Different avatars of Ganesha have been revealed in our Vedic scriptures from time-to-time. In this article, I am discussing 32 such forms that are the most prominent forms found popularly.
Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, bestower of success, and Lord of all Lords. He is discussed more often in all our ancient scriptures. Our temples also contain many such different forms and shapes of Ganesha. He is presented as having 4 hands at some places whereas possesses 6 hands at others or even as many as 16 hands, like that. Again, he bears a single head or three heads or five heads at different places. He reveals himself as bearing different items in his hands on different occasions or according to his forms. So, it is evident that he is worshipped in different forms for different purposes or as per the different beliefs of his devotees.
also describes these 32 forms of Ganesha that were popularly referred to by the ancient scholars, sages, and rishis. Similarly,
also describes that there are 32 forms. Even today, we can find these 32 forms of Ganesha in the temples of the Mysore District (India), especially in
1. Bala Ganapati: He is child-like in appearance with a bright glow of the rising sun. He wears a garland of tender flowers and bears in his four hands the bananas, mango, sugarcane, and modaks (sweets).
2. Taruna Ganapati: He is youthful in appearance bearing eight hands and glowing with a light-reddish glow. He bears in his hands the noose, goad, kadubu or kudumu (rice-cake type), guava fruit, wood apple, own tusk, corn bunch, and sugarcane.
3. Bhakti Ganapati: He is white in color, glowing like the moon, and is described as the Lord of his devotees. He has four hands holding a coconut, mango, banana, and kheer (jaggery, rice pudding).
4. Veera Ganapati: He poses in a valiant, commanding pose holding different battle arms. He possesses 14 hands and is red in color. He holds in his hands the bhetala (skeleton), the trident spear (shakti weapon), an arrow, a bow, the Wheel (chakra), sword, club, hammer, mace, goad, nagapasha, spear, battleax, and a plow.
5. Shakti Ganapati: He is red-orange hued in color and four-armed. He holds an Abhaya mudra with his lower right-hand whereas his other hands hold a noose, goad, and lemon. Goddess is seated on his left knee. He holds a rice-ball(steamed) in his trunk.
6. Dvija Ganapati: He is four-headed, six-armed, and of moon-like hue. He holds a noose, goad, palm-leaf scripture, the walking-staff od ascetics, a water-vessel, and the string of beads that are used while performing Japa. He reminds us of the importance of disciplined living.
7. Siddhi Ganapati: He is of Golden-Yellow hue with four arms. He is the accomplished epitome of success. He holds an ax, noose, sugarcane, and mango in his hands while he has a sweet sesame-ball in his trunk.
8. Ucchhishta Ganapati: He is of blue complexion and the Lord of Holy Offerings. Also considered as the guardian of culture, he possesses six arms. He embraces his Goddess Shakti with a hand and holds the Japa mala, veena, paddy ear-corn, pomegranate, blue-lotus, and gunja-berry (a red small-sized seed with a black spot at the bottom) in his hands.
9. Vighna Ganapati: He is the Lord of Obstacles and brilliant golden-hued. He has eight arms and holds the Shankha (conch), Chakra (disc), Noose, Elephant Goad, Arrow Flowers, a small Axe, Sugar Cane, Tusk and Modaka, In his trunk he carries a bunch of flowers.
10. Kshipra Ganapati: Kshipra Ganapati is "Quick-Acting" granting boons quickly. He is handsome and red-hued. In his four arms, he holds the broken tusk, the noose, goad, and a sprig of the Kalpavriksha ( a heavenly wish-fulfilling tree).
11. Heramba Ganapati: He is the beloved son riding an elephant. He is dark-golden-hued with five heads and ten arms. Two of his arms show the protective sign and the boon-giver sign. In his other arms, he holds the Japa mala, a citron fruit, modaka, the elephant goad, noose, a club, an ax, and the tusk.
12. Lakshmi Ganapati: He is fair in hue and sits holding his wives Budhhi and Sidhhi on his lap. He is the Fortune Giver just like Goddess Lakshmi. In his eight arms, he holds a pomegranate, sword, goad, noose, a green parrot, a sprig of Kalpavriksha, a gold pot, and gestures a Varada Mudra (granting boons).
13. Maha Ganapati: Maha Ganapati is blood-hued, has three eyes, and is accompanied by His Shakti (Goddess). He possesses ten hands holding His tusk, a pomegranate, a club, sugarcane bow, Shankha, Chakra, blue lotus, noose, a paddy sprig, and a pot of jewels.
14. Vijaya Ganapati: He is the Victorius Ganapati with red-hue, possessing four arms and riding on a rat at a smart pace. He holds the broken tusk, elephant goad, a noose, and the golden mango.
15. Nritya Ganapati: The Dancing Ganapati is golden-hued with four arms and dancing under the Kalpavriksha. He holds His tusk, elephant goad, noose, and an ax while one of his hands holds the sweet modaka also.
16. Urdhva Ganapati: known as "The Elevated- Ganesha, he sits with his Shakti on his knee and is golden-hued. He is shown as having six or eight arms in various scriptures. In his eight hands, he holds his broken tusk, the paddy sprig, sugarcane bow, an arrow, a lotus, a blue lily, the club, while clapping the Goddess with his eighth hand.
17. Ekakshara Ganapati: He is the Single-Syllabled Ganapati representing "
GAM"
Akshara. He is red-complexioned with the crescent moon on his crown, three-eyed, sitting in the lotus-pose on his rat, having form arms. He holds the noose, a goad, his broken tusk, and his fourth hand shows the boon-giving gesture.
18. Vara Ganapati: He is the Boon-Giver seated with his Shakti on his knee bearing four arms. He surrounds one arm around his Goddess who is holding a lotus and a red banner-like flag in her hands. His other hands hold the noose and goad, and a bowl of honey. His trunk holds a pot of jewels.
19. Tryakshara Ganapati: He is the three letters A-U-M Ganapati, elephant-faced with his large ears resembling hand fans (ChAmaram) and is Gloden-hued. He holds in his four arms his tusk, the noose, goad, and a mango. He holds the sweet modaka in his trunk.
20. Kshipra Prasada Ganapati: He is the instant Boon-Giver. He is elephant-faced, red-hued, three-eyed, and six-armed with the crescent moon on his head. He presides on a throne made of the kusha grass. His large belly resembles the obvious universe. He holds the tusk, elephant goad, noose, a lemon, the lotus, and a sprig of Kalpavriksha.
21. Haridra Ganapati: He is golden-hued wearing the holy yellow-hued vestment and having four arms. He holds his tusk, the modak, a noose, and the goad. He uses the noose and goads to draw his devotees towards him and march them towards success.
22. Ekadanta Ganapati: He is known as the Single-tusked Ganapati and remover of the chains of ignorance. He has four hands with a large belly and is blued-hued. He holds in his hands an ax, a Japa mala, his tusk, and the sweet modaka.
23. Shrishti Ganapati: Shrishti Ganapati is an embodiment of Happiness. He is red in color and rides on a big rat holding his tusk, a noose, goad, and a mango.
24. Uddanda Ganapati: He is the bold enforcer of Dharma. He is red in color and sits embracing his Shakti. He has twelve arms holding his tusk, a mace, a blue lily, the noose and goad, the paddy ear, a pot of gems, the sugarcane bow, the disc, a conch, the lotus, and a pomegranate.
25. RiNamochana Ganapati: Rinamochana Ganapati is the liberator from the shackles of Ignorance and Bondage. He is white in color and sits on a large lotus-thrown. He bears four hands holding his milk-white tusk, the noose, a goad, and a rose apple (Jamboo fruit).
26. Dhundhi Ganapati: He is the "Sought-After" Ganapati sitting in his red-hued form and his face expressing kindness. His four arms hold the tusk, the Japamala (rosary beads), an ax, and a pot of jewels.
27. Dvimukha Ganapati: He is the two-faced Ganapati with greenish-blue complexion. He wears a red-silk robe and holds in his hands his broken tusk, a noose, hook, and a pot of gems. He wears on his head a gem-studded crown and is able to look all around him with his two faces.
28. Trimukha Ganapati: He is three-faced and red in complexion. Having six hands, he poses the blessing sign with one of his right hands and a protective sign with a left hand. The other hands carry the Japa mala (rosary beads), the noose and goad, and a vessel of nectar (the Amruta Kalasha).
29. Simha Ganapati: He is a Lion-Faced Ganapati with the elephant trunk and is the epitome of strength and fearlessness. His body glows like the shining moon wearing a gem-studded robe. He has eight hands holding a
Veena, Kalpavriksha, a lotus, pot of gems, and a flower bunch while gesturing the boon-giving sign with one righthand the protective gesture with one lefthand.
30. Yoga Ganapati: He is the Ascetic Ganapati shining beautifully like the rising sun and is red in hue. His legs are surrounded by the meditation circle as He sits in his Yoga posture. He wears a colored robe of blue sapphires. His four hands hold the Yoga staff, prayer beads, a sugarcane stalk, and a noose.
31. Durga Ganapati: His huge body glows with deep golden-hue, and clothed in red robes, he sits in an unbeatable dominant posture resembling Goddess Durga. He has eight hands holding a hook, an arrow, the Japa mala, his tusk, a bow, noose, a creeper, and a rose apple (Jamboo fruit).
32. Sankatahara Ganapati: He is the Dispeller of Troubles. He glows brilliantly like the red rising sun and dressed in blue robes. His consort Shakti wearing glowing jewels is seated on his lap holding a beautiful Lotus. He has four hands, one hand gesturing the boon granting sign while others holding a hook, noose, and a bowl of sweet pudding (Payasam).
