Surpakarna Ganesha is one among the names of Ganapati. The
story of Surpakarna form of Ganesh is associated with Agni, the Hindu fire god.
Surpa means winnowing basket and indicates the big ear of the elephant-headed
god.
Legend has it that once Agni, the fire god, was cursed by a
group of Rishis to lose his luster. They cursed him to become extinguished and
be lost forever.
This curse made Agni powerless. He started losing his
luster. There was commotion in the universe. Without fire there was no yajna,
there was no food and there was imbalance in the universe.
Ganesha took pity on Agni and in order to save the universe
fanned Agni into life again with his ears. He used his ears like a surpa or
winnowing basket.
For this divine act, Ganesh earned the name Surpakarna.