there lived a king named Priyavrat.

King Priyavrat was very religious and generous. He had two wives named Kirti and Prabha.

Prabha had a son named Padmanan.

Prabha was an intelligent boy. His thread ceremony was solemnized amid great celebrations when he only five years old. Prabha was treated very dearly by everyone in the palace. He enjoyed all lavish things. Soon he became proud by the virtue of attention he had been receiving.

One day when Prabha was having meal, Kirti came to him with some delicacies. Prabha refused to have them and badly insulted Kirti. He called her a childless woman who roamed to feed other children.

Kirti, who silently grieved being childless could not take the insult. She wept hard and decided to kill herself.

That night Kirti quietly left the palace. She walked across the forest reaching a heavy waterfall. When she was about to jump an unknown voice called her, "O great woman, stop in name of God".

He was Sage Deval. The sage approached Kriti and asked her why she desired to end her life. Kriti broke into tears. She was unable to speak, but somehow gathered strenght to speak. She spoke between sobs, "O holy sage, I am the queen of King Priyavrat. I am childless. Due this no one loves nor respects me. There is no value in my life and so I decided to end it".

The sage politely replied, "O Royal woman. Please the God and they shall please you. I suggest that you mediate upon the name of God Ganesha. He shall take care of you".

Kriti pleaded the Sage to take her under his kind endurance. Kriti began living in the forest hermitage of the sage. She  did severe penance to please Lord Ganesha with her true heart. She offered Shamipatra to Ganesha instead of the Dhruv grass.

Ganesha was greatly pleased by Kriti's penance. She was blessed by Ganesha to achieve her heart desire and gain prosperity.

Kriti returned to the palace. Soon she gave birth to a make child named Shiraprasadan.

Shiraprasadan began growing up. He was a keen eyed, graceful boy. However his elder brother could not stand his blissfulness. He ploy against him and positioned him. Shiraprasadan was positioned and turned dead. However, it is said that Ganesha always takes care of his devotees.

While Kriti wept helplessly over her dead son, a sage named Gutsamand appeared there. The sage was an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha. He said, "Kriti, you did great penance to please Ganesha. You good deeds will help to bring life back to your son. Ask Ganesha to bless you with your son's life in return for your good deeds'.

Thus Kriti called upon the name of Ganesha. Lord Ganesha blessed Kriti for her good deeds and granted life to her son Shiraprasadan.

On the other hand, Ganesha cursed  Prabha for his evil deeds. He got afflicted with great incurable aliment and was sidelined by the King gradually. The King began loving and giving attention to Shiraprasadan. He declared Shiraprasadan as the heir to his throne.