God Ganesha- Avatars and Forms

God Ganesha is a popular Hindu deity. He is considered to be the destroyer of obstacles. Ganesha is worshipped at the launch of any enterprise, from weddings to the opening of a new business. He is believed to remove distractions and protect one from evil. He has many Avatars (incarnations) and forms. I would like to present these in this article.

Ganesha Avatars In Ganesha Purana

Ganesha Purana and Mudgala Purana, two Upapuranas on Ganesha and the main scriptures of the Ganapati sect, speak of four and eight Avatars of Ganesha respectively.

The four Avatars of Ganesha mentioned in Ganesha Purana were revealed in Satya, Treta, Dwapara and Kali Yuga. These are Mahotkat Vinayaka, Mayureshwar, Gajanan and Dhumraketu.

Mahotkat Vinayaka

Mahotkat Vinayaka is ten-handed and his colour is purple. Information obtained from various sources shows that his vehicle is either an elephant or a lion. He was born as a son of Kashyapa and Aditi in the Satya Yuga and for that reason he became known as Kashyapaya.

Mayureshwar

Mayureshwar is six-handed and white coloured. His vehicle is a peacock. He was born as the son of Shiva and Parvati in the Treta Yuga. Mayureshwar killed a monster named Sindhu. At the end of the story of this Avatar, he donated his peacock to his brother Kartikeya.

Gajanan

He is four-handed and purple. His vehicle is a rat. He was born in the Dwapara Yuga as the son of Shiva and Parvati. As per mythology, he killed a demon named Sindur. He revealed the Ganesha Gita to King Varenya.

Dhumraketu

He is two or four handed and smoky coloured. The vehicle of Dhumraketu is a blue horse. It is believed that he will descend at the end of the Kali Yuga and kill many demons. He will usher the Satya Yuga on the earth again. This Avatar is considered as Kalki, the last of the 10 Avatars of Lord Vishnu.

Ganesha Avatars In Mudgala Purana

The Mudgala Purana describes eight Avatars of Ganesha. These are Vakratunda (twisting trunk), Ekadanta (single tusk), Mahodara (big belly), Gajabaktra or Gajanan (elephant face),

Lambodara (pendulous belly), Vikata (unusual), Vighnaraja (king of obstacles) and Dhumravarna (grey colour).

Vakratunda

Vakratunda is first in this series. He is considered to be a part and parcel of Brahma. His vehicle is a lion. The purpose of this incarnation is to kill Matsaryasura (envy or jealousy).

Ekadanta

Ekadanta represents the combination of all individual souls and an embodiment of Param Brahma. His vehicle is a mouse. The purpose of this incarnation is to kill Madasura (ego).

Mahodara

Mahodara is the combined form of Vakratunda and Ekadanta. He symbolizes Brahma’s wisdom. The purpose of this Avatar is to kill Mohasura (doubt). His vehicle is a mouse.

Gajabaktra or Gajanan

Gajabaktra or Gajanan is another form of Mahodara. The purpose of this Avatar is to kill the demon Lobhasura (greed). His vehicle is also a mouse.

Lambodara

Lambodara is a symbol of the power of Brahma. His vehicle is a mouse. The purpose of this incarnation is to kill Krodhasura (anger).

Vikata

Vikata is the symbol of Surya (Sun). He is the manifestation of radiant Brahma. The purpose of this Avatar of God Ganesha is to kill Kamasura (lust). His vehicle is a peacock.

Vighnaraja

Vighnaraja is the symbol of Vishnu. He is also the manifestation of the existence of Brahma. This incarnation is intended to kill Mamasura (arrogance).

Dhumravarna

Dhumravarna is the symbol of Shiva. He is also the manifestation of the destructive power of Brahma. His vehicle is a horse. This incarnation is intended to kill Abhimanasura (pride).

Forms Of God Ganesha

Many variations of the common form of Ganesha are seen in various archeological finds in India, outside India and in various scriptures. According to the idols of all these forms, meditation and worship of Ganesha are different. For example, some of the Ganesha idols found in the Gupta period are eight handed to ten handed; in Tantrasara (a book on Tantra), Kashmir, Nepal and in some cases in Afghanistan, Ganesha’s vehicle is the lion and Lakshmiganesha embraces goddess Lakshmi. Thus different forms of Ganesha are found in different places and scriptures of this planet.

Common Forms of God Ganesha

The Ganesha devotees worship some common forms of Ganesha. These are Maha Ganapati, Heramba Ganapati, Nritya Ganesha, Vinayak Ganesha, Buddhist Ganesha etc.

Maha Ganapati

Maha Ganapati is a Tantric form of Ganesha. Shakti exists with him and they touch each other’s side. This idol is primitive like Shakti Ganapati or Veera Ganapati.

Heramba Ganapati

The word ‘Heramba’ means poor shepherd. Heramba Ganapati is a five-headed iconographical form of Lord Ganesha. The middle head of Heramba Ganapati is facing the sky. He holds a pasha (noose), danta (his broken tusk), akshamala (rosary), a parashu (battle-axe), a three-headed mudgara (mallet) and the sweet modak. Two other arms are held in Varadamudra (the boon-giving gesture) and Abhayamudra (a gesture denoting protection of the devotee). Other descriptions add a garland and a fruit to the attributes in his hand. He may be depicted in sculpture holding an ankusha (an elephant goad) in one of his hands. Sometimes, a consort may be depicted seated on his lap and one of Heramba’s arms cuddles her. Heramba rides his vehicle a mighty lion. However, in Nepal, the vehicle of Heramba-Ganapati is a rat. Heramba Ganapati form of Ganesha is mentioned in Tantrasar.

Nritya Ganesha

Nritya Ganesha is dancing form of Ganesha with eight hands. But he can also be seen with four hands. He has no weapons. He is showing dance posture.

Vinayaka Ganesha

Vinayaka Ganesha is mentioned in the Agnipurana. Vinayaka Ganesha has five prominent forms : Chintamani Vinayaka, Kapardi Vinayaka, Asha Vinayaka, Gaja Vinayaka and Siddhi Vinayaka. Although according to Yajnavalkya Smriti Vinayaka is one, and he is Ambikaputra.

Buddhist Ganesha

The Ganesha of Buddhism is quite different from the Ganesha that Hindus are familiar with. He is the only Hindu God regarded as a Bodhisattva a (Buddha-to-be). Ganesha is an ambivalent figure in Tibetan Buddhism. He is also shown being trampled upon by a Buddhist deity, Mahakala. In Japan, Ganesha is a minor deity called Kangiten.

Ashta Vinayaka

Eight forms of God Ganesha are collectively called Ashta Vinayaka. These different forms of Ganesha are worshipped in eight temples of India. Swayambhu Ganesha idol is kept here in every temple. During Ganesh Chaturthi (celebrated a day after Gowri Habba festival), devotees visit and worship these eight temples together. This pilgrimage to the eight Vinayaka temples is called Ashtavinayaka Yatra. Eight forms of Ashta Vinayaka are: Siddhi Vinayaka, Mayureshwar, Mahaganapati, Vighnahar, Girijatmaj, Chintamani, Varda Vinayaka and Vallaleshwar. Ashta Vinayaka temples are named after these forms of God Ganesha.

Siddhi Vinayaka

Siddhi Vinayaka Temple is located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Siddhi Vinayaka ranks third among the Ashtavinayaka temples. However, the pilgrims go to Siddhi Vinayaka after Mayureshwar, Mahaganapati,

Mayureshwar

Mayureshwar Temple is located in Moragaon, Pune, Maharashtra. The pilgrims start their Ashta Vinayaka Yatra from Mayureshwar.

Maha Ganapati

Madhavrao Peshwa established the Maha Ganapati temple in the middle of the 9th and 10th centuries. Maha Ganapati Temple is located at Ranjangaon, 50 km from Pune.

Vighnahar

The Vighnahar Temple is located at Ojha, 65 km from Pune. Ganesha is worshiped here as Vighnahar or Vighneshwar who killed Vighnasura.

Girijatmaj

Girijatmaj temple is located on the seventh level of Lenyadri mountain. Lord Ganesha is worshiped here as the son of the Himalayan girl Girija.

Chintamani

Ganesha rescued the great Chintamani Ratna for Kapil Muni from Gana Raja, Gana. The temple is located at the confluence of the Bhim and Mul-Matha rivers, 25 km from Pune city.

Varda Vinayaka

Varda Vinayaka resides in the Mahad temple. Devotees visit the Varda Vinayaka temple during the Maghi festival. It is said that a childless couple give birth to a child by the grace of Varda Vinayaka.

Vallaleshwar

Vallaleshwar temple was built in the name of Ganesha worshiper Vallal. Vallaleshwar Temple is located in Pali, 30 km from Karjat in Raigad district of Maharashtra.

Forms Of God Ganesha In Ganapatya Sect

The Ganapatya sect imagines God Ganesha in 32 forms. The names of these 32 forms are:

1.Bal Ganapati, 2. Tarun Ganapati, 3.Bhakta Ganapati, 4. Vir Ganapati, 5. Shakti Ganapati, 6. Dwij Ganapati, 7. Siddhi Ganapati, 8. Ucchisht Ganapati, 9. Vigna Ganpati, 10. Kshipra Ganapati, 11. Heramba Ganapati, 12. Lakshmi Ganapati, 13. Maha Ganapati, 14. Vijay Ganapati, 15. Nitya Ganapati, 16. Urdha Ganapati, 17. Ekakshar Ganapati, 18. Bar Ganapati, 19. Trikshara Ganapati, 20. Kshipra Prasad Ganapati, 21. Haridra Ganapati, 22. Ekdanta Ganapati, 23. Srishti Ganapati, 24. Uddanda Ganapati, 25. Runa Bimochan Ganapati, 26. Dhundi Ganapati, 27. Dwimukh Ganapati, 28. Trimukh Ganapati, 29. Singha Ganapati, 30. Yoga Ganapati, 31. Durga Ganapati and 32. Sankat Ganapati.

Earliest Art Form Of God Ganesha

The earliest art form of God Ganesha is the one with the Gajmunda and Radh statues, which were found in Mihintal, Sri Lanka, dating from the first century BC to the first century AD. A two-sided Ganesha statue(built in 4th century AD) found in the Farrukhbad district of Uttar Pradesh, India, shows the god holding a Modakbhanda (a vessel full of modak) in his left hand and eating modak with a trunk. The Udayagiri cave in Madhya Pradesh, built in the 5th century AD, and the terracotta plaques found in the Bhumara and Vitargaon temples in Uttar Pradesh show Ganesha idols eating modak. These statues are of three types – sitting, dancing and standing. The number of seated idols is the highest. The dancing idol shows Ganesha dancing on a vehicle. Here he is elephant headed , three eyed, short, Lambodara, four handed or six handed or eight handed or ten handed. Two handed statues are few in number. Buddhists and Jains are also known to worship these idols of Ganesha.

Earliest Idols Of God Ganesha

The earliest Ganesha idols are two-armed and seated. Axe and and modak are seen in his hand. He is Gajanan, Ekdant and Lambodara. Ganesha with four arms can also be seen in some idols. According to the Brihatsanghita, Ganesha has two hands and here he has also mulak in his hands. This Mulak has been mentioned as elephant food. Ganesha is Ekdant in the Amarkosh text. In the texts like Anshumatvedagam, Kalikagam and Vishnudharmottar etc., Ganesha is four-armed and in his hand his own teeth, modak, side-ankush, naga, akshasutra, padma etc. can be seen. Subsequent editions of all these texts show Ganesha’s vehicles as Musik (rat) and his wife Bharati (Saraswati), Sri (Lakshmi), Bighneshwari, Buddhi and Kubuddhi. There are also some other features of Ganesha in these texts. Such as, he is three-eyed, he wears tiger skin and nagayajnopabita. His idol is Abhang or Samabhang.

God Ganesha Idols In Old Temples

Different types of idols of Ganesha were also found in the old temples. The Belemati (sandy soil)Ganapati found in Mathura in the early Gupta period and the terracotta Ganapati found in a brick temple in Vitargaon bear important witness to the evolution of the Ganesha idol. It is notable that the presence of rats is not seen in the idols of Ganesha in Mathura and even in Vitargaon, Ganesha is not depicted in the form of a deity, where he is flying. The Ganesha idol found in the Bhumara Shiva temple in the 6th century AD is the last example of Ganesha evolution. The statues of the first period are naked and standing. They do not look like gods. Also not less important is the carved image of Ganesha found in the Chandragupta cave of Vilsa Udayagiri in the early part of the Gupta period. According to this idol, Ganesha is sitting on the altar, his modakbhanda and rat are missing in his left hand. The seated Ganesha idols spread all over India during the first and last Gupta period. Another type of Ganesha idol was found in Orissa. He is Nrityaganesha, with eight arms (front right hand gajahastha).His dance posture clearly visible on the body.

God Ganesha In Tantrism And Shaktism

Later, the idea of Ganesha became especially associated with Tantricism and Shakti worship. The presence of Shakti can be noticed in various Tantric Ganesha idols. Such as, Shaktiganesha, Lakshmiganesha (Lakshmi of Lakshmiganesha is not the goddess of prosperity), Uchhishtaganesha etc. Several statues of Ganesha have been found in the Deccan. These are worshiped in Bamachar. An idol of a goddess with a gazmund has also been found near Jabbalpur. Probably this is Ganeshani, the wife of Ganesha.

God Ganesha Idols Out Of India

Ganesha idols and images are also found in different countries (Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Fiji, Mauritius and Trinidad and Tobago) out of India. An eleventh-century Ganesha statue discovered in Bara, Java, sits on an altar associated with a narakpal (the skull of a dead person). He wears also a narakpal in the matted hair of his head. In Java, Ganesha is four-armed. The influence of Tantra is evident in this idol. Seated idols of Ganesha have been found elsewhere in Indonesia. However, the most beautiful statue is discovered in Khiching. The statue was built in the early Middle Ages. This statue has four arms. His vehicle is a rat.

By Krishna Das