Ganapatya

Some Hindus follow a way called Ganapatya.

They believe Ganesha is the most important being. Many people pray to him to start new things. This is because he is the god of beginnings.

Some followers mark their skin with a red circle. Others use marks that look like an elephant. They may also take a special journey to holy places. These followers often live in a place called Maharashtra. It is a special way to show love for Ganesha.

Some Hindus follow a way called Ganapatya.

This group focuses on Ganesha. Many Hindus pray to him to start new things. He is the god of beginnings. But Ganapatyas believe he is the supreme being. This means he is the most important god.

This group is one of six main Hindu sects. Other groups focus on gods like Shiva or Vishnu. The Ganapatya way was very strong around the tenth century. They built many temples for Ganesha. One big temple is in Tamil Nadu.

Later, a man named Morya Gosavi helped the group grow. He is linked to places like Morgaon and Chinchwad. Many followers take a special journey between these two places. Some followers mark their skin with a red circle. Others use marks that look like an elephant.

Followers use holy books to learn. These include the Ganesha Purana and the Mudgala Purana. They also use the Ganesha Sahasranama. This is a list of one thousand names for Ganesha. Each name shows a different part of who he is.

Ganapatya is a special group within Hinduism. This group focuses on the god Ganesha. Many Hindus call him Ganapati. Most Hindus pray to Ganesha to start new things. They ask him to help with new beginnings. But the Ganapatya group believes something more. They believe Ganesha is the supreme being. This means he is the most important.

He is often called Parameshwara. This name means Supreme God. Usually, people use this name for Shiva. But in this group, it belongs to Ganesha.

There are six main Hindu groups. Each one focuses on a different god. One group follows Shiva. Another follows Vishnu. Some follow Shakti or Indra. Others follow Surya. Ganapatya is one of these six groups. It is not the largest group. However, it has been very influential. Some people follow a system called Smartism. They worship five forms. These forms are Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, and Surya. They see these five as equal.

History shows how this group grew. Ganesha has been worshipped since at least the fifth century. The specific Ganapatya sect appeared later. It likely started between the sixth and ninth centuries. The group was very strong around the tenth century. They built many beautiful temples. One large temple is in Tamil Nadu. It is called Ucchi Pillayar Koil. This temple is on the Rock Fort of Tiruchirappalli.

Later, a man named Morya Gosavi helped the group. He is a very important figure.

Morya Gosavi is linked to many stories. One story says he found a special idol. This idol was not made by human hands. He built the Moragao temple near Pune in the 14th century. Another story says he had visions. He was part of the group in Maharashtra. This area is in southwest India. The group was very prominent from the 17th to the 19th century. Followers often make a special journey. They travel between Chinchwad and Moragao.

Some followers wear a red circle on their forehead. Others wear marks of an elephant face.

Followers use holy books to learn. These books are called scriptures. The Ganesha Purana and the Mudgala Purana are very important. Scholars study these books a lot. They debate when they were first written. Some think the core parts appeared in the 12th or 13th century. Another text is the Ganapati Atharvashirsa. It was likely written in the 16th or 17th century. There is also the Ganesha Sahasranama. This is a list of one thousand names. Each name shows a different part of Ganesha.

Ganapatya is a specific denomination within Hinduism. This tradition centers its worship on the deity Ganesha, who is also known as Ganapati. While most Hindu sects revere Ganesha, they often view him as a deity of beginnings. Many Hindus invoke him at the start of important undertakings or ceremonies. However, the Ganapatya sect holds a unique theological position. They declare Ganesha to be the Parabrahman, or the supreme being. In this context, he is also known as Saguna Brahman.

Within the broader structure of Hinduism, Ganapatya is one of the six principal sects. These sects are defined by their focus on a specific primary deity. The other five groups include Shaivism, which focuses on Shiva, and Vaishnavism, which focuses on Vishnu. Other major sects are Shaktism, centered on Shakti, and Saura, which focuses on Surya. There is also Indraism, which focuses on Indra. While Ganapatya is not as large as these other five sects, it has remained highly influential. Some followers also practice Smartism. This system uses a "worship of the five forms" approach. In Smartism, Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, and Surya are seen as equal forms of one Nirguna Brahman.

The history of Ganesha worship is quite ancient. He has been worshipped as part of Shaivism since at least the fifth century. The specific Ganapatya sect likely emerged between the sixth and ninth centuries. This period of development is noted in the Sankara digvijaya by Anandigiri, which mentions six sects. The denomination reached a significant high point around the tenth century. During this time, followers built many dedicated temples. One of the largest is the Ucchi Pillayar Koil. This temple is located on the Rock Fort of Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu. In this sect, Ganesha is called Parameshwara, a title meaning Supreme God. This epithet is usually reserved for the god Shiva.

Later history shows the influence of a figure named Morya Gosavi. He helped popularize the Ganapatya sect. Different sources offer different accounts of his life and impact. One account claims he discovered a Ganapati idol not made by human hands. He used this to build the Moragao temple near Pune in the 14th century. Another source says he experienced visions of Ganapati at the Morgaon shrine. This source also states he was entombed alive, a practice called Sanjeevan samadhi, in 1651. This occurred in a Ganesha temple at his birthplace in Chinchwad. Following his influence, the sect became prominent in Maharashtra between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries.

The Ganapatya tradition remains deeply rooted in southwestern India. Its primary center is among the Marathi-speaking people of Maharashtra. However, it also holds importance throughout the rest of South India. Devotees often participate in an annual pilgrimage. This journey takes place between the locations of Chinchwad and Moragao. Followers also use specific physical marks to identify their devotion. Some wear a red circle on their forehead. Others bear the marks of an elephant face and a tusk on their shoulders. These practices help maintain the distinct identity of the sect.

Scriptures provide the foundational teachings for the Ganapatya tradition. The Ganesha Purana and the Mudgala Purana are the two most important texts. These books describe Ganesha as one of five principle deities. Scholars frequently debate the exact dates when these texts were composed. They contain age-layered strata, meaning parts were added over long periods. Anita Thapan suggests the core of the Ganesha Purana appeared around the twelfth or thirteenth centuries. Lawrence W. Preston dates the Ganesha Purana between 1100 and 1400. This timeline matches the age of sacred sites mentioned in the text. R.C. Hazra suggests the Mudgala Purana might be older than the Ganesha Purana.

Other scholars offer different views on these holy writings. Phyllis Granoff argues that the Mudgala Purana was actually the last philosophical text written. She bases this on internal evidence within the books. The Mudgala Purana specifically mentions the Ganesha Purana as one of four major Puranas. These four include the Brahma, the Brahmanda, the Ganesha, and the Mudgala Puranas. While the core of these texts is old, they were interpolated until the 17th and 18th centuries. Another important scripture is the Sanskrit Ganapati Atharvashirsa, likely composed in the 16th or 17th century. Finally, the Ganesha Sahasranama is a significant part of the Puranic literature. This text is a litany of one thousand names and attributes. Each name symbolizes a different aspect or meaning of Ganesha.