गणेश
Ganesha
Remover of obstacles — the one invoked before anything begins
Who is this?
Trimurti
Devi
Family of Shiva
Avatara
Vedic
Regional & planetary
Darshan
Vahana · vehicle
Mushakaमूषक
The mouse — the small, restless thing that gnaws unseen. Carrying the heaviest deity on the lightest animal is read as desire brought under control.
Ayudha · weapons & attributes
Ankushaअङ्कुश
The elephant goad — attention pulled back when it wanders.
Pashaपाश
The noose — what draws the seeker in, and what binds when unexamined.
Parashuपरशु
The axe, in some forms: cutting attachment at the root.
Forms · रूप
Bala Ganapatiबाल गणपति
The child form, associated with fruit and abundance.
Siddhi Vinayakaसिद्धि विनायक
The form granting accomplishment; the Mumbai temple takes this name.
Herambaहेरम्ब
Five-headed protector form riding a lion, common in Nepal.
Ekadantaएकदन्त
The single-tusk form — the broken tusk used as a pen for the Mahabharata.
What the tradition does
- Temples
- Siddhivinayak, Mumbai · Ashtavinayak, Maharashtra · Ucchi Pillayar, Trichy
- Festivals
- Ganesh Chaturthi · Sankashti Chaturthi · Angarki Chaturthi
- Mantra
- ॐ गं गणपतये नमः — Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
- Scriptures
- Ganesha Purana · Mudgala Purana · Ganapati Atharvashirsha
The reasoning
Invoking him first is a procedure, not a superstition: naming the likely obstacles before starting is how the rite begins with attention rather than haste.
The story of how he received the elephant head is told differently in the Shiva, Skanda and Brahmavaivarta Puranas.
Ganesha — deeper branches
1 / 5 open· Bala Ganapati
The child form, associated with earth and abundance.
· Siddhi Vinayaka
The form invoked for accomplishment before an undertaking.
Related
The symbol opens a question
You have seen Ganesha's forms. But why are these symbols used in worship?
Follow the thread from sacred image to tradition, scripture, reasoning and living practice.