Affable Ganesha has myriad forms including 'Cricketer Ganesha'

19 September, 2012

Lord Ganesha is considered to be such an affable, affectionate, playful and gracious Hindu deity that he has been shown in myriad forms and poses.

CONSIDERED MOST benevolent deity by Hindus, Ganesha is the Lord of beginnings, who guides us in the practical aspects of our lives. He is most present deity in various forms in the consecrated temples to radiate his grace.

Royina Grewal, in her book titled 'The Book of Ganesha' says that the deity is worshipped in many different manifestations. According to the Ganesha Purana, the deity assumed fifty-six forms while battling the king Durasada. Likewise, the Ganesha Nyasa lists the fifty-one Ganesha forms with their peculiar powers or 'shaktis'.

Also, due to the iconographic peculiarities of Lord Ganesha, he is a popular subject of line drawing, painting, sculpturing and craftwork. On the other hand, some ancient scriptures cite eight forms of Ganesha meant for prevailing over eight human weaknesses or vices.

In another book "Loving Ganesha" published by Himalayan Academy, it is said that 'so vast is Ganesha's Being that He cannot be contained by any single concept, and therefore He is portrayed in many forms. He is each of them, and He is all of them'. The book recommends devotees to follow the path of Lord Ganesha when resorting to discrimination and sagacity to resolve our difficulties; we need to proceed past obstacles in a slow, prudent and well-planned manner. "It is to Vighneshvara that we supplicate before we undertake a task, plan a change in our life or begin the worship any of the other Gods," says the book.

It is interesting to note that there is a Chennai-based temple with Lord Ganesh idol having eleven heads symbolizing the cricket team. Popularly known as 'Cricket Pillayar temple', it has the idols of Ganesha depicting various aspects of cricket. According to the builders of this temple, Hinduism provides to a person to create Gods or Goddesses or to modify the existing Gods or Goddesses. And, it is more so in the case of Lord Ganesha, the Lord of beginning and obstacle removing.

In the inset picture, there are line drawings of Lord Ganesha in different forms drawn by me on the occasion of Ganesha Utsav.

HAPPY GANESHA UTSAV TO ALL!