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Bala
Ganapati
Bala Ganapati is
"the Childlike" God of golden hue. In His hands He holds
a banana, mango, sugar cane and jackfruit, all representing
the earth's abundance and fertility. His trunk garners
His favorite sweet, the modaka.
Taruna
Ganapati
Eight-armed, Taruna
Ganapati, "the Youthful," holds a noose and goad, modaka,
wood apple, rose apple, His broken tusk, a sprig of paddy
and a sugar cane stalk. His brilliant red color reflects
the blossoming of youth.
Bhakti
Ganapati
Shining like
the full moon during harvest season and garlanded with flowers,
Bhakti Ganapati, dear to devotees, is indeed pleasant to
look upon. He holds a banana, a mango, coconut and a bowl
of sweet payasa pudding.
Vira
Ganapati
The "Valiant
Warrior," Vira Ganapati, assumes a commanding pose. His
16 arms bristle with weapons, symbols of mind powers: a
goad, discus, bow, arrow, sword, shield, spear, mace, a
battleaxe, a trident and more.
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Shakti
Ganapati
Four-armed and
seated with one of His shaktis on His knee, Shakti Ganapati,
"the Powerful," of orange-red hue, guards the householder.
He holds a garland, noose and goad, and bestows blessings
with the abhaya mudra.
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Dvija
Ganapati
Four-headed Dvija
Ganapati, "the Twice-born," is moon-like in color. Holding
a noose, a goad, an ola leaf scripture, a staff,
water vessel and a his japa beads, He reminds one and all
of the urgency for disciplined striving.
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Siddhi
Ganapati
Golden-yellow Siddhi
Ganapati, "the Accomplished," is the epitome of achievement
and self-mastery. He sits comfortably holding a bouquet
of flowers, an axe, mango, sugar cane and, in His trunk,
a tasty sesame sweet.
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Ucchhishta
Ganapati
Ucchhishta Ganapati
is "Lord of Blessed Offerings" and guardian of culture.
Of blue complexion and six-armed, He sits with His Shakti,
holding a vina, pomegranate, blue lotus flower, japa mala
and a sprig of fresh paddy.
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Vighna
Ganapati
Vighna Ganapati,
"Lord of Obstacles," is of brilliant gold hue and bedecked
in jewels. His eight arms hold a noose and goad, tusk and
modaka, conch and discus, a bouquet of flowers, sugar
cane, flower arrow and an axe.
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Kshipra
Ganapati
Handsome, red-hued
Kshipra Ganapati, "Quick-acting" giver of boons, displays
His broken tusk, a noose, goad and a sprig of the kalpavriksha
(wish-fulfilling) tree. In His uplifted trunk He holds a
tiny pot of precious jewels.
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Heramba
Ganapati
Five-faced, white
in color, Heramba Ganapati, "Protector of the Weak," rides
a big lion. He extends the gestures of protection and blessing
while holding a noose, japa beads, axe, hammer, tusk, garland,
fruit and modaka.
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Lakshmi
Ganapati
Lakshmi Ganapati,
pure white giver of success, sits flanked by Wisdom and
Achievement. Gesturing varada mudra, He holds a green
parrot, a pomegranate, sword, goad, noose, sprig of kalpavriksha
and a water vessel.
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Maha
Ganapati
Accompanied by
one of His shaktis, "the Great," Maha Ganapati, is red-complexioned
and three-eyed. He holds His tusk, a pomegranate, blue lily,
sugar-cane bow, discus, noose, lotus, paddy sprig, mace
and a pot of gems.
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Vijaya
Ganapati
Four-armed, of
red hue and riding His resourceful mushika, Vijaya
Ganapati is "the Victorious" bestower of success. His insignia
are the broken tusk, elephant goad, a noose and a lucious
golden mango, His favorite fruit.
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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.
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Urdhva
Ganapati
Seated with
one of His shaktis on His left knee, Urdhva Ganapati is
"the Elevated" Lord of golden hue. In His six hands He holds
a sprig of paddy, a lotus, the sugar cane bow, an arrow,
His ivory tusk and a blue water lily.
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Ekakshara
Ganapati
Ekakshara, of
"Single-Syllable" (gam), is three-eyed, of red complexion
and attire. Crescent moon on His crown, He sits in lotus
pose upon Mushika, offers the boon-giving gesture and holds
a pomegranate, noose and goad.
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Varada
Ganapati
Varada Ganapati,
"the Boon-Giver with prominent third eye of wisdom, holds
a dish of honey, the noose and goad and encloses a pot of
jewels in His trunk. His shakti is at His side, and the
crescent moon adorns His crown.
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Tryakshara
Ganapati
Tryakshara Ganapati,
"the Lord of Three Letters" (A-U-M), is gold in color and
has fly whisks in His big floppy ears. He carries the broken
tusk, goad, noose and mango and is often seen grasping a
sweet modaka in His trunk.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Srishti
Ganapati
Riding on
His docile and friendly mouse, Srishti Ganapati is the lord
of happy "Manifestation." This active God, of red complexion,
holds His noose a goad, a perfect mango, and His tusk, representing
selfless sacrifice.
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Uddanda
Ganapati
Uddanda Ganapati
is the bold "Enforcer of Dharma," the laws of being. His
ten hands hold a pot of gems, a blue lily, sugar cane, a
mace, lotus flower, sprig of paddy, a pomegranate, noose,
garland and His broken tusk.
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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.
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Dhundhi
Ganapati
Red-hued Dhundhi
Ganapati, "the Sought After," holds a strand of rudraksha
beads, His broken tusk, an axe and a small pot of precious
gems thought to represent the treasury of awakenings He
saves for all ardent devotees.
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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.
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Trimukha
Ganapati
Trimukha Ganapati,
the contemplative "three-faced" Lord of red hue, sits on
a golden lotus, telling His beads, holding a noose, goad
and vessel of nectar. He gestures protection with a right
hand and blessings with a left.
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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.
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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.
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Durga
Ganapati
Durga Ganapati, the "Invincible,"
waves the flag of victory over darkness. This splendid murti
is of deep gold hue, dressed in red, holding a bow and arrow,
noose and goad, prayer beads, broken tusk and a rose apple.
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Sankatahara Ganapati
Sankatahara Ganapati, "the
Dispeller of Sorrow," is of sunlike hue, dressed in blue,
and seated on a red lotus flower. He holds a bowl of pudding,
a goad and a noose while gesturing the boon-granting varada
mudra.
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