Who is Ganapti?

 OM||  atO dEvA avantu nO yatO viShNurvicakramE

           pRuthivyAH saptadhAmaBiH ||

           . . .       . . .

           tadviShNO paramam padam sadA pshyanti sUrayaH | divIva cakShrAtatam ||

                      

        gaNAnAm tvA gaNapatim havAmahE

        kavim kavInAm upama shravastamam |

        jyEShTrAjam brahmaNAm brahmaNaspata

        a naH UtiBiH sIda sAdanam || (RV 2. 23. 1)

     Shree Krishna Dvaipayana, the Omniscient Shree Hari Narayana or Achyuta Badarayana, later came to be known as ‘Veda Vyasa’ for classifying the Atharva veda revealed By Brahma to his first brain-child Atharvana (Mandukya Upa. 1.1) into four divisions for different purposes; it is Shree Hari who sits in the cavity of the heart of all the jivas as antaryamin who is seen here with the Lord of the Universe Gana adhipati who dwells in Muladhara chakra, Basal plexus of Consciousness. The Rk Veda Samhita is actually a soliloquy. It is, as if, a dialogue between pure Consciousness Shree Krishna (Shree Hari) and the vibrating Mind and moods (elephantal or elemental jiva).

   May be, Ganapati* as an Elemental (Gana) God (Deity representing Earth), is a myth indicating the transient nature of existence, prakruti. That way, the Revered Omniscient Sage Veda Vyasa**, renowned author of the Brahmasutras, all the 18 Puranas, and the scriptures- shruti and smruti, is none other than the Para Brahma Svarupini Devi Raja Shyamala or the Vedamata Devi Sarasvati as eulogized in the Rk Veda sukta, from whom Jnyan-chit- and kriya shakti flow out. The Lord Ganapati as Chit jnyan and kriyashakti (shuddha vidya or pure Consciousness) radiates as an eternal flow of sat-cit-anand. Sarvam khalvidam Brahma |

   The Rk Veda Samhita locates Ganapatim at the Muladhara Plexus of Consciousness and it is He who writes the Rks with his tooth (danta) in our heart. He is the Deity of our Basal Plexus (muladhara prajnya) and it is He who wards off all evil and keeps us in our senses. gaNAnAm tvA gaNapatim havAmahE…|

In archavatara, Ganapti comes to us as vidhyadhipati and we make a clay doll of Ganapati and install with prana pratishthapana on the Vinayaka Chaturthi and later on send Him back to the tank where we brough the clay for the idol. We invite with all vedic mantra and install and worship (archana) and invoke His blessings. As Vancha kalpalata Srividya Ganapti She is our Mother who protect us from all evil forces. The broad forehead for luck, and wide ears to hear the unheard, sharp keen eyes to see the unseen, and the huge body for gravity, not to lose balance, etc are the attributes of the Deity. The rat as his vehicle is for agility of the intellect. It  is important to note here that all plants, animals, birds or even the insects are endowed with chaitanya and special qualities in which they shine. This is the mysterty of creation. Only the humans are unaware of the potential vested in them and waste their life in sensual pursuits, in outward life, without bothering to turn inward!

[* believed to be called Veda Vyasa after classifying the Veda.

 ** Elemental God made of clay, symbolic of transient nature, keen eyes and sharp ears, complete awareness, pure Consciousness according to Puranas].

“The human mind in its progress marches from knowledge to knowledge, or it reviews, renews, and enlarges previous Knowledge that has been obscured and overlaid, or it seizes on old imperfect clues and is led by them to new discoveries.” Sri Aurobindo.