Ganapathi Through The Rudraaksha Beads
Accodring to few Puraanaas like Shiva Puraana, Brahmavaivarta Puraana and the Upa-Puraanaas like Ganesha Puraana and Mudgala Puraana, Ganpathi originated in different ways in the different Kalpa (aion), each time for a different purpose.
Thus my first endeavour is to trace the period of the first Ganapathi without which a study on the all auspicious Lord will be incomplete. As far as I know, no literature is presently available, which throws light on the probable period of his origin. There are innumerable myths about his origin. His birth constellation, thithi and the month is available but not the year or period.
I have tried to find out the probable period of the origin of first Ganpathi after deep study of various literature available today.
The probable period of Ganpathi's origin is definitely before the creation of Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa, who were the first couple who created beings through sexual intercouse. Almost all the puraanaas and ancient literatures agree that Ganapathi was a mind born person, whether it be of Rudra (Ganapathi came out of the mouth of Rudra - Linga Puraanaa) or of Paarvathi.
We should not forget that Ganapathi was created with elephant face indicating that he belonged to the period of primary creations. Uniformity in the shape of male and female beings comparable to that of the present day human beings was brought in by the creator through the amalgamation of Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa. Therefore we can definitely come to a conclusion that Ganpathi belonged to the primary creations and not of recent creation.
The beings, whether it is the Supreme God of the primary creations were not having any uniformity in features. e.g. Lord Shiva in the form of (OM); Lord Brahmaa and Goddess Saraswati with five heads; Lord Vishnu with a thousand heads, a thousand eyes and a thousand feet; Lord Rudra with five heaads and four feet; Ravana, the kind of Lanka with ten heads.
God of Fire has reddish bright colour, golden hair, two heads, a big belly and six eyes, seven arms, seven tongues, four horns and three legs. Sometimes he is portrayed with three heads, seven arms and three legs.
The celestial wish yielding cow has the face, the front two legs and half the body resembling to a cow and the other half with the face, two hands and the two legs at the back side resembling to a human female form.
Garuda has the head, wings, talons and beak of an eagle and the body and limbs of a man. His face is white, his wings red and his body golden.
A mythical crocodile used God of Ocean as his vehicle, has the head and front legs of an antelope, the body and tail of a fish.
We worship the pictures of idols of Lord Ganapathi made by the human beings which might have some basis or it might be through the intuition or inference of the artist concerened or out of the description of Ganapathi given in various ancient books. The devotee can sometimes be in confusion as to the authenticity of forms of Ganapathi being worshipped. Whereas, the picutres of Lord Ganapathi shown in this book are the photos taken directly from the natural bead called "Rudraaksha Beads (Elaeocarpus Granitrus).
My endeavour is to establish the authenticity of our ancients, who through their inner visions and penance made the form of Ganapathi though several interpolations have been made by the later artists.
Photos of Ganapathi taken directly from the Rudraaksha Beads resembles very much with that of the forms of Ganapathi being worshipped today in the temples and households. It is for the readrs to see the truth.
Thus my first endeavour is to trace the period of the first Ganapathi without which a study on the all auspicious Lord will be incomplete. As far as I know, no literature is presently available, which throws light on the probable period of his origin. There are innumerable myths about his origin. His birth constellation, thithi and the month is available but not the year or period.
I have tried to find out the probable period of the origin of first Ganpathi after deep study of various literature available today.
The probable period of Ganpathi's origin is definitely before the creation of Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa, who were the first couple who created beings through sexual intercouse. Almost all the puraanaas and ancient literatures agree that Ganapathi was a mind born person, whether it be of Rudra (Ganapathi came out of the mouth of Rudra - Linga Puraanaa) or of Paarvathi.
We should not forget that Ganapathi was created with elephant face indicating that he belonged to the period of primary creations. Uniformity in the shape of male and female beings comparable to that of the present day human beings was brought in by the creator through the amalgamation of Svayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa. Therefore we can definitely come to a conclusion that Ganpathi belonged to the primary creations and not of recent creation.
The beings, whether it is the Supreme God of the primary creations were not having any uniformity in features. e.g. Lord Shiva in the form of (OM); Lord Brahmaa and Goddess Saraswati with five heads; Lord Vishnu with a thousand heads, a thousand eyes and a thousand feet; Lord Rudra with five heaads and four feet; Ravana, the kind of Lanka with ten heads.
God of Fire has reddish bright colour, golden hair, two heads, a big belly and six eyes, seven arms, seven tongues, four horns and three legs. Sometimes he is portrayed with three heads, seven arms and three legs.
The celestial wish yielding cow has the face, the front two legs and half the body resembling to a cow and the other half with the face, two hands and the two legs at the back side resembling to a human female form.
Garuda has the head, wings, talons and beak of an eagle and the body and limbs of a man. His face is white, his wings red and his body golden.
A mythical crocodile used God of Ocean as his vehicle, has the head and front legs of an antelope, the body and tail of a fish.
We worship the pictures of idols of Lord Ganapathi made by the human beings which might have some basis or it might be through the intuition or inference of the artist concerened or out of the description of Ganapathi given in various ancient books. The devotee can sometimes be in confusion as to the authenticity of forms of Ganapathi being worshipped. Whereas, the picutres of Lord Ganapathi shown in this book are the photos taken directly from the natural bead called "Rudraaksha Beads (Elaeocarpus Granitrus).
My endeavour is to establish the authenticity of our ancients, who through their inner visions and penance made the form of Ganapathi though several interpolations have been made by the later artists.
Photos of Ganapathi taken directly from the Rudraaksha Beads resembles very much with that of the forms of Ganapathi being worshipped today in the temples and households. It is for the readrs to see the truth.
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