GANAPATHI
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Lord of all Beginnings and God of Cosmic Intelligence
गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहेकविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् ।
ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणां ब्रह्मणस्पतआ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिः सीद सादनम् ॥
gaṇānāṃ tvā gaṇapatiṃ havāmahe
kaviṃ kavīnāmupamaśravastamam |
jyeṣṭharājaṃ brahmaṇāṃ brahmaṇaspata
ā naḥ śṛṇvannūtibhiḥ sīda sādanam ||
ॐ हंसहंसाय विद्महे परमहंसाय धीमहि ।
तन्नो हंसः प्रचोदयात् ।।
oṃ haṁsa-haṁsāya vidmahe
paramahaṁsāya dhīmahi
tan no haṁsaḥ pracodayāt
Ganapathi is the supreme expression of the Super Conscious state. Ganapathi appeared on the space on the day of Vinayaka Chavithi, otherwise called Ganapati Chaturthi. He is the Lord of all Beginnings and God of Cosmic Intelligence. Many things can be said about Ganapathi.
His very form, how he is visualized, on which form people meditate, to which form they offer all poojas and prayers, that form itself is very powerful. If you understand the form you can know the Truths presented through the form. That helps you to realize and imbibe several life essential qualities and it is the meaning and purpose of worshipping Ganapathi.
Ganapathi’s form is the most worshiped form in the Vedic tradition. If you take a survey of the most worshiped form of a God or number of murthy's (statues) made, it is the form of Ganapathi. We don't know how many Ganapathi Moorthys will be made during Ganapathi Chaturthi in India and other parts of the world.
Apart from making murthies during the festival, Ganapathi statues are more in number compared to any other moorthy. There is no street in India which does not have a temple of Ganapathi. You don't find a house without a picture of Ganapathi or His statue. It is a truth that Ganapathi’s form is the most loved, respected and worshiped form.
Vinayaka, worshiped by the six major traditions
There are six major traditions of worship in Vedic culture. They are also called Parampars. They are: Shaiva, Saka, Kumara, Ganapathya, Vaishnava and Sowra traditions. Each tradition or Parampara worships one, one type of Moorthy, One, one God. These traditions worship Shiva, Devi, Subhramanya, Ganapathi, Vishnu and Sun God respectively. The beauty is that all these six traditions worship Ganapathi. You can find Ganaphti murthy in all these temples along with the Primary idol of the temple.
You do not find any temple without Ganapathi. Even in Vaishnava temples Ganapathi deity will be installed. In Tamil they call it Ubik Alvar. This Ganapathi will have Udhrapundra, the Vishnu mark on the forehead. Thus Ganapathi is such a popular God who receives first pooja(worship) in all the temples. He is everywhere, in every sacred place as everyone's God.