Ganesa (Ganesha) Unraveling an Enigma

Ganesa commands universal respect among the indigenous religious schools and sets of the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. He is a god who is unique in many ways- his peculiar physiognomy an elephant's head on a human trunk, his double character, as a vighnakarta (creator of obstacles) and as a vighnaharta (remover of obstacles). He is worshipped first to ensure success of all religious and secular functions and enterprises. Ganesa is also the god of dance and music. The cult of Ganesa spread to various countries of Asia.

The rise of Ganesa to pre-eminence in the orthodox Hindu pantheon, as one of the panca devatas (five principal pauranika gods), is truly remarkable. It is an ancient version of mundane legend: from Log Cabin to Whit House.

There have been many studies of this god in recent years; this one is the most comprehensive, fully documented in original sources, textual and artistic, and profusely illustrated. It traces the origin and development of pauranika Ganesa, from pre-pauranika Ganesa, a vighnakarta, into pauranike Ganesa, a vighnaharta analyses his distinctive features and studies his representation in art both in India and in the other countries f Asia. It seeks to unravel the enigma of a non-Vedic, non-epic and a non-Aryan god coming to occupy a place of honour in Hindu pantheon. The techniques adopted by the followers of Ganesa to promote his cult and status and the enduring results achieving make a fascinating study in 'PR' work.

About the Author:

Y. Krishnan (born 1922) M.A., LL.B is a scholar in Indology- Indian History, Religion, Philosophy and Art. He has published over 150 research papers on these topics in Journals of standing in India and abroad. These also cover the partition of India.

He had a long and distinguished record of service under the Government of India-in the Railways, Indian Administrative Service and the Audit & Accounts Departments from where he retired as Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General of India in 1980. He was a member of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission from December 1988 to January 1995.

He has also published three books: Audit in India's Democracy; The Buddha Image: Its Origin and Development; The Doctrine of Karma: Its Origin and Development in Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jaina Traditions. At Present he is doing a book on India's partition.

    I. The Place of Ganesa in India's Life
   II. Names of Ganesa and Their Meanings
  III. Is Ganesa a Vedic Gof?
   IV. The Family of Siva and Evolution of Siva and His Hosts
    V. Vinayaka as Vighnakarta (Causer of Obstacles) in the Manavagrahyasutra 
       (Mgs.) and Yajnavalkyasmrti (Yaj.): A Comparative Study
   VI. Vinayaka and Ganesa in the Mahabharata
  VII. Pauranic Ganesa:

  Ganas and Ganesa
  The Functional Role of Ganesa
  The Birth of Ganesa: His Parentage
  How Ganesa came to acquire an elephant's head?
  Ganesa as ekadanta (one-tusked)
  The Vahana (vehicle or mount) of Ganesa
  Sarpa or Naga (serpent) as ornament of Ganesa
  Ganesa and Skanda
  Is Ganesa a brahmacari (bachelor) or a grhastha   (householder)?
VIII. The Ganapatyas
  IX. Promotion of the Cult of Ganesa
   X. Development of the Iconography of Ganesa
  XI. Chronology of Ganesa as Reflected in Literary, 
      Numismatical, Epigraphical and Sculptural Sources
 XII. Ganesa in Buddhism
XIII. An Explanation of the Sadhanas and 
      Sculptures of Buddhist Deities Trampling upon Ganesa
 XIV. Ganesa in Jainism
  XV. Evolution of Ganesa Cult
 XVI. Ganesa Beyond India's Frontiers:

 Ganesa in Nepal
 Ganesa in Sri Lanka
 Ganesa in Myanmar
 Ganesa in Indonesia: Java and Bali
 Ganesa in Indo-China: Cambodia and Champa
 Ganesa in Thailand
 Ganesa in Tibet
 Ganesa in Central and Northern Asia
 Ganesa in China
 Ganesa in Japan

Binayaka, Shoten and Kangiten
Soshin Kangiten or Dual-boiled God of Bliss
 XVII. Ganesa: A Biographical Sketch
XVIII. Epilogue

Appendix I

A New Interpretation of Panca-Ganesa Sculptures
Appendix II

Is the Fight Between Siva and Ganesa an Episode of Oedipal Conflict?
Appendix III

Is Ganesa of Indo-Greek Origin?
Select Bibliography
Author and Title Index
Subject Index