Shuklaambara Dharam Ganesham
     Shashi Varnam Chatur Bhujam
     Prasanna Vadanam Dhyaayet
     Sarva Vighna Upashaanthaye !

All spiritual worship in the Hindu religion begins with the invocation of Ganapati, the elephant headed god. Ganesha is a Sanskrit compound word joined with gana – meaning the group, multitude or categorical system and isha – meaning the lord, master or nurturer.

Ganapati is synonym for Ganesha, it is a compound word meaning ‘group’ and ‘pati’ means the ruler, lord or nurturer. The word Gana when associated with with Ganesha is often taken to refer to the ‘ganas’, a troop of semi devine beings that form part of the retinue of Shiva. Gana generally means a category, class, community, association or corporation.

Gana is also a group of eight vasus. Vasus means directions or guardian deity of directions (dikpal) Ganapati is the maste of directions. Ganapati also commands the upwards and downwards directions. This constitutes Ten directions.Other deities cannot reach the site of ritualistic worship from any direction without the permission of Ganapati. Hence, any auspicious task or ritualistic worship of any deity is commenced with the worship of Ganapati. Once Ganapati clears the directions, the deity one is worshipping can manifest itself there.

Description of Ganapati

Ganapati rides a rat that represents the subjugated demon of vanity and impertinence. Rat symbolizes the rajas (adulterated) component, within the control of Ganapati.
The conch represents the sound that creates Akash.
The Modak ( or laddu, a sweet delicacy), ‘moda’ means Bliss(anand) and ‘ka’ means small part. So madak is a small part of bliss. A modak is shaped like a coconut, i.e; like a cavity, ‘kha’ in the Brahmarandhara. When the kundalini (spiritual energy) reaches the ‘kha’ cavity, the spiritual experience of bliss is obtained. The modak (laddu) held in hand signifies Bliss endowing energy. It also symbolizes spiritual knowledge.
                    
Goad (ankush) – Goad held by Sri Ganapati says, that he is destroyer of the energies which are harmful to the mission of acquisition of spiritual knowledge and bliss.
Noose (paash) – The noose wielded by Sri Ganapati signifies that he will tie the noose around the the negative entities, bondages and take them away.
Serpent around the waist shows that Sri Ganapati is Universal kundalini (spiritual energy). Hood of the serpent shows activated (jagrut) spiritual energy.

                                 Other popular names of Ganapati

Vighnaharta – Vighnaharta is another name of Ganapati. It means vanquisher of obstacles. Since Ganapati get rid of all obstacles, he is worshipped before performing any auspicious religious ceremony. So, is known as vighnaharta.
Vakratunda  is also another sweet name of Ganapati. Generally it is considered that vakra means crooked mouth or trunk. But this notion is incorrect. It implies that Vakratunda is the one who punishes those who follow the wrong (unrighteous) path and lead them onto righteous path. Vakratunda is one who clears the bad frequencies and make them sattvik.
Vidyapati means the presiding deity of knowledge. There is an ancient custom of writing 'sri ganeshay namah' this is obeisance to Sri Ganapati. When Maharshi Vyas wanted an intelligent writer to write Mahabharat, he chose Ganapati. Such was the patience of Ganapati, that he did not utter a single word while writing the great epic. He was so calm and steady in writing that Vyas was not at all disturbed in his narration. Ganapati is bestower of intellect, he is Vidyapati. Ganapati wrote Mahabharata with his broken tusk.      

Vakratunda is generaly considered that the one with crooked mouth or trunk. But this notion is incorrect. It implies that Vakratunda is the one who punishes those who follow the unrighteous path and lead them onto the righteous path. Vakratunda is the one who clears bad frequencies and make them pure.

Varadvinayaka means the bestower of  success. Ganapati is worshipped before  doing any ritual, to ascertain success in the endeveour.


Vishwamukha is also an popular name for Sri Ganapati. Since Ganapati is the master of the Universe, he is known as Vishwamukha, every thing in this Universe flow from SriGanapati.