What is the difference between Ganpati and Ganesh

Ganapati Bappa Moraya! The Karma welcomes you all. You must have heard about the incarnations of Bhagwan Vishnu. Bhagwan Vishnu incarnates in every Yug to establish Dharm. Bhagwan Vishnu had incarnated in the form of Shri Ram and Shri Krishna.

Not only Bhagwan Vishnu, but many other divine entities are also incarnate. Have a look at this verse of Shridurga Saptashati –

यदा यदा बाधा दानवोत्था भविष्यति ।
तदा तदावतीर्याहं करिष्यामि संक्षयम ।।

Means- Whenever, in the future, obstacles are created by the demons, I will incarnate and protect the world.

This Shlok belongs to the 11th Adhyay of Shridurga Saptashati. In this, the goddess talks about her future incarnations. These incarnations include Durgavatar, Shakambhari Avatar, Shatakshi Avatar, Bhraamari Avatar, etc.

But do you know that Bhagwan Ganesh also incarnates? Yes, just like Bhagwan Vishnu and Goddess Durga incarnate in all four Yugs, Bhagwan Ganesh also incarnates in every Yug for the welfare of the world.

Very few people know about the incarnation of Bhagwan Ganesh. Yes, everyone knows that Bhagwan Ganesh is worshipped first. He is worshipped in the form of Vighneshwar. Bhagwan Ganesh is also worshipped in the form of Vighnaharta because he is the remover of all obstacles.

Let’s hear the story of the incarnations of Bhagwan Ganesh. But before that, I request you all to subscribe to The Karma channel and if you like this video, then do press the ‘like’ button and don’t forget to comment.

Story of the incarnation of Bhagwan Ganapati

Bhagwan Ganapati is also called Aadidev, that is, the deity who was born first. Ganapati has been praised in the Vedas. You will be surprised to know that even Bhagwan Shiv and Maa Parvati themselves worshipped Aadidev Ganapati on the occasion of their marriage.

Aren’t you surprised? You must know that Ganapati ji is the son of Bhagwan Shiv and Maa Parvati, then how would it be possible to worship him at the time of marriage of Shiva Parvati, even before his birth? We will tell you this in a little while, but first, you listen to this couplet from the Baalkaand of Ramcharitmanas, composed by Goswami Tulsidas Ji –

‘मुनि अनुशासन गनपति हि पूजेहु शंभु भवानि।
कोउ सुनि संशय करै जनि सुर अनादि जिय जानि’।

Means- Shiv ji and Parvati ji worshipped Ganapati by the order of sages. No one should doubt after hearing this, considering the gods etc. to be eternal.

The point to be noted here is that Bhagwan Shiv and Maa Parvati worshipped Ganapati and not Ganesh. You would be surprised to hear that Ganapati himself incarnated as Ganesh later. Ganapati is the only Aadidev whose mention comes again and again in the Rigved. This mantra from Rigved is always recited by pundits on the occasion of any worship in our homes –

ऊं गणानां त्व गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् ।
ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रम्हणाम् ब्रह्मणस्पत आ नः शृणवन्नूतिभिःसीदसादनम् । ऊं महागणाधिपतये नमः ।।

The Ganapati mentioned in this mantra is the ruler of the Ganas. He is also called Mahaganapati. Ganapati has been called the eldest among all the gods in this mantra. Who are these Ganas and whether they are different from the Ganas of Bhagwan Shiva, can be known through Vedic texts. But for the time being, we come to the various incarnations of Ganapati.

The first thing is that Ganesh is an incarnation of Ganapati. Just as Bhagwan Vishnu is known by the names, Madhav and Govind, and Shri Krishna is also called by the names of Govind and Madhav, Ganesh is also called by the name of his original form, Ganapati.

Aadidev Ganapati takes different avatars in different Yugas. Sometimes Ganapati incarnates at the place of Rishi Kashyap, sometimes he is born from the body of Maa Parvati and is worshipped as Parvatitanay or Umasuta, and sometimes he is born by both, Shiv and Parvati.

The secret of the origin of Ganesh

We find stories of different incarnations of Ganapati in different Purans. Four incarnations of Ganapati are more famous.

According to ‘Skanda Puran’, Ganapati ji originated from the soil of Goddess Parvati’s body and he was worshipped in the world by the name of Parvatitanay or Ganesh. According to ‘Matsya Purana’, Ganesh first originated from the waters of the Ganges and later Maa Parvati adopted him as her son. According to ‘Linga Puran’, Ganesh originated from Bhagwan Shiv. Shiv had created Ganesh to kill the demons.

The story of ‘Varahapuraan’ is somewhat different. According to this Puran, Ganesh originated from the laughter of Bhagwan Shiv. Parvati was jealous of Bhagwan Shiv’s affection for Ganesh and she changed Ganesh’s head into that of an elephant. While according to ‘Vamana Puran’, Bhagwan Ganesh originated from the body of Maa Parvati. According to some legends of Nepal, Bhagwan Ganesh is self-born and is called Swayambhu.

Ganapati incarnates in every Yug

Actually, Ganapati incarnates in every Yug to destroy obstacles. According to a story in ‘Ganesh Puran’, Bhagwan Ganapati incarnates in the form of ‘Mahotkat’ in Kritayug or Satyug. In Satyug, the names of his parents are said to be Aditi and Kashyap. In this Yug, Bhagwan Ganapati does not have the head of an elephant, nor does the mouse become his vehicle. Ganapati rides a lion in Satyug.

In Tretayug, Ganapati is born as the son of Parvati and is worshipped in the world by the name of Ganesh. In Tretayug, Ganesh is said to have originated from the dirt of Parvati’s body, hence he is also called Parvatitanaya. Even in this Yug, Ganapati does not have the head of an elephant. In Tretayug, Ganapati rides a peacock. Therefore, Ganapati is also called ‘Mayureshwar’.

There is also a story in Ganesh Puran that ‘Mayureshwar Ganapati’ presents his ride, Peacock, to his brother, Kartikeya. This is because earlier, the vehicle of Skanda or Kartikeya was a cock and he was famous as a deity of destruction. As soon as Ganesh presented his vehicle, peacock, to Kartikeya, Kartikeya, too, became known as the God that removes obstacles.