Ganapati (Ganesha)

The earliest reference to Ganapati is found in the Rig Veda (2.23.1) as Brahmanaspati, an aspect of Brihaspati or Vacaspati (literally the lord of Vak). The Brahmana and Aranyaka portions of the Veda contain praises to Ganapati. Atharva Seersha Upanishad, an Atharva Vedic Upanishad, is completely devoted to Ganapati. It establishes and explains the nature and philosophy of Ganapati, and the beeja and mula mantra.

शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।

प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥

śuklāmbaradharaṃ viṣṇuṃ śaśivarṇaṃ caturbhujam .

prasannavadanaṃ dhyāyet sarvavighnopaśāntaye

I meditate upon (Lord Ganesa), the one who wears a white garment, who is all-universal, who has a (bright) complexion like the moon, who has four hands, who has a cheerful face, for the removal of all obstacles.

I bow to you, the Lord with the face of an elephant (Gajanana), one who is served by the celestial attendants (Bhoota ganas) and other beings. The one who consumes the extract of Kapitha (wood apple)

You are the Lord (Ganapathi) among the celestial attendants (Ganas). We offer you sacrificial offerings. You are the wisest among the scholars. Your wisdom is known to be of the highest quality and uncompromising.

Ganapati, as the name suggests, is the lord of Ganas or divine hosts. He is the son of Uma and Siva, and the elder brother of Kumaraswamy. He is the elephant-faced God with moon adornment and snake garland. He rides over a mouse.

Ganapati is worshipped in different forms, four or eight-handed, white or reddish brown or golden in hue. In some forms, He is worshipped as a brahmacari, and in some forms, He has two consorts, Siddhi (the deity of success, accomplishment, achievement, completion) and Buddhi (the deity of wisdom).

In most of the forms, He is depicted as having one tusk. However, the word Ekadanta is explained in different ways. In one breakup of the word, as eka-dantam, it means having one danta or tusk. In another breakup, it is ekadam-tam, meaning The Only You.

His name, Ganapati, serves a different purpose. He is the lord of ‘Akshara’s, Ganas or the groups of alphabets.

The other major aspect of Ganapati is that of Vighnaraja, or the lord of vighnas or obstacles. He is the one who creates and frees people from obstacles.

Ganapati is worshipped before beginning anything auspicious/important in life, be it worship or journey or marriage or construction or war or study. Worshipping Ganapati is said to ensure there will be no obstacles in completing anything auspicious.

 

Ode to Ganapati (The Lord of Beginnings)

Oh Ganapati, Lord so wise and bright,
With moon’s soft glow and tusks so white.
Brahmanaspati, in Vedic lore,
You reign as wisdom’s boundless core.

Śuklāmbaradhara, pure and fair,
Four arms uplifted, beyond compare.
With a cheerful face, You bless the way,
And melt all vighnas (obstacles) away.

O Gajanana, with trunk so wide,
On a tiny mouse, You joyfully ride.
Kapitha’s essence, sweet and grand,
You taste with love, by Bhootas fanned.

Ekadanta, the One-Tusked Lord,
By Siddhi and Buddhi, ever adored.
The Vighnaraja, both fierce and kind,
You block or free as You’ve designed.

Before each start, we seek Your grace,
In yajna, war, or learning’s pace.
O Ganapati, with Akshara’s might,
Guard our path with sacred light!

Jai Ganesha! Your name we sing,
To You, all praises we humbly bring.
With folded hands, our hearts bow low,
Bless us, Lord, where’er we go!

5/22/2025

Sham S. Misri,

Seattle, Washington,

USA