Ganesa Worship Part 3

Ganesa's mantra which starts as "Ganaanaamthvaa Ganapathim" is found in the Vedas. Ganesa worship has been practiced for a long time in TamilNadu by the class of merchants, known as the "Nagaraththaar". The famous illaiyaarpatti Temple in the Ramanathapuram District of TamilNadu was founded by them. It is a temple where a giant figure of Ganesa has been carved out of an rtificial cave, which was cut out on the side of a hill of granite stone. These types of temples are known as "rock-cut temples". This temple is at least 1600 years old.

There is a famous Ganapathi in Kasi, known as Dundi Ganapathi. Then we have the Vatapi Ganapathi of Thiruvaarur and Thiru henggaattangudi.

All performances of Karnatic music always start with a kirthanai dedicated to Ganesa. The most famous and commonest sung kirthanai, is the "Vaathaapi Ganapathim bajeeham", which was composed by Muthuswamy Dhikshithar.

There are many hymns dedicated to Ganesa in Tamil. In fact, any literary work or works on other types of sastras, have always a hymn of protection, called "Kaappu Cheyyul". This is usually addressed to Ganesa to remove obstacles and to give victory in the enterprise.  Thus we may have almost a hundred thousand hymns dedicated to Ganesa over all these centuries.  But there are many hymns and works dedicated specifically to Ganesa. We have the Vinaayagar Agaval, Vinaayagar Kavacam, Kaariya Siddhi Maalai, Ganesa Thoththiram, Mooththa Pillaiyaar Thiru Irattai Mani Maalai by Nambi Aandaar Nambi, Mooththa Pillaiyaar Thiru Mummanik Kovai by Adhiraavadigal, and Mooththa Naayanaar Thiru Irattai Mani Maalai by Kapila Deva Naayanaar. Adhi Sankara has composed a hymn to Ganesa called "Ganesa Pancha Ratnam". This was dedicated to the Ganesa in Madurai Meenakshi Temple. Ganesa is said to have danced to the rhythm of the hymn. He has also composed another sthuthi called "Ganesa Bhujangam". Naaradhar has composed the "Sankashta Naasana Ganapathi Sthothram".

Among the Mantras, we have the names of Sankashta Naasana Ganapathi which are twelve in number. They are called the Dvaadasa Naama. The sixteen mantra names are called Shodasa Naama; twenty-one mantras are known as Eka Vimsathi Naamaavali; one hundred and one names are known as the Ashttoththara Satha Naamaavali; thousand mantra names go by the name of Sahasra Naamaavali". The great Tantrik sage, Baskara Raya, has given a full explanation for all the thousand mantras.

Apart from these, there are the Beeja Mantras, the Moola Mantras, and the Devata Gayathri Mantras. There are many Mantrik Dhyana Slokas for Ganesa.

There is a main purana dedicated to Ganesa, called Vinayaka Purana. This has been translated into Tamil by Kachchiyappa Munivar. Ganesa occupies a very important position in Kandha Purana. He helped Muruga marry Valli after many difficulties.