As we know, Ganapati has many names and some of them also imply a form. We already know about the most common ones like Ekdanta, Dhumravarna, Vinayaka, etc. already mentioned in some of the earlier articles.
Let us discuss some lesser known or seen forms of Ganesha –
Bala Ganapati – this is the child form of Ganapati with four arms. In his hands he carries a mango, a branch of a mango-tree, a stem of sugar-cane and a sweet.
Gajanana – is red in colour and is again a four armed form, mounted on a rat. He is supposed to have killed Lobha, who was the demon of greed.
Mayureshwar – this is a six arm form of Ganapati who is white in complexion and is seen riding a peacock. This might have some resemblance to his brother, Skanda or Kartikeya who is normally seen atop a peacock. In this form he battled the demon Sindur.
Mahatkota – is a ten armed form, seated atop a lion and shines like the sun. In this form Ganapati is supposed to have killed two demons, Narantak and Devantak
Vakratunda – is a form where Ganapati has a curved trunk and is generally seen atop a lion. In this form he is supposed to have battled the demon Matsara, who was the symbol of jealousy.
Vighnaraja – is a form where Ganapti is seen lying on the Shesha, the snake of eternity, in a form similar to Vishnu on Sheshanag. In this form, Ganapati is supposed to have defeated Mama, the demon of ego.
Bhalachandra – Here Ganapati is shown as wearing the crescent moon in his head
Vira Ganapati – is Ganapati as the hero, where he is shown as sixteen armed, in which he carries the trident, an arrow, an axe, a sword, the club, a pestle, a spear, a noose, etc. All signs of a warrior god.
Heramba Ganapati – is a five headed form riding a lion. In this form he has ten arms, which have a combination of both arms and other religious symbols like the rosary, etc.
Nritya Ganapati – is the dancing form of Ganapati with four arms.
Urdhva Ganapati – is the rising Ganapati. Here he is shown seated with his Shakti on his left thigh and has eight arms, once of which clasps the goddess. The end of his trunk is rolled around the right breast of the goddess.
Sankatahara Ganapati – is a ganapati seated on a large lotus with his Shakti and has four arms of which one of them holds a bowl of sugared rice (payasapatra)
The above are just a few of many forms of Ganapati, which have been included in different texts like the Ganesha Purana, Mudgala Purana, and other such texts which have recorded different myths eulogising an aspect of the deity and his escapades. Depictions of the form have been open to the artists imagination. Some of them have a strong resemblance to many a Puranic god and each has its own myth.
Let us discuss some lesser known or seen forms of Ganesha –
Bala Ganapati – this is the child form of Ganapati with four arms. In his hands he carries a mango, a branch of a mango-tree, a stem of sugar-cane and a sweet.
Gajanana – is red in colour and is again a four armed form, mounted on a rat. He is supposed to have killed Lobha, who was the demon of greed.
Mayureshwar – this is a six arm form of Ganapati who is white in complexion and is seen riding a peacock. This might have some resemblance to his brother, Skanda or Kartikeya who is normally seen atop a peacock. In this form he battled the demon Sindur.
Mahatkota – is a ten armed form, seated atop a lion and shines like the sun. In this form Ganapati is supposed to have killed two demons, Narantak and Devantak
Vakratunda – is a form where Ganapati has a curved trunk and is generally seen atop a lion. In this form he is supposed to have battled the demon Matsara, who was the symbol of jealousy.
Vighnaraja – is a form where Ganapti is seen lying on the Shesha, the snake of eternity, in a form similar to Vishnu on Sheshanag. In this form, Ganapati is supposed to have defeated Mama, the demon of ego.
Bhalachandra – Here Ganapati is shown as wearing the crescent moon in his head
Vira Ganapati – is Ganapati as the hero, where he is shown as sixteen armed, in which he carries the trident, an arrow, an axe, a sword, the club, a pestle, a spear, a noose, etc. All signs of a warrior god.
Heramba Ganapati – is a five headed form riding a lion. In this form he has ten arms, which have a combination of both arms and other religious symbols like the rosary, etc.
Nritya Ganapati – is the dancing form of Ganapati with four arms.
Urdhva Ganapati – is the rising Ganapati. Here he is shown seated with his Shakti on his left thigh and has eight arms, once of which clasps the goddess. The end of his trunk is rolled around the right breast of the goddess.
Sankatahara Ganapati – is a ganapati seated on a large lotus with his Shakti and has four arms of which one of them holds a bowl of sugared rice (payasapatra)
The above are just a few of many forms of Ganapati, which have been included in different texts like the Ganesha Purana, Mudgala Purana, and other such texts which have recorded different myths eulogising an aspect of the deity and his escapades. Depictions of the form have been open to the artists imagination. Some of them have a strong resemblance to many a Puranic god and each has its own myth.
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