Mahaganapati

2025-01-24T05:05:24Z

2600:4040:5357:B100:997C:D6DC:5887:13C5: Improved structure and clarity

{{short description|Aspect of the Hindu god Ganesha}}
[[File:Mahaganpati.jpg|thumb|Mahaganapati, folio from the ''[[Sritattvanidhi]]'' (19th century). Here he is depicted with ten arms and accompanied by a goddess.]]

'''Mahaganapati''' ({{langx|sa|महागणपति}}, {{IAST|mahā-gaṇapati}}), literally "Ganesha, the Great"<ref name="Subramuniyaswami71"/>), also spelled as '''Maha Ganapati''', and frequently called '''Mahaganadhipati''', is an aspect of the Hindu god [[Ganesha]]. He is the representation of Ganesha as the Supreme Being [[Paramatman]] and is the most important deity of the Ganesha-centric [[Ganapatya]] sect. He is one of the most popular of the [[thirty-two forms of Ganesha]], worshipped as a representation of the ultimate truth [[Para brahman]].

Mahaganapati is depicted as elephant-headed with ten arms carrying various objects and is accompanied by a goddess.

==Iconography==
Like all aspects of Ganesha, Mahaganapati has an elephant head. [[Sindoor]], is generally used for his red colour, in depictions.<ref name="Rao1989"/> His colour is a reference to the dawn.<ref name="Subramuniyaswami71"/> He is often depicted with a [[third eye]] on his forehead, a crescent moon over his head,<ref name="Subramuniyaswami71"/> ten arms which hold; a [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]], a [[pomegranate]] fruit, a [[gada (weapon)|gada]] (mace), a [[Sudarshana chakra|chakra]] (discus), his own broken tusk, a [[Pasha (Hinduism)|pasha]] (noose), a jewelled water vessel or a pot of jewels, a [[Nymphaea nouchali|blue lotus]], a rice sprig and a sugarcane bow.<ref name="Subramuniyaswami71">Subramuniyaswami p. 71</ref><ref name="Rao">Rao p. 55</ref>

An alternate depiction replaces the pomegranate with a mango and the gada with a ''[[shankha]]'' (conch) and elaborates that the jewelled pot contains ''[[amrita]]'' (ambrosia).<ref name="T.K.Jagannathan2009"/> Yet another description suggests that the objects in his ten hands are gifts from other deities and symbolize his powers to perform the tasks of all deities and his supremacy over the pantheon.<ref name="Grewal120"/> He sometimes holds a [[citron]] fruit with numerous seeds, a symbol of the power of creation and a representation the god [[Shiva]]. The sugarcane bow is associated with [[Kamadeva]], the god of love; while the rice paddy functions as an arrow bestowed by the Earth goddess [[Prithvi]]; both symbols of fertility. The chakra is a common weapon of [[Vishnu]], while the gada represents his boar [[avatar]], [[Varaha]]. The jewelled pot&nbsp;– which may be depicted in his trunk&nbsp;– denotes [[Kubera]], the god of wealth. It also represents the fortune and blessings bestowed by Mahaganapati on his devotees.<ref name="Grewal120"/>

Rao classifies Mahaganapati as one of the five Shakti-Ganesha icons, where Ganesha is depicted with either Riddhi/Siddhi that is, a female consort.<ref>Rao p. 53</ref> A white-complexioned Siddha Lakshmi sits on his left lap as his shakti. She holds a lotus (a symbol of purity) in her left hand and hugs the god with her other hand.<ref name="Rao"/><ref name="Grewal120"/> A text also calls her Pushti ("nourishment").<ref name="Rao1989">{{cite book|author=Saligrama Krishna Ramachandra Rao |title=Gaṇapati: 32 Drawings from a 19th Cent. Scroll |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SkwgAAAAIAAJ |year=1989 |publisher=Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath |page=18}}</ref> The left hand of the god holds a blue lotus and embraces the goddess.<ref name="T.K.Jagannathan2009">{{cite book |last=Jagannathan |first=T. K. |title=Sri Ganesha |year=2009 |publisher=Pustak Mahal |isbn=978-81-223-1054-2|page=106}}</ref>

Various deities and [[asura|demons]] surround the god.<ref name="Grewal120"/>

==Worship==
Mahaganapati represents Ganesha as the [[King of the gods|Supreme Being]]<ref name="Grewal120"/> and thus the most important deity of the [[Ganapatya]] sect, which accords the status of the Supreme God to Ganesha. He is a widely worshipped and widely depicted form of Ganesha.<ref name="Grewal120">Grewal pp. 120–1</ref> The icon symbolizes happiness, wealth and magnificence of Ganesha.<ref name="T.K.Jagannathan2009"/>

Mahaganapati is the patron of the Maha-ganapatya sect, one of the six chief schools of the Ganapatyas. They regard Mahaganapati as the great Creator. Mahaganapati is believed to have existed before the creation of the universe and will exist after its dissolution ([[pralaya]]). He creates the god [[Brahma]], who aids in creation of the universe and all other beings. One who meditates on this form of Ganesha is said to obtain Supreme Bliss.<ref>Bhandarkar p. 213</ref>

In a [[Tantra|Tantric]] context, Mahaganapati is associated with six rituals of abhichara (uses of spells for malevolent purposes) by which the adept can cause the target to suffer delusions, be overcome with irresistible attraction or envy, or to be enslaved, paralysed or killed.<ref>Grewal pp. 122–3</ref>

Mahaganapati is enshrined in the [[Ranjangaon Ganpati]] temple, one of the eight [[Ashtavinayak]] temples. According to local legend, Mahaganapati had aided his father Shiva to fight the demon [[Tripurasura]]. Shiva had forgotten to pay his respects to Mahaganapati before starting the battle against the demon. An enraged Mahaganapati caused Shiva's chariot to fail. Shiva realized his mistake and paid his respects to his son and then was successful in defeating the demon.<ref>Grewal pp. 133–4</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=Bhandarkar |first=Ramkrishna Gopal |title=Vaisnavism, Saivism and Minor Religious Systems |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0122-2}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Brown |editor-first=Robert |year=1991 |title=Ganesh: Studies of an Asian God |publisher=State University of New York |isbn=0-7914-0657-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Rao |first=T. A. Gopinatha |title=Elements of Hindu iconography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MJD-KresBwIC&pg=PA58-IA69 |year=1993 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publisher |isbn=978-81-208-0878-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Grewal |first=Royina |title=Book of Ganesha |year=2009 |publisher=Penguin Books |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0xzlP9CXUQsC |isbn=978-93-5118-091-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Subramuniyaswami |first=Satguru Sivaya |title=Loving Ganesha |publisher=Himalayan Academy Publications |isbn=978-1-934145-17-3}}

{{Ganesha}}

[[Category:Forms of Ganesha]]

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Mahaganapati