South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c9.s17.14

c9.s17.14

also called by a thousand names. Mr. Havell explains Ganapati to be the *manas*, or worldly wisdom, personified. Ganapati in Hindu mythology is recognized as an unmarried god—a *brahmachārin*. But from the sequel it will appear that some forms of Ganapati have their accompanying goddesses, sometimes recognized as Ashta-Siddhis (the eight presiding deities of success or achievement).