Dear Jyotishas,
The 12 forms of Ganesha are prescribed for good education and removal of all obstacles. The 12 forms are each for 12 rashis of zodiacs. These 12 Ganesha names are given by Narada Muni. You can read about it further from Pt. Sanjay Rath's websites at,
http://srath.com/index.php?blog=5&title=sri_ganesha_yantra&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
I was further reading about Mudgala Purana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudgala_Purana), Mudgala Purana mentions about eight forms of Ganesha
- Vakratunda (Vakratuṇḍa) ("twisting trunk"), first in the series, represents the absolute as the aggregate of all bodies, an embodiment of the form of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Matsaryāsura (envy, jealousy). His mount (vāhana) is a lion.
- Ekadanta ("single tusk") represents the aggregate of all individual souls, an embodiment of the essential nature of Brahman. the purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Madāsura (arrogance, conceit). His mount is a mouse.
- Mahodara ("big belly") is a synthesis of both Vakratuṇḍa and Ekadanta. It is the absolute as it enters into the creative process. It is an embodiment of the wisdom of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Mohāsura (delusion, confusion). His mount is a mouse.
- Gajavaktra (or Gajānana) ("elephant face") is a counterpart to Mahodara. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Lobhāsura (greed). His mount is a mouse.
- Lambodara ("pendulous belly") is the first of four incarnations that correspond to the stage where the Purāṇic gods are created. Lambodara corresponds to Śakti, the pure power of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Krodhāsura (anger). His mount is a mouse.
- Vikata (Vikaṭa) ("unusual form", "misshapen") corresponds to Sūrya. He is an embodiment of the illuminating nature of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Kāmāsura (lust). His mount is a peacock.
- Vighnaraja (Vighnarāja) ("king of obstacles"), corresponds to Viṣṇu. He is an embodiment of the preserving nature of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Mamāsura (possessiveness). His mount is the celestial serpent Śeṣa.
- Dhumravarna (Dhūmravarṇa) ("grey color") corresponds to Śiva. He is an embodiment of the destructive nature of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Abhimanāsura (pride, attachment). His mount is a horse.
These four are not the same as the eight incarnations of Ganesha that are described in the Mudgala Purana.
- Mahotkata Vinayaka (Mahotkaţa Vināyaka), who has ten arms and a red complexion. Different sources list his mount (vāhana) as either an elephant or lion. He was born to Kashyapa (Kaśyapa) and Aditi in the Krita yuga. The name Kāśyapaḥ (descendant of Kaśyapa) for Ganesha refers to this incarnation.[13] This incarnation killed the demon brothers Narantaka (Narāntaka) and Devantaka (Devāntaka), as well as the demon Dhumraksha (Dhūṃrākşa).
- Mayuresvara (Mayūreśvara), who has six arms and a white complexion. His mount is a peacock. He was born to Shiva and Parvati in the Treta yuga. He incarnates for the purpose of killing the demon Sindhu. At the end of this incarnation he gives his peacock mount to his younger brother Skanda, with whom the peacock mount is generally associated.
- Gajanana (Gajānana), who has four arms and was born with a red complexion. He has a mouse as his mount. He is born to Shiva and Parvati in the Dvapara yuga. He incarnates for the purpose of killing the demon Sindura (Sindūra), who was so-named due to his reddish-pink complexion (see: Sindoor). It is during this incarnation that Ganesha gives the discourse known as the Ganesha Gita to King Varenya.
- Dhumraketu (Dhūmraketu) is grey in colour, like ash or smoke (dhūmra). He has either two or four arms.[14] He has a blue horse as his mount. He will come to end the decline of the Kali yuga. During this incarnation he kills numerous demons. Grimes notes that there is a parallel between this incarnation of Ganesha and the tenth and final incarnation of Vishnu, where he will ride upon the white horse Kalki.[15]
This made me to map the above 8+4 names to the 12 forms given by Narada Muni,
| Vakratunda | MP1 | Vakratunda (Vakratuṇḍa) ("twisting trunk"), first in the series, represents the absolute as the aggregate of all bodies, an embodiment of the form of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Matsaryāsura (envy, jealousy). His mount (vāhana) is a lion. |
| Ekdanta | MP2 | Ekadanta ("single tusk") represents the aggregate of all individual souls, an embodiment of the essential nature of Brahman. the purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Madāsura (arrogance, conceit). His mount is a mouse. |
| KrishnaPingaksha | GP* | Mahotkata Vinayaka (Mahotkaţa Vināyaka), who has ten arms and a red complexion. Different sources list his mount (vāhana) as either an elephant or lion. He was born to Kashyapa (Kaśyapa) and Aditi in the Krita yuga. The name Kāśyapaḥ (descendant of Kaśyapa) for Ganesha refers to this incarnation.[13] This incarnation killed the demon brothers Narantaka (Narāntaka) and Devantaka (Devāntaka), as well as the demon Dhumraksha (Dhūṃrākşa). |
| Gajavakra | MP4 | Gajavaktra (or Gajānana) ("elephant face") is a counterpart to Mahodara. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Lobhāsura (greed). His mount is a mouse. |
| lambodara | MP5 | Lambodara ("pendulous belly") is the first of four incarnations that correspond to the stage where the Purāṇic gods are created. Lambodara corresponds to Śakti, the pure power of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Krodhāsura (anger). His mount is a mouse. |
| Vikata | MP6 | Vikata (Vikaṭa) ("unusual form", "misshapen") corresponds to Sūrya. He is an embodiment of the illuminating nature of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Kāmāsura (lust). His mount is a peacock. |
| Vighnaraja | MP7 | Vighnaraja (Vighnarāja) ("king of obstacles"), corresponds to Viṣṇu. He is an embodiment of the preserving nature of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Mamāsura (possessiveness). His mount is the celestial serpent Śeṣa. |
| dhumravarna | MP8 | Dhumravarna (Dhūmravarṇa) ("grey color") corresponds to Śiva. He is an embodiment of the destructive nature of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Abhimanāsura (pride, attachment). His mount is a horse. |
| bala-chandra | GP | Mayuresvara (Mayūreśvara), who has six arms and a white complexion. His mount is a peacock. He was born to Shiva and Parvati in the Treta yuga. He incarnates for the purpose of killing the demon Sindhu. At the end of this incarnation he gives his peacock mount to his younger brother Skanda, with whom the peacock mount is generally associated. |
| vinayaka | GP* | Dhumraketu (Dhūmraketu) is grey in colour, like ash or smoke (dhūmra). He has either two or four arms.[14] He has a blue horse as his mount. He will come to end the decline of the Kali yuga. During this incarnation he kills numerous demons. Grimes notes that there is a parallel between this incarnation of Ganesha and the tenth and final incarnation of Vishnu, where he will ride upon the white horse Kalki.[15] |
| gajapati | MP2* | Mahodara ("big belly") is a synthesis of both Vakratuṇḍa and Ekadanta. It is the absolute as it enters into the creative process. It is an embodiment of the wisdom of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Mohāsura (delusion, confusion). His mount is a mouse. |
| gajanana | GP | Gajanana (Gajānana), who has four arms and was born with a red complexion. He has a mouse as his mount. He is born to Shiva and Parvati in the Dvapara yuga. He incarnates for the purpose of killing the demon Sindura (Sindūra), who was so-named due to his reddish-pink complexion (see: Sindoor). It is during this incarnation that Ganesha gives the discourse known as the Ganesha Gita to King Varenya. |
Some of the mapping I am doubtful hence, I have put "*" make near the reference GP is Ganesha Purana and MP is Mudgala Purana.
Please feel free to give your opinions.
Warm Regards
Sanjay P
From : http://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_1_index.html
श्रीगणेशाय नमः।
śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ |
नारद उवाच।
nārada uvāca |
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं गौरीपुत्रं विनायकम्।
भक्तावासं स्मरेनित्यं आयुःकामार्थसिद्धये॥ १॥
praṇamya śirasā devaṁ gaurīputraṁ vināyakam |
bhaktāvāsaṁ smarenityaṁ āyuḥkāmārthasiddhaye || 1||
प्रथमं वक्रतुण्डं च एकदन्तं द्वितीयकम्।
तृतीयं कृष्णपिङ्गाक्शं गजवक्त्रं चतुर्थकम्॥ २॥
prathamaṁ vakratuṇḍaṁ ca ekadantaṁ dvitīyakam |
tṛtīyaṁ kṛṣṇapiṅgākśaṁ gajavaktraṁ caturthakam || 2||
लम्बोदरं पञ्चमं च षष्ठं विकटमेव च।
सप्तमं विघ्नराजेन्द्रं धूम्रवर्णं तथाष्टमम्॥ ३॥
lambodaraṁ pañcamaṁ ca ṣaṣṭhaṁ vikaṭameva ca |
saptamaṁ vighnarājendraṁ dhūmravarṇaṁ tathāṣṭamam || 3||
नवमं भालचन्द्रं च दशमं तु विनायकम्।
एकादशं गणपतिं द्वादशं तु गजाननम्॥ ४॥
navamaṁ bhālacandraṁ ca daśamaṁ tu vināyakam |
ekādaśaṁ gaṇapatiṁ dvādaśaṁ tu gajānanam || 4||
द्वादशैतानि नामानि त्रिसंध्यं यः पठेन्नरः।
न च विघ्नभयं तस्य सर्वसिद्धिकरः प्रभुः॥ ५॥
dvādaśaitāni nāmāni trisaṁdhyaṁ yaḥ paṭhennaraḥ |
na ca vighnabhayaṁ tasya sarvasiddhikaraḥ prabhuḥ || 5||
विद्यार्थी लभते विद्यां धनार्थी लभते धनम्।
पुत्रार्थी लभते पुत्रान्मोक्शार्थी लभते गतिम्॥ ६॥
vidyārthī labhate vidyāṁ dhanārthī labhate dhanam |
putrārthī labhate putrānmokśārthī labhate gatim || 6||
जपेद्गणपतिस्तोत्रं षड्भिर्मासैः फलं लभेत्।
संवत्सरेण सिद्धिं च लभते नात्र संशयः॥ ७॥
japedgaṇapatistotraṁ ṣaḍbhirmāsaiḥ phalaṁ labhet |
saṁvatsareṇa siddhiṁ ca labhate nātra saṁśayaḥ || 7||
अष्टेभ्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च लिखित्वा यः समर्पयेत्।
तस्य विद्या भवेत्सर्वा गणेशस्य प्रसादतः॥ ८॥
aṣṭebhyo brāhmaṇebhyaśca likhitvā yaḥ samarpayet |
tasya vidyā bhavetsarvā gaṇeśasya prasādataḥ || 8||
इति श्रीनारदपुराणे संकटनाशनं गणेशस्तोत्रं संपूर्णम्॥
iti śrīnāradapurāṇe saṁkaṭanāśanaṁ gaṇeśastotraṁ saṁpūrṇam||
Salutations to Lord Ganesha.
said
him continuously worship in his mind the son of Gauri, Vinaayaka
the refuge of his devotees, for attainment of longevity, desires and wealth
as the one with the twisted trunk;as the one with the single tusk.as the one with dark brown eyes;as the one with the elephant's mouth.as the one with the belly like a pot; as the grotesque one.as the king of obstacles;as the smoke-colored one.as the moon-crested one;as the remover of obstacles.as the lord of all,as the elephant-faced one.
repeats these twelve names at dawn, noon and sunset,
there is no fear of failure, nay, constant fortune.
He who desires wisdom, obtains wisdom; he who desires wealth, obtains wealth.
He who desires sons, obtains sons; he who desires liberation attains liberation.
Whoever chants this hymn to ganapati reaches him in six months,
and in one year he reaches perfection, there is no doubt about this.
Whoever makes copies of this and distributes them to eight Brahmana,
he reaches wisdom immediately, due to the grace of Ganesha.
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