71 - Mode of worshipping Ganesha

The God said:

1-2. Ishall describe the (mode of) worship of Gana (Ganesha) which removes obstacles and confers the desired objects. (The worship of six kindsshould be done as follows): The heart with "oblations to Ganesha", the head with "(oblations) to the one-tusked”, the tuft with "(oblations) to the one who has the ear like that of an elephant”, the armour with “(oblations) to the elephant-faced”, the eye with“ (oblations) to the big-bellied," the weapons with “(oblations) to one who has his own tusk in his hands”.

3-5. Oneshould worship the gana, the preceptor, the sandals, the (divine) energy, Ananta, the dharma, and the collection of bones in the lower part of the pedestal, the cover, the petals of the lotus, the lotus and the principal letter, (should be worshipped) in the upper part. (The energies) (are) Jvälini, Nanda, Sūryeśä, Kamarūpå, Udaya, Kamavarttini, Satya, and Vighnanåśã. The seat (should be worshipped) with perfumes and earth. (With the following letters the appropriate actsshould be performed): the drying with yam, the burning with ram, the agitating with lam and making it to nectar with vam. The gåyatri mantra is: lambodaraya vidmahe mahodarāya dhimahi tanno dantiḥ pracodayat.¹

1. May we know the Supreme person. For that, we meditate upon lambodara (long-bellied) and big-bellied). May Dantin (one who has the tusk) impel us towards it.

6-7. The following are the names of Gaņeśha to be worshipped: “Ganapati (Lord of ganas), Ganadhipa (chieftain of the gaņas), Gaņeśha (Lord of ganas), Gananayaka (the lord of gaņas), Gaņakrida (one who sports with the ganas), Vakratunda (having a bent trunk), Ekadaṁshtra (having one tusk), Mahodara (big-bellied), Gajavaktra (elephant-faced), Lambakukshi (long-bellied), Vikața (dreadful), Vighnanášana (destroyer of impediments), Dhūmravarņa (tawny-coloured) and Mahendra.

Summary of chapter 71 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:

This chapter provides the complete pūjā procedure for Bhagavān Gaṇeśa — the lord of all beginnings and the remover of obstacles, who must be worshipped first in any auspicious undertaking. The Gaṇeśa Gāyatrī mantra, the aṅga-nyāsa mantras for the worship, and the identification of the eight pīṭha-śaktis who attend Gaṇeśa in the maṇḍala — Tīvrā, Jvālinī, Nandā, Bhadrā, Vilasinī, Mṛtā, Mahāviṣṇavī, and Ratipriyā — are given. The twelve names of Gaṇeśa used as successive stages of the pūjā — Gaṇapati, Gajānana, Lambodara, Vighnārāja, Śūrpakarṇa, Heramba, Skandapūrvaja, Kapila, Ṛddhibhartā, Śivalaya, Muṣkavāhana, Siddha — are enumerated. The offerings most beloved by Gaṇeśa — modaka sweets, durva grass, red flowers — and the auspicious results of his worship are affirmed.