Ucchishtha Ganapati Sadhana: Rising Above Duality

Sadhana is a constant act of self-purification. It helps us develop determination and makes us question our accepted beliefs— the ones we have grown up with or borrowed from society. Through our lives, we are caught in the web of pure-impure, right-wrong, good-bad, and other dualities.

But the truth is based on context. Sometimes, a change in perspective can challenge and even change our beliefs. Sadhana offers a path to that self-inquiry. However, the process of sadhana can also seem complicated with all its rules, internal and external. What if there were a powerful sadhana where you did not need to observe purification rules? Where the sadhak offers the last morsel left over from their meal as prasadam to the deity? We are talking about the transformational sadhana of Sri Ucchishtha Ganapati.

This sadhana has been described as the “essence of all tantras” and the stepping stone to receive Devi Ma’s grace for the Sri Vidya Sadhana. Ucchishtha Ganapati sadhana sits on the threshold of Vedic and Tantric sadhanas, where the aim is to go beyond the conditioning of the mind.

Who is Ucchishtha Ganapati?

Ucchishtha Ganapati is the tantrik form of Sri Ganesh. He is mentioned in the Atharva Veda in the Ucchishtha Bramha Suktam as the Gupt (hidden) or residual energy of the universe after creation. The word ‘Ucchishtha’ means residual or left over.

The secret and esoteric significance of ‘Ucchishtha’ lies in understanding the idea of  Purna Brahman as given in the Ishavasya Upanishad.

“om purnamadah purnaidam purnatpurnamudachyate ।

purnasya purnamadaya purnamevavashishyate॥”

(That—Brahman—is whole; this—creation—is whole. 

From wholeness comes forth wholeness.

Even after taking wholeness from wholeness, wholeness alone remains.)

The creation, or Brahmanda, is a complete whole that emerges from the creative aspect, known as the goddess Shakti, a complete whole in herself. This creative aspect arises from the spiritual aspect, or Lord Shiva. He is the static super consciousness, the manifested Saguna Brahman, who is again a complete whole in himself. Saguna Brahman is manifested from Parabrahman, again a complete whole.

The residual whole that remains after the dissolution of creation is Ucchishtha Brahman or Ucchishtha Ganapati, the ultimate supreme reality. He is also in all the leftover wholes of Shiva and Shakti.

Getting Rid of Accumulated Karmas through Sadhana

All our actions (karmas) create a leftover, a residue. Let’s understand through an example. Each generation leaves behind things for the next. If used well, they lead to growth and success. If ignored, they cause conflict and chaos. For example, in our present, we face the results of our collective past actions. We reap benefits from the successful experiments and advances in science and technology, and also suffer from wars, crises, and natural disasters due to the wrong decisions taken in the past.

Similarly, over many lifetimes, the remains of our actions (karma) accumulate in our consciousness. Real growth happens only when we let go of old patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. If we recycle the by-products of our old ways, we remain stuck even when we think we are growing or evolving. At every transition between the known old and the unknown new, leftovers must be consumed to avoid recycling them. Remains of old habits and patterns must be completely removed so that new neural-pathways can get formed.

Karma is of three types: sanchita, prarabdha, and agami. Prarabdha karma is a portion of sanchita karma; it is like a fully ripe fruit which we experience in our present lifetime. Agami karma refers to the karma accumulated in this life, which gets added to the sanchita karma.

Sanchita, on the other hand, is the leftover ‘ucchishta karma’ that can be eliminated through the mantra sadhana of Sri Ucchishta Ganapati. It leads to liberation and realisation of our true nature, which is whole and complete like the same divine from whom we have come.

Ucchishtha Ganapati Sadhana in Scriptures

It is found in Artharva Ved, Ishopanishad, Mudgal Purana, Heramekhala Tantra, Srividyarnava Tantra, Rudrayamal Tantra, and Ganpatya Tantra.

Adi Shankara and Mahaperiava of Kanchi also performed Ucchishtha Ganapati Sadhana to achieve oneness with the Param Tatva. As per scriptures, the mantras of Sri Ucchishtha Gaṇapati made Kubera, the treasurer of all material riches, and Vibhishana, the king of Lanka.

The upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi (27 August) is an auspicious occasion to begin this Sadhana. Sign up on the Sadhana App today and keep reading our blogs for more information.