Gajanana

What the texts say

In the Mudgala Purana, Gajanana, the elephant-faced one, is worshipped as the one supreme Brahman, without beginning, middle or end. Mudgala Purana 4.44.5 Shiva and Shakti ask him to become their son, and the text says that by taking the state of Shiva's son he became the Lord of Brahman. Mudgala Purana 2.63.26, 4.49.42 He is called the Lord of the Ganas, who are forms of groups, and Shiva begins creation after meditating on him as Ganesha. Mudgala Purana 2.40.25, 2.2.29 The Purana pictures him riding a mouse, four-armed, full of compassion and marked by a large belly. Mudgala Purana 3.8.21 It tells how he appeared to destroy the demon Lobhasura, entreated by the gods, Brahmins and the Lord of subjects. Mudgala Purana 4.1.19 On the Chaturthi of Bhadrapada, the text says, he should be worshipped in clay form, and worshippers become free from obstacles. Mudgala Purana 4.7.86