The Form and Significance of Ucchishtha Ganapati

sarabutamimam mantram na deyam yasya kasyachit |

guhyam sarvagameshva hitabudhya prakashitam ||

na tithirna cha nakshtram nopavaaso vidhiyate |

yatheshtha chintaya mantrah sarva-kamaphalapradah ||

                                                   (Brihat Tantrasaar)

(This essence-of-all mantra is kept secret in all the Tantras but revealed for the world's benefit. In this mode of God's worship, there are no rules of tithi-nakshatra, etc, nor are fasting and other regulations required. Whatever desires the aspirant has while worshipping Ucchishtha Ganapati are all fulfilled.)

Ucchishtha Ganapati, a tantric form of Sri Ganesh, is the primary deity of the Ucchishtha Ganapatya sect, one of six major schools of the Ganapatyas (Ganapati followers). Ucchishta means 'leftover.' The Ucchishta Bramha Suktam of the Atharva Veda describes Ucchishtha Ganapati as the secret residual energy of the universe left after creation.

His sadhana is performed in an unbathed, ritually impure state by leaving the last morsel of food on the plate and not rinsing one's mouth after eating. Thus, Ucchishtha Ganapati Sadhana aims to break our social conditioning and duality: notions for pure-impure, good-bad etc.

The consciousness is pure, and all we need is to sync our breath with the mantra. As per tantra, the individual Consciousness (jivatma) is not separate from the supreme consciousness(parmatma). Therefore, the Jivatma can unite with the Paramatma and be the one they invoke through Sadhana, irrespective of the state.

The Unique Iconography

Sri Ucchishtha Ganapati has a unique iconography (visual image and symbols). He is described as red and has three eyes, four arms, a huge body, two tusks, and an ever-similing face. In the three hands, he is holding a sugarcane, a noose (paash), and a goad (ankush). His fourth hand is held in a boon-giving (Varad) mudra.

His consort Devi Vighneshwari (known as Hasti Pishachi or Neel Saraswati) is seated on his left lap. They are in a conjugal union, symbolising the principle of Shiv Shaktiyeka Rupa—the entire creation resulting from the union of male and female principles. Both are complete in themselves, and what is born out of this creative union is also complete. Pishachi is a higher-order celestial female energy. She is the Shakti of Ucchistha Ganapati, and can digest the leftover residual energy for further creation. The large elephant head of Sri Ganesh is said to be the repository of all knowledge and his supreme intellect.

Sri Ucchishtha Ganapati is Maha Yaksha, and his consort, Hasti Pishachi, is seen as Yakshini.

Awakening Kundalini Through Sadhana

'Ucchishtha' refers to the leftover residual remnant primordial energy (Kundalini); it lies coiled and dormant at the muladhaar chakra, ruled by Sri Ganesh.

Through sadhana efforts, Kundalini rises to the Crown Chakra or Sahasrar, where the Shiva Shakti or Purush Prakriti Aikeyam (union of male and female principles) takes place within the body and the Sadhak. The ultimate aim of Sadhana is to help the Sadhak, Saadhya(deity), and the Sadhana become one. Ucchishtha Ganapati Sadhana is the first step in that direction.

Benefits of Ucchishtha Ganapati Sadhana

Sri Ucchishtha Ganapati is known as Kshipra Siddhi Dayaka—the quick bestower of siddhis. His powerful sadhana removes obstacles and the limitations of good and bad. He bestows obstacles, grants material abundance, perfection of speech (vak siddhi), and the ultimate goal of nirvana.

This Ganesh Chaturthi, 27 August, you have the unique opportunity to begin the Ucchishtha Ganapati Sadhana. Sign up for the Sadhana app today and keep reading our blogs for more information.