Why is Shri Ganesh worshipped before a puja (Ritualistic worship) or before commencing any auspicious task ?
Gana is a group of the eight Vasus (Deities of directions). Shri Ganesh is the nurturer, Swami (Master) of the directions. (According to one school of thought, Shri Ganesh is the master of the ten directions. The upward and downward directions along with the eight directions constitute the ten directions.) Other deities cannot reach the site of puja from any direction without His permission. Hence, any auspicious task or the ritualistic worship of any other Deity is commenced with the ritualistic worship of Shri Ganesh. Once Shri Ganesh clears the directions, the deity one is worshipping can manifest itself there. This itself is referred to as Mahadvarpujan or Mahaganapatipujan.
What is the significance of Mahaganapati ?
Shri Ganesh along with Riddhi and Siddhi (Shakti [Divine Energy]) is Mahaganapati. Shri Ganesh created by Devi Paravati is an Incarnation of Mahaganapati. She sculpted a form out of mud and invoked the Shri Ganesh Principle into it. Before the creation of the universe, since the Mahat (Supreme God) Principle existed in a nirgun (Non-materialised) and eternal form, it is called Mahaganapati. When Mahaganapati is worshipped to seek a specific supernatural power or purely for attainment of Moksha (Final Liberation), it is customary to choose a Shri Ganesh Idol with the trunk curved towards the right. However, in such circumstances, as far as possible, the Idol is made of earth. Rarely do we come across gold and silver Shri Ganesh Idols with the trunk curved towards the right.
