There's an interesting theory that Ganesha, the beloved
elephant-headed Hindu deity, might have earlier been worshipped as a Yaksha.
Yakshas, pre-dating even the Vedic age, are supernatural beings in Hinduism,
sometimes benevolent guardians, sometimes mischievous tricksters. Intriguingly,
some ancient manuscripts use the term "Vatajakkho" instead of
"Ganapati" when referring to Ganesha. "Vatajakkho"
translates to "Yaksha residing in the Vata," the banyan tree, which
is often associated with Ganesha.
This theory gains traction when we consider the presence of
elephant-headed Yakshas in old scriptures. Furthermore, archaeological
discoveries like Yaksha statues with elephant heads from the Sunga-Kushana
period (roughly 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE) have been unearthed in
Mathura and Amaravati, South India. These finds suggest a possible earlier
tradition of elephant-headed deities.
Another piece of evidence is the renowned giant statue of
Yaksha-Vinayaka in Kashi (Varanasi). The name itself combines
"Yaksha" with "Vinayaka," another name for Ganesha.
Additionally, scholar Ananda Coomaraswamy argues that the characteristic
pot-bellied form often seen in Ganesha iconography might be inspired by similar
depictions of Yakshas.
By piecing together these clues - textual references,
archaeological finds, and artistic influences - a strong case can be made that
Ganesha's origins might lie in the Yaksha tradition. This theory doesn't
diminish Ganesha's importance in Hinduism; rather, it sheds light on the
evolution of deities and how they may have absorbed aspects of older beliefs.