GANESHA, THE UNIVERSAL LORD

The concept of multiple deities and their worship is a hallmark of Hinduism.

- Rakesh More

Among these deities, Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, provider of wisdom, and ruler of the universe, holds a place of great reverence. He is the lord of all beings, alphabets, the 14 Vidyas and the 64 arts. Ganesha is venerated by people of all castes, religions, and sects across India as a universally adored deity. From Kanyakumari to Kashmir and Jagannath Puri to Dwarka, Lord Ganesha is worshipped with deep devotion. Ganesha is worshipped in Asian countries other than India as well.

The worship of Lord Ganesha dates back to ancient times, from the 5th century BCE to the 11th century CE. Many references to Ganesha can be found from these periods, and scholars and historians have made efforts to establish the antiquity of Ganesha based on the evidence available. In ancient times, people travelled for trade and the spread of Buddhism, which facilitated the spread of Ganesh worship to other regions. Countries like Cambodia, China, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and Japan also began to revere Ganesha. During these interactions, the introduction of religious icons, including Ganesha sculptures, led to the formation of sects like the Ganapatya sect, as found during recent excavations which have unearthed statues and paintings from that time.