Mahodara

What the texts say

In the Mudgala Purana, a listener asks about the greatness of Mahodara, what kind of Ganesha he is, and how many incarnations he has. Mudgala Purana 3.1.3 The text explains that Ganesha resides in the belly of the two souls of the universe, and so that Great Soul is known as Mahodara, Great Belly. Mudgala Purana 3.9.41 A hymn salutes Mahodara as full of the universe, one who has entered its belly and gives pure knowledge. Mudgala Purana 3.11.22 Other verses salute him as marked by the noose and goad, three-eyed, with the mouse as his banner and vehicle. Mudgala Purana 3.11.18, 3.37.12 There, Moha, a lord of the Daityas, bows to Mahodara, worships him with devotion and praises him with folded hands. Mudgala Purana 3.10.22, 3.10.23 After Mohasura is pacified, the lords of the gods and the sages also worship Mahodara. Mudgala Purana 3.11.1