32 Aspects of Ganesha

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The 32 aspects of Ganesha

Lists of the 32 aspects of Ganesha may well differ according to source. The

aspect-names are usually followed by "… Ganapati", hence Bala Ganapati can be

read as -

"The Lord of the categories who is childlike."

 

Title

Meaning

Title

Meaning

Bala

"Childlike"

Taruna

"youthful"

Bhakti

"devoted"

Vira

"Heroic"

Sakti

"Powerful"

Dvija

"Twice-born"

Siddhi

"Accomplished"

Ucchishta

"Lord of Blessed Offerings"

Kshipra

"quick-acting"

Heramba

"protector of the weak"

Lakshmi

"giver of success"

Maha

"great"

Vijaya

"victorious"

Nritya

"dancing"

Urdhva

"elevated"

Ekakshara

"single lettered" [i.e. Gam]

Varada

"boon-giver"

Tryakshara

"Lord of the 3 letters" [i.e. A-U-M]

Kshipra Prasada

"quick rewarder"

Haridra

"the golden one"

Ekadanta

"single tusk"

Srishti

"Lord of manifestation"

Uddandu

"enforcer" [i.e. of dharma]

Rinamochana

"Remover of humanity’s bondage"

Dhundi

"the sought-after"

Dvimukha

"two-faced"

Trimukha

"three-faced"

Simha

"riding a lion"

Yoga

"Great Yogi"

Durga

"Saviour"

Sankatahara

"dispeller of sorrow"

 

 

For example, one might meditate on "Dvija Ganapati" (Lord of the Twice-born) and

in doing so try and find out more about the phrase "twice-born" and it’s

significance in Hindu/tantrik esoterics.

Ganesha may be propitiated to remove obstacles from the path of the devotee. In

Tantrik magic this is known as klesha-smashing. The Kleshas (blocks) are the

bindings of conditioned belief and response - habitual patterns of attitude and

emotional loops which maintain the boundaries of our achievable reality. In the

Natha tradition, the root Kleshas are Ignorance, Ego, Revulsion, Attachment,

and Clinging to Life. Invoke Ganesha to illuminate the dark corners of your

psyche, to open the doors marked "I dare not enter here". Ritual is not enough.

What matters is thought, world and deed - action in the everyday world. The

results of each act of magic must be made flesh. Each knot unbound is a

release; an orgasmic realisation of the dizzying freedom open to us beyond the

artificial limitations we set up for ourselves. The Mudgala Purana lists 8

forms of Ganesha who mastered 8 demons or weaknesses:

Dhumravna

[smoke-coloured]

vs

Abhimana

[pride]

Vaklatunda

[twisted trunk]

vs

Matsurya

[jealousy]

Mahodra

[big belly]

vs

Moha

[infatuation]

Gajanana

[Elephant face]

vs

Lobha

[greed]

Lambodara

[corpulent belly]

vs

Krodha

[anger]

Vikata

[deformed]

vs

Kama

[lust]

Vighnaraja

[King of Obstacles]

vs

Mamata

[ego]

 

A short puja

Obtain an icon or painting of Ganesha and place it on a small pedestal facing the rising sun.

In front of the image, draw a swastika in red paint on paper, and light candles

and joss sticks around the image of Ganesha.

A simple and effective invocation of Ganesha is to meditate upon him taking form

within your belly, and reflecting upon the qualities he embodies which you wish

to emulate. A simple mantra such as OM GANAPATI NAMAH (obeisance to the Lord of

the Categories) can be used. This meditation is known as "Internal Worship" and

is followed by "External Worship" - breathing out the Ganesha within into his

image or icon. The Ganesha indwelling the image may then be worshipped, by

offerings of fire, incense, sandalwood, red paste, red flowers, water, music

and of course, sweets. You may also offer him your experiences - "Om Ganapati,

I offer the great laugh which burst from me when I listened to Howard Stern

this morning." In return for your heartfelt offerings, Ganesha might well grant

you a boon.

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