About Ganesh | Hindu God Ganesha | Who is Ganesha

3/8 Avatars of Ganesha

Mahodara (Great-Bellied One)

The legend of Mohasur’s creation is an interesting one, evocative of the demon’s defining characteristic – delusion. When Shiva was once so lost in meditation that he did not emerge from his trance to help the gods, Parvati assumed the form of an alluring tribal girl and wandered close by, creating disturbance. Shiva opened his eyes and gazed at her, momentarily confused. From that ‘confusion’ emanated Mohasura, who was promptly whisked away by Shukracharya. The guru initiated Mohasura into the secret of propitiating the sun god. Mohasura soon received the boon of invincibility from Surya and wreaked havoc in the universe. Surya then advised the gods to seek Ganapati’s help. When Mahodara manifested, Shukracharya told Mohasur to surrender or face death. Accordingly, the demon pleaded for mercy. Mahodara spared his life and banished him forever to the underworld.

Mahodara also destroyed two other demons – Durbuddhi (Negative Thought) and Jnanaari (Ignorance). In this form, He embodies the wisdom of the Universal Spirit.

Avatar in Sanskrit means “descent”; in Hindu mythology, a deity descends from heaven to earth for a specific purpose.  Sacred texts like the Ganesha Purana and Mudgala Purana state that Ganesha assumed eight avatars, each manifesting in a different epoch and descriptive of a single attribute. All the avatars had one purpose – to slay a demon.

 

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2/8 Avatars of Ganesha

 

Ekadanta (Lord of the Single Tusk)

Madasura, demon of Intoxication, was the creation of Sage Chyavana. Shukracharya, guru to the Asuras, imparted to him the Shakti mantra of ‘Hrim’. Madasura meditated upon this mantra for centuries, until Shakti appeared and granted him the boon of fulfilling all his desires. Madasura ran amok and subjugated the three worlds. All virtue and goodness disappeared. The gods were then advised by Sanatkumara, Lord of Humanity, to invoke Ekadanta.

Seeing Ekadanta’s blue-skinned, terrifying form, seated upon a mouse, Madasura surrendered to the Lord. Ekadanta spared him but commanded that he never appear in places where the Lord is worshipped with true devotion. Madasura however, was left free to enjoy the fruits of any activity imbued with demonic qualities.

Avatar in Sanskrit means “descent”; in Hindu mythology, a deity descends from heaven to earth for a specific purpose.  Sacred texts like the Ganesha Purana and Mudgala Purana state that Ganesha assumed eight avatars, each manifesting in a different epoch and descriptive of a single attribute. All the avatars had one purpose – to slay a demon.

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1/8: Avatars of Ganesha

Vakratunda (Lord of the Twisted Trunk)

As Vakratunda, Ganesha embodies the formless spirit of the Universe or Brahman. In this avatar, He defeated the demon, Matsaryasura (Envy), who came into being when Indra, king of the Gods, once lapsed into absent-mindedness.  Performing austere penances to Shiva won Matsaryasura the boon of fearlessness. He soon brought all the gods, including mighty Shiva, to their knees. Dattatreya, the unified form of the Holy Trinity, advised them to invoke Vaktratunda and divulged to them, the powerful seed mantra ‘Gam’. Their penance bore fruit – Vakratunda appeared seated on a lion and defeated Matsaryasura.

In the long run, there is nothing that envy cannot overcome; it can only be defeated by the purely abstract form of the divine, here symbolized by Ganesha’s trunk.

Avatar in Sanskrit means “descent”; in Hindu mythology, a deity descends from heaven to earth for a specific purpose.  Sacred texts like the Ganesha Purana and Mudgala Purana state that Ganesha assumed eight avatars, each manifesting in a different epoch and descriptive of a single attribute. All the avatars had one purpose – to slay a demon.

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Eight Avatars of Ganesha

Avatar in Sanskrit means “descent”; in Hindu mythology, a deity descends from heaven to earth for a specific purpose.  Sacred texts like the Ganesha Purana and Mudgala Purana state that Ganesha assumed eight avatars, each manifesting in a different epoch and descriptive of a single attribute. All the avatars had one purpose – to slay a demon.

• Vakratunda (Lord of the Twisted Trunk)
• Ekadanta (Lord of the Single Tusk)
• Mahodara (Great-Bellied One)
• Gajanana (Elephant-faced One)
• Lambhodara (Long-Bellied)
• Vikata (Misshaped One)
• Vighnaraja (King of the World)
• Dhoomravarna (Smoke-Colored)

In coming weeks, we will be discussing each of Ganesh Avatars in more detail.