ORIGIN: Hindu (Puranic)
TYPE: God of wisdom and prudence
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP: Circa CE 400 onward until present.
SYNONYMS: Ganapati
ART REFERENCES: Sculptures generally bronze but also stone. Reliefs.
LITERARY SOURCES: late Mahabharata recensions and Brihaddharma-Purana etc.
AFFILIATION: Deva, Brahman (Ganapatya), Saguna Brahman (Panchayatana Puja)
ABODE: Mount Kailash (with parents), Swanandhlok
MANTRA: Om Ekadantaya Vidmahe, Vakrathundaya, Dhimahi, Thanno Danthi Prachodhayat Om Shri Ganesaya Namah Om Gam Ganapataye Namah.
WEAPON: Parasu (axe), Pasa (noose), Ankusa (elephant goad)
SYMBOLS: Swastika, Om, Modak
MOUNT: Mouse
TEXTS: Ganesha Purana, Mudgala Purana, Ganapati Atharvashirsa
FESTIVALS: Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali
PARENTS: Shiva (father), Parvati (Mother)
SIBLINGS: Kartikeya (brother)
CONSORT: Riddhi and Siddhi or Celibate
EQUIVALENT: Kangiten (Buddhist)
INFORMATION: Ganesa is god of wisdom and art, a benign deity generally assumed to offer help when invoked to overcome difficulties. He may have originated as a fertility god and as a Yaksa (local forest deity). His father is Siva. His mother, Parvati, is said to have created him from the scurf of her skin. He is depicted in human form with an elephant's head (or, less frequently up to five heads) and a trunk (which removes obstacles), sometimes bearing one tusk on a stout or obese body (which contain the universe). He has four arms which can carry a large number of attributes but particularly a shell, a discus, a mace and a water-lily. His sacred animal is the bandicoot. He is called upon before going on a journey, moving house of opening a new business.
According to one legend his elephant head was gained after his mother had put him outside the house to guard the doorstep while she took a bath. He barred the way to his father whereupon Siva inadvertently decapitated him. His mother vowed to secure a head for him from the first passing creature, which happened to be an elephant. Another account suggests that Parvati took Ganesa to show him off to the gods but that Sani (Saturn) burned his head to ashes and the elephant's head was provided to save his life by a compassionate Visnu.
Ganesa's great popularity results in frequent appearance in temples devoted to other Hindu deities. Sculptures are sometimes painted red. He is also a common household guardian made popular by his gentle nature.