|
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 sugar cane 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 (milk-sweet).
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
