Ganesha Purana

[1] It is an upapurāṇa (minor Purana) that includes mythology, cosmogony, genealogy, metaphors, yoga, theology and philosophy relating to Ganesha.

[11][12] The Ganesha Purana is significant because it is, with Ganapati Upanishad, the two most important texts of the Ganapatya sect of Hinduism.

[15] The text integrates ancient mythology and Vedantic premises into a Ganesha bhakti (devotional) framework.

[16] The text is also significant to the history of Buddhism and Jainism, since Ganesha is found in their mythologies and theology as well.

Thapan reviews different views on dating and states her own judgement that it appears likely that the core of the Ganesha Purana come into existence around the 12th and 13th centuries, being subject to interpolations during the succeeding ages.

[29] The text has four idiosyncrasies, states Bailey, in that it contains no pancalaksana content, minimal didactic presentation of dharmashastra, the myths are structured as involving Ganesha's intervention in ancient Hindu mythology, and the mythical plots invariably present Ganesha as the life and inner principle of all other Hindu deities.

[31][32] One is meditation and mystic contemplation of Ganesha as the eternal Brahman presented in Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy, the metaphysical absolute and Paramatma (Nirguna, supreme spirit), where he is same as the Atman (soul, innermost self) within oneself.

[33] The second approach, suggests the Ganesapurana, is through preparing an image of god (Saguna, murti), decorating it with flowers, presenting it offerings and festively remembering him in Puja-style homage.

[42] Ganesha is presented as Vinayaka in Satya Yuga, with ten arms, huge, very generous in giving gifts and riding a lion.

[43][44] In Treta Yuga, Ganesha is in the form of Mayuresvara (Mayūreśvara), who has six arms, with a white complexion, and rides a peacock.

[42] He manifests in the form of Gajanana (Gajānana) in Dvapara Yuga, with four arms, a red complexion and riding Dinka, a mouse.

In the Kali Yuga, he is Dhumraketu (Dhūmraketu), with two arms, of smoke complexion, mounted on a horse.

[42][45] He fights barbarian armies and kills demons in the Kali Yuga, according to Ganesha Purana.

[46][47] An edition of the Ganesha Purana was published in two parts by Sri Balvinayak Maharaj Lalsare (head of Śrī Yogīndra Maṭha) at Moregaon, Maharashtra (the site of one of the aṣṭavināyaka temples).