Gaanapatyam – Ganesha
Lord Ganapathi is the primordial deity for Gaanapatyam. He is worshipped throughout India and by Jains & Buddhists too. He is present in all the temples and there are innumerable temples for worship of Ganapathi. He is the first to be worshipped before we do any puja. We even invoke Ganapathi in turmeric or even cow dung or clay idols on Vinayaka Chaturthi and worship him with Arugampil (Dhruva). Bhakti is more in Bhavana than in form.
His ears, head and trunk are in the form of “Om” kara with the chandrabindu on his forehead. His body represents the entire creation, which is manifestation of togetherness of Shiva & Shakti. The snake worn as a belt by Him, represents the Shakti, the power to hold the universe in an orderly manner. In his upper hands, he holds Angusam & Pasam, the former being a stick used to guide the elephant and the latter a rope used to tie it up. This is to mean that he shall guide the willing devotees and holds the ill-willed in troubles.
In the other hands, he holds a broken tusk used as his pen and a japamala, to indicate that it is most important to improve thinking power and writing skills. Lord Ganesha did the greatest good to mankind by penning down the Mahabharata, what would have otherwise be only in sound form. His trunk, serving as his fifth hand, holds the modak, food for the gross body. His huge elephant ears are meant to listen more and He talks less giving as a lesson that those who want to learn more should follow this. His vahanam is a rat, which explains that we may be limited from the point of view of our body, but not Atma.
His form with the trunk is also to remind us of the Kundalini, the potent power that serves as a means to liberation. He is one who destroys the enemies within us and outside us.
Topukarnam is popularized and patented as “SuperPower Yoga” abroad as it is scientifically proven to increase brain’s ability. Naivedyam Modak (Kozhakattai) appears to say “ You are the sweet poornam inside, though you have annamaya kosham outside”.
Of the five sheaths, Vishnu takes care of the gross body, Siva the five physiological functions (respiration, excretion, circulatory, digestive, reverse process or upward moving air), Shakti the five senses along with the mind, Surya the intellect and GANESHA, our pleasure.
We urge devotees to seek blessings of RAJA DWARA GANAPATHI at the entrance and VARASIDDHI VINAYAKAR in the temple premises, for there are many who have experienced fulfilment of their prarthanas