Ganapati is known by various names like Sumukha, Ekadanta, Kapila, Gajakarnaka, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnesha, Vinayaka, Dhumraketu, Ganadhyaksha, Bhalachandra and Gajanana. There is a story behind each of his names. What are the various avatars of Lord Ganesha? At which age does Ganesha appear in which avatar..?
There are many mythological stories associated with Ganesha. As there are avatars of Shiva and Vishnu, there are many avatars of Ganesha. Ganapati is the primordial deity who took different incarnations at every age. Let us know in which period Ganesha took which avatar.
1. Satya Yuga:
Ganesha appeared in Satya Yuga riding a lion. Shri Ganapati was born as Shri Avatar Mahotkata Vinayaka. In this avatar, Ganapati kills the demons Devantaka and Narantaka and establishes Dharma and ends his avatar. In this period Ganesha’s vehicle is a lion. He is ten-armed, radiant and the bestower of grace to all.
2. Treta Yuga:
Ganesha appeared on a peacock in Treta Yuga. Ganapati was born from Uma’s womb on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi day in Tretayuga and he got the name Gunesha. In the Treta Yuga, his vehicle is a peacock, the description is white and in all three worlds he is known as Mayureshvara and has six arms. In this incarnation, Ganapati destroyed the demon Sindhu and married Brahma’s daughters Siddhi and Riddhi.
3. Dwapara Yuga:
In Dwapara Yuga Ganesha appeared on a mouse. His complexion was red during the Dwapara Yuga. He has four arms and is known as Gajanana because Mushika is his vehicle. During the Dwapara Yuga Lord Ganapati was reborn from the womb of Parvati and was called Ganesha. But after Ganesha’s birth, for some reason, Parvati left him in the forest, where Parashara Muni brought him up.
In this incarnation, Ganesha killed Sindurasura and freed many kings and heroes imprisoned by him. In this incarnation, Ganesha taught his devotee Varenya the eternal essence of knowledge in the form of the Ganesha Gita.
It is said that in the Dwaparayuga, Sage Parashara was born with the name Gajamukha. He seems to have got this name because he killed the demon Gajamukha. mushika, a Gandharva in his previous birth, was his vehicle. This Gandharva cast an evil eye on the wife of Sage Soubhari, due to which she was cursed to be born as a mushika. This rat’s name is Dinka.
4. In Kali Yuga:
In Kali Yuga, Ganesha is said to come on a horse. It is said that Lord Ganesha will incarnate at the end of Kali Yuga. His name in this era was Dhumravarna or Shurpakarna. He rides a blue horse named Devadatta with four arms and a sword in his hand. He destroys the sinners with his army and ushers in the Golden Age. During this time he supports the Kalki avatar of Vishnu.
Ganesha also destroyed evil by taking incarnations according to the respective yugas. So all these avatars of Ganesha are important avatars.
