About Ganapati Atharvasheersham
The Atharvasheersham most commonly refers to the Ganapati Atharvashirsha (or Ganapati Atharvasirsha), which is a significant Sanskrit text and a minor Upanishad within Hinduism. It is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the deity associated with intellect and learning, and is considered part of the Atharvaveda.
Here's a breakdown of its meaning and significance:
Key Aspects of Ganapati Atharvashirsha:
- Ganesha as Brahman: The core assertion of the text is that Ganesha is not merely a deity, but the same as the eternal underlying reality, Brahman (the ultimate truth and reality), Atman (the soul), and Om. It declares Ganesha as the supreme principle and the metaphysical absolute reality that pervades all existence.
- Unity of Deities: It identifies Ganesha with other prominent Hindu gods like Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Agni, Vayu, Surya, and Chandra, emphasizing that all divine forms are ultimately manifestations of this one supreme reality.
- Source of Creation: The text describes Ganesha as the creator, sustainer, and destroyer of the universe, and the essence of the five elements, past, present, and future, and all earthly bodies.
- Mantra and Symbolism: It reveals the sacred "Bija" (seed) mantra "Gam" and also the powerful mantra "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah." It also provides mystical explanations for Ganesha's physical features (elephant head, tusk, trunk, etc.), linking them to deeper Vedic truths and cosmic principles.
- Philosophical Depth: While devotional in nature, it delves into Vedantic philosophy, connecting devotion (bhakti) with knowledge (jnana) and stating that worshipping Ganesha can lead to self-realization and the understanding of Brahman.
- Benefits of Recitation: Chanting the Ganapati Atharvashirsha is believed to bring numerous benefits, including:
- Removal of obstacles (Vighnaharta).
- Attainment of happiness, prosperity, wealth, and success.
- Improved concentration and clarity of thought, especially for students.
- Spiritual growth, purification of the soul, and the ability to realize the state of "Brahman."
- Relief from adverse planetary conditions.
Origin and Context:
While it is associated with the Atharvaveda, scholars generally consider the Ganapati Atharvashirsha to be a later Upanishadic text, possibly composed between the 1st and 6th centuries CE, or even later (16th-17th century by some accounts). This reflects the growing prominence of Ganesha worship in Hinduism.
Important Note: There is also another minor Upanishad called the Atharvashiras Upanishad (also associated with the Atharvaveda), which is dedicated to Rudra (Shiva) and asserts that all gods and everything in existence is Rudra. However, when people generally refer to "Atharvasheersham," they are almost always referring to the Ganapati Atharvashirsha.