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Ganapati Agama – Sacred Texts on Worship Of Ganesha

Ganapati Agama is the combined name given to the sacred texts dedicated to the worship of Ganesha. Ganesha Purana, Mudgala Purana (also known as Antya Purana) and Ganesha Gita form Ganapati Agama.

Ganesha Purana and Mudgala Purana contain various tantric puja elements. Chapters 138 to 148 of the second part of Ganesha Purana, called Krida Khanda (Uttara Khanda), form Ganesha Gita.

This text, in eleven chapters comprising 414 verses, is in the form of a dialogue between Ganesha and his favorite devotee, king Varenya.

Chapter four contains yogic exercises and chapter seven contains Ganapati worship in the manner of Tantric Yoga.

Ganesha Gita states that one who worships without devotion is equal to an outcaste; if a person worships with piety and devotion he will become even superior Brahman (Ganesha Gita 9.8).

Different manifestations of Ganesha namely Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Mahodara, Gajanana, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnaraja, Dhumravarna and Yoga are discussed in Mudgala Purana which also known as Antya Purana.

Ganesha is identical with Brahma and his two mayas are Buddhi and Siddhi.

In Ganesha Gita (1.13 and 17), special stress is laid on compassion on the part of Ganesha and also on the part of those who have realized the truth on earth.

Some Other Texts Referred As Ganapati Agama

Ganesha Mahimna Stotram though attributed to Pushpadana, seems to be a later addition.
A definite hymn addressed to Vighnesh comprises almost the whole stanzas of two and four words each, every word beginning with ‘vi’ (Ganesha Stotra 8, p.13).

Ganapati Tattwa, a Shaivite work from Indonesia, seems to have some connection with Malini Vijaya Uttaratantra.