32 Forms of Lord Ganesha, Vinayaka, Vigneswara

Lord Ganesha or Vinayagar is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lord Ganesha is invoked as Vighneswara (meaning the remover of obstacles) when most Hindus start an event or business as he is believed to be the remover of obstacles. He is considered the God of auspicious beginnings and giver of abundant fortune. The Ganesha Purana describes the 32 forms of Lord Ganesha and among them, Mahaganapathi is widely worshipped. The first 16 forms of Ganesha are known as “Shodasa Ganapati” and the later ones are known as “Ekavimsathi”. Each form has special powers and characteristic traits. Two Shaktis of Ganesha, Siddhi and Riddhi, are often depicted in images of the forms of the mighty God.

32 Avatars of Ganapati are:

1. Bala Ganapati: Bala Ganapati is “the Childlike” God of golden hue. In His hands, he holds a banana, mango, sugar cane and jackfruit, all representing the earth’s abundance and fertility. His trunk garners his favorite sweet, the modaka.
2. Taruna Ganapati: Eight-armed, Taruna Ganapati, “the Youthful,” holds a noose and goad, modaka, wood apple, rose apple, His broken tusk, a sprig of paddy and a sugar cane stalk. His brilliant red color reflects the blossoming of youth.
3. Bhakti Ganapati: Shining like the full moon during harvest season and garlanded with flowers, Bhakti Ganapati, dear to devotees, is indeed pleasant to look upon. He holds a banana, a mango, coconut and a bowl of sweet payasa pudding.
4. Vira Ganapati: The “Valiant Warrior,” Vira Ganapati, assumes a commanding pose. His 16 arms bristle with weapons, symbols of mind powers: a goad, discus, bow, arrow, sword, shield, spear, mace, battleaxe, a trident and more.
5. Shakti Ganapati: Four-armed and seated with one of His Shaktis on His knee, Shakti Ganapati, “the Powerful,” of orange-red hue, guards the householder. He holds a garland, noose and goad, and bestows blessings with the Abhaya mudra.
6. Dvija Ganapati: Four-headed Dvija Ganapati, “the Twice-Born,” is moon-like in color. Holding a noose, a goad, an ola leaf scripture, a staff, water vessel and a His Japa beads, He reminds one and all of the urgency for disciplined striving.
7. Siddhi Ganapati: Golden-yellow Siddhi Ganapati, “the Accomplished,” is the epitome of achievement and self-mastery. He sits comfortably holding a bouquet of flowers, an axe, mango, sugarcane and, in His trunk, tasty sesame sweet.
8. Ucchhishta Ganapati: Ucchhishta Ganapati is the “Bhagwan of Blessed Offerings” and guardian of culture. Of blue complexion and six-armed, He sits with His Shakti, holding a viva, pomegranate, blue lotus flower, Japa mala and a sprig of fresh paddy.
9. Vighna Ganapati: Vighna Ganapati, “Bhagwan of Obstacles,” is of brilliant gold hue and bedecked in jewels. His eight arms hold a noose and goad, tusk and modaka, conch and discus, a bouquet of flowers, sugar cane, flower arrow and an axe.
10. Kshipra Ganapati: Handsome, red-hued Kshipra Ganapati, “Quick-acting” giver of boons, displays His broken tusk, a noose, goad and a sprig of the Kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling) tree. In His uplifted trunk He holds a tiny pot of precious jewels.
11. Heramba Ganapati: Five-faced, white in color, Heramba Ganapati, “Protector of the Weak,” rides a big lion. He extends the gestures of protection and blessing while holding a noose, Japa beads, axe, hammer, tusk, garland, fruit and modaka.
12. Lakshmi Ganapati: Lakshmi Ganapati, pure white giver of success, sits flanked by Wisdom and Achievement. Gesturing to Varada mudra, He holds a green parrot, a pomegranate, sword, goad, noose, sprig of Kalpavriksha and a water vessel.
13. Maha Ganapati: Maha Ganapati accompanied by one of His shaktis, “the Great,” Maha Ganapati, is red-complexioned and three-eyed. He holds His tusk, a pomegranate, blue lily, sugar-cane bow, discus, noose, lotus, paddy sprig, mace and a pot of gems.
14. Vijaya Ganapati: Vijaya Ganapati Four-armed, of red hue and riding His resourceful mushika, Vijaya Ganapati is “the Victorious” bestower of success. His insignia are the broken tusk, elephant goad, a noose and luscious golden mango, His favorite fruit.
15. Nritya Ganapati: The happy “Dancer,” Nritya Ganapati, is four-armed and golden, with rings on His fingers, holding a tusk, goad, noose and modaka sweet. He prances under the Kalpavriksha tree, epitomizing exuberant activity and joy.
16. Urdhva Ganapati: Seated with one of His Shaktis on His left knee, Urdhva Ganapati is “the Elevated” Lord of golden hue. In His six hands, He holds a sprig of paddy, a lotus, the sugar cane bow, an arrow, His ivory tusk and a blue water lily.
17. Ekakshara Ganapati: Ekakshara, of “Single-Syllable” (gam), is three-eyed, of red complexion and attire. Crescent moon on His crown, He sits in lotus pose upon Mushika, offers the boon-giving gesture and holds a pomegranate, noose and goad.
18. Varada Ganapati: Varada Ganapati, “the Boon-Giver with the prominent third eye of wisdom, holds a dish of honey, the noose and goad and encloses a pot of jewels in His trunk. His shakti is at His side, and the crescent moon adorns His crown.
19. Tryakshara Ganapati: Tryakshara Ganapati, “the Swami of Three Letters” (A-U-M), is gold in color and has fly whisks in His big floppy ears. He carries the broken tusk, goad, noose and mango and is often seen grasping a sweet modaka in His trunk.
20. Kshipra Prasada Ganapati: Ganapati Kshipra Prasada Ganapati, “the Quick Rewarder,” presides from a kusha-grass throne. His big belly symbolizes the manifest universe. He holds a noose, goad, tusk, lotus, pomegranate and a twig of the wish-fulfilling tree.
21. Haridra Ganapati: Haridra Ganapati, the golden one dressed in bright yellow vestments, sits calmly on a posh, regal throne. Along with His tusk and a modaka, He wields a noose to hold devotees close and a sharp goad to spur them onward.
22. Ekadanta Ganapati: Ekadanta, of “Single Tusk,” is distinguished by His blue color and sizeable belly. The attributes of this murti are an axe for cutting the bonds of ignorance, prayer beads for Japa, a laddu sweet and the broken right tusk.
23. Sristhi Ganapati: Riding on His docile and friendly mouse, Srishti Ganapati is the lord of happy “Manifestation.” This active God, of red complexion, holds His noose a goad, a perfect mango, and His tusk, representing selfless sacrifice.
24. Uddanda Ganapati: Uddanda Ganapati is the bold “Enforcer of Dharma,” the laws of being. His ten hands hold a pot of gerns, a blue lily, sugar cane, a mace, lotus flower, sprig of paddy, a pomegranate, noose, garland and His broken tusk.
25. Rinamochana Ganapati: Rinamochana Ganapati is humanity’s liberator from guilt and bondage. His figure of alabaster skin is apparelled in red silks. He bears a noose and a goad, His milk-white tusk and a favorite fruit, the rose apple.
26. Dhundhi Ganapati: Red-hued Dhundhi Ganapati, “the Sought After,” holds a strand of rudraksha beads, His broken tusk, an axe and a small pot of precious gems thought to represent the treasury of awakenings He saves for all ardent devotees.
27. Dvimukha Ganapati: Dvimukha Ganapati, called Janus by the Romans, with two divergent faces, sees in all directions. His blue-green form is dressed in red silk. He wears a bejeweled crown and holds a noose, goad, His tusk and a pot of gems.
28. Trimukha Ganapati: Trimukha Ganapati, the contemplative “three-faced” Bhagavan of red hue, sits on a golden lotus, telling His beads, holding a noose, goad and vessel of nectar. He gestures for protection with his right hand and blessings with his left.
29. Sinha Ganapati: Sinha Ganapati, white in color, rides a lion and displays another lion in one hand, symbolizing strength and fearlessness. He also holds a Kalpavriksha sprig, the viva, a lotus blossom, flower bouquet and a pot of jewels.
30. Yoga Ganapati: Yoga Ganapati is absorbed in the mantra Japa, His knees strapped in a meditative pose, hands holding a yoga staff, sugar cane stalk, a noose and prayer beads. His color is like the morning sun. Blue garments adorn His form.
31. Durga Ganapati: Durga Ganapati, the “Invincible,” waves the flag of victory over darkness. This splendid murti is of a deep gold hue, dressed in red, holding a bow and arrow, noose and goad, prayer beads, broken tusk and a rose apple.
32. Sankatahara Ganapati: Sankatahara Ganapati, “the Dispeller of Sorrow,” is of nunlike hue, dressed in blue, and seated on a red lotus flower. He holds a bowl of pudding, a goad and a noose while gesturing to the boon-granting Varada mudra.