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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.

 

[There are several forms of dancing Ganapati, often

showing him in the posture of Shiva as Nataraja, or as

Krishna dancing on the head of the sea serpent

Kaliya.]

 

 

 

 

20

 

Kshipra Prasada 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.

 

[Kusha grass, calleed Vetivert in the West, is a

favorite scent of Ganesha's.]

 

 

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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.

 

[Haridra is known in the West as Turmeric herb, and is

brilliant yellow. This aspect of Ganapati is often

shown as yellow-complexioned himself. A small lump of

powdered Turmeric, mixed with oil to hold it together,

may be used to represent Haridra Ganapati if no metal

or carved Murthi is available.]

 

 

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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.

 

[Especially favored for worship by writers and

secretaries -- Ganesha used his broken tusk as a

dipping-pen to transcribe Vyasa-Rishi's epic poem, the

Mahabharata.]

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

[Rinamochana Ganapati is not so much alabaster as

crystalline! Images are often carved out of rock

crystal, and carried in a red silk pouch. Worship of

such a crystal Ganesha will help remove debts.]

 

 

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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.

 

[some versions of Dvimukha show him as two Ganeshas,

seated back-to-back. One image shows Ganesha

restraining his senses (indulging in Yoga), the other

shows him indulging his senses (indulging in Bhoga).

As a green form, he especially removes obstacles to

accruing financial security.]

 

 

 

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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 vina, a lotus blossom,

flower bouquet and a pot of jewels.

 

[i've never seen this aspect riding a lion -- that's

usually Heramba! Simha Ganapati has a face like a

lion's, with a mane, and a mouth full of sharp fangs.

At the same time, he has an elephant's trunk! This is

obviously Ganesha parodying the <lila> of the

Narasimha Avatar.]

 

 

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30

 

Yoga Ganapati

 

 

Yoga Ganapati is absorbed in mantra japa, His knees

strapped in

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.

 

[A favorite of Hatha Yoga practitioners, this Ganesha

is imitating Lord Shiva as the inventor of various

Yoga asanas.]

 

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma