Ganesha or Ganesh (Sanskrit: गणेश, Gaṇeśa), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Binayak, is one of the best known and most revered deities in the Hindu pantheon. The image of him is found throughout India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of his affiliation.
Devotion to Ganesha spreads and extends to Jains and Buddhists. Although he is known for many attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him easily identifiable. Ganesha is widely revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of the arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is honored at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies. Ganesha is also invoked as the patron of letters and learning during writing sessions. Various texts narrate mythological anecdotes associated with his birth, his exploits and explain his different iconography. Ganesha emerged as a distinct deity in the 4th and 5th centuries AD, during the Gupta period, although he inherited traits from Vedic and pre-Vedic precursors. He was formally listed among the top five deities of Smartism (a Hindu denomination) in the 9th century. A sect of devotees called the Ganapatya arose, who identified Ganesha as the supreme deity. The main scriptures dedicated to Ganesha are the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana, and the Ganapati Atharvashirsa. The Brahma Purana and the Brahmanda Purana are two other texts in the encyclopedic genre that deal with Ganesha.
Iconography[]
Ganesha is a popular figure in Indian art.
Unlike other deities, representations of Ganesha show wide variation and distinctive patterns that change over time.
- Martin-Dubost, for an extensive critique of iconography abundantly illustrated with images.
- Chapter X, "Development of Gaņeśa Iconography", in: Krishan, 1999, pp. 87–100, for a study of iconography with an emphasis on developmental themes, well illustrated with plates.
- Pal, for a richly illustrated collection of studies on specific aspects of Ganesha, focusing on art and iconography.
- He may be depicted standing, dancing, acting heroically against demons, playing with his family as a child , sitting or in a booster seat, or participating in a wide range of contemporary situations.