32 forms of Ganesha

32 forms of Ganesha

Every God in Hindu mythology is believed to have different forms or incarnations or avatars. Every avatar symbolises something unique. The elephant-headed God, has displayed himself in 32 forms of Ganesha, each form having special powers and characteristic features. Two shaktis of Ganesha, Siddhi and Riddhi, are often depicted on images of the mighty God’s forms.

Ekadanta Ganapati

The Single-Tusked One (Eka=One Danta=Tusk) is blue in color. His axe cuts through ignorance. Another hand holds prayer beads, while a third grasps his broken tusk. For Ekadanta, a sweet laddoo is a delightful snack.

Kshipra Prasada Ganapati

“Kshipra” means the quality of quickness. Ask of him what you will with devotion and faith – this Ganapati, seated on a throne of kusha-grass, will reward you in no time at all. His other attributes: the goad, tusk, noose, pomegranate, lotus and the kalpvriksh.

Uddanda Ganapati

This ten-armed form of the Lord is the one who enforces Dharma, the moral law of the Universe. For this task, he bears ten attributes: the blue lily, sugar cane stalk, lotus, mace, noose, paddy, a broken tusk and a garland.

Srishti Ganapati

The red-hued Lord who presides over manifest creation sits astride Mooshika, his divine mouse vehicle. The noose, goad and a ripe mango are his attributes. His broken tusk represents his willingness to sacrifice.

Rinamochana Ganapati

Marble skinned and clad in red silk, this Ganapati offers salvation from guilt and attachment. His trunk holds another favored fruit, the wood apple, while his hands bear the noose, goad and broken tusk.

Every avatar is depicted as a red, golden, blue or white image. The names of these 32 forms of Ganesha suggest what each of them symbolises. For example, ‘Bala’ means child-like,‘Bhakti’ means devotion and ‘Nritya’ means dance and ‘Lakshmi Ganapati’ is the Giver of Success. While some say Ganesha was an unmarried bachelor, others say that he was married to Siddhi (spiritual power) and Buddhi or Riddhi (intellectual power). But Lakshmi Ganapati has two consorts –Saraswati, goddess of culture and arts and Lakshmi, goddess of luck and prosperity. Vighna Ganapati is the Lord of Obstacles. Destruction of obstacles for those who are on their way to glory is one of Ganesha’s important tasks. On the other hand, Bhakti Ganapati is calm.