Ganapati – The Wealth-Bestowing Deity
Four-Armed White Ganapati (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Four-Armed White Ganapati and Dorje Shugden.
Deity: Four-Armed White Ganapati (English)
Alternative name: Chaturbhuja Sita Ganapati (Sanskrit); Tsodag Karpo Chagzhipa (Tibetan)
In the Tibetan tradition, Ganapati is the Sanskrit name normally used to describe this elephant-headed deity. However, his Indian epithet ‘Ganesha’ carries the same meaning ‘Lord of the Followers of the God Shiva’. Amongst Buddhists, there is tendency to use the name Ganapati to differentiate the enlightened Ganapati deity versus the god called Ganesha.
This particular Four-Armed White Ganapati is in accordance with the tradition of 11th Century Indian master Jowo Atisha. Another master named Pandit Gayadhara introduced a number of other forms of Ganapati to Tibet, which are very much practised within the Sakya tradition. During a later period, the Nyingma tradition also proliferated lineages of Ganapati practice stemming from terma or Hidden Treasure teachings.
In this form however, Ganapati is considered to be an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion, meaning he is a deity that one can take refuge in and rely upon. Ganapati’s primary function is that of a wealth-bestowing deity, referring to both the generation of outer and inner wealth. Inner wealth is that of wisdom and merit based primarily on the realisation of generosity, the direct counter to miserliness which leads one to poverty-stricken states. Outer wealth refers to material resources that one requires to sustain one’s livelihood and Dharma practice. Most forms of Ganapati belong to the Kriya or Action classification of Buddhist Tantra.
His sacred mantra is: OM BHRUM GANAPATI SOHA
Ganapati in the Hindu tradition is considered the son of the god Shiva and his divine consort Parvati. This sacred family’s abode is said to be Mount Kailash (Tibetan: Gang Rinpoche), near the famed Lake Manasarovar (Tibetan: Mapham Gyutso) depicted in this image. Ganapati is known to be the remover of obstacles, patron of artistic endeavours and a god of divine intellect and wisdom. He is worshipped throughout all branches of modern Hinduism and due to a boon granted to him by his father Shiva, he is worshipped first among all the gods and goddesses in ritual. He is known to be a loving deity, ever-ready to help sincere and good-hearted disciples.
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took the form of a Dharma Protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way view. Reminiscent of Manjushri’s form, Dorje Shugden carries a meandering sword and rides a snowlion that represents the fearlessness of a fully enlightened Buddha. Furthermore, he carries a jewel-spitting mongoose and a vajra hook to symbolise that he has the tremendous ability to bestow wealth and resources. He has great strength to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish.
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Ganapati in the Hindu tradition is considered as the son of the god Shiva and his divine consort god Parvati.Ganapati is known to be remover of obstacles and god of divine intellect and wisdom.
Thank you very much for sharing and the information.
Ganapati is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities by Buddhists and Hindu worshipers all over the world. In Buddhism Ganapati is an emanation of a Buddha of Wisdom Avalokiteshvara while Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. His image is found throughout India , Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bali to name a few. Ganapati is widely referred as that of a wealth-bestowing deity to many of the worshipper.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing .
Ganapati is much loved by Buddhists and Hindu worshipers alike. The key difference is the Ganapati in Buddhism is an emanation of a Buddha, in this case, the Buddha of Compassion Chenrezig. I’ve always liked Ganapati and it was very kind of Atisha to bring the Four-Armed White Ganapati practice to Tibet. Ganapati is very well known around the world, and is known as a Hindu deity and is much loved. It’s nice to see that the world can rely on an Enlighted version of him to remove obstacles. Chenrezig is so compassionate to emanate in so many forms to help us here in the Saha world.
OM BHRUM GANAPATI SOHA