History of Ganesha Worship in Bengal

* ℙ𝕒𝕝𝕒 𝕖𝕣𝕒 𝔾𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕙𝕒 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡 :

The first reference to the presence of the Ganapatya sampradaya in Bengal centered on Ganesha in from the Narayanpur idol inscription in the fourth year reign of Gaudeshwar Mahipala, when Buddhamitra, son of the merchant Jambhalamitra, habitant of Bilikandhaka under Samatata, erected a idol of Vinayaka-Bhattaraka. 

The Narayanpur idol inscription of Gaudeshwar Mahipala l 

The idol is quadrangular in black stone, bearing Moola, Japamala, Parashu and lotus. He is inhaling the scent of Padmapushpa through his trunk. So the worship of Siddhidata Ganesha was quite popular in the merchant communities of Bengal i.e the Baniks at that time.

* 𝕊𝕒𝕘𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕨𝕚𝕡 :

Ganesha worship at Sagardwip [Saugor island] claims the greatest antiquity. Gaudeshwar Nayapala's Sian insctiption records the construction of a silver-made Sadashiva idol, gold-made Chandika and Bighnanayak i.e. Ganesha idols and gold-made pedestals for the latter two deities at the confluence of the Gangasagar. Namely, 

"Sāgara-saṅgamē raupyaḥ sadāśibō haimau caṇḍikā - bighnanāẏakau/ kāritau kāritaṁ yēna taẏōhairmañca pīṭhakaṁ.."

The Sian inscription record of Gaudeshwar Nayapala 

* 𝕋𝕣𝕚𝕡𝕦𝕣𝕒-𝕌𝕟𝕒𝕜𝕠𝕥𝕚 :

The Samatata janapad in south-eastern Bengal consisting Kumillah & Tripura was the epicentre of Bangaja Ganpatya sampradaya. Among the rock-cut carvings, the central Shiva head and gigantic Ganesha figures deserve special mention. The central Shiva head known as Unakotishwara Kal Bhairava is about 30 feet high including an embroidered head-dress which itself is 10 feet high.

* 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔽𝕠𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕝 𝔾𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕙𝕒 : 

In many places in the Sundarbans region of Southern Bengal, fossils of a particular ancient arthropoda are worshiped as Ganesha. Several such idols have been found in the decaying  of the Adi-Saraswati river in Sagardwip.

* 𝕂𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕦𝕝𝕚 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕔𝕣𝕚𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝔾𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕙𝕒 :

The Kamauli copper plate inscription of Vaidyadeva, who was a General of Pala Empire & later founder of Kamrup, plaque contains three chams-like substances, with the Ganapati script-introduction. According to the Shastras-rules which are found to be attached to the royal coin in the copper plate, the statue of Ganapati has to be accepted as the Royal Coin.