Ganapatya is a denomination of Hinduism that worships Ganesha (also called Ganapati) as the supreme God. Hinduism (Sanskrit - Sanātana (eternal) Dharma also known as Vaidika (Vedic) Dharma) is a religion or philosophy that originated from the Indian subcontinent and nearby surrounding areas. ... In Hinduism, Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेश or श्रीगणेश ( ) (when used to distinguish lordly status) (or lord of the hosts, also spelled as Ganesa and Ganesh, often also referred to as Ganapati) is one of the most well-known and venerated representations of God (Brahman). ... God is the deity believed by monotheists to be the supreme reality. ...

It is sometimes considered one of the five principal Hindu sects in South India, with Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Smartism which follows Advaita philosophy. While it is not as large a sect as the first three, it has been influential: Hindus of all sects begin prayers, important undertakings, and religious ceremonies with an invocation of Ganesha. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Shaktism is a denomination of Hinduism that worships Shakti, or Devi -- the Hindu name for the Great Mother -- in all of her forms whilst not rejecting the importance of masculine and neuter divinity. ... Vaishnavism is one of the principal divisions of Hinduism. ... Smartism, (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition), is a denomination of the Hindu religion. ... Advaita Vedanta is probably the best known of all Vedanta schools of Hinduism, the others being Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita. ...

Ganapati has been worshipped as part of Shaivism since at least the fifth century. A specific Ganapatya sect probably began to appear between the sixth and ninth centuries: six sects are mentioned in the Sankara digvijaya (life of Adi Shankara) by Sri Anandigiri. It reached a high point about the tenth century, and built temples dedicated to Ganesha, the largest of which is the Ucchi Pillayar Koil (the Columns Hall of a Thousand Pillars), on the Rock Fort of Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu. Adi Shankara with the Four Disciples Adi Shankara (Åšankara, Shri Shankaracharya, Adhi Shankaracharya, Ä€di Åšhankarācārya; the first Shankara in his lineage), reverentially called Bhagavatpada Acharya (the teacher at the feet of the Lord) (approximately 8th century, but see below) was the most famous advaita philosopher, who had a... Uchi Pillayar Koil It is the rock-fort temple a lone Vinayaka idol sitting the height of 512 steps all together. ... Tiruchirapalli (also spelt Tiruchchirapalli, commonly known as Tiruchi or Trichy, formerly known as Trichinopoly under British rule) is a city situated on the banks of the Kaveri River, centrally located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ...

Later, the sect was popularized by sage Sri Moraya Gosavi. According to one source, he found an idol of Ganapati not made by human hands, and built the Morgaon temple near Pune in the 14th century. According to another, he experienced visions of Ganapati at the Morgaon shrine, and was entombed alive (jeeva samadhi) in 1651, in a Ganesha temple at his birthplace in Cinchwad. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Pimpri-Chinchwad is a twin city of Pune, India. ...

Following him, the Ganapatya sect became prominent between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries in Maharashtra in western India, centering around Cinchwad. Its center is still among high-caste Hindus in the Marathi-speaking region of Maharashtra, and it is important in South India. Devotees hold an annual pilgrimage between Cinchwad and Moragaon. Maharashtra (Devanagari: महाराष्ट्र mahārāṣṭra, literally: Great Nation; IPA: / /)( ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... Marathi is one of the widely spoken languages of India, and has a long literary history. ...

Sect marks include a red circle on the forehead, or the brands of an elephant face and tusk on the shoulders.

References

• Ganapatyas Article from PHILTAR, Division of Religion and Philosophy, St Martin's College
• GĀṆapatyas Article from BookRags.com
• Ganapatya Encyclopædia Britannica article
• Major sects of Hinduism from Hinduwebsite.com
• Morgaon page about the temple