[Advaita-l] [advaitin] Sri Krishna incarnated as Ganesha - Brahmavaivarta Purana

[Krishna Kashyap]

Following up on my recent research interests, and given that we're just a
few days past the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration, I wanted to share some
additional information I've gathered on this topic.

While I recognize that many of you may already be familiar with much of
this content, I thought it would be valuable to include the insights I
obtained when I posed a question to aistudio.google.com regarding Ganapatya
Agamas and theological perspectives.

*Question posed to AI Studio:* "Are there specific agamas for the Ganapatya
tradition. Which are the texts of Ganapatya Agamas, and are there
statements that indicate Ganapati is the ultimate deity? How do these
agamas treat Siva, who is the father of Ganapati?"

*Important Note:* *AI tools may provide incomplete or inaccurate
information. The following response should be verified by subject matter
experts and is shared only as an initial perspective:*

*AI Studio Response:* [Include the AI response here]

Yes, absolutely! Just like there are specific Agamas for Shaiva, Shakta,
and Vaishnava traditions, there is a distinct body of scripture for
the *Ganapatya
tradition*, where Ganesha (Ganapati) is revered as the Supreme Being.
Ganapatya Agamas and Related Texts

The Ganapatya tradition primarily draws its scriptural authority from a
combination of:

   1.

   *Dedicated Ganapatya Upanishads:* These are considered Sruti (revealed
   texts) within the tradition. The most important is the *Ganapati
   Atharvashirsha Upanishad*.
   2.

   *Ganapatya Agamas (Tantras):* There are specific Agamic/Tantric texts
   that elaborate on the philosophy, ritual practices, mantras, yantras, and
   iconography for the worship of Ganesha as the supreme deity. Some key texts
   include:
   -

      *Ganesha Purana:* This is perhaps the most significant text, often
      considered a "Mahapurana" by Ganapatyas, detailing Ganesha's life, cosmic
      functions, various forms, and stories that establish his supremacy.
      -

      *Mudgala Purana:* Another important text that elaborates on the eight
      incarnations (Ashta-vinayaka) of Ganesha and further establishes his role
      as the Supreme.
      -

      *Ganapatyopanishad (or Ganesha Upanishad):* Though often synonymous
      with Ganapati Atharvashirsha, some traditions may refer to other minor
      Upanishads under this umbrella.
      -

      *Various Tantras:* Specific Tantras (Agamas) dedicated to Ganesha
      worship, though not as widely known or published as the Shaiva or Shakta
      Agamas, form the ritualistic backbone. Examples might be found cited in
      later ritual manuals. The *Ganesha Sahasranama* (from Ganesha Purana)
      is also a revered text.

Statements Indicating Ganapati as the Ultimate Deity

Yes, these Ganapatya texts contain clear and unambiguous statements that
establish Ganapati as the *Para Brahman* (Supreme Reality) and the *creator,
sustainer, and destroyer of the universe*.

The most famous and oft-quoted example is from the *Ganapati Atharvashirsha
Upanishad*:

   -

   *"Om Namaste Ganapataye. Tvameva Pratyaksham Tattvamasi."*
   -

      (Om, Salutations to Ganapati. You indeed are the visible
      Principle/Reality.)
      -

   *"Tvameva Kevalam Kartāsi. Tvameva Kevalam Dhartāsi. Tvameva Kevalam
   Hartāsi."*
   -

      (You alone are the Creator. You alone are the Sustainer. You alone
      are the Destroyer.)
      -

   *"Tvameva Sarvam Khalvidam Brahmasi."*
   -

      (You indeed are this entire Brahman.)
      -

   *"Tvameva Brahma, Tvameva Vishnu, Tvameva Rudraḥ..."*
   -

      (You are Brahma, You are Vishnu, You are Rudra (Shiva)...)

These statements explicitly identify Ganapati with the ultimate Brahman,
the Saguna Brahman (with attributes), and the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu,
Shiva) as aspects or manifestations of Him. This is the characteristic
approach of sectarian Upanishads and Puranas, where the favored deity is
elevated to the supreme position.
Treatment of Shiva in Ganapatya Agamas

This is a crucial and interesting point, as Shiva is Ganesha's father in
popular Puranic mythology. In Ganapatya texts, Shiva is treated with *great
reverence and respect*, but ultimately as a *subordinate deity or a
manifestation/aspect of Ganapati's own power.*

Here's how they generally treat Shiva:

   1.

   *Manifestation/Aspect of Ganapati:* Just as Vishnu and Brahma are stated
   to be Ganapati, Shiva is also considered a manifestation of Ganapati.
   Ganapati is seen as the ultimate source from which Shiva (the
   destroyer/transformer) emerges or whose power Shiva embodies.
   2.

   *Deva/God within the Cosmic Order:* Shiva is respected as a powerful
   Maha Deva (great god) responsible for dissolution and other cosmic
   functions, but always under the ultimate control or guidance of Ganapati.
   3.

   *Mythological Relationship Reinterpreted:* The traditional stories where
   Shiva is Ganesha's father are often reinterpreted to highlight Ganapati's
   supremacy. For example:
   -

      Stories of Ganesha's birth might emphasize his spontaneous,
      primordial nature, with Shiva merely playing a role in his manifestation
      rather than being his absolute progenitor.
      -

      The story of Shiva accidentally beheading Ganesha and then replacing
      his head with an elephant's (a popular Puranic narrative) is sometimes
      narrated in a way that shows Ganesha's inherent power and that Shiva's
      action was part of a divine play orchestrated by Ganesha himself, to
      manifest his elephant-headed form for a specific cosmic purpose. It
      emphasizes that Ganesha is beyond mortal injury and is the ultimate
      controller, even of Shiva's actions.
      4.

   *No Contradiction:* For Ganapatyas, there is no contradiction in Shiva
   being Ganesha's father and Ganesha being the Supreme. It's akin to how for
   Vaishnavas, Brahma is born from Vishnu, but Vishnu is also the Supreme. The
   relationship is seen as a divine lila (play) that illustrates the cosmic
   order, with Ganapati at its apex.

So, while Shiva is deeply respected and integral to the mythological
narratives, in the Ganapatya Agamas and related texts, he is ultimately a
part of the grand cosmic scheme orchestrated and embodied by *Lord
Ganapati, the Supreme Brahman.*


*Best Regards,*

*Krishna Kashyap*




On Mon, Sep 8, 2025 at 12:36 PM V Subrahmanian <v.subrahmanian at gmail.com>
wrote:

>
>
> On Mon, Sep 8, 2025 at 11:48 AM Krishna Kashyap <kkashyap2011 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Namaste.
>>
>> Thanks, Subrahmanian Ji, for the reference to the Pancharatra-related
>> information.
>> Shankaracharya's bhashya contains citations from *Pancharatra Agama*
>> texts.
>>
>
> While one can't see any verbatim citation from the Pancharatra Agama in
> Shankara's Bhashya for that Adhikarana, I heard that a Vishishtadvaitin has
> challenged: in no Pancharatra Agama text do we see the idea: the jiva is
> created: jivotpatti.  This is the point Shankara disagrees with primarily
> with Pancharatra. It would be interesting to locate such a passage in a
> Pancharatra Agama text that means or at least implies that.  In fact
> Bhaskara who disagreed with Shankara on the ultimate siddhanta, takes the
> same stand as Shankara in this adhikarana. So does Vallabhacharya. And
> Nilakantha in his Brahma sutra bhashya.
>
> regards
> subbu
>
>
>> I plan to examine these references in detail later, as they show how
>> Advaita incorporates diverse scriptural traditions in its interpretive
>> framework.
>>
>> As my teacher KSV used to say:
>>
>> *"If one has Brahma-drishti (vision of Brahman) in any object, he or she
>> will attain the ultimate goal."*
>>
>> This principle validates even the simplest forms of worship. In
>> traditional Amman temples, devotees would worship a plain stone, in fact,
>> without any specific vigraha form, with complete devotion. According to
>> Vedanta, this is perfectly valid because of the fundamental truth: *"सर्वं
>> खलु इदं ब्रह्म"* (*sarvam khalu idam brahma*) - "All this is indeed
>> Brahman."
>>
>> The key is the *quality of vision and devotion* with which one
>> approaches it.
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> *This demonstrates how Advaita Vedanta harmonizes all devotional
>> practices with non-dual wisdom*
>>
>> *Best Regards,*
>>
>> *Krishna Kashyap*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Sep 8, 2025 at 11:04 AM V Subrahmanian <v.subrahmanian at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Sep 8, 2025 at 10:03 AM Krishna Kashyap via Advaita-l <
>>> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> *Incarnations of Hari (Vishnu): A Comprehensive Overview*
>>>>
>>>
>>> Namaste
>>>
>>> It would be interesting to note what Shankara says in the Pancharatra
>>> adhikarana regarding the 'vyuhas':
>>>
>>> न चैते भगवद्व्यूहाश्चतुःसंख्यायामेवावतिष्ठेरन् ,
>>> ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्तस्य समस्तस्यैव जगतो भगवद्व्यूहत्वावगमात् ॥ ४४ ॥
>>> BSB 2.2.44:   There is no need to limit the vyuhas of Bhagavan to just
>>> four; the entire world of jivas from Brahmā up to the tiniest creature are
>>> known (from the shruti) to be the vyuhas of Bhagavan.
>>>
>>> In another bhashya there itself, Shankara says: BSB 2.242:
>>>
>>>  योऽसौ नारायणः परोऽव्यक्तात्प्रसिद्धः परमात्मा सर्वात्मा, स
>>> आत्मनात्मानमनेकधा व्यूह्यावस्थित इति — तन्न निराक्रियते, ‘स एकधा भवति
>>> त्रिधा भवति’ (छा. उ. ७ । २६ । २)
>>> <https://advaitasharada.sringeri.net/display/bhashya/Chandogya/devanagari?page=7&id=Ch_C07_S26_V02&hl=%E0%A4%B8%20%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%20%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF> इत्यादिश्रुतिभ्यः
>>> परमात्मनोऽनेकधाभावस्याधिगतत्वात् ।
>>>
>>> What the Pancharatras say: Bhagavan Narayana takes many forms as vyuhas,
>>> is acceptable to us as the Upanishad says: 'He appears as one, as three...'
>>> Chandogya 7.26.2.
>>>
>>> The Claude analysis posted here by Krishna Kashyap Ji aligns with the
>>> above:  One Brahman appearing as everything in creation: all categories of
>>> sentient entities - gods, humans, asuras, animals, etc.
>>>
>>> regards
>>> subbu
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>