~32 Forms of Ganesh~

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Namaste dear family,

 

i ran across this today, and thought it was very sweet.

 

 

32 Forms of Ganesha

 

 

Bala Ganapati - The beloved child

The elephant-faced child is depicted with four arms and is the color

of the rays of the rising sun. He holds a banana, mango, jackfruit

and sugarcane in his hands and his favourite sweet, the modaka, in

his trunk.

 

Taruna Ganapati - The youthful Ganesha

The young Ganapati is shown as being red in colour like the noon-day

sun. In his hands he holds a noose, an elephant goad, modaka sweet,

wood-apple, rose-apple, his broken tusk, a sprig of paddy, and a

sugarcane branch.

 

Bhakti Ganapati - God of devotees

Depicted as being of the colour of the full moon of autumn, in his

hands a coconut, mango, banana, and a cup of payasam (kheer / milk

pudding).

 

Veera Ganapati - The valiant warrior

In this form Ganapati is shown with a red complexion, eight pairs of

arms and a stern look. In his hands he holds a goblin, spear, bow,

arrow, chakra (discus), sword, shield, large hammer, gada(mace),

goad, noose, pick-axe, battle-axe, trident, serpent and banner.

 

Shaki Ganapati - The powerful one

Holding in one arm the green-coloured Shakti (power personified in

female form), Shakti Ganapati is depicted as being the colour of the

sky at sunset. He holds a noose, a garland of flowers and one hand in

the abhaya mudra, offering blessing to his devotees. This form of

Ganapati is part of Tantric worship.

 

Dwija Ganapati - The twice-born

Four-headed, like Brahma, he holds a book, rosary beads, kamandalu

(vessel used during worship), and a danda (staff). He is the colour

of the moon and wears lightning-like bangles on his arms.

 

Siddhi Ganapati - God of achievement

Of the colour of golden yellow, he holds a mango fruit, stick of

sugarcane, a bunch of flowers and an axe. In his trunk, the fifth

hand, he holds a sweetened ball of sesame seeds

 

Uchhishta Ganapati - A Tantric deity

Holding Shakti (his female power) in one arm, in his remaining hands

he holds a blue lotus, pomegranate, a sprig of paddy, veena (musical

instrument), and prayer beads. He is depicted as being blue in

colour.

 

Vighna Ganapati - Creator of obstacles for the evil

Of golden hue, he is eight-armed and holds, like Vishnu, a shankha

(conch) and chakra (discus). He also holds a sprig of flowers,

sugarcane bow, flower arrow, axe, noose and garland.

 

Kshipra Ganapati - Quick-acting god

Handsome of appearance and red in colour like the hibiscus flower, he

holds his broken tusk, noose, goad and a sprig of the kalpavriksha

(wish-fulfilling) tree in his hands and ratnakumbha (pot of precious

gems) in his trunk.

 

Heramba Ganapati - Protector of the weak

With five faces and the dark green colour, he rides a lion. Two of

his hands are in the abhaya (protective) and varada (giving)

postures. In his other hands he holds a noose, tusk, prayer beads,

garland, axe, big hammer, modaka sweet and fruit.

 

Lakshmi Ganapati - Giver of success

The goddesses, Siddhi (achievement) and Buddhi (wisdom) in either lap

hold blue lotuses in their hands. His one hand is in the varada

(giving) posture, and in his other hands he has a noose, goad,

parrot, a sprig of the kalpavriksha tree, kamandalu (prayer vessel),

sword and pomegranate. In this form he is of pure white colour.

 

Maha Ganapati - The great one

With a complexion like ripe paddy, he holds his shakti, who has a

lotus in her hand, on his lap. He has three eyes and the crescent

moon on his crown. He holds a pomegranate, gada (mace), sugarcane

bow, chakra (discus), lotus, noose, blue lily, sprig of paddy, tusk,

and pot of gems. This again is a Tantric form.

 

Vijaya Ganapati - The giver of success

Of red complexion and riding a rodent, he holds a goad, noose, tusk

and mango in his hands.

 

Nritya Ganapati - The happy dancer

Of golden colour, Ganapati in this form dances under the kalpavriksha

Tree. He wears rings on his fingers and holds a noose, goad, axe,

tusk and sometimes a sweet cake in one of his hands.

 

Urdhva Ganapati - Tantric god

Holding a green-complexioned goddess, he holds in his hands a blue

flower, sprig of paddy, lotus, sugarcane bow, arrow and tusk. He

himself is of golden colour.

 

Ekaakshara Ganapati - Of the single letter (Gam)

Red in colour, clad in red silk, wearing a garland of red flowers and

with the crescent moon on his crown, he is three-eyed with short arms

and legs. He carries a pomegranate, noose and goad in his hands. His

fourth hand is in the varada (wish-giving) pose. He sits in

padmaasana (yogic lotus pose) and rides the mouse.

 

Vara Ganapati - The giver of boons

Of red complexion, he has three eyes and wears the crescent moon on

his head. He holds the noose, goad, a dish of honey in his hands, and

a pot of jewels in his trunk. In the Tantric representations of the

deity, he is shown with a goddess on his lap.

 

Tryakshara Ganapati - Of the three letters AUM (OM)

Of golden colour, he has fly whisks in his flapping ears. He holds a

noose, goad, tusk, and mango fruit in his hands and a modaka sweet in

his trunk.

 

Kshipra-Prasada Ganapati - Who rewards promptly

Adorned with ornaments and seated on a throne of kusha grass, in his

form his huge abdomen stands out. He holds a noose, goad, lotus,

pomegranate, tusk and a sprig of the kalpavriksha tree.

 

Haridra Ganapati - The golden one

Yellow in colour with bright yellow raiments, he holds a noose, goad,

tusk and modaka sweet in his hands.

 

Ekadanta Ganapati - Of the single tusk

Blue in colour and with a huge abdomen, he holds in his hands an axe,

rosary beads, laddu (a sweet) and his broken tusk.

 

Shrishti Ganapati - The creator

Riding a large rodent and of red complexion, he holds in his hands a

noose, goad, tusk and mango.

 

Uddanda Ganapati - Punisher of evil

This Tantric deity carries on his lap his shakti (power) a green-

coloured female form holding a lotus in her hand. In his ten hands he

holds a pot of gems, lotus, blue water lily, gada (mace), sugarcane,

sprig of paddy, noose, garland, pomegranate and tusk.

 

Runamochana Ganapati - Who releases humanity from bondage

Of white crystal-like mien, he is clad in red silk garments. He holds

a goad, noose, rose apple and his tusk in his hands.

 

Dhundhi Ganapati - Of Kashi

Often of sindura or red colour, he has prayer beads, his tusk, a

ratnakumbha (pot of gems) and an axe in his hands.

 

Dwimukha Ganapati - The god of two faces

Bluish-green in colour, wearing red silk garments and a gem-studded

crown, he holds in his four hands, a noose, goad, tusk and a pot of

gems.

 

Trimukha Ganapati - The three-faced deity

Seated in the middle of golden lotus seat with a complexion as red as

the palasa flower, this form of Ganapati is shown with the left hand

in an abhaya (protective) pose and the right in the varada (reward-

giving) pose. He also holds a sharp goad, prayer beads, noose and pot

of nectar.

 

Simha Ganapati - Riding a lion

With the lion as his vehicle, in this form Ganapati is white in

colour and also holds a lion in one hand. In his other hands are a

sprig of the wish-fulfilling tree, the veena (musical instrument), a

lotus, a bunch of flowers and a pot of gems.

 

Yoga Ganapati - The great yogi

Holding himself in a yogic stance, and bound in a yogic girdle, he is

the colour of the easily morning sun and wears garments of the blue

of Indra. In his hands he holds prayer beads, staff of the yogi,

noose and sugarcane.

 

Durga Ganapati - The saviour

Of a huge body and burnt-gold complexion, he holds prayer beads, an

arrow, goad and tusk in his right hands and a noose, bow, flag, and

rose apple fruit in his left. His garments are of red colour.

 

Sankatashara Ganapati - Remover of sorrow

Seated on a red lotus seat and clad in blue, his complexion is that

of the rising sun. On his lap he holds his shakti, (power) who is of

female form, green in colour, holdinga blue flower in her hand. In

his hands he holds a goad, noose, and a vessel of payasam (milk-

sweet). His right hand is in the varada or boon-giving pose. When not

in the Tantric form, Sankatahara Ganapati is represented in celibate

form.

 

Jai Ganapati Deva!

muktimaa