User:Buddhipriya/Sritattvanidhi

The Sritattvanidhi ("The Illustrious Treasure of Realities") is an iconographic treatise written in the 19th century in Karnataka by order of  the then Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III  (b. 1794 - d. 1868 or 1869  ). The Maharaja was a great patron of art and learning and was himself a scholar and writer. There are around 50 works ascribed to him. The first page of the Sritattvanidhi attributes authorship of the work to the Maharaja himself:




 * May the work Sri Tattvanidi, which is illustrated and contains secrets of mantras and which is authored by King Sri Krishna Raja Kamteerava, be written without any obstacle. Beginning of Shaktinidhi. ..

Martin-Dubost's review of the history of this work says that the Maharaja funded an effort to put together in one work all available information concerning the iconography and iconometry of divine figures in South India. He asked that a vast treatise be written, which he then had illustrated by miniaturists from his palace. Thapan refers to the Sritattvanidhi as "compiled by Kṛṣṇarāja Wodeyar IV, kind of Mysore, towards the end of the nineteenth century."

The resulting illuminated manuscript, which he entitled the Sritattvanidhi, brings together several forms of Shiva, Vishnu, Skanda, Ganesha, different goddesses, the nine planets (navagraha), and the eight protectors of the cardinal points. The work is in nine parts, each called a nidhi ("treasure"). The nine sections are:


 * Shakti nidhi
 * Vishnu nidhi
 * Shiva nidhi
 * Brahma nidhi
 * Graha nidhi
 * Vaishnava nidhi
 * Shaiva nidhi
 * Agama nidhi
 * Kautuka nidhi

Published editions
An original copy of this colossal work is available in the Oriental Research Institute, University of Mysore, Mysore. Another copy is in the possession of the present scion of the Royal Family of Mysore, Sri Srikanta Datta Narsimharaja Wadiyar.

An unedited version of this work with only text in devanagari script was published about a century ago by Khemraj Krishna das of Sri Venkateshvar Steam Press, Bombay (Mumbai).

In recent times the Oriental Research Institute has published three volumes (Saktinidhi, Vishnunidhi, and Sivanidhi).

Prof. S.K.Ramachandra Rao, has edited a book titled "Sri-Tattva-Nidhi (of Krishna Raja Wodeyar III of Mysore) (Vol-1). It was published by Kannada University, Hampi in 1993. However, in reality it was on Ragamala Paintings as depicted in " Svarachudamani" authored by the Mummadi Krishna Raja Wodeyar. Similar set of Ragamala Paintings are also  found in Sri Tattva-Nidhi.

Another important work in this genre is by a Sanskrit scholar and hatha yoga student named Norman Sjoman. He has written a book titled: The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace (Year of Publication : 1996,ISBN : 8170173892).The book presents the first English translation of a part of kautuka nidhi; Sritattvanidhi, which includes instructions for and illustrations of 122 postures—making it by far the most elaborate text on asanas in existence before the twentieth century. The book includes instructions for 122 yoga poses, illustrated by stylized drawings of an Indian man in a topknot and loincloth. Most of these poses—which include handstands, backbends, foot-behind-the-head poses, Lotus variations, and rope exercises—are familiar to modern practitioners (although most of the Sanskrit names are different from the ones they are known by today). But they are far more elaborate than anything depicted in other pre-twentieth-century texts.

32 Forms of Ganapati
The Shivanidhi portion includes descriptions of thirty-two forms of Ganapati that are mentioned frequently in devotional literature related to Ganesha.

There are also sculptural representations of these thirty-two forms in the temples at Nañjanguḍ and Chāmarājanagar (both in Mysore district, Karṇāṭaka), done about the same time as the paintings were done and also at the direction of the same monarch.

Each of the thirty-two illustrations is accompanied by a short Sanskrit meditation verse (), written in Kannada script. The meditation verses list the attributes of each form. The text says that these meditation forms are from the Mudgala Purana.

In his review of how the iconographic forms of Ganapati shown in the Sritattvanidhi compare with those known from other sources, Martin-Dubost notes that the Sritattvanidhi is a recent text from South India, and while it includes many of Ganesha's forms that were known at that time in that area it does not describe earlier two-armed forms which existed from the 4th century, nor those with fourteen and twenty arms which appeared in Central India in the 9th and 10th century.

Ramachandra Rao says that: "The first sixteen of the forms of Gaṇapati shown [in the Sritattvanidhi] are more popularly worshipped under the name shoḍaśa-gaṇapati. Among them, the thirteenth, viz. Mahāgaṇapati, is especially widely worshipped.  There is a tāntrik sect which is devoted to this form. Śakti-gaṇapati, Ucchishṭa-gaṇapati and Lakshmī-gaṇapati are also tāntrik forms, which receive worship which is cultic and esoteric.  Heraṃba-gaṇapati is popular in Nepāl."

The 32 forms described in the Sritattvanidhi are as follows. Some of the details of the descriptions, such as the colors to be used in meditation upon the form, are taken from the meditation verses and may not correspond exactly to the pictures.

1.


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

|| ||}}

tatra bālagaṇapatidhyānaṁ

karasthakadalīcūta | panasekṣucamodakaṁ | bālasūryanibhaṁ vaṁde || || 1 ||

Chinmayananda's translation of the meditation verse:

"I salute Lord Balaganapathi adorned with a garland of tender flowers, having plantain, mango, jack fruit, sugarcane and sweets in His hands and who is effulgent like the rising sun."

Translation of the meditation verse provided by a Wikipedian:

"Meditation on 32 forms of Ganapati as described in the Mudgala Purana. First of all meditation on Boy Ganapati. He is carrying in his hands banana, mango, jack fruit, sugar cane and modaka (a sweet). Salute to the Lord Boy Ganapati who is shining like a rising sun (red color)."

2. taruNa gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha taruNagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

pAshAMkushApUpakapitthajaMbU | svadaMtashAlIkShumapi svahastaiH | dhattE sadAyastaruNAruNAbhaH | pAyAtsa yuShmAMstaruNOgaNEshaH || 2 || raktavarNaH

Chinmayananda's translation of the meditation verse:

"May the young Lord Ganapathi, who is carrying in His hands the noose, hook, rice-cake, guava fruit, rose apple, own (broken) tusk, bunch of corn ears and sugarcane and who vividly shines forth with His brilliant youthfulness, bless you all."

Translation of the meditation verse provided by a Wikipedian:

"Meditation on Young Ganapati as described in mudgalapurana : He is carrying in his hands a noose, a hook, kadubu (an edible specific to Lord Ganapati), a wood apple fruit, a rose apple fruit, his own tusk, paddy and sugar cane. Resplendant in red like a Young Son. I salute you Young Ganapati ||2|| (Red Color)"

3. bhakta gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha bhaktagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE |

nArikELAmrakadaLI | guDapAyasadhAriNaM | sharaccaMdrAbhavapuShaM | bhajE bhaktagaNAdhipaM || 3 || shvEtavarNaH

Chinmayananda's translation of the meditation verse:

"I worship Bhakta Ganapathi, who is the Lord of His devotees and who shines like the autumn moon, with coconut, mango, plantain, jaggery and sweets in his hands."

Translation of the meditation verse provided by a Wikipedian:

"Meditation on Devotee Ganapati as described in mudgalapurana - In his hands carrying a coconut, Mango, banana, a vessel containing sweet soup made of jaggery ( jaggery payasa). His whole body is effulgent in white like an autumn moon . I salute to you devotee ganapati ||3|| ( White Colour)"

4. Vîra Ganapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha vIragaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

bhEtALashaktisharakAr^mukacakraKaDga | KaTvAMgamudgaragadAMkushanAgapAshAn | shUlaM ca kuMtaparashuM dhvajamudvahaMtaM | vIraM gaNEshamaruNaM satataM smarAmi ||4 || rakatavarNaH

Chinmayananda's translation of the meditation verse:

"I always meditate on the Veera Ganapathi (Valiant) who is armed with Bhetala, the weapon of power, arrow, bow, wheel, sword, club, hammer, mace, hook, nagapasha (serpent noose), spear, plough, and the shining axe."

Translation of the meditation verse provided by a Wikipedian:

"Meditation on Valourous Ganapati as described in mudgalapurana - He is carrying in his hands: bhetal ( vampire), shakti weapon, arrow, bow, discus(cakra), sword, a weapon called khatvanga, hammer, mace, hook, serpent, noose, spear, lance, axe and flag. His complexion is red. I always adore such courgaious Ganapati ||4|| (Red Colour)"

5. shakti gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha shaktigaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

AliMgya dEvIM haritAMgayaShTiM | parasparAshliShTakaTipradEshaM | saMdhyAruNaM pAshasRuNI vahaMtaM | bhayApahaM shaktigaNEshamIDE ||5 || siMdUravarNaH

Translation of the meditation verse provided by a Wikipedian:
 * "He is red in colour. He has four arms. His low right hand shows the movement of lack of fear (abhaya); the two others wear the elephant goad and the noose; the last hand, who holds a lemon, embraces the goddess. With the top of his trunk, Shakti Ganapati holds a cake."

6. dvija gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha dvijagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

yaM pustukAkShaguNadaMDakamaMDala shrIvidyOtamAnakarabhUShaNa miMduvarNaM | staMbEramAnanacatuShTayashObhamAnaM | tvAM yaH smarEddvijagaNAdhipatE sadhanyaH ||6 || shubhravarNaH

"Ganapati the Twice-Born". He has four heads and four arms. He is white in colour. His hands hold the rosary, the washing pot (kamandalu), the walking-stick of an ascetic or the ritual spoon (sruk) and the manuscript on palm-leaves (pustaka).

7. siddha gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha siddhagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

pakvacUtaPalapuShpamaMjarI | mikShudaMDatilamOdakaisvaha | udvahanvarashumastu tE namashrI samRuddhiyutahEmapiMgaLa || 7 || piMgaLavarNaH

"Ganapati bestowing success", fond of the sesame cake. He has four arms. He is golden in colour. His hands hold the axe, the noose, the sugar-cane stem and the mango.

8. uCiShTa gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha uCiShTagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE || nIlAbjadADimIvINA | shAlIguMjAkShasUtrakaM | dadhaduCCiShTanAmAyaM | gaNEshaH pAtu mEcakaH |

graMthAMtare |

nArIyOnirasAsvada | lOlupaM kAmamOhitamiti || 8 || nIlavarNaH

"Ganapati devouring the remnants of the meal". He has six arms. He is blue in colour. His hands show the rosary, the pomegranate, the paddy ear (shalyagra), the nocturnal lotus, the lute (vîna); his sixth hand sometimes bears a guñja berry, embraces the goddess. The Ucchista Ganapati trunk is placed on the goddesse's thigh.

9. viGna gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha viGnagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

shaMKEkShucApakusumEShukuThArapAsha | cakrasvadaMtasRuNimaMjarikAshanAdaiH | pANishritaiH parisamIhitabhUShaNashrI | viGnEshvarO vijayatE tapanIyagaura H || 9 || svarNavarNaH

"Ganapati removing the obstacles". He has eight arms. He is golden in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the disc, the arrow-flowers, the hatchet, the conch, the sugar-cane stem, the noose, the elephant goad. With the tip of his trunk, he carries a bunch of flowers (pushapamañjari).

10. kShipra gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha kShipragaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

daMtakalpalatApAsha | ratnakuMbhAMkushOjvalaM | baMdhUkakamanIyAbhaM | dhyAyEtkShipragaNAdhipaM ||10 | raktavarNaH

"Ganapati the Speedyle". He has four arms. He is red in colour. His hands show the single tusk, the elephant goad, the creeper of the votive tree (kalpalatâ), the noose. With the end of his trunk, he carries the stone cup full of precious stones (ratnakumbha).

11. hEraMba gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha hEraMbagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

abhayavaradahastaM pAshadaMtAkShamAlAsRuNiparashudadhAnaM mudgaraM mOdakaM ca | PalamadhigatasiMhaH paMcamAtaMgavaktrO | gaNapatiratigauraH pAtu hEraMbanAmA || 11 || gauravarNaH

The five-heads Ganapati riding the lion". He has ten arms. He is dark in colour. His first hand shows the movement of lack of fear (abhaya), the others hold the rosary, the citron, the club, the elephant goad, the noose, the axe, the kadabu cake, the single tusk; his tenth hand shows the movement which bestows boons (varada).

12. lakShmI gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha lakShmIgaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

bibhrANashshukabIjapUrakamiLanmANikyakuMbhAMkushA | npApAshaM kalpalatAM ca KaDgavilasajjyOtissudhAnirJaraH | shyAmEnAttasarOruhENa sahitaM dEvI dvayaM cAMtike | gaurAMgo varadAnahastasahito lakShmIgaNEshovatAt || 12 || gauravarNaH

"Ganapati the Fortunate" embracing his wives Siddhi and Buddhi. He is white in colour. He has eight arms. His hands hold a pomegranate, a sword, the creeper of the votive tree, the elephant goad, the parrot, the noose, the jewel pot; his eighth hand bestows boons (varada).

13.


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha mahAgaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE||

hastIMdrAnanamiMducUDamaruNaCAyaM triNEtraM rasAdAshliShTaM priyayA sapadmakarayA svAMkastayA saMtataM| bIjApUragadEkShukArmukalasaccakrAbjapAshOtphala | vrIhyagrasvaviShANaratnakalashAnhastair^vahaMtaM bhajE || 13|| raktavarNaH

"The Great Ganapati" with a shakti. He has ten hands. He is red in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the pomegranate, the club, the sugar-cane bow, the disc, the conch, the noose, the nocturnal lotus, the paddy ear, the jewels pot.

14. vijaya gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha vijayagaNapatidhyAnaM ||mudgalapurANE ||

pAshAMkushasvadaMtAmraPalavAnAKuvAhanaH viGnaM nihaMtu nassarvaM | raktavarNO vinAyakaH ||14 || raktavarNaH

Vijaya Ganapati : "Ganapati the Victorious", riding a rat which trots at a smart pace. He has four arms. He is red in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the mango.

15. nRutta gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha nRuttagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

pAshAMkushApUpakuThAradaMta caMcatkarAkluptavarAMguLIyakaM | pItaprabhaM kalpatarOradhastAM | bhajAmi nRuttOpapadaM gaNEshaM || 15 || pItavarNaH

"The Dancing Ganapati" under the boon-tree. He has four arms. He is golden in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose, the axe (parashu) or the hatchet (kuthâra). The dhyâna sloka specifies that one of the four hands can show a cake apûpa.

16. Urdhva gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha UrdhvagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

kalhArashAlikamalEkShukacApabANa | daMtaprarOhagadabhRutkanakOjjvalAMgaH | AliMganOdyatakarO haritAMgayaShTyA | dEvyA karOtu shubhamUrdhvagaNAdhipomE ||16|| kanakavarNaH

"The Rising Ganapati", seated with his Shakti on his left thigh. He has eight arms. He is golden in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the arrow-flower, the daylight lotus, the blue lily (kalhara), the sugar-cane bow, the paddy ear, the club; his last hand claps the goddess. The extremity of his trunk is rolled around the right breast of the goddess.

17. EkAkShara gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha EkAkSharagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

raktO raktAMgarAgAMshukakusumayutastuMdilashcaMdramauLe | nesatraiyusaktastribhirvAmanakaracaraNo bIjapUraM dadhAnaH | hastAgrakluptapAshAMkusharadavaradO nAgavaktrOhibhUShO | dEvaH padmAsanasthO bhavatu suKakarO bhUtaye viGnarAjaH ||17|| raktavarNaH

"Ganapati identified with the word OM". He has four arms. He is red in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the cake modaka. Sometimes, he wears, with the extremity of his trunk (bîjapûra).

18. vara gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha varagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

siMdUrAbhamibhAnanaM triNayanaM hastE ca pAshAMkushau | bibhrANaM madhumatka pAlamanishaM sAdhviMdumauLiM bhajE || puShTyAshliShTatanuM dhvajAgrakarayA padmOllasaddhastayA | tadyOnyAhitapANimAttavasumatpAtrOllasatpuShkaraM ||18|| raktavaraNaH

"The Delightful Ganapati" with a shakti seated on his left thigh. He has four arms. He is red in colour. His first three hands hold the elephant goad, the skull filled with liquor (madhumatkapâla) and the noose. The fourth hand creeps between the thighs of the goddess who holds a lotus and a banner.

19. tryakSha gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha tryakShagaNapatidhyAnaM ||mudgalapurANE ||

gajEMdravadanaM sAkShAccalatkarNaM sacAmaraM | hEmavarNaM caturbAhuM | pAshAMkushadharaM varaM | svadaMtaM dakShiNE hastE | savyE tvAmraPalaM tathA | puShkarE mOdakaM caiva | dhArayaMtaH manusmarEt ||19|| svarNavarNaH

"The Three-letters A+U+M Ganapati". He has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the mango. He holds the cake modaka with the trunk end.

20. kShipraprasAda gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha kShipraprasAdagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

dhRutapAshAMkushakalpalatAsvaradashca bIjapUrayutaH | shashishakalakalitamaulistrilOcanO ruNashca gajavadanaH | bhUsurabhUShadIptO bRuhadudaraH padma viShvarollasitaH | viGnapayOdharapavanaH karadhRutakamalassadAstu mE bhUtyai ||20 || aruNavarNaH

"Ganapati bestowing quickly his mercy". He has six arms. He is red in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the lotus, the creeper of the votive tree (kalpalatâ), the noose, the lemon.

21. haridrA gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha haridrAgaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE||

haridrAbhaM caturbAhuM | haridrAvadanaM prabhuM | pAshAMkushadharaM dEvaM | mOdakaM daMtamEva ca | bhaktAbhayapradAtAraM | vaMdE viGnavinAshanaM ||21|| haridrAvarNaH

"The curcuma-colored Ganapati". He has four arms. He is yellow in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the cake modaka.

22. EkadaMta gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha EkadaMtagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE||

laMbOdaraM shyAmatanuM gaNEshaM | kuThAramakSha srajamUrdhva gAtraM | salaDDukaM daMtamadhaH karAbhyAM | vAmEtarAbhyAM ca dadhAnamIDE ||22|| shyAmavarNaH

"The Single Tusk Ganapati". He has four arms. He is blue in colour. His hands hold a large tusk, a rosary, a hatchet (kuthâra) and the small ball of sweets (laddu).

23. sRuShTi gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha sRuShTigaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE||

pAshAMkushasvadaMtAmra| phalavAnAKuvAhanaH | viGnaMnihaMtu nashyONa| ssRuShTi dakShOvinAyakaH ||23|| raktavarNaH

"Ganapati the Creator", riding a big rat. He is red in colour. His has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the mango.

24. uddaMDa gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha uddaMDagaNapatidhyAnaM ||mudgalapurANE ||

kalhArAMbuja bIjapUraka gadAdaMtEkShucApaM sumaM | bibhrANO maNikuMbhashAli kalashau pAshaM sRuNiM cAbjakaM | gaurAMgyA rucirAraviMda karayA dEvyA samAliMgita | shshoNAMgashshubhamAtanOtu bhajatA muddaMDaviGnEshvaraH ||24|| raktavarNaH

"Ganapati the Unchained", with his Shakti seated on his left thigh. He has twelve arms. He is red in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the club, the nocturnal lotus, the noose, the paddy ear, the elephant goad, the washing pot (kamandalu), the sugar-cane bow, the disc, the daylight lotus, the conch and the pomegranate. His trunk is placed on the top of the goddesse's breast or, sometimes, maintains a jewels pot (manikumbha).

25. RuNamOcana gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha RuNamOcanagaNapatidhyAnaM ||mudgalapurANE||

pAshAMkushau daMtajaMbU | dadhAnaH sphaTikaprabhaH | raktAMshukO gaNapati | rmudE syAdRuNamOcakaH||25|| shvEtavarNaH

"Ganapati seated on a large lotus with his Shakti "; he removes the impediments. He has four arms. He is red in colour. His first hand show the movement to bestow boons (varada) ; the three others hold the elephant goad, the noose and the bowl of sugared rice (pâyasapâtra).

26. dhuMDi gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

dhuMDigaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

akShamAlAM kuThAraM ca | ratnapAtraM svadaMtakaM | dhattE karairviGnarAjO | dhuMDinAmA mudestu naH ||26|| aucityAdraktavarNaH

Meditation on dhuMDi gaNapati as told in mudgalapurANa.

He holds in his hands a string of rudrAkSha (rosary), an axe, a pot full of gems and his own tusk. He who is known as dhuMDi and a remover obstacles(viGna rAja), may He give happiness to all of us.

He is of appropriate Red color.

"The Ganapati which we have to look for". He has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the rosary, the hatchet (kuthâra) and the pot of jewels (ratnapâtra).

27. dvimuKa gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha dvimuKagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

svadaMtapAshAMkusharatnapAtraM | karairdadhAnO harinIlagAtraH | ratnAMshukO ratnakirITamAlI | bhUtyai sadA bhavatu mE dvimuKO gaNEshaH ||27|| hasuruvarNaH

Meditation on dvimuKa (two faced) gaNapti as told in mudgala purANa

He holds in his hands his own tusk, a noose, a hook and a pot full of gems. His body complexion is greenish blue and he is wearing a red colored robe.A gem studded crown embellishes his head. May such dvimuKa gaNapati be gracious always.

He is of green color.

28. trimuKa gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha trimuKagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANe || 

shrUmattIkShNa shiKAMkushAkSha varadAndakShE dadhAnaH karaiH | pAshaMcAmRuta pUrNakuMbhamabhayaM vAmE dadhAnO mudA | pIThE svarNamayAraviMda vilasatsatkarNikA bhAsure | svAsInastrimuKaH palAsharucirO nAgAnanaH pAtu naH ||28|| raktavarNa |

Meditation on trimuKa (three faces) gaNapti as told in mudgalapurANa.

He carries in two of his right hands a hook which is very sharp and is shining, a rosary and is holding another hand in boon bestowing gesture (varada). He carries in two of his left hands a noose, a urn full of celestial nectar (amruta) and is holding the another hand in gesture of bestowing fearlessness (abhaya). He is seated on shining golden throne with lotus in the center. He has three eyes with elephantine face and he effulgent like the flame of forest flower(bastard teak/butea frondosa). May such trimuKa gaNapati protect us.

He is of Red color.

"The Tree-Head Ganapati". He has six arms. He is red in colour. His first hand shows the movement which gives boons (varada), the four others hols a very sharp elephant goad, a rudrâksha grain of the rosary, the noose and the ambrosia pot (amritakumbha) ; the sixth hand removes the fear (abhaya).

29. siMha gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha siMhagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

vINAM kalpalatAmariM ca varadA dakShE vidhattE karai vAsamE tAmarasaM ca ratnakalashaM sanmaMjarIM cAbhayaM | shuMDAdaMDalasanmRugEMdravadanaM shaMKEMdugaurashshubhO | dIvyadratnanibhAMshukOgaNapatiH pAyadapAyatsa naH ||29|| shvEtavar^NaH

Meditation on siMha gaNapati as told in mudgalapurANa.

He is holding in his right hands a vINa (Indian lute), a creeper of kalpavRukSha( Tree which can cure all deceases), a discuss and another held in a gesture of granting boons (varada). He is holding in his left hands a lotus, a pot of gems, a flower bunch and another held in a gesture of granting fearlessness (abahaya). He is lion faced with a elephant trunk and shining. His body is shining like a white conch and moon. He is wearing a gem studded shining robe. May such a siMha gaNApati protect us from all dangers.

He is of white color.

"The Lion-face Ganapati". He has eight arms. He is white in colour. His first hand shows the movement which bestow boons (varada). The following hold the disc, the bunch of flowers, the lute (vîna), thez daylight lotus, the jewels pot, the creeper of the votive tree; the last hand shows the movement which removes fear (abhaya).

30. yOga gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha yOgagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANe ||

yOgArUDhO yOgapaTTAbhirAmO| bAlAr^kAbhashcaMdranIlAMshukADhyaH| pAshEkShvakShAnyOgadaMDaMdadhAnaH| pAyAnnityaZM yOgaviGnEshvarOnaH| 30|raktavarNaH

Meditation on yOga gaNapati as told in mudgalapurANa

He is engrossed in yoga and is strapped in a yoga posture. He looks beautiful and shines like the rising morning sun. He is adorned with a colored robe which is shining like blue sapphire. He is carrying a noose, a sugar cane stalk, a rosary and a yoga wand. May such yOga viGnEshvara -remover of obstacles- protect us always.

He is of Red Color.

"Ganapati the Ascetic". He has four arms. He is red in colour. His legs are surrounded with the meditation girdle (yogapatta). His hands hold the rosary, the elbow-rest or the walking-stick, the noose and the sugar-cane.

31. durgAgaNa gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha durgAgaNApatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

taptakAMcanasaMkAsha | shcaShTahastOmahattanuH | dIptAMkushaMsharaMcAkShaM | daMttaMdakShEvahankaraiH | vAmEpAshaMkArmukaMca | latAM jaMbUMdadhatkaraiH raktAMshukassadAbhUyA ddurgAgaNapatirmudE ||31|| kanakavarNaH

Meditation on durgA gaNapati as told in mudgalapurANa

His body glows like burnished gold. He has eight hands and massive body. He is holding a shining hook (aMkush), an Arrow, a rosary and a tusk with the four hands on the right side. He is holding a noose, a bow, a wish bestowing creeper and Rose Apple (Eugenia Jambolana) with the four hands on the left side. He is dressed in red clothes. May such durgA gaNapati bestow happiness to us forever.

He is of Golden Color.

"Ganapati similar the Goddess Durgâ". He has eight arms. He is red in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the arrow, the rosary, the noose, the bow, the creeper of the votive tree (kalpalatâ) and the rose-apple fruit.

32. saMkaTaharaNa gaNapati


Meditation verse as written in Kannada script in the above painting:

atha saMkaTaharagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

bAlArkAruNakAMtirvAmEbAlAMvahannaMkE | lasadiMdIvarahastAM | gaurAMgIM ratnashObhADhyAM | dakShEMkushavaradAnaM | vAmEpAshaMcapAyasaMpAtraM | nIlAMshukalasamAnaH | pIThE padmAruNE tiShThan | saMkaTaharaNaH pAyAtsaMkaTapUgEdgajAnanO nityaM ||32|| raktavarNaH

Meditation on saMkaTaharagaNapati as told in mudgalapurANa.

He is effulgent like the rising red sun. He has his wife - who is carrying a beautiful lotus, glowing with radiance and bejeweled - sitting on his left lap. He is carrying in one of his right hand a hook (aMkusha) and with the other bestowing boon. He is carrying in one of his left hand a rope and with the other a vessel brimming with sweet soup (pAyasaM). He is seated on a Red Lotus and wearing a blue robe. May such Lord saMkaTahara gaNapati who saves everyone from difficulties save us every day for ever.

He is Red in Color.

"Ganapati who discharges from debts". He has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the rose-apple fruit.