http://tinyurl.com/y6pcz9jo
This is an addendum to
RV 2.23.1 गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् । ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणां ब्रह्मणस्पत आ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिः सीद सादनम् ॥१॥
(Griffith translation) WE call thee, Lord and Leader of the heavenly hosts, the wise among the wise, the famousest of all,
The King supreme of prayers, O Brahmanaspati: hear us with help; sit down in place of sacrifice.
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Gaṇeśa, flanked by dwarf couples. ullamangai, Tanjavur Dt., Tamil Nadu, India. ca.. 9th-10th cent.
http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/huntington/show_detail.py?ObjectID=30004830
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Gaṇa. Mahabodhi Temple complex, architectural fragment, vedika (railing), pillar2nd - 1st century BCE
http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/huntington/show_detail.py?ObjectID=21541
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Four adorsed dwarf figures Sanchi Buddhist Monastery complex, Stupa 1 ("Great Stupa")http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/huntington/show_detail.py?ObjectID=2646
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Cave 2 : Dancing gana figures on the outer left wall. Badami , Karnataka, India
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Gana is a dwarf or goblin, usually with big belly found in Indian temple base, pillars and elsewhere. They typically are shown in humorous postures, sometimes with musical instruments or dancing or singing or dressed like a prankster.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gana,_dwarfs_goblins_in_Indian_temple_architecture.jpg
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Dwarf musicians. Badami. Bagalkot Dt., Karnataka, India
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Viṣṇu Trivikrama and dwarfs. Badami caves.
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Varāha and dwarfs.Badami caves.
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Gaṇa Musicians at Upper Śivālaya, North Badami Fort, Karnataka
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Naṭaraja, dwarfs PLUS Gaṇapati doing a karaṇa, 'dance posture' next to a drummer . Badami caves, Karnataka.
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Naṭaraja, dwarfs Cave 14 / Ravana Ka Khaim Ellora
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Dwarf with Tendrils. Nachna-Kuthara temples, Panna District
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Dwarf & Kirtimukha. Sarnath, Varanasi Dt., Uttar Pradesh, India. ca. 500 CE
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Viṣṇu in the form Vāmana Dwarf , 6th Century Badami rock-cut cave temples , Karnataka
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Patan, Gujarat. Vāmana Dwarf
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Śiva Gaṇa; Śiva's followers, the Ganas, are dwarves and revered as minor deities (5th Century, Khoh, Madhya Pradesh, Red Sandstone)
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त्रि--धातु m. गणे*श; mfn. consisting of 3 parts , triple , threefold (used like Lat. triplex to denote excessive) RV. S3Br. v , 5 , 5 , 6; m. (scil. पुरोड्/आश) N. of an oblation TS. ii , 3 , 6. 1 ( -त्व्/अ n. abstr.); n. the aggregate of the 3 minerals or of the 3 humours (Monier-Williams).gaṇḥ गणः [गण् कर्मणि कर्तरि वा अच्] 1 A flock, multitude, group, troop, collection; गुणिगणगणना, भगणः -2 A series, a class. -3 A body of followers or attendants. -4 Particularly, a troop of demigods considered as Śiva's attendants and under the special superintendence of Gaṇeśa, a demigod of this troop; गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनाम् &c.; गणा नमेरुप्रसवावतंसाः Ku.1.55,7.4,71; Me.35.57; Ki.5.13. -5 Any assemblage or society of men formed for the attainment of the same objects. -6 A company, association. -7 A tribe, class. -8 A series of lunar mansions classed under three heads (of god, men and demons). -9 A sect (in philosophy, religion). -1 A small body of troops (a sub-division of अक्षौहिणी), consisting of 27 chariots, as many elephants, 81 horses and 135 foot; Mb.1.2.21. -11 A number (in math.). -12 A foot (in prosody). -13 (In gram.) A series of roots or words belonging to the same rule and called after the first word of that series; e. g. भ्वादिगण i. e. the class of roots which begin with भू. -14 An epithet of Gaṇeśa. -Comp. -अग्रणी m. N. of Gaṇeśa. -अचलः N. of the mountain Kailāsa, as the residence of the Gaṇas of Śiva. -अधिपः, -अधिपतिः 1 N. of Śiva; Śi.9.27. -2 N. of Gaṇeśa. -3 the chief of a troop of soldiers or of a class of disciples, of a body of men or animals. -अन्नम् a mess, food prepared for number of persons in common; Ms.4.29,219. -अभ्यन्तर a. one of a troop or number. (-रः) the leader or mem- ber of any religious association; Ms.3.154. -ईशः N. of Gaṇapati, Śiva's son (see गणपति below). ˚जननी anepithet of Pārvatī. ˚भूषणम् red-lead. -ईशानः, -ईश्वरः 1 an epithet of Gaṇeśa. -2 of Śiva. -उत्साहः the rhinoceros. -कारः 1 a classifier. -2 an epithet of Bhīmasena. -कृत्वस् ind. for a whole series of times, for a number of times. -गतिः a particular high number. -चक्रकम् a dinner eaten in common by a party of virtuous men. -छन्दस् n. metre regulated and measured by feet. -तिथ a. forming a troop or collection. -दीक्षा 1 initiation of a number or a class. -2 performance of rites for a number of persons. -दीक्षिन् a. 1 one who officiates for a number of per- sons or for various castes (as a priest). -2 one who has been initiated into the worship of Ganeśa. -देवताः (pl.) groups of deities who generally appear in classes of troops; Ak. thus classifies them :-आदित्यविश्ववसव- स्तुषिता भास्वरानिलाः । महाराजिकसाध्याश्च रुद्राश्च गणदेवताः ॥ -द्रव्यम् 1 public property, common stock; Y.2.187. -2 a variety of articles. -धरः 1 the head of a class or number. -2 the teacher of a school. -नाथः, -नाथकः 1 an epithet of Śiva. -2 of Gaṇeśa. -3 the leader of the attendants of any god; Bhāg.5.17.13. -4 the head of an assemblage or corporation; Bṛi. S.15.4. -नायिका an epithet of Durgā. -पः, पतिः 1 N. of Śiva. -2 N. of Gaṇeśa. [He is the son of Śiva and Pārvatī, or of Pārvatī only; for according to one legend, he sprang from the scurf of her body. He is the god of wisdom and remover of obstacles; hence he is invok- ed and worshipped at the commencement of every important undertaking. He is usually represented in a sitting posture, short and fat, with a protuberant belly, and four hands; riding a mouse; and with the head of an elephant. This head has only one tusk, the other having been lost in a scuffle between him and Paraśurāma when he opposed the latter's en- trance to Śiva's inner apartments; (whence he is called Ekadanta, Ekadaṁṣṭra &c.). There are seve- ral legends accounting for his elephant head. It is said that he wrote the Mahābhārata at the dictation of Vyāsa who secured his services as a scribe from the god Brahman]. -3 also an epithet of Bṛihas- pati and Indra. -4 the leader of a class or troop. -पर्वत see गणाचल. -पाठः a collection of gaṇas or series of words falling under the same grammatical rule. -पीठकम् the breast, bosom. -पुङ्गवः the head of a tribe or class. (pl.) N. of a country and its people; Bṛi. S.4.24. -पूर्वः the leader of a tribe or class; (ग्रामणी); Mb.13.23.2. ˚तापनी N. of a Upaniṣad. -भर्तृ m. 1 an epithet of Śiva; गणभर्तृरुक्षा Ki.5.42. -2 N. of Gaṇeśa. -3 the leader of a class. -भोजनम् mess, eating in com- mon. -यज्ञः a rite common to all. -रत्नमहोदधिः a collection of grammatical gaṇas by Vardhamāna. -राज्यम् N. of an empire in the Deccan; Bṛi. S.14. 14. -रात्रम् a series of nights. -वल्लभः a general of the army (सेनानायक); Rām.2.81.12. -वृत्तम् see गणच्छन्दस्. -हासः, -हासकः a species of perfume. (Apte) Gaṇa is a corporation, guild; "Lord of Hosts" or "Lord of created categories", such as the elements; hence, a synonym of Gaṇapati is tri-dhātu 'three mineral elements' (Amarakośa also notes other synonyms: Amarakośa 1.1. 38 vināyako vighnarājadvaimāturagaṇādhipāḥ apyekadantaherambalambodaragajānanāḥ):
In the Burmese language, गणे*श is known as Maha Peinne (မဟာပိန္နဲ,
pronounced [məhà pèiɴné]), derived from Pali Mahā Wināyaka (မဟာဝိနာယက).The widespread name of गणे*श in Thailand is Phra Phikanet. The earliest images and mention of गणे*श names as a major deity in present-day Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam date from the 7th- and 8th-centuries,and these mirror Indian examples of the 5th century or earlier. In Sri Lankan Singhala Buddhist areas, he is known as Gana deviyo, and revered along with Buddha, Vishnu,
Skanda and others.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha
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![File:Shoten.jpg]()
Butsuzō-zu-i 仏像図彙, “Collected Illustrations of Buddhist Images.” Published 1690 (Genroku 元禄 3).
![The unique image of Ganesha of 1239 found at Bara belonging to Sangasari period is seen protected from the rear by a demonic face on the back of its head.]()
Gaṇeśa -- Prah Kenes (Khmer), Phra Phikanet (Thailand) -- from 1239 CE found at Bara belonging to Sangasari period is seen protected from the rear by a kīrtimukha face on the back of its head; skulls adorn the base of pratimā
http://staging.heritage-india.com/blog/ganeshaaroundtheworld/
![Japanese Ganesha]()
"Kangi-ten (deva of bliss): This is the dual image known in Japanese as Kangi-ten. It shows two elephant-headed figures embracing their hands clasped behind each other’s back. This type of Ganesha-form came to Japan originally from China. This is a secret esoteric form of the god (Ganesha) Kangi-ten derived from the Tantric cult based on the Yoga doctrine of the union of the Individual with the Universal spirit." Another form Another form in Japan, Vajra Vinayaka or Kakuzencho, has three heads with three eyes, holds a sword, radish, sceptre and modak in his four hands.
http://staging.heritage-india.com/blog/ganeshaaroundtheworld/
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A 5th-century marble Gaṇeśa found in Gardez, Afghanistan, and once displayed at Dargah Pir Rattan Nath, Kabul (present location unknown). The inscription says that this "great and beautiful image of Mahāvināyaka" was consecrated by the Shahi King Khingala. (For photograph of statue and details of inscription, see: Dhavalikar, M.K., "Gaņeśa: Myth and Reality", in: Brown 1991, pp. 50, 63.[Dhavalikar, M.K. “A Note on Two Gaṇeśa Statues from Afghanistan.” East and West, vol. 21, no. 3/4, 1971, pp. 331–336, www.jstor.org/stable/29755703])
Mahāvināyaka of Gardez, Afghanistan. A 5th century marble Ganesha found in Gardez, Afghanistan, now at Dargah Pir Rattan Nath, Kabul. The inscription says that this "great and beautiful image of Mahāvināyaka" was consecrated by the Shahi King Khingala.(Dhavalikar, M. K., "Gaņeśa: Myth and Reality", in: Robert L. Brown 1991, Ganesh, studies of an Asian God, State University of New York Press, pp. 50,63). Dhavalikar ascribes the quick ascension of Gaṇeśa in the Hindu pantheon, and the emergence of the Ganapatyas, to this shift in emphasis from vighnakartā (obstacle-creator) to vighnahartā (obstacle-averter). (Ibid., p. 49)
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Hooded snake on sacred thread.![]()
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Cobra hoods arching over membrum virile of charioteer. Daimabad.![]()
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Southern pillar, East Torana. Sanchi. Cobra hoods.![Image result for bharatkalyan97 serpent hood sanchi]()
Sanchi. Sculptural frieze. Cobra hoods.![Image result for serpent hoods sanchi]()
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."ancing Gaṇeśa sculpture from North Bengal, 11th century CE, Asian Art Museumof Berlin (Dahlem).
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Gaṇapati, Madhya Pradesh, c. 750, India
The devatā of the Sukta is Brahmaṇaspati.
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(Sayana/Wilson) RV 2.23
2.023.01 We invoke the Brahman.aspati, chief leaderof the (heavenly) bands; a sage of sage; aboundingbeyondmeasure in (every kind of) food;best lord of prayer; hearing our invocations, come with your protections, and sit down in the chamber of sacrifice. [Brahman.aspati = brahman.o annasya parivr.d.hasya karman.o va_ pa_layita_, the protector or cherisher of food,or of any great or solemn acts of devotion; he has other attributes in the text, as, gan.a_na_m gan.apatih, chief of the gan.as (inferior deities); jyes.t.hara_jam brahman.a_m, the best lord of mantras, or prayers: pras'asyam sva_minam mantra_n.a_m].
2.023.02 Br.haspati, destroyer of the asuras, through you the intelligent gods have obtained the sacrificialportion; in like manner as the adorable sun generates the (solar) rays by his radiance, so are you the generator of all prayers. [Br.haspati = Brahman.aspati; perhaps Br.haspati is of a more martial character; his protection is souhght for against enemies and evil spirits; perhaps, br.hata_m veda_na_m pa_lakah: br.hat = mantra, br.hato mantrasya, sva_min].
2.023.03 Having repelled revilers and (dispersed) the darkness you stand Br.haspati, on the radiant chariot of sacrifice, (which is) formidable (to foes), the humiliator of enemies, the destroyer of evil spirits, the cleaver of the clouds, the attainer of heaven.
2.023.04 You lead men, Br.haspati, by virtuous instructions; you preserve them (from calamity); sin will never overtake him who presents (offerings) to you; you are the afflicter of him who hates (holy) prayers; you are the punisher of wrath; such is your great mightiness. [Him who hates holy prayers: brahmadvis.ah = those who hate either the bra_hman.as,or the mantras or prayers].
2.023.05 The man whom you, Brahman.aspati, a kind protector, defend, neither sorrow nor sin, nor adversaries nor dissemblers ever harm, for you drive away from him all injurious (things).
2.023.06 You, Br.haspati, are our protector and the guide of (our) path; (you are) the discerner (of all things); we worship with praises for your adoration; may his own precipitate malice involve him (in destruction) who practises deceit against us.
2.023.07 Turn aside from (the true) path, Br.haspati, the arrogant and savage man who advances to injure us, although unoffending and keep us in the right way for (the completion of) this offering to the gods.
2.023.08 Br.haspati, defender (from calamity), we invoke you, the protector of our persons, the speaker of encouraging words and well disposed towards us; do you destroy the revilers of the gods; let not the malevolent attain supreme felicity.
2.023.09 Through you, Brahman.aspati, (our) benefactor, may we obtain desirable wealth from men destroy those (our) unrighteous enemies, whether nigh or far off, who prevail against us.
2.023.10 Through you, Br.haspati, (who are) the fulfiller of our desires; pure, and associated (with us), we possess excellent food; let not the wicked man who wishes to deceive us be our master; but let us, excelling in (pious) praises, attain (prosperity).
2.023.11 You, Brahman.aspati, who have no requiter (of your bounty), who are the showerer (of benefits), the repairer to combat, the consumer of foes, the victor in battles, you are true, the discharger of debts, the humiliator of the fierce and of the exulting.
2.023.12 Let not, Br.haspati, the murderous (weapon) of that man reach us, who, with unrighteous mind, seeks to harm us; who, fierce and arrogant, designs to kill (your) worshippers; may we baffle the wrath of the strong evil-doer].
2.023.13 Br.haspati is to be invoked in battles; he is to be approached with reverence; he who moves amidst combats, the distributor of repeated wealth; the lord Br.haspati has verily overturned all the assailing malignant (hosts), like chariots (overturned in battle).
2.023.14 Consume with your brightest (weapon) the ra_ks.asas, who have held your witnessed prowess in disdain; manifest, Br.haspati, your glorified (vigour), such as it was (of old), and destroy those who speak against you.
2.023.15 Br.haspati, born of truth, grant us that wonderful treasure, wherewith the pious man may worship exceedingly; that (wealth) which shines amongst men; which is endowed with lustre, (is) the means of (performing holy) rites, and invogirates (its possessor) with strength. [dravin.am citram = lit., various or wonderful wealth; in the Bra_hman.as it is interpreted as brahma varcas or tejas, brahmanical virtue or energy (cf. Yajus. 26.3; dravin.am = dhanam (Aitareya Bra_hman.a 4.11)].
2.023.16 Deliver us not to the thieves, the enemies delighting in violence, who seize ever upon the food (of others); those who cherish in their hearts the abandonment (of the gods); (they), Br.haspati, who do not know the extent of (your) power (against evil spirits). [Who do not know the extenf of your power: na parah sa_mno viduh = ye puma_msah sa_mnah sa_maya_t tvattah parah parasta_d anyadukr.s.t.am sa_ma yad raks.oghnam na ja_nanti, those men who do not know anything greater than the faculty of destroying ra_ks.asas, derived from you made up of that faculty; sa_ma vai raks.oha = sa_ma is the killer of ra_ks.asas].
2.023.17 Tvas.t.a_ engendered you (chief) amongst all beings, (whence) you are the reciter of many a holy hymn: Brahman.aspati acknowledges a debt to the performer of a sacred rite; he is the acquitter (of the debt), and the destoyer of the oppressor. [When you are the reciter: sa_mnah sa_mnah kavih, the reicter or another of every sa_ma, sarvasya sa_mnah ucca_rayita_ karta_si; or kavi refers to tvas.t.a_, further explained as the sage who created Brahman.aspati by the efficacy of the sa_ma: sa_mnah sa_ren.a tvam aji_janat; acknowledges a debt: r.n.acit stotr.ka_mam r.n.am iva cinoti, he takes the intention of the praiser as if it was a debt, or obligation; acquitter of the debt: r.n.aya is explained as the discharger or remover of the debt which is of the nature of sin: pa_paru_pasya r.n.asya pr.thak karta_].
2.023.18 When Br.haspati, descendant of An:giras, for your glory, Parvata had concealed the herd o fkine, you did set them free, and with thine associate, Indra, did send down the ocean of water which had been enveloped by darkness.
2.023.19 Brahman.aspati, who are the regulator of this (world), understand (the purport) of (our) hymn, and grant us posterity; for all is prosperous that the gods protect; (and therefore) may we blessed with excellent descendants, glorify you at this sacrifice. [Yajus. 34.58; vadema = may we declare or glorify you; or, let us speak, let what we ask be given to us;let it be enjoyed by us: di_yata_m bhujyata_m ucca_rayema].
RV 2.23 Brahmanaspati. 23 (Griffith)
1. WE call thee, Lord and Leader of the heavenly hosts, the wise among the wise, the famousest of
all,
The King supreme of prayers, O Brahmanaspati: hear us with help; sit down in place of sacrifice.
2 Brhaspati, God immortal! verily the Gods have gained from thee, the wise, a share in holy rites.
As with great light the Sun brings forth the rays of morn, so thou alone art Father of all sacred
prayer.
3 When thou hast chased away revilers and the gloom, thou mountest the refulgent car of sacrifice;
The awful car, Brhaspati, that quells the foe, slays demons, cleaves the stall of kine, and finds
the light.
4 Thou leadest with good guidance and preservest men; distress overtakes not him who offers gifts
to thee.
Him who hates prayer thou punishest, Brhaspati, quelling his wrath: herein is thy great mightiness.
5 No sorrow, no distress from any side, no foes, no creatures doubletongued- have overcome the
man,
Thou drivest all seductive fiends away from him whom, careful guard, thou keepest Brahmanaspati.
6 Thou art our keeper, wise, preparer of our paths: we, for thy service, sing to thee with hymns
of praise.
Brhaspati, whoever lays a snare for us, him may his evil fate, precipitate, destroy.
7 Him, too, who threatens us without offence of ours, the evilminded, arrogant, rapacious man,
Him turn thou from our path away, Brhaspati: give us fair access to this banquet of the Gods.
8 Thee as protector of our bodies we invoke, thee, saviour, as the comforter who loveth us.
Strike, O Brhaspati, the Gods revilers down, and let not the unrighteous come to highest bliss.
9 Through thee, kind prosperer, O Brahmanaspati, may we obtain the wealth of Men which all desire:
And all our enemies, who near or far away prevail against us, crush, and leave them destitute.
10 With thee as our own rich and liberal ally may we, Brhaspati, gain highest power of life.
Let not the guileful wicked man be lord of us: still may we prosper, singing goodly hymns of
praise.
11 Strong, never yielding, hastening to the battlecry-, consumer of the foe, victorious in the
strife,
Thou art sins' true avenger, Brahmanaspati, who tamest even the fierce, the wildly passionate.
12 Whoso with mind ungodly seeks to do us harm, who, deeming him a man of might mid lords, would
slay,
Let not his deadly blow reach us, Brhaspati; may we humiliate the strong illdoers-' wrath.
13 The mover mid the spoil, the winner of all wealth, to be invoked in fight and reverently adored,
Brhaspati hath overthrown like cars of war all wicked enemies who fain would injure us.
14 Burn up the demons with thy fiercest flaming brand, those who have scorned thee in thy
manifested might.
Show forth that power that shall deserve the hymn of praise: destroy the evil speakers, O
Brhaspati.
15 Brhaspati, that which the foe deserves not which shines among the folk effectual, splendid,
That, Son of Law I which is with might refulgentthat- treasure wonderful bestow thou on us.
16 Give us not up to those who, foes in ambuscade, are greedy for the wealth of him who sits at
ease,
Who cherish in their heart abandonment of Gods. Brhaspati, no further rest shall they obtain.
17 For Tvastar, he who knows each sacred song, brought thee to life, preeminent over all the
things that be.
Guiltscourger-, guiltavenger- is Brhaspati, who slays the spoiler and upholds the mighty Law.
18 The mountain, for thy glory, cleft itself apart when, Angiras! thou openedst the stall of kine.
Thou, O Brhaspati, with Indra for ally didst hurl down waterfloods- which gloom had compassed
round.
19 O Brahmanaspati, be thou controller of this our hymn and prosper thou our children.
All that the Gods regard with love is blessed. Loud may we speak, with heroes, in assembly.
गणे* श m. (= °ण-नाथ) N. of the god of wisdom and of obstacles (son of शिव and पार्वती , or according to one legend of पार्वती alone ; though गणे*श
causes obstacles he also removes them ; hence he is invoked at the commencement of all undertakings and at the opening of all compositions with the words नमो गणे*शाय विघ्ने*श्वराय ; he is represented as a short fat man with a protuberant belly , frequently riding on a rat or attended by one , and to denote his sagacity has the head of an elephant , which however has only one tusk ; the appellation गणे*श , with other similar compounds , alludes to his office as chief of the various classes of subordinate gods , who are regarded as शिव's attendants ; he is said to have written down the MBh. as dictated by व्यास MBh. i , 74 ff. ; persons possessed , by गणे*श are referred to Ya1jn5. i , 270 ff.)(Monier-Williams)
गण m. a flock , troop , multitude , number , tribe , series , class (of animate or inanimate beings) , body of followers or attendants RV. AV. &c; troops or classes of inferior deities (especially certain troops of demi-gods considered as शिव's attendants and under the special superintendence of the god गणे*श ; cf. -देवता) Mn. Ya1jn5. Lalit. &c; गणा f. N. of one of the mothers in स्कन्द's retinue MBh. ix , 2645 (cf. अहर्- , मर्/उद्- , व्/ऋष- , स्/अ- , सप्त्/अ- , स्/अर्व- ; देव-,महा- ,andविद-गण्/अ.) (Monier-Williams)
Atharva Veda XIX.22
A prose hymn of homage to various portions of the Atharva veda, to the Rishis, and to Brahma
[1902201] With the first five chapters of the Angirases, Hail! [p. 229]
[1902202] To the sixth, Hail!
[1902203] To the seventh and eight, Hail!
[1902204] The black clawed ones, Hail!
[1902205] To the golden hued ones, Hail!
[1902206] To the small ones, Hail!
[1902207] To those composed in strophes, Hail!
[1902208] To the first shells, Hail!
[1902209] To the second shells, Hail!
[1902210] To the third shells, Hail!
[1902211] To the penultimates, Hail.
[1902212] To the last ones, Hail!
[1902213] To the latter ones, Hail!
[1902214] To the Rishis, Hail!
[1902215] To those with hair in tufts, Hail!
[1902216] To the Ganas, Hail!
[1902217] To the great Ganas, Hail!
[1902218] To all the Vidagana Angirases, Hail!
[1902219] To those two with separate thousands, Hail!
[1902220] To Brahma, Hail!
[1902221] Collected manly powers are topped by Brahma.
Brahma at first spread out the loftiest heaven.
Brahma was born first of all things existing.
Who then is meet to be that Brahma s rival?
Gaṇas are attendants of Shiva and live on Mount Kailash. Ganesha was chosen as their leader by Shiva, hence Ganesha's title gaṇeśa or gaṇapati, "lord or leader of the ganas"...Pāṇini in his Sanskrit grammar used gana as:
![]()
A dancing gana, Deogarh![]()
This is an addendum to
RV 2.23.1 गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् । ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणां ब्रह्मणस्पत आ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिः सीद सादनम् ॥१॥
(Griffith translation) WE call thee, Lord and Leader of the heavenly hosts, the wise among the wise, the famousest of all,
The King supreme of prayers, O Brahmanaspati: hear us with help; sit down in place of sacrifice.
Gaṇeśa, flanked by dwarf couples. ullamangai, Tanjavur Dt., Tamil Nadu, India. ca.. 9th-10th cent.
http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/huntington/show_detail.py?ObjectID=30004830
Gaṇa. Mahabodhi Temple complex, architectural fragment, vedika (railing), pillar2nd - 1st century BCE
http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/huntington/show_detail.py?ObjectID=21541
Four adorsed dwarf figures Sanchi Buddhist Monastery complex, Stupa 1 ("Great Stupa")http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/huntington/show_detail.py?ObjectID=2646
Cave 2 : Dancing gana figures on the outer left wall. Badami , Karnataka, India
Gana is a dwarf or goblin, usually with big belly found in Indian temple base, pillars and elsewhere. They typically are shown in humorous postures, sometimes with musical instruments or dancing or singing or dressed like a prankster.
This is a derivative work on
Shiva Temple, Bhojpur 08 - Gana.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gana,_dwarfs_goblins_in_Indian_temple_architecture.jpg
Dwarf musicians. Badami. Bagalkot Dt., Karnataka, India
Viṣṇu Trivikrama and dwarfs. Badami caves.
Viṣṇu Trivikrama, King and Viṣṇu disguised as a dwarf ca. 7th century CE
http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/huntington/show_detail.py?ObjectID=5000369
Varāha and dwarfs.Badami caves.
Gaṇa Musicians at Upper Śivālaya, North Badami Fort, Karnataka
Naṭaraja, dwarfs PLUS Gaṇapati doing a karaṇa, 'dance posture' next to a drummer . Badami caves, Karnataka.
Naṭaraja, dwarfs Cave 14 / Ravana Ka Khaim Ellora
Dwarf with Tendrils. Nachna-Kuthara temples, Panna District
Dwarf & Kirtimukha. Sarnath, Varanasi Dt., Uttar Pradesh, India. ca. 500 CE
Patan, Gujarat. Vāmana Dwarf
Śiva Gaṇa; Śiva's followers, the Ganas, are dwarves and revered as minor deities (5th Century, Khoh, Madhya Pradesh, Red Sandstone)
Śiva Gaṇa playing on drum
Dwarf from Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
त्रि--धातु m. गणे*श; mfn. consisting of 3 parts , triple , threefold (used like Lat. triplex to denote excessive) RV. S3Br. v , 5 , 5 , 6; m. (scil. पुरोड्/आश) N. of an oblation TS. ii , 3 , 6. 1 ( -त्व्/अ n. abstr.); n. the aggregate of the 3 minerals or of the 3 humours (Monier-Williams).gaṇḥ गणः [गण् कर्मणि कर्तरि वा अच्] 1 A flock, multitude, group, troop, collection; गुणिगणगणना, भगणः -2 A series, a class. -3 A body of followers or attendants. -4 Particularly, a troop of demigods considered as Śiva's attendants and under the special superintendence of Gaṇeśa, a demigod of this troop; गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनाम् &c.; गणा नमेरुप्रसवावतंसाः Ku.1.55,7.4,71; Me.35.57; Ki.5.13. -5 Any assemblage or society of men formed for the attainment of the same objects. -6 A company, association. -7 A tribe, class. -8 A series of lunar mansions classed under three heads (of god, men and demons). -9 A sect (in philosophy, religion). -1 A small body of troops (a sub-division of अक्षौहिणी), consisting of 27 chariots, as many elephants, 81 horses and 135 foot; Mb.1.2.21. -11 A number (in math.). -12 A foot (in prosody). -13 (In gram.) A series of roots or words belonging to the same rule and called after the first word of that series; e. g. भ्वादिगण i. e. the class of roots which begin with भू. -14 An epithet of Gaṇeśa. -Comp. -अग्रणी m. N. of Gaṇeśa. -अचलः N. of the mountain Kailāsa, as the residence of the Gaṇas of Śiva. -अधिपः, -अधिपतिः 1 N. of Śiva; Śi.9.27. -2 N. of Gaṇeśa. -3 the chief of a troop of soldiers or of a class of disciples, of a body of men or animals. -अन्नम् a mess, food prepared for number of persons in common; Ms.4.29,219. -अभ्यन्तर a. one of a troop or number. (-रः) the leader or mem- ber of any religious association; Ms.3.154. -ईशः N. of Gaṇapati, Śiva's son (see गणपति below). ˚जननी an
In the Burmese language, गणे*श is known as Maha Peinne (မဟာပိန္နဲ,
pronounced [məhà pèiɴné]), derived from Pali Mahā Wināyaka (မဟာဝိနာယက).The widespread name of गणे*श in Thailand is Phra Phikanet. The earliest images and mention of गणे*श names as a major deity in present-day Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam date from the 7th- and 8th-centuries,and these mirror Indian examples of the 5th century or earlier. In Sri Lankan Singhala Buddhist areas, he is known as Gana deviyo, and revered along with Buddha, Vishnu,
Skanda and others.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha
Two iconographic representations of Gaṇeśa which predate any pratimā found in Bhārat are reported from China (dated to ca. 500 CE).
1. In Sri Lanka, the oldest image of Ganesh is found in the Kantak Chaitya in Mihintale dated to 1st century BCE.
2. Mahāvināyaka of Gardez, Afghanistan is dated to 5th century CE.
3. A painting of the elephant-headed deity is found in Cave 285 at Tun-huang, a chamber excavated in the Northern Wei dynasty but with some decorations dating the image to the T’ang dynasty.
4. A stone sculpture of the deity is found at Kung-hsien. The inscription on the image.datesit to 531 CE. Gaṇeśa of Kung-hsien is a two-armed seated figure, holds a lotus, the inscription described Gaṇeśa as the ‘‘Spirit King of Elephants’’.
The Chinese finds are reported in: Alice Getty, 1936, Ganesa, A monograph on the elephant-faced God, 1936, repr. Ed., Delhi, Munshiram Manoharlal, 1971), p.67, p.68.
Butsuzō-zu-i 仏像図彙, “Collected Illustrations of Buddhist Images.” Published 1690 (Genroku 元禄 3).“The theme of aiding the demonic spirits in order to control them and to stop the hindrances they create is continued in the works of a mid-eighth century Chinese disciple of Amoghavajra. Han-kuang pointed out that Vināyaka had many forms, the embracing figures, Ganapati, and the elephant-headed king. The Chinese Tantric master taught that the elephant-headed king is a symbol of the great power Vināyaka possesses, but just as an elephant can be tamed by the keeper, so Vināyaka can be tamed by certain rituals.” (Lewis Lancaster, 1991, Gaṇeśa in CHina: Methods of transforming the demonic, in: Robert L. Brown 1991, Ganesh, studies of an Asian God, State University of New York Press, p.284).
Gaṇeśa -- Prah Kenes (Khmer), Phra Phikanet (Thailand) -- from 1239 CE found at Bara belonging to Sangasari period is seen protected from the rear by a kīrtimukha face on the back of its head; skulls adorn the base of pratimā
http://staging.heritage-india.com/blog/ganeshaaroundtheworld/
"Kangi-ten (deva of bliss): This is the dual image known in Japanese as Kangi-ten. It shows two elephant-headed figures embracing their hands clasped behind each other’s back. This type of Ganesha-form came to Japan originally from China. This is a secret esoteric form of the god (Ganesha) Kangi-ten derived from the Tantric cult based on the Yoga doctrine of the union of the Individual with the Universal spirit." Another form Another form in Japan, Vajra Vinayaka or Kakuzencho, has three heads with three eyes, holds a sword, radish, sceptre and modak in his four hands.
http://staging.heritage-india.com/blog/ganeshaaroundtheworld/
See: Lewis Lancaster, 1991, Gaṇeśa in CHina: Methods of transforming the demonic, in: Robert L. Brown 1991, Ganesh, studies of an Asian God, State University of New York Press, pp. 277-286) https://www.academia.edu/10470293/Ganesha_in_China_Methods_of_Transforming_the_Demonic
Gaṇeśa is invoked in the R̥gveda (RV 2.23.1) as leader of gaņa, the retinue of Śiva. (Wilson, H. H. Ŗgveda Saṃhitā. Sanskrit text, English translation, notes, and index of verses. Parimal Sanskrit Series No. 45. Volume II: Maṇḍalas 2, 3, 4, 5. Second Revised Edition; Edited and Revised by Ravi Prakash Arya and K. L. Joshi. (Parimal Publications: Delhi, 2001).
गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् । ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणां ब्रह्मणस्पत आ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिः सीद सादनम् ॥१॥ gaṇānāṃ tvā gaṇapatiṃ havāmahe kaviṃ kavīnāmupamaśravastamam | RV 2.23.1; "We invoke the Brahmaṇaspati, chief leader of the (heavenly) bands; a sage of sages.")
Rebus: फड ‘manufactory, company, guild, public office’, keeper of all accounts, registers.
The Shahi dynasties ruled portions of the Kabul Valley (in eastern Afghanistan) and the old province of Gandhara (NE Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and NW India), known as Kabul-shahan, with twin capitals at Kapisa and Kabu, from the aftermath of the Kushan Empire in the 3rd century CE to the early 9th century.
The term Shahi was a popular royal title in Afghanistan — used at various times by Achaemenids, Bactrians, Sakas, Kushan rulers and Huns (Hephthalites), as well as by the 6th- to 8th-century Shahi rulers of Kapisa/Kabul.
Historians divide the Shahi Period of Kabul/Gandhara into two eras: the so-called Buddhist Turk-Shahis (before 870 AD), and the so-called Hindu-Shahis (after 870 AD).
Despite numerous references to the Shahis as decendents of the Kushans or Western Turks, the Shahi rulers of Kabul/Kapisa almost certainly descended from the warrior caste known as Ashvakas (the word from which, several scholars contend, the term "Afghan" is derived) who for many centuries dwelt in the region known as Kambojas on the northern and southern sides of the Hindu Kush range.![]()
गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् । ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणां ब्रह्मणस्पत आ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिः सीद सादनम् ॥१॥ gaṇānāṃ tvā gaṇapatiṃ havāmahe kaviṃ kavīnāmupamaśravastamam | RV 2.23.1; "We invoke the Brahmaṇaspati, chief leader of the (heavenly) bands; a sage of sages.")
Two verses in texts provide a description of the iconographic features of Gaṇeśa: 1. Black Yajurveda, Maitrāyaṇīya Saṃhitā (2.9.1) ( "tát karāţāya vidmahe | hastimukhāya dhîmahi | tán no dántî pracodáyāt||") and 2. Taittirīya Āraṇyaka(10.1) ("tát púruṣâya vidmahe vakratuṇḍāya dhîmahi| tán no dántî pracodáyāt||")
In these texts, two iconographic features recognized are: hastimukha 'elephant face' and vakratuṇḍa 'curved tusk'. A third iconographic feature recognized is that Gaṇeśa is surrounded by Maruts as attested in R̥gveda: RV 10.112.9 (10092) ni ṣu sīda gaṇapate gaṇeṣu tvāmāhurvipratamaṃ kavīnām; "Lord of the companies (of the Maruts), sit down among the companies (of the worshippers), they call you the most sage of sages".
त्रि tri-धातुः an epithet of Gaṇeśa; -तुम् 1 the triple world. -2 the aggregate of the 3 minerals or humours. (Apte lexicon) त्रि--धातु [p= 458,3] mfn. consisting of 3 parts , triple , threefold (used like Lat. triplex to denote excessive) RV. S3Br. v , 5 , 5 , 6; m. (scil. पुरोड्/आश) N. of an oblation TS. ii , 3 , 6. 1 ( -त्व्/अ n. abstr.); n. the triple world RV.; n. the aggregate of the 3 minerals or of the 3 humours W.; m. गणे*श L.
hēramb हेरम्बः [हे शिवे रम्बति रम्ब्-अच् अलुक् समा˚ Tv.] 1 N. of Gaṇeśa; जेता हेरम्बभृङ्गिप्रमुखगणचमूचक्रिणस्तारकारेः Mv. 2.17; हे हेरम्ब, किमम्ब, रोदिषि कथं, कर्णौ लुठत्यग्निभूः Subhāṣ. लुठत् [p= 904,1] mfn. rolling , falling down W.; flowing , trickling (?) ib.
In these texts, two iconographic features recognized are: hastimukha 'elephant face' and vakratuṇḍa 'curved tusk'. A third iconographic feature recognized is that Gaṇeśa is surrounded by Maruts as attested in R̥gveda: RV 10.112.9 (10092) ni ṣu sīda gaṇapate gaṇeṣu tvāmāhurvipratamaṃ kavīnām; "Lord of the companies (of the Maruts), sit down among the companies (of the worshippers), they call you the most sage of sages".
त्रि tri-धातुः an epithet of Gaṇeśa; -तुम् 1 the triple world. -2 the aggregate of the 3 minerals or humours. (Apte lexicon) त्रि--धातु [p= 458,3] mfn. consisting of 3 parts , triple , threefold (used like Lat. triplex to denote excessive) RV. S3Br. v , 5 , 5 , 6; m. (scil. पुरोड्/आश) N. of an oblation TS. ii , 3 , 6. 1 ( -त्व्/अ n. abstr.); n. the triple world RV.; n. the aggregate of the 3 minerals or of the 3 humours W.; m. गणे*श L.
hēramb हेरम्बः [हे शिवे रम्बति रम्ब्-अच् अलुक् समा˚ Tv.] 1 N. of Gaṇeśa; जेता हेरम्बभृङ्गिप्रमुखगणचमूचक्रिणस्तारकारेः Mv. 2.17; हे हेरम्ब, किमम्ब, रोदिषि कथं, कर्णौ लुठत्यग्निभूः Subhāṣ. लुठत् [p= 904,1] mfn. rolling , falling down W.; flowing , trickling (?) ib.
Tracing back through the mists of time into the periods prior to 8th millennium BCE, it is possible to realize the significance of Tri-dhātu Gaṇeśa venerated from the days of R̥gveda. Veneration of Ganesha dates back to Rigvedic times (See RV 2.23 sukta gaṇānāṃ tvā gaṇapatiṃ havāmahe kaviṃ kavīnām upamaśravastamam -- with translation appended). In the tradition of Bharatam Janam, gana are related to kharva, dwarfs as part of Kubera's nidhi; rebus: karba 'iron'. See:
Gaṇeśa, Indus Script tradition. significance of hieroglyphs on Dholkal, Bastar, Chattisgarh Ganesha with metal chain and pine cone https://www.academia.edu/s/32bd84b1b4
Mahāvināyaka, Tri-dhātu Gaṇeśa in Gardez; śabda-sphoṭa 'meaning of pratimā': karba, ib 'iron worker', phaḍa' फड 'manufactory in-charge, guild, public officer, scribe with iron stylus' (ib 'elephant' rebus; ib 'needle, writing stylus', ib 'iron')'.
Hieroglyph: फडा (p. 313) phaḍā f (फटा S) The hood of Coluber Nága &c. Ta. patam cobra's hood. Ma. paṭam id. Ka. peḍe id. Te. paḍaga id. Go. (S.) paṛge, (Mu.) baṛak, (Ma.) baṛki, (F-H.) biṛki hood of serpent (Voc. 2154). / Turner, CDIAL, no. 9040, Skt. (s)phaṭa-, sphaṭā- a serpent's expanded hood, Pkt. phaḍā- id. For IE etymology, see Burrow, The Problem of Shwa in Sanskrit, p. 45.(DEDR 47)
Rebus: फड ‘manufactory, company, guild, public office’, keeper of all accounts, registers.
फडपूस (p. 313) phaḍapūsa f (फड & पुसणें) Public or open inquiry. फडफरमाश or स (p. 313) phaḍapharamāśa or sa f ( H & P) Fruit, vegetables &c. furnished on occasions to Rajas and public officers, on the authority of their order upon the villages; any petty article or trifling work exacted from the Ryots by Government or a public officer.
फडनिविशी or सी (p. 313) phaḍaniviśī or sī & फडनिवीस Commonly फड- निशी & फडनीस. फडनीस (p. 313) phaḍanīsa m ( H) A public officer,--the keeper of the registers &c. By him were issued all grants, commissions, and orders; and to him were rendered all accounts from the other departments. He answers to Deputy auditor and accountant. Formerly the head Kárkún of a district-cutcherry who had charge of the accounts &c. was called फडनीस.
फडकरी (p. 313) phaḍakarī m A man belonging to a company or band (of players, showmen &c.) 2 A superintendent or master of a फड or public place. See under फड. 3 A retail-dealer (esp. in grain).
फडझडती (p. 313) phaḍajhaḍatī f sometimes फडझाडणी f A clearing off of public business (of any business comprehended under the word फड q. v.): also clearing examination of any फड or place of public business.
फड (p. 313) phaḍa m ( H) A place of public business or public resort; as a court of justice, an exchange, a mart, a counting-house, a custom-house, an auction-room: also, in an ill-sense, as खेळण्या- चा फड A gambling-house, नाचण्याचा फड A nach house, गाण्याचा or ख्यालीखुशालीचा फड A singing shop or merriment shop. The word expresses freely Gymnasium or arena, circus, club-room, debating-room, house or room or stand for idlers, newsmongers, gossips, scamps &c. 2 The spot to which field-produce is brought, that the crop may be ascertained and the tax fixed; the depot at which the Government-revenue in kind is delivered; a place in general where goods in quantity are exposed for inspection or sale. 3 Any office or place of extensive business or work, as a factory, manufactory, arsenal, dock-yard, printing-office &c. 4 A plantation or field (as of ऊस, वांग्या, मिरच्या, खरबुजे &c.): also a standing crop of such produce. 5 fig. Full and vigorous operation or proceeding, the going on with high animation and bustle (of business in general). v चाल, पड, घाल, मांड. 6 A company, a troop, a band or set (as of actors, showmen, dancers &c.) 7 The stand of a great gun. फड पडणें g. of s. To be in full and active operation. 2 To come under brisk discussion. फड मारणें- राखणें-संभाळणें To save appearances, फड मारणें or संपादणें To cut a dash; to make a display (upon an occasion). फडाच्या मापानें With full tale; in flowing measure. फडास येणें To come before the public; to come under general discussion.
गणे* श a[p= 343,2] m. (= °ण-नाथ) N. of the god of wisdom and of obstacles (son of शिव and पार्वती , or according to one legend of पार्वती alone ; though गणे*श causes obstacles he also removes them ; hence he is invoked at the commencement of all undertakings and at the opening of all compositions with the words नमो गणे*शाय विघ्ने*श्वराय ; he is represented as a short fat man with a protuberant belly , frequently riding on a rat or attended by one , and to denote his sagacity has the head of an elephant , which however has only one tusk ; the appellation गणे*श , with other similar compounds , alludes to his office as chief of the various classes of subordinate gods , who are regarded as शिव's attendants ; cf. RTL. pp. 48 , 62 , 79 , 392 , 440 ; he is said to have written down the MBh. as dictated by व्यास MBh. i , 74 ff. ; persons possessed , by गणे*श are referred to Ya1jn5. i , 270 ff.).
Hypertexts on the Gardez pratimā of Gaṇeśa and additional hieroglyphs.hypertexts on other images are:
1. cobra hood
2. membrum virile
3. elephant head
4. mouse
5. broken rusk
6. dance step
Rebus readings of the hypertexts relate their significance to iron-metal work:
1. फड, phaḍa, 'cobra hood' rebus: फड, phaḍa 'Bhāratīya arsenal of metal weapons'
2. lo 'membrum virile' rebus: loh 'copper'
3. karibha, ibha 'elephant' rebus: karba, ib 'iron' ib 'needle' (writing stylus) ibbo 'merchant'
6. meḍ 'dance-step' Rebus; mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Santali.Mu.Ho.).med 'copper' (Slavic) (cf. Candi-Sukuh Gaṇeśa)
Ib 'elephant' rebus: ib 'needle', rebus: ib 'iron' is a rendering in hypertext of the iron stylus used by Gaṇeśa as a scribe of Mahābhārata Epic.
Candi-Sukuh Gaṇeśa is shown in a dance-step, in the context of smelting, forging of sword by Bhima and by the bellows-blower Arjuna. The building in the background is a smelter/forge.![]()
The association of Gaṇeśa with iron-working gives him the name tri-dhātu 'three minerals' wich are:
goṭa 'laterite, ferrite ore' poḷa 'magnetite, ferrite ore' bicha 'haemtite, ferrite ore'. These three ferrite ores are signified by the hieroglyphs: goṭa 'round pebble stone' poḷa 'zebu, dewlap, honeycomb' bica 'scorpion'.
Gaṇeśa is signified as part of Marut गण[p= 343,1] troops or classes of inferior deities (especially certain troops of demi-gods considered as शिव's attendants and under the special superintendence of the god गणे*श ; cf. देवता) Mn. Ya1jn5. Lalit. &c; m. a flock , troop , multitude , number , tribe , series , class (of animate or inanimate beings) , body of followers or attendants RV. AV. &c.
 Marut-gaṇa including Gaṇeśa on a sculptural panel.Kailasanatha Temple,Kanchipuram. |
[quote] Hindu Shahi Rule
The Shahi dynasties ruled portions of the Kabul Valley (in eastern Afghanistan) and the old province of Gandhara (NE Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and NW India), known as Kabul-shahan, with twin capitals at Kapisa and Kabu, from the aftermath of the Kushan Empire in the 3rd century CE to the early 9th century.
The term Shahi was a popular royal title in Afghanistan — used at various times by Achaemenids, Bactrians, Sakas, Kushan rulers and Huns (Hephthalites), as well as by the 6th- to 8th-century Shahi rulers of Kapisa/Kabul.
Historians divide the Shahi Period of Kabul/Gandhara into two eras: the so-called Buddhist Turk-Shahis (before 870 AD), and the so-called Hindu-Shahis (after 870 AD).
Despite numerous references to the Shahis as decendents of the Kushans or Western Turks, the Shahi rulers of Kabul/Kapisa almost certainly descended from the warrior caste known as Ashvakas (the word from which, several scholars contend, the term "Afghan" is derived) who for many centuries dwelt in the region known as Kambojas on the northern and southern sides of the Hindu Kush range.
A 5th-century marble Gaṇeśa found in Gardez, Afghanistan, and once displayed at Dargah Pir Rattan Nath, Kabul (present location unknown). The inscription says that this "great and beautiful image of Mahāvināyaka" was consecrated by the Shahi King Khingala. (For photograph of statue and details of inscription, see: Dhavalikar, M.K., "Gaņeśa: Myth and Reality", in: Brown 1991, pp. 50, 63.[Dhavalikar, M.K. “A Note on Two Gaṇeśa Statues from Afghanistan.” East and West, vol. 21, no. 3/4, 1971, pp. 331–336, www.jstor.org/stable/29755703])
Mahāvināyaka of Gardez, Afghanistan. A 5th century marble Ganesha found in Gardez, Afghanistan, now at Dargah Pir Rattan Nath, Kabul. The inscription says that this "great and beautiful image of Mahāvināyaka" was consecrated by the Shahi King Khingala.(Dhavalikar, M. K., "Gaņeśa: Myth and Reality", in: Robert L. Brown 1991, Ganesh, studies of an Asian God, State University of New York Press, pp. 50,63). Dhavalikar ascribes the quick ascension of Gaṇeśa in the Hindu pantheon, and the emergence of the Ganapatyas, to this shift in emphasis from vighnakartā (obstacle-creator) to vighnahartā (obstacle-averter). (Ibid., p. 49)
Hooded snake on sacred thread.I suggest that the glyphics on the sacred thread and on the garment worn on the sculpture signify cobra-hoods. Cobra hoods are clearly seen on the following sculpture, on the left shoulder of .Gaṇeśa. These cobra-hoods are also comparable to the glyphics shown on Sanchi sculptural frieze.
Cobra hoods arching over membrum virile of charioteer. Daimabad.
फड, phaḍa, 'cobra hood' rebus: फड, phaḍa 'Bhāratīya arsenal of metal weapons' lo 'membrum virile' rebus: loh'copper'
Southern pillar, East Torana. Sanchi. Cobra hoods.
Sanchi. Sculptural frieze. Cobra hoods.
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Figure 1: Elephant-headed figure from Luristan, western Iran, 1000 BCE. Was this the scribe of the Mahabharata? | Figure 2: Four armed Ganesha, Shankar Dhar, Afghanistan, 4th century CE. | Figure 3: Four armed Mahavinayaka, Gardez, Afghanistan, 5th-6th century CE. |
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Figure 4: Ganesha as the primordial sound or pranava mantra OM. | Figure 5: Ganesha under the Pipal tree. | Figure 6: Ganesha as head of ganas, Mihintale stupa, Sri Lanka, 2nd-3rd century CE. |
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Figure 7: Ganesha in bas relief, Fatehgarh, Uttar Pradesh, 3rd century CE. | Figure 8: Ganesh, Mathura, 5th century CE. |
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Figure 9: Ganesha, Deogarh, Madhya Pradesh, 5th century CE. |
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Figure 10: Ganesha, Samalaji, Gujarat, 5th century CE. |
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Figure 11: Ganesh, Badami, Karnataka, 6th-7th Century CE. |
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Figure 12: Ganesha with Saptamatrikas, Aihole, Karnataka, 8th century CE. |
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Figure 13: Ganesha with dancing Shiva, Badami, Karnataka, 6th-7th century CE. | Figure 14: Dancing Ganesha, Gangaikonda-cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, 11th century CE. |
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Figure 15: A patachitra painting of dancing Ganesha, Orissa, contemporary painting. |
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Figure 16: Ashta Vinayaka, Maharashtra. |
Note on the cobra hoods of Daimabad chariot
Four hoods of cobra arch over membrum virile. Hypertext expression reads: lo gaṇḍa phaṇin Rebus plaintext readings : 1. phaṇi lokhaṇḍa, 'tin or lead foil,metalware,metal implements market (pun on the word paṇi, 'market'); 2. lokhaṇḍa paṇe (paṇi) 'metal implements production,metals quarry'. Thus, the charioteer is described to be a paṇikkan, 'a metals workers, a master metallurgical artificer'. Alternative: mēṇḍhra -- m.ʻ penis ʼ(Samskritam)(CDIAL 9606) rebus: मृदु mṛdu, mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' meḍ 'iron, metal' (Ho.Mu.) Alternative: reinforcement of semantics for upraised penis, for lo: bhar̥kanu 'rise of penis' (N.)(CDIAL 9365) rebus: bhaṭa 'furnace, smelter' Thus, an alternative plain text is: bhaṭa phaṇi lokhaṇḍa 'furnace (for) tin or lead foil, metal implements'.
Curved stick held in his right hand: मेंढा [ mēṇḍhā ] A crook or curved end (of a stick, horn &c.) rebus: मृदुmṛdu, mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' meḍ 'iron, metal' (Ho.Mu.)
Ta. paṇṭi cart, waggon, carriage; vaṇṭi id., cartload; vaṇṭil cart, carriage, bandy, wheel; pāṇṭi cart with a top, bullock cart; pāṇṭil two-wheeled cart, horse-drawn chariot. Ma.vaṇṭi, vaṇṭil wheel, cart, bandy. Ko. vaṇḍy cart. To. poḍy bullock-cart. Ka. baṇḍi bandy, cart, carriage, wheel. Tu. baṇḍi, bhaṇḍi cart. Te. baṇḍi carriage, cart, any wheeled conveyance. Kol. baṇḍi bullock-cart for freight. Ga. (P. S.&super2;) banḍi cart. Kuwi (Su. Isr.) baṇḍi id. / Skt. (Hem. Uṇ. 608) Or. baṇḍi. Ultimately from Skt. bhāṇḍa- goods, wares, as carrying these; for an IE etymology for bhāṇḍa-,(DEDR 50)
Hieroglyph: dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'metal casting' PLUS pōlaḍu, 'black drongo' rebus: pōlāda 'steel', pwlad (Russian), fuladh (Persian) folādī (Pashto).पोलाद [ pōlāda ] n ( or P) Steel. पोलादी a Of steel. (Marathi) bulad 'steel, flint and steel for making fire' (Amharic); fUlAd 'steel' (Arabic).
Hieroglyph: कोला (p. 105) kōlā m (Commonly कोल्हा) A jackal. For compounds see under कोल्हे. कोल्हा (p. 105) kōlhā m A jackal, Canis aureus. Linn. कोल्हें (p. 105) kōlhēṃ n A jackal. Without reference to sex. Pr. अडलें कोल्हेंमंगळ गाय Even the yelling jackal can sing pleasantly when he is in distress. कोल्हें Ta. kol working in iron, lacksmith; kollaṉ blacksmith. Ma. kollan blacksmith, artificer. Ko. kole·l
smithy, temple in Kota village. To. kwala·l Kota smithy. Ka. kolime, kolume, kulame, kulime, kulume, kulme fire-pit, furnace; (Bell.; U.P.U.) konimi
blacksmith (Gowda) kolla id. Koḍ. kollë blacksmith. Te. kolimi furnace. Go. (SR.) kollusānā to mend implements; (Ph.) kolstānā, kulsānā to forge; (Tr.) kōlstānā to repair (of ploughshares); (SR.) kolmi smithy (Voc. 948). Kuwi
(F.) kolhali to forge.(DEDR 2133)
Hieroglyph: barad, 'bullock': balivárda (balīv° ŚBr.) m. ʻ ox, bull ʼ TBr., balivanda- m. Kāṭh., barivarda -- m. lex. [Poss. a cmpd. of balín -- (cf. *balilla -- ) and a non -- Aryan word for ʻ ox ʼ (cf. esp. Nahālī baddī and poss. IA. forms like Sik. pāḍō ʻ bull < *pāḍḍa -- : EWA ii 419 with lit.)]Pa. balivadda -- m. ʻ ox ʼ, Pk. balĭ̄vadda -- , balidda -- , baladda -- m. (cf. balaya -- m. < *balaka -- ?); L. baledā, mult. baled m. ʻ herd of bullocks ʼ (→ S. ḇaledo m.); P. bald,baldh, balhd m. ʻ ox ʼ, baled, baledā m. ʻ herd of oxen ʼ, ludh. bahld, balēd m. ʻ ox ʼ; Ku. balad m. ʻ ox ʼ, gng. bald, N. (Tarai) barad, A. balad(h), B. balad, Or. baḷada, Bi.barad(h), Mth. barad (hyper -- hindiism baṛad), Bhoj. baradh, Aw.lakh. bardhu, H. balad, barad(h), bardhā m. (whence baladnā ʻ to bull a cow ʼ), G. baḷad m. balivardin -- .Addenda: balivárda -- [Cf. Ap. valivaṇḍa -- ʻ mighty ʼ, OP. balavaṇḍā]: WPah.kc. bɔḷəd m., kṭg. bɔḷd m. (LNH 30 bŏḷd), J. bald m., Garh. baḷda ʻ bullock ʼ.(CDIAL 9176) Rebus: भरत (p. 353) bharata n A factitious metal compounded of copper, pewter, tin &c.; भरती (p. 353) bharatī a Composed of the metal भरत.; भरताचें भांडें (p. 353) bharatācē mbhāṇḍēṃ n A vessel made of the metal भरत. (Marathi)
Hieroglyph: dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'metal casting' PLUS pōlaḍu, 'black drongo' rebus: pōlāda 'steel', pwlad (Russian), fuladh (Persian) folādī (Pashto).पोलाद [ pōlāda ] n ( or P) Steel. पोलादी a Of steel. (Marathi) bulad 'steel, flint and steel for making fire' (Amharic); fUlAd 'steel' (Arabic).
Hieroglyph: कोला (p. 105) kōlā m (Commonly कोल्हा) A jackal. For compounds see under कोल्हे. कोल्हा (p. 105) kōlhā m A jackal, Canis aureus. Linn. कोल्हें (p. 105) kōlhēṃ n A jackal. Without reference to sex. Pr. अडलें कोल्हेंमंगळ गाय Even the yelling jackal can sing pleasantly when he is in distress. कोल्हें Ta. kol working in iron, lacksmith; kollaṉ blacksmith. Ma. kollan blacksmith, artificer. Ko. kole·l
smithy, temple in Kota village. To. kwala·l Kota smithy. Ka. kolime, kolume, kulame, kulime, kulume, kulme fire-pit, furnace; (Bell.; U.P.U.) konimi
blacksmith (Gowda) kolla id. Koḍ. kollë blacksmith. Te. kolimi furnace. Go. (SR.) kollusānā to mend implements; (Ph.) kolstānā, kulsānā to forge; (Tr.) kōlstānā to repair (of ploughshares); (SR.) kolmi smithy (Voc. 948). Kuwi
(F.) kolhali to forge.(DEDR 2133)
Hieroglyph: barad, 'bullock': balivárda (balīv° ŚBr.) m. ʻ ox, bull ʼ TBr., balivanda- m. Kāṭh., barivarda -- m. lex. [Poss. a cmpd. of balín -- (cf. *balilla -- ) and a non -- Aryan word for ʻ ox ʼ (cf. esp. Nahālī baddī and poss. IA. forms like Sik. pāḍō ʻ bull < *pāḍḍa -- : EWA ii 419 with lit.)]Pa. balivadda -- m. ʻ ox ʼ, Pk. balĭ̄vadda -- , balidda -- , baladda -- m. (cf. balaya -- m. < *balaka -- ?); L. baledā, mult. baled m. ʻ herd of bullocks ʼ (→ S. ḇaledo m.); P. bald,baldh, balhd m. ʻ ox ʼ, baled, baledā m. ʻ herd of oxen ʼ, ludh. bahld, balēd m. ʻ ox ʼ; Ku. balad m. ʻ ox ʼ, gng. bald, N. (Tarai) barad, A. balad(h), B. balad, Or. baḷada, Bi.barad(h), Mth. barad (hyper -- hindiism baṛad), Bhoj. baradh, Aw.lakh. bardhu, H. balad, barad(h), bardhā m. (whence baladnā ʻ to bull a cow ʼ), G. baḷad m. balivardin -- .Addenda: balivárda -- [Cf. Ap. valivaṇḍa -- ʻ mighty ʼ, OP. balavaṇḍā]: WPah.kc. bɔḷəd m., kṭg. bɔḷd m. (LNH 30 bŏḷd), J. bald m., Garh. baḷda ʻ bullock ʼ.(CDIAL 9176) Rebus: भरत (p. 353) bharata n A factitious metal compounded of copper, pewter, tin &c.; भरती (p. 353) bharatī a Composed of the metal भरत.; भरताचें भांडें (p. 353) bharatācē mbhāṇḍēṃ n A vessel made of the metal भरत. (Marathi)
karukku-paṇi embossed work (Ma.)(DEDR 1280) Ka. paṇe ground that is worked, tillage, quarry; paṇṇeya, paṇya farm, landed estate. Tu. (B-K.) paṇe quarry. (DEDR 3891) Ta. paṇ service, work, business, employment, decoration; paṇi act, action, performance, work, service, decoration; paṇati workmanship, action, creation, ornament; paṇiti work, structure, ornament; paṇikkaṉ master-builder, carpenter; paṇikkam, paṇikku accuracy of design, elaboration in a work; paṇinar servants; paṇpu action, deed; paṇṇu (paṇṇi-) to make, effect, produce, adorn; paṉṉu (paṉṉi-) to do anything with consideration and skill. Ma. paṇi work, labour, service, building, exertion; paṇikkan workman, artificer; paṇiyuka to build; paṇiyan a caste of cultivators in hilly districts; game-trackers, living chiefly in Wynad; paṇṇuka, paṇṇikka vb. denoting coitus (obscene). Ko. paṇynman of a caste at Gudalur in Wynad; fem. paṇc; ? paṇ anvil. To. poṇy work. Ka. paṇṇu to make ready, prepare, equip, decorate; paṇṇika, paṇṇige, paṇṇuge arranging, making ready, equipping. Koḍ. paṇi work. Tu. paṇipuni to give a shape (e.g. to a vessel). Te. pani work, labour, act, deed, workmanship, art; (inscr.) paṇi work; pannu to contrive, plan, design, invent; (K. also) be ready, make ready; (K. also) n. suitability. Kol. (SR.) pannī work, labour. Nk. pani work. Pa. panḍp- (panḍt-) to make, do. Ga. (Oll.) panḍ- to be able. Go. (LSI, Kōi) paṇi, (Grigson) paṛī, (Ko.) paṛi work (Voc. 2092); panḍ- (G.) to build (house), (Mu.) to make, build, repair, (Ma.) to make, construct; (L.) pandānā to make, repair (Voc. 2093). Konḍa pand- (-it-) to prepare, construct, devise, plan; paṇi work(DEDR 3884)
gaṇḍa set of four (Santali); rebus: kaṇḍ 'fire-altar, furnace' (Santali) rebus: kāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans and metal-ware’ (Marathi) खंडा [ khaṇḍā ] m A sort of sword. It is straight and twoedged. खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m A kind of sword, straight, broad-bladed, two-edged, and round-ended. खांडाईत [khāṇḍāīta] a Armed with the sword called खांडा. (Marathi)
PLUS phaṇin 'cobra hood' rebus: phaṇi 'tin or lead foil'.
Hieroglyph: lo 'penis' Go<luGguj>(Z) [lUGguy'] {NB} ``male ^genitals, ^penis, ^scrotum''.(Munda etyma) loe 'penis' (Ho.) Rebus: loh 'copper, iron, metal' (Indian sprachbund, Meluhha) लोह [p= 908,3]mfn. (prob. fr. a √ रुह् for a lost √ रुध् , " to be red " ; cf. रोहि , रोहिण &c ) red , reddish , copper-coloured S3rS. MBh.made of copper S3Br. (Sch.)made of iron Kaus3.m. n. red metal , copper VS. &c
Hieroglyph: ``^penis'':So. laj(R) ~ lij ~ la'a'j ~ laJ/ laj ~ kaD `penis'.Sa. li'j `penis, esp. of small boys'.
Sa. lO'j `penis'.Mu. lOe'j ~ lOGgE'j `penis'. ! lO'jHo loe `penis'.Ku. la:j `penis'.@(C289) ``^penis'':
Sa. lOj `penis'.Mu. lOj `penis'.KW lOj@(M084) <lO?Oj>(D),,<AlAj>(L)//<lAj>(DL) {N} ``^penis''. #43901.
<ului>(P),,<uluj>(MP) {NB} ``^penis, male organ, male^genitals''. Cf. <kOlOb>(P),<susu>(M) `testicle'; <kuLij>(M), <kuRij>(P) `vulva'. *Sa., MuN<lO'j>, MuH, Ho<lo'e>,So.<laj-An>, U.Tem.<lo'> ??. %33271. #33031.So<lO?Oj>(D),,<AlAj>(L)//<lAj>(DL) {N} ``^penis''.
<lohosua>(D) {NI} ``^dance''. #20141.
in comp. for फणिन् m. " hooded " , a serpent esp. Coluber नाग) Ka1v. Katha1s.
Pur. phaṇin ʻ hooded (of snake, esp. cobra) ʼ Kathās. [phaṇá -- 1] Pk. phaṇi -- m. ʻ snake ʼ; P. phaṇī ʻ flat -- headed (of snake) ʼ; A. phanī ʻ snake ʼ; Or. phaṇī ʻ hooded ʼ, sb. ʻ snake ʼ; H. phanī ʻ hooded ʼ; G. phaṇī m. ʻsnake ʼ, Si. paṇiya.(CDIAL 9046) phaṇa1 m. ʻ expanded hood of snake (esp. of cobra) ʼ MBh. 2. *phēṇa -- 2. [Cf. phaṭa -- , *phēṭṭa -- 2 and *phaṇati2. -- For mng. ʻ shoulder -- blade ʼ &c. cf. association of shape in phaṇāphalaka -- Bhartr̥. ~ aṁsaphalaká -- ŚBr. and cf. phēna -- n. ʻ cuttlefish bone ʼ Car.] 1. Pa. phaṇa -- m. ʻ expanded hood of snake ʼ, Pk. phaṇa -- m., °ṇā -- f.; Wg. paṇ -- šī ʻ big snake ʼ (+šai ʻ head ʼ? NTS xvii 287); K. phan m. ʻ expanded hood of snake ʼ, S. phaṇi f., L.awāṇ. phaṇ, P. phaṇ, °ṇu f., ludh. phan m., WPah. (Joshi) faṇ m., Ku. phaṇ, °ṇi, N. phani, A. phanā, B. phan, °nā, Or. phaṇā̆, Mth. phanā, Bhoj. phan, H. phan, °nā m., G. pheṇ (< *phaṇi), phaṇī f., M. phaṇ m., °ṇī f., Si. paṇa, peṇa. -- S. phaṇi f. ʻshoulderblade ʼ; H. phanī f. ʻ wedge ʼ; G. phaṇɔ m. ʻ fore part of foot ʼ. 2. A. phenā ʻ expanded hood of snakeʼ, Or. pheṇā̆. phaṇin -- , phaṇakara -- .phaṇá -- 2 ʻ froth ʼ see phāṇita -- .Addenda: phaṇa -- 1: S.kcch. phaṇ f. ʻ snake's hood, front part of foot ʼ, phaṇī f. ʻ weaver's toothed instrument for pressing and closing the woof ʼ; WPah.kṭg. phɔ́ṇ m. ʻ cobra's hood ʼ; Garh. phaṇ ʻ snake's hood ʼ. (CDIAL 9042) phaṇakara m. ʻ cobra ʼ lex. [Cf. phaṇākara -- , phaṇa- dhara -- , phaṇādh° m. lex. -- phaṇa -- 1, kará -- 1]L. phaniar m., P. phanyar m., WPah. (Joshi) fanā'r m. (all with n, not ṇ?).Addenda: phaṇakara -- : WPah.kṭg. phɔ́ṇər m. ʻ cobra ʼ, J. fanā'r m. (kṭg. phɔ́ṇir m. poss. ← P. Him.I 127). (CDIAL 9043)
Rebus 1: tin or metal foil: फणिन् [p= 716,2] n. (prob.) tin or lead Ka1lac. panī f. ʻ tinfoil ʼ(Sindhi); P. pannā m. ʻleaf, page ʼ, pannī f. ʻ gilt leather ʼ; H. pān m. ʻ leaf ʼ, pannā m. ʻ leaf, page ʼ, pannī f. ʻ metal foil, grass for thatching ʼ; G. pānũ n. ʻ blade ʼ(CDIAL 7918) prāmāṇika ʻ founded on authority ʼ Dāyabh., m. ʻ chief of a trade ʼW. [pramāṇa-- ] B. pāni, pã̄in, pāin a surname? (CDIAL 8949)
Rebus 2: पणि [p= 580,2] a market L.; N. of a class of envious demons watching over treasures RV. (esp. x , 108) AV. S3Br.; m. a bargainer , miser , niggard (esp. one who is sparing of sacrificial oblations) RV. AV.
Rebus: <loha>(BD) {NI} ``^iron''. Syn. <luaG>(D). *@. #20131) laúha -- ʻ made of copper or iron ʼGr̥Śr., ʻ red ʼ MBh., n. ʻ iron, metal ʼ Bhaṭṭ. [lōhá -- ] Pk. lōha -- ʻ made of iron ʼ; L. lohā ʻ iron -- coloured, reddish ʼ; P. lohā ʻ reddish -- brown (of cattle) ʼ.lōhá 11158 lōhá ʻ red, copper -- coloured ʼ ŚrS., ʻ made of copper ʼ ŚBr., m.n. ʻ copper ʼ VS., ʻ iron ʼ MBh. [*rudh -- ] Pa. lōha -- m. ʻ metal, esp. copper or bronze ʼ; Pk. lōha -- m. ʻ iron ʼ, Gy. pal. li°, lihi, obl. elhás, as. loa JGLS new ser. ii 258; Wg. (Lumsden) "loa" ʻ steel ʼ; Kho.loh ʻ copper ʼ; S. lohu m. ʻ iron ʼ, L. lohā m., awāṇ. lōˋā, P. lohā m. (→ K.rām. ḍoḍ. lohā), WPah.bhad. lɔ̃u n., bhal. lòtilde; n., pāḍ. jaun. lōh, paṅ. luhā, cur. cam.lohā, Ku. luwā, N. lohu, °hā, A. lo, B. lo, no, Or. lohā, luhā, Mth. loh, Bhoj. lohā, Aw.lakh. lōh, H. loh, lohā m., G. M. loh n.; Si. loho, lō ʻ metal, ore, iron ʼ; Md.ratu -- lō ʻ copper ʼ.WPah.kṭg. (kc.) lóɔ ʻ iron ʼ, J. lohā m., Garh. loho; Md. lō ʻ metal ʼ. (CDIAL 11172).
Pur. phaṇin ʻ hooded (of snake, esp. cobra) ʼ Kathās. [phaṇá -- 1] Pk. phaṇi -- m. ʻ snake ʼ; P. phaṇī ʻ flat -- headed (of snake) ʼ; A. phanī ʻ snake ʼ; Or. phaṇī ʻ hooded ʼ, sb. ʻ snake ʼ; H. phanī ʻ hooded ʼ; G. phaṇī m. ʻsnake ʼ, Si. paṇiya.(CDIAL 9046) phaṇa1 m. ʻ expanded hood of snake (esp. of cobra) ʼ MBh. 2. *phēṇa -- 2. [Cf. phaṭa -- , *phēṭṭa -- 2 and *phaṇati2. -- For mng. ʻ shoulder -- blade ʼ &c. cf. association of shape in phaṇāphalaka -- Bhartr̥. ~ aṁsaphalaká -- ŚBr. and cf. phēna -- n. ʻ cuttlefish bone ʼ Car.] 1. Pa. phaṇa -- m. ʻ expanded hood of snake ʼ, Pk. phaṇa -- m., °ṇā -- f.; Wg. paṇ -- šī ʻ big snake ʼ (+šai ʻ head ʼ? NTS xvii 287); K. phan m. ʻ expanded hood of snake ʼ, S. phaṇi f., L.awāṇ. phaṇ, P. phaṇ, °ṇu f., ludh. phan m., WPah. (Joshi) faṇ m., Ku. phaṇ, °ṇi, N. phani, A. phanā, B. phan, °nā, Or. phaṇā̆, Mth. phanā, Bhoj. phan, H. phan, °nā m., G. pheṇ (< *phaṇi), phaṇī f., M. phaṇ m., °ṇī f., Si. paṇa, peṇa. -- S. phaṇi f. ʻshoulderblade ʼ; H. phanī f. ʻ wedge ʼ; G. phaṇɔ m. ʻ fore part of foot ʼ. 2. A. phenā ʻ expanded hood of snakeʼ, Or. pheṇā̆. phaṇin -- , phaṇakara -- .phaṇá -- 2 ʻ froth ʼ see phāṇita -- .Addenda: phaṇa -- 1: S.kcch. phaṇ f. ʻ snake's hood, front part of foot ʼ, phaṇī f. ʻ weaver's toothed instrument for pressing and closing the woof ʼ; WPah.kṭg. phɔ́ṇ m. ʻ cobra's hood ʼ; Garh. phaṇ ʻ snake's hood ʼ. (CDIAL 9042) phaṇakara m. ʻ cobra ʼ lex. [Cf. phaṇākara -- , phaṇa- dhara -- , phaṇādh° m. lex. -- phaṇa -- 1, kará -- 1]L. phaniar m., P. phanyar m., WPah. (Joshi) fanā'r m. (all with n, not ṇ?).Addenda: phaṇakara -- : WPah.kṭg. phɔ́ṇər m. ʻ cobra ʼ, J. fanā'r m. (kṭg. phɔ́ṇir m. poss. ← P. Him.I 127). (CDIAL 9043)
Rebus 1: tin or metal foil: फणिन् [p= 716,2] n. (prob.) tin or lead Ka1lac. panī f. ʻ tinfoil ʼ(Sindhi); P. pannā m. ʻleaf, page ʼ, pannī f. ʻ gilt leather ʼ; H. pān m. ʻ leaf ʼ, pannā m. ʻ leaf, page ʼ, pannī f. ʻ metal foil, grass for thatching ʼ; G. pānũ n. ʻ blade ʼ(CDIAL 7918) prāmāṇika ʻ founded on authority ʼ Dāyabh., m. ʻ chief of a trade ʼW. [pramāṇa-- ] B. pāni, pã̄in, pāin a surname? (CDIAL 8949)
Rebus 2: पणि [p= 580,2] a market L.; N. of a class of envious demons watching over treasures RV. (esp. x , 108) AV. S3Br.; m. a bargainer , miser , niggard (esp. one who is sparing of sacrificial oblations) RV. AV.
Rebus: <loha>(BD) {NI} ``^iron''. Syn. <luaG>(D). *@. #20131) laúha -- ʻ made of copper or iron ʼGr̥Śr., ʻ red ʼ MBh., n. ʻ iron, metal ʼ Bhaṭṭ. [lōhá -- ] Pk. lōha -- ʻ made of iron ʼ; L. lohā ʻ iron -- coloured, reddish ʼ; P. lohā ʻ reddish -- brown (of cattle) ʼ.lōhá 11158 lōhá ʻ red, copper -- coloured ʼ ŚrS., ʻ made of copper ʼ ŚBr., m.n. ʻ copper ʼ VS., ʻ iron ʼ MBh. [*rudh -- ] Pa. lōha -- m. ʻ metal, esp. copper or bronze ʼ; Pk. lōha -- m. ʻ iron ʼ, Gy. pal. li°, lihi, obl. elhás, as. loa JGLS new ser. ii 258; Wg. (Lumsden) "loa" ʻ steel ʼ; Kho.loh ʻ copper ʼ; S. lohu m. ʻ iron ʼ, L. lohā m., awāṇ. lōˋā, P. lohā m. (→ K.rām. ḍoḍ. lohā), WPah.bhad. lɔ̃u n., bhal. lòtilde; n., pāḍ. jaun. lōh, paṅ. luhā, cur. cam.lohā, Ku. luwā, N. lohu, °hā, A. lo, B. lo, no, Or. lohā, luhā, Mth. loh, Bhoj. lohā, Aw.lakh. lōh, H. loh, lohā m., G. M. loh n.; Si. loho, lō ʻ metal, ore, iron ʼ; Md.ratu -- lō ʻ copper ʼ.WPah.kṭg. (kc.) lóɔ ʻ iron ʼ, J. lohā m., Garh. loho; Md. lō ʻ metal ʼ. (CDIAL 11172).
lōhakāra m. ʻ iron -- worker ʼ, °rī -- f., °raka -- m. lex., lauhakāra -- m. Hit. [lōhá -- , kāra -- 1]Pa. lōhakāra -- m. ʻ coppersmith, ironsmith ʼ; Pk. lōhāra -- m. ʻ blacksmith ʼ, S. luhā̆ru m., L. lohār m., °rī f., awāṇ. luhār, P. WPah.khaś. bhal. luhār m., Ku. lwār, N. B. lohār, Or. lohaḷa, Bi.Bhoj. Aw.lakh. lohār, H. lohār, luh° m., G. lavār m., M. lohār m.; Si. lōvaru ʻ coppersmith ʼ.WPah.kṭg. (kc.) lhwāˋr m. ʻ blacksmith ʼ, lhwàri f. ʻ his wifeʼ, Garh. lwār m. (CDIAL 11159).lōhaghaṭa 11160 *lōhaghaṭa ʻ iron pot ʼ. [lōhá -- , ghaṭa -- 1]Bi. lohrā, °rī ʻsmall iron pan ʼ.*lōhaphāla -- ʻ ploughshare ʼ. [lōhá -- , phāˊla -- 1]WPah.kṭg. lhwāˋḷ m. ʻ ploughshare ʼ, J. lohāl m. ʻ an agricultural implement ʼ Him.I 197; -- or < †*lōhahala -- .(CDIAL 11160) lōhala ʻ made of ironʼ W. [lōhá -- ]G. lohar, lohariyɔ m. ʻ selfwilled and unyielding man ʼ.(CDIAL 11161).*lōhaśālā ʻ smithy ʼ. [lōhá-- , śāˊlā -- ]Bi. lohsārī ʻ smithy ʼ. (CDIAL 11162).lōhahaṭṭika 11163 *lōhahaṭṭika ʻ ironmonger ʼ. [lōhá -- , haṭṭa -- ] P.ludh. lōhṭiyā m. ʻ ironmonger ʼ.†*lōhahala -- ʻ ploughshare ʼ. [lōhá -- , halá -- ]WPah.kṭg. lhwāˋḷ m. ʻ ploughshare ʼ, J. lohāl ʻ an agricultural instrument ʼ; rather < †*lōhaphāla -- .(CDIAL 11163).
."ancing Gaṇeśa sculpture from North Bengal, 11th century CE, Asian Art Museumof Berlin (Dahlem).
Gaṇapati, Madhya Pradesh, c. 750, IndiaThe devatā of the Sukta is Brahmaṇaspati.
Brahmaṇaspati also called Gaṇapati is the chief leader of the heavenly bands; he is also a kavi, says RV 2.23.1 कवि mfn. ( √1. कू cf. 2. कव , /आकूत , /आकूति , काव्य Naigh. iii , 15 Nir. xii , 13 Un2. iv , 138) gifted with insight , intelligent , knowing , enlightened , wise , sensible , prudent , skilful , cunning; m. a thinker , intelligent man , man of understanding , leader; m. a wise man , sage , seer , prophet;m. a singer , bard , poet (but in this sense without any technical application in the वेद) RV. VS. TS. AV. S3Br. i , 4 , 2 , 8 Kat2hUp. iii , 14 MBh. Bhag. Bha1gP. Mn. vii , 49 R. Ragh.; m. N. of several gods , (esp.) of अग्नि RV. ii , 23 , 1 ; x , 5 , 4 , 3 ; iii , 5 , 1 ; i , 31 , 2 ; 76 , 5; m. of वरुण , इन्द्र , the अश्विन्s , मरुत्s , आदित्यs; m. of the सोम; m. of the सोम priest and other sacrificers;m. of the ऋभुs (as skilful in contrivance); m. a keeper or herd RV. vii , 18 , 8; m. (fig.) N. of the gates of the sacrificial enclosure TS. v , 11 , 1 , 2 (cf. कव्/अष्); m. the sun (Monier-Williams)
2.023.01 We invoke the Brahman.aspati, chief leaderof the (heavenly) bands; a sage of sage; aboundingbeyondmeasure in (every kind of) food;best lord of prayer; hearing our invocations, come with your protections, and sit down in the chamber of sacrifice. [Brahman.aspati = brahman.o annasya parivr.d.hasya karman.o va_ pa_layita_, the protector or cherisher of food,or of any great or solemn acts of devotion; he has other attributes in the text, as, gan.a_na_m gan.apatih, chief of the gan.as (inferior deities); jyes.t.hara_jam brahman.a_m, the best lord of mantras, or prayers: pras'asyam sva_minam mantra_n.a_m].
2.023.02 Br.haspati, destroyer of the asuras, through you the intelligent gods have obtained the sacrificialportion; in like manner as the adorable sun generates the (solar) rays by his radiance, so are you the generator of all prayers. [Br.haspati = Brahman.aspati; perhaps Br.haspati is of a more martial character; his protection is souhght for against enemies and evil spirits; perhaps, br.hata_m veda_na_m pa_lakah: br.hat = mantra, br.hato mantrasya, sva_min].
2.023.03 Having repelled revilers and (dispersed) the darkness you stand Br.haspati, on the radiant chariot of sacrifice, (which is) formidable (to foes), the humiliator of enemies, the destroyer of evil spirits, the cleaver of the clouds, the attainer of heaven.
2.023.04 You lead men, Br.haspati, by virtuous instructions; you preserve them (from calamity); sin will never overtake him who presents (offerings) to you; you are the afflicter of him who hates (holy) prayers; you are the punisher of wrath; such is your great mightiness. [Him who hates holy prayers: brahmadvis.ah = those who hate either the bra_hman.as,or the mantras or prayers].
2.023.05 The man whom you, Brahman.aspati, a kind protector, defend, neither sorrow nor sin, nor adversaries nor dissemblers ever harm, for you drive away from him all injurious (things).
2.023.06 You, Br.haspati, are our protector and the guide of (our) path; (you are) the discerner (of all things); we worship with praises for your adoration; may his own precipitate malice involve him (in destruction) who practises deceit against us.
2.023.07 Turn aside from (the true) path, Br.haspati, the arrogant and savage man who advances to injure us, although unoffending and keep us in the right way for (the completion of) this offering to the gods.
2.023.08 Br.haspati, defender (from calamity), we invoke you, the protector of our persons, the speaker of encouraging words and well disposed towards us; do you destroy the revilers of the gods; let not the malevolent attain supreme felicity.
2.023.09 Through you, Brahman.aspati, (our) benefactor, may we obtain desirable wealth from men destroy those (our) unrighteous enemies, whether nigh or far off, who prevail against us.
2.023.10 Through you, Br.haspati, (who are) the fulfiller of our desires; pure, and associated (with us), we possess excellent food; let not the wicked man who wishes to deceive us be our master; but let us, excelling in (pious) praises, attain (prosperity).
2.023.11 You, Brahman.aspati, who have no requiter (of your bounty), who are the showerer (of benefits), the repairer to combat, the consumer of foes, the victor in battles, you are true, the discharger of debts, the humiliator of the fierce and of the exulting.
2.023.12 Let not, Br.haspati, the murderous (weapon) of that man reach us, who, with unrighteous mind, seeks to harm us; who, fierce and arrogant, designs to kill (your) worshippers; may we baffle the wrath of the strong evil-doer].
2.023.13 Br.haspati is to be invoked in battles; he is to be approached with reverence; he who moves amidst combats, the distributor of repeated wealth; the lord Br.haspati has verily overturned all the assailing malignant (hosts), like chariots (overturned in battle).
2.023.14 Consume with your brightest (weapon) the ra_ks.asas, who have held your witnessed prowess in disdain; manifest, Br.haspati, your glorified (vigour), such as it was (of old), and destroy those who speak against you.
2.023.15 Br.haspati, born of truth, grant us that wonderful treasure, wherewith the pious man may worship exceedingly; that (wealth) which shines amongst men; which is endowed with lustre, (is) the means of (performing holy) rites, and invogirates (its possessor) with strength. [dravin.am citram = lit., various or wonderful wealth; in the Bra_hman.as it is interpreted as brahma varcas or tejas, brahmanical virtue or energy (cf. Yajus. 26.3; dravin.am = dhanam (Aitareya Bra_hman.a 4.11)].
2.023.16 Deliver us not to the thieves, the enemies delighting in violence, who seize ever upon the food (of others); those who cherish in their hearts the abandonment (of the gods); (they), Br.haspati, who do not know the extent of (your) power (against evil spirits). [Who do not know the extenf of your power: na parah sa_mno viduh = ye puma_msah sa_mnah sa_maya_t tvattah parah parasta_d anyadukr.s.t.am sa_ma yad raks.oghnam na ja_nanti, those men who do not know anything greater than the faculty of destroying ra_ks.asas, derived from you made up of that faculty; sa_ma vai raks.oha = sa_ma is the killer of ra_ks.asas].
2.023.17 Tvas.t.a_ engendered you (chief) amongst all beings, (whence) you are the reciter of many a holy hymn: Brahman.aspati acknowledges a debt to the performer of a sacred rite; he is the acquitter (of the debt), and the destoyer of the oppressor. [When you are the reciter: sa_mnah sa_mnah kavih, the reicter or another of every sa_ma, sarvasya sa_mnah ucca_rayita_ karta_si; or kavi refers to tvas.t.a_, further explained as the sage who created Brahman.aspati by the efficacy of the sa_ma: sa_mnah sa_ren.a tvam aji_janat; acknowledges a debt: r.n.acit stotr.ka_mam r.n.am iva cinoti, he takes the intention of the praiser as if it was a debt, or obligation; acquitter of the debt: r.n.aya is explained as the discharger or remover of the debt which is of the nature of sin: pa_paru_pasya r.n.asya pr.thak karta_].
2.023.18 When Br.haspati, descendant of An:giras, for your glory, Parvata had concealed the herd o fkine, you did set them free, and with thine associate, Indra, did send down the ocean of water which had been enveloped by darkness.
2.023.19 Brahman.aspati, who are the regulator of this (world), understand (the purport) of (our) hymn, and grant us posterity; for all is prosperous that the gods protect; (and therefore) may we blessed with excellent descendants, glorify you at this sacrifice. [Yajus. 34.58; vadema = may we declare or glorify you; or, let us speak, let what we ask be given to us;let it be enjoyed by us: di_yata_m bhujyata_m ucca_rayema].
RV 2.23 Brahmanaspati. 23 (Griffith)
1. WE call thee, Lord and Leader of the heavenly hosts, the wise among the wise, the famousest of
all,
The King supreme of prayers, O Brahmanaspati: hear us with help; sit down in place of sacrifice.
2 Brhaspati, God immortal! verily the Gods have gained from thee, the wise, a share in holy rites.
As with great light the Sun brings forth the rays of morn, so thou alone art Father of all sacred
prayer.
3 When thou hast chased away revilers and the gloom, thou mountest the refulgent car of sacrifice;
The awful car, Brhaspati, that quells the foe, slays demons, cleaves the stall of kine, and finds
the light.
4 Thou leadest with good guidance and preservest men; distress overtakes not him who offers gifts
to thee.
Him who hates prayer thou punishest, Brhaspati, quelling his wrath: herein is thy great mightiness.
5 No sorrow, no distress from any side, no foes, no creatures doubletongued- have overcome the
man,
Thou drivest all seductive fiends away from him whom, careful guard, thou keepest Brahmanaspati.
6 Thou art our keeper, wise, preparer of our paths: we, for thy service, sing to thee with hymns
of praise.
Brhaspati, whoever lays a snare for us, him may his evil fate, precipitate, destroy.
7 Him, too, who threatens us without offence of ours, the evilminded, arrogant, rapacious man,
Him turn thou from our path away, Brhaspati: give us fair access to this banquet of the Gods.
8 Thee as protector of our bodies we invoke, thee, saviour, as the comforter who loveth us.
Strike, O Brhaspati, the Gods revilers down, and let not the unrighteous come to highest bliss.
9 Through thee, kind prosperer, O Brahmanaspati, may we obtain the wealth of Men which all desire:
And all our enemies, who near or far away prevail against us, crush, and leave them destitute.
10 With thee as our own rich and liberal ally may we, Brhaspati, gain highest power of life.
Let not the guileful wicked man be lord of us: still may we prosper, singing goodly hymns of
praise.
11 Strong, never yielding, hastening to the battlecry-, consumer of the foe, victorious in the
strife,
Thou art sins' true avenger, Brahmanaspati, who tamest even the fierce, the wildly passionate.
12 Whoso with mind ungodly seeks to do us harm, who, deeming him a man of might mid lords, would
slay,
Let not his deadly blow reach us, Brhaspati; may we humiliate the strong illdoers-' wrath.
13 The mover mid the spoil, the winner of all wealth, to be invoked in fight and reverently adored,
Brhaspati hath overthrown like cars of war all wicked enemies who fain would injure us.
14 Burn up the demons with thy fiercest flaming brand, those who have scorned thee in thy
manifested might.
Show forth that power that shall deserve the hymn of praise: destroy the evil speakers, O
Brhaspati.
15 Brhaspati, that which the foe deserves not which shines among the folk effectual, splendid,
That, Son of Law I which is with might refulgentthat- treasure wonderful bestow thou on us.
16 Give us not up to those who, foes in ambuscade, are greedy for the wealth of him who sits at
ease,
Who cherish in their heart abandonment of Gods. Brhaspati, no further rest shall they obtain.
17 For Tvastar, he who knows each sacred song, brought thee to life, preeminent over all the
things that be.
Guiltscourger-, guiltavenger- is Brhaspati, who slays the spoiler and upholds the mighty Law.
18 The mountain, for thy glory, cleft itself apart when, Angiras! thou openedst the stall of kine.
Thou, O Brhaspati, with Indra for ally didst hurl down waterfloods- which gloom had compassed
round.
19 O Brahmanaspati, be thou controller of this our hymn and prosper thou our children.
All that the Gods regard with love is blessed. Loud may we speak, with heroes, in assembly.
गणे* श m. (= °ण-नाथ) N. of the god of wisdom and of obstacles (son of शिव and पार्वती , or according to one legend of पार्वती alone ; though गणे*श
causes obstacles he also removes them ; hence he is invoked at the commencement of all undertakings and at the opening of all compositions with the words नमो गणे*शाय विघ्ने*श्वराय ; he is represented as a short fat man with a protuberant belly , frequently riding on a rat or attended by one , and to denote his sagacity has the head of an elephant , which however has only one tusk ; the appellation गणे*श , with other similar compounds , alludes to his office as chief of the various classes of subordinate gods , who are regarded as शिव's attendants ; he is said to have written down the MBh. as dictated by व्यास MBh. i , 74 ff. ; persons possessed , by गणे*श are referred to Ya1jn5. i , 270 ff.)(Monier-Williams)
गण m. a flock , troop , multitude , number , tribe , series , class (of animate or inanimate beings) , body of followers or attendants RV. AV. &c; troops or classes of inferior deities (especially certain troops of demi-gods considered as शिव's attendants and under the special superintendence of the god गणे*श ; cf. -देवता) Mn. Ya1jn5. Lalit. &c; गणा f. N. of one of the mothers in स्कन्द's retinue MBh. ix , 2645 (cf. अहर्- , मर्/उद्- , व्/ऋष- , स्/अ- , सप्त्/अ- , स्/अर्व- ; देव-,महा- ,andविद-गण्/अ.) (Monier-Williams)
Atharva Veda XIX.22
A prose hymn of homage to various portions of the Atharva veda, to the Rishis, and to Brahma
[1902201] With the first five chapters of the Angirases, Hail! [p. 229]
[1902202] To the sixth, Hail!
[1902203] To the seventh and eight, Hail!
[1902204] The black clawed ones, Hail!
[1902205] To the golden hued ones, Hail!
[1902206] To the small ones, Hail!
[1902207] To those composed in strophes, Hail!
[1902208] To the first shells, Hail!
[1902209] To the second shells, Hail!
[1902210] To the third shells, Hail!
[1902211] To the penultimates, Hail.
[1902212] To the last ones, Hail!
[1902213] To the latter ones, Hail!
[1902214] To the Rishis, Hail!
[1902215] To those with hair in tufts, Hail!
[1902216] To the Ganas, Hail!
[1902217] To the great Ganas, Hail!
[1902218] To all the Vidagana Angirases, Hail!
[1902219] To those two with separate thousands, Hail!
[1902220] To Brahma, Hail!
[1902221] Collected manly powers are topped by Brahma.
Brahma at first spread out the loftiest heaven.
Brahma was born first of all things existing.
Who then is meet to be that Brahma s rival?
Gaṇas are attendants of Shiva and live on Mount Kailash. Ganesha was chosen as their leader by Shiva, hence Ganesha's title gaṇeśa or gaṇapati, "lord or leader of the ganas"...Pāṇini in his Sanskrit grammar used gana as:
- संघोद्घौ गण प्रशंसयो Sanghoddhau gaṇa praśansayo... Nāradasmṛti mentions:that ganatantra (republic) system of rule was prevalent in India since ancient times... The representative members of clans were known as ganas and their assembly as sanghas, there chief as ganadhipati or Ganesha and Ganapati...Bauddham text Mahabagga mentions that:
- गण पूरकोवा भविस्सामीति Gaṇa pūrkovā bhavissāmīti
It indicates that an officer used to see the number of ganas and their koram in the Rajasabha (state assembly).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gana
Gana-Sangha[1] (Sanskrit: गणसङ्घ) or Gana-Rajya[2] (Sanskrit: गणराज्य), refers to a type of republic or oligarchy in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent.
Map of the 16 Mahājanapadas
Mahājanapadas | |
|---|---|
| c. 600 BCE–c. 345 BCE | |
| Capital | Various |
| Common languages | Prakrits and Sanskrit |
| Religion | Vedic Hinduism Śramaṇa (Buddhismand Jainism) |
| Government | Republics Monarchies |
| Historical era | Iron Age |
• Established | c. 600 BCE |
• Disestablished | c. 345 BCE |
(RV 3-26-6) uses the refrain: व्रातं व्रातं गणम् गणम् Vrātam Vrātam gaṇam gaṇam
Sangam literature of Tamil (c. 300 BCE – c. 300CE) describes the offerings for Ganas. In Silapathikaram one of the five epics of Tamil by Ilango Adigal saying the offering for eighteen kind of Ganas. (Silappadikaram by S. Krishnamoorthy. p. 35
)
A dancing gana, Deogarh
