Aadi Dev means the First Deity. Ganpati is known as the First Deity. Ganpati is the
omnipresent devotee, who one experiences as the First Deity and is omnipresent within
one’s awareness of the deity kingdom. Shiva devotees experience Shiva as the First Deity
and consider him as the Aadi Deva. Visnu devotees experience Visnu as the First Deity
and consider him as the Aadi Deva. Surya devotees experience Surya as the First Deity
and consider him the Aadi Deva. If you are devoted to the Sun and give Sun the status of
your First Deity, you experience Sun as your omnipresent devotee.