32 Forms of Lord Ganesha

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Ganesha, also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, Heramba, and by so many

other names, is the auspicious .. the beginning and the remover of

all obstacles. Without his aid, no success is possible. His peculiar

and happy physiognomy attracts attention and sympathy.

 

He is the one who must be worshipped first. Ganapathy is the most

widely worshipped God in India, in folk as well as sophisticated

settings. Not only in India, but also in Nepal, Tibet, Burma, Sri

Lanka, Java, Indochina, China, Ganesha he is popular in some form or

the other. Even in Afghanistan, the exvacated idol of Ganesa is

worshipped by the people of Darga Pir. There is hardly a village in

India, which does not contain a shrine of Ganapati.

 

Ganapati has achieved world renown, partly by his bizarre shape, but

partly also by the compelling appeal, which his symbolism has, for

people of all cultures.

 

Ganapati has the ability to draw crowds. Recently, in September 1995,

the display of faith in this divinity was experienced with

the 'Miracle' of 'sipping of milk' by Ganesa. Ganesa is the super

baby of Indian mythology. Similarly his divine mother - the DEVI, is

the mother of the universe. Ganesa, initially was a malevolent deity

and later was raised to the dignity of supreme God.

 

The 32 forms of Ganapati :

 

Bala Ganapati-This form depicts Ganesa as a child. The body is red

coloured. He has four hands carrying in them a plantain, a mango, a

jack fruit and a stalk of sugarcane; with a sweetcake in his trunk.

 

Taruna Ganapati- This form depicts Ganesa as a young man. He has

eight hands carrying in them a noose, a goad, round cake of flour,

wood apple fruit, rose apple fruit.

 

Baktha Ganapati- White in color, shining like moon. In his four

hands, he carries a coconut, a mango, a plantain and a bowl full of

jaggery porridge.

 

Veera Ganapati- Also called as VEERA VIGNESHA exhibits the martial

spirit with several weapons in his sixteen hands. He is pale red in

body colour.

 

VEERA VIGNESHA is three eyed with a crescent moon the head. Sakthi

Ganapati- Worship of this aspects is said to confer special powers or

grant the desired fruits quickly. Ganesa is four armed, embracing

with two arms a feminine consort (Devi-Sakthi) green in body.

 

Dhavaja Ganapati- Also called as DHAVAJA GANAPATI; is bright white,

like the full moon. He is four headed and four armed carrying a book

of scripture and a holy water pot.

 

Siddha Ganapati- This form has four hands carrying ripe mango, bunch

of flowers , sugarcane stalk and sesamum sweet cake. A battle axe or

the sweet cake are held by the trunk.

 

Ucchista Ganapati- Ucchista-Ganapati is associated with unclean

things like orts, whose worship belongs to vamacara ( the left handed

path ie. the hetrodox and unclean path) and said to give quick

results. Ucchista Ganapati, sculpted as naked, is dark coloured, four

arms carrying blue lotus; Lute (Veena); paddy grain stalk and rosary.

Pomegranate fruit is held in his trunk. Ganapati is red coloured in

body with three eyes.

 

Vighna Ganapati- Burnished gold in body color, well decorated with

ornaments, in his ten arms.

 

Kshipra Ganapati- Red in body color and four armed carrying tusk,

Kalpalata (wish fulfilling creeper); noose and a pot of jewels.

 

Heramba Ganapati- Has five heads, ten hands, three eyes in each face

and rides a lion. In this form, he is extremely white in complexion.

 

Lakshmi Ganapati- He is found in the Visvanatha Swami temple at

Tenkasi, built by a Pandya king. Ganapati in his form is fair

complexioned and resembles the flow of nectar.

 

Maha Ganapati- This form is the one worshipped maximum by the

Ganapatayas. The body colour is reddish, crescent moon adores the

head, Ganesa is three eyed in this form.

 

Vijaya Ganapati- He is mounted on a mouse, four armed carrying a

noose, goad, tusk and a mango fruit. He is also called as BHUVUNESA

GANAPATI.

 

Nritya Ganapati- This form is found at Halebidu in the Hoysaleshvara

temple. It is a very fine piece of sculpture and perfect in

modelling. In his four hands, he carries a noose, a goad, a battle

axe and tusk. A round cake made of dough is held in his trunk.

 

Ordhva Ganapati- He is golden colour and his feminine consort is

light green coloured . He carries a Kalhara flower, paddy stalk,

lotus, bow of sugar stalk , arrow, tusk and mace; the eigth hand is

wound round his consort.

 

Ekakshara Ganapati- He is clad in red garments decorated with

flowers. His seat is of lotus and his ornaments are of snakes. His

body is soft with oily substances.

 

Vara Ganapati- He is bright red coloured in body . his trunk holds a

pot of wealth.

 

Tryakshara Ganapati- He is golden coloured with large fanning ears

and four arms.

 

Shipra Prasada Ganapati- He is seated on a mat of lotus. In his from,

he is the storm that drives away the obstacles.

 

Harida Ganapati- A manifestation of Ganapati, who offers protectin to

his devotees. The body in his form is yellow in colour.

 

Eka Danta Ganapati- Dark coloured, protuding belly, standing in pose,

his four hands hold an axe, a rosary, sweets Laddu and the tusk.

 

Shrshti Ganapati- This Ganapati is skilled in creation.

 

Uddanda Ganapati- A fair complexioned feminine consort, sitting on

the lap of Ganesa is holding a lotus. Ganesa who is red in body

colour, has twelve hands.

 

Rna-Mochaka Ganapati- To bless riddance of indebtedness is the boon

of this Ganapati, who is crystal white.

 

Dundhi Ganapati- This is a special form limited to Varnasi, India.

 

Dvi Mukha Ganapati- Greenish blue Ganapati has two heads, who wears

red garments and a bejewelled crown on his head.

 

Tri Mukha Ganapati- He is three headed Ganapati and seated on lotus

shaped splendid throne of lotus.

 

Simha Ganapati- He has lion's head. His body is bright white like

moon. He has eight arms .

 

Yogha Ganapati- Ganesa in this form is in yoga posture, sitting cross

legged. He is in a meditative mood in this form.

 

Durga Ganapati- He has eight hands, which carry the flaming goad

arrow, rosary, tusk on the right side and on left hands, he carries a

noose, bow, wish fulfilling creeper and rose apple.

 

Sankata Hara Ganapati-He has four hands. This form is fair

complexioned dressed in deep blues, decorated with jewels and holding

a lotus in hand.

 

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