Yes, but that is as an epithet of Bṛhaspati, who is identified with Indra and only gradually emerges as an independent deity.



On Aug 13, 2016, at 12:28 PM, Nityanand Misra <nmisra@gmail.com> wrote:

The term gaṇapati famously occurs in Ṛgveda 2.23.1 (gaṇānāṃ tvā gaṇapatiṃ havāmahe ...)





On 13 August 2016 at 21:40, Olivelle, J P <jpo@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:
With apologies for the cross-posting, I have a quick question. Does anyone know when the first known use of the term gaṇapati and vināyaka occurs in text or inscription, and related to it, when the first visual images of them are found? Do we find a tradition of their worship during or before the Gupta period. With thanks,


Patrick Olivelle
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Nityānanda Miśra
http://nmisra.googlepages.com