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Ganesha Religious Texts |
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Ganesha is one of the prominent Hindu Gods. He is well worshiped. Ganesha is variously known as Vinayaka, Vighnaraja, Ganadhipa, Dvaimatura, Ekadanta, Lambodara, Heramba and Gajanana. One of the popular features of Ganesha is his elephant head. He is considered as the Remover of Obstacles. He is also associated with intelligence. Ganesha emerged during the 4th and 5th Centuries i.e during the Gupta Age. The devotees of Ganesha are known as Ganapatya. The lord emerged as the supreme deity of that period. Some prominent Ganesha Religious Texts are Ganesha Purana, Mudgala Purana and Ganapati Atharvashirsa.
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These three are the principle religious texts which is dedicated to Lord Ganesha.Mudgala Purana is one of the famous Ganesha Religious Texts. The text contains many stories of the diety. It also contains ritualistic elements which are related to Ganesha. It is one of the core texts for those who are devotees of Ganesha. No particular date can be fixed about the scripture. According to Phyllis Granoof, a famous historian, Mudgala Purana is the last religious text on Ganesha. However, R.C. Hazra feels that was written before Ganesha Purana and dates it between 1100 and 1400. Phyllis Granoof's do not conform to the views of R.C. Hazra. He mentions that in Mudgala Purana one finds the reference of Ganesha Purana. The text mentions about eight incarnations or avatars of Ganesha. Phyllis Granoof gives phylosophical meaning of each incarnation. The incarnations of Ganesha included in the book are Vakratunda, Mahodara, Ekadanta,Lambodara, Gajavaktra,Vighnaraja, Vikata and Dhumravarna.
Ganapati Atharvashirsa is one of the important Ganesha Religious Texts. It considers Ganesha as an embodiment of Brahman or priest. It is also variously referred as Sri Ganapati Atharva Sirsha, the Ganapati Atharvasirsa, the Ganapati Upanishad or the Ganapati Atharvashirsha. The whole text is written over the entrance of the astavinayaka Ganesha shrine at Ranjangaon. This text also has dispute regarding its exact date. Some variations of the text are available. It is a very common feature of all religious texts. Various versions of Ganapati Atharvashirsa is available. The versions display differences in content. So it is always necessary to review various editions.
Ganesha Purana is another religious text on Lord Ganesha. Like Mudgala Purana, it also contains many stories and ritualistic elements related to Ganesha. There is a debate regarding the date of composition of the religious text. According to Thapan, it was written between 12th and 13 th Century. Like all Puranas, this book also developed over a period of time. The Ganesha Purana is divided into two sections - The Upasanakhanda or "section on devotion" and The Kridakhanda or "section on the divine play of Ganesha". The Upasanakhanda has 92 chapters and The Kridakhanda has 155 chapters. The 46th Chapter of Upasanakhanda contains a hymn which is recited in many temples which are dedicated to Ganesha. The Kridakhanda section of this religious text narrates about the four incarnation of Ganesha. These four incarnations are different from the eight incarnations or avatars mentioned in the Mudgala Purana. The four incarnations include Mayuresvara, Mahotkata Vinayaka, Dhumraketu and Gajanana.
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