The Cult of Ganesha

The Cult of Ganesha

Origin & Development:

Ganesha, Ganapati, Vinayaka, or Pillaiyar, is the most worshipped icon in Hindu pantheon. His elephant head makes it easy for his identification. He was originally considered to be the remover of obstacles (Vighnaharta), but by the advent of the puranic era he was then transformed into Vignaharta- the remover of obstatcles, the lord of beginnings, and the god of intellect and wisdom.

Ganesha is not a Vedic deity. Although there is a mention of Ganapati- The leader of the pack or group in the Rigveda, but it does not refer to the modern deity. Scholars consider it as a reference to Brahmanaspati, but later had been implemented in the worship of Ganesha, a practise still followed today.

His earliest associations are that with the four vinayakas-the four evil spirits. They were a set of four bothersome demons, namely: Sala, Katamkata, Usmita and Kusmandarajputra, mentioned in the Manavagrhysutras. They would possess humans, blotch their lives and fates, by putting obstacles in their lives. This is characteristic of the vighnakarta aspect of Ganesha. In the puranic literature, much later, the four vinayakas were merged into one definite icon, named Vinayaka, and it is said that Shiva appointed him as the leaders of his Ganas, thus : Ganapati. In the Yajnavalkya, of the 6th century, there is a mention of Vinayaka, wherein he is said to be promoted to the status of a deva. By the 8th century, he is depicted as an elephant-headed deity. Certain scholars also tend to the belief that his worship might have been an animal worship cult, which might have been blended into the present deity. This, in theory, is quite similar to the vinayaka theory. He probabaly might have been an unimportant village god, worshipped by the lower classes, mentioned by Shayan, in the commentary of the Taitiriya Aranayaka. Some scholars consider him to be a combination of Yakshas and Nagas. This can be traced archeologically too, because there is a sculpture of an elephant headed yaksha at Amravati, depicted brooding. The vinayaka-ganapati is also associated with another icon, known as Ekdanta, which is quite a popular name for Ganesha in the south. The other name for Ganesha in south India is Pillaiyar.

Although there are depictions of elephant headed therio-anthropo-morphic figures on Indian coins as early as the 2nd century, but he was shown in his classical form in the early 4th-5th centuries. Amongst all the early icons excavated the earliest known is the one at the Shiva temple, at Bhumra, which was a part of the Gupta era. In Mathura, a red sandstone sculpture and the a terracotta plaque Bhitargaon temple are examples from the early Gupta period. There had been much change in the icon depiction, and the features are much closer to the present-age description of the icon. The Bhitargaon relief shows a flying gana, with its trunk touching a bowl of sweetmeats, held in his left hand. The figure at Bhumra, is a complete stylized one. Another example of the early reliefs is found in the Chandragupta cave at Udaigiri, Madhya Pradesh. One of the finest examples, comes from the medieval period though. It is found at Khitching, Mayurbhanj district, Orissa. The cult finally came into independent existence around the 8th-9th -10th centuries. But, the idol was not worshipped in large numbers or independently until the modern ages. His popularity rose distinctly and was included in the five prominently worshipped icons in the Hindu mythology. His sect of worshippers, called the Ganapatyas are said to have been established around this time. Although there were temples dedicated to the icon, there is not much evidence to prove that worshippers would throng them in large numbers. This was the case in early days of the Indian revolution ages, against their British rulers. This tradition is known as Ganesh Chaturthi. It falls around the end of August and the start of September. This much hyped event was actually much more of a non-event, absent of any form of pomp or fervour. It was initiated by Shrimant Bhausaheb Jawale, popular as Bhau Ranagiri, in Pune, in 1892. It all began in his own wada-courtyard. He installed the idol of Ganesha slaying a demon. It was symbolic of Ganesha driving away the imperial British. Thousands would throng his place for the daily pooja-worship of the deity. Lokmanya Tilak-a popular member of the Indian struggle for freedom saw much potential in this event. Thus began the Sarvajanik(inclusive of all people) worship of Ganesha during this period. He saw it as a golden opportunity to launch an unified attack against the British. A method of getting the entire population together. Tilak was the first to initiate installations of large public structures of the icon in pandals. He also initiated the practise of submerging the deity in large processions on the tenth day. Thus began the Ganeshotsav at Vinchurkar Wada, Sadashiv Peth, Pune, in the year of 1894.

Today, Hindus all over the country celebrate the festival of Ganesh with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm. It is immensely popular in Maharashtra, especially in Pune and Mumbai, and the Ashta-vinayaka belt. It is a popular belief that all work should begin after taking Ganesha's name. Before initating any work it is customary to worship him as he is Vighnaharta the remover of obstacles.

Important Sites:

Ganesha is said to be the first deity to be worshipped in all yajnas. In Hindu temples he is represented in many ways: sometimes as an attendant or a subordinate diety, probabaly because in that timeline the depiction was that of a yaksha; or as a deity in direct relation to the primary deity of the shrine; or as the primary deity of the temple. He is shown at the doorways of many temples, symbolic of the one who keeps the unworthy out of the shrine. This in corresponding of his role as Parvati's doorkeeper.

The following list is a list of important temples of Ganesha:

* Sri Sidha Binayak Pitha, Berhampur, Orissa.

* Girijatmaja Vinayak Temple, Pune, Maharashtra.

* Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

* Ranthambore Temple, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.

* Ganesh Tok Temple, Gangtok, Sikkim.

* Sree MahaGanapathy Temple, Panniyali,Kerala.

* Maha Ganapathi