deities

Ganesh ji

Lord of beginnings, wisdom, and removing obstacles.

Siddhivinayak Mandir, Mumbai.

Educational use on this site only; happy to correct or take down upon request.

Ganesh ji is widely loved as the lord who blesses new beginnings and clears obstacles. Iconography often includes the elephant head, modaka (sweet), and mouse as his vahana (vehicle).

For Shiva ji, Maa Parvati, Ganesh ji, and Kartikeya ji together, see the Shiva Parivar page.

How to recognize (vessels of identity)

Form & head: Human body with elephant head; often one tusk broken (ekadanta tradition).
Adornments: Crown or turban, snake at belly or shoulder, jewelry; regional color variants (red, orange, fair).
Weapons / hands: Often four arms: modaka, parashu (axe) and/or ankusha (goad), japamala, abhaya or lotus—combinations vary by murti and regional tradition.
Vahana: Mouse.