Thirty-two forms of Ganesha are mentioned frequently in devotional literature related to the Hindu god Ganesha.For color reproductions of the 32 Ganapati pictures from the Sri Tattvanidhi see: Rao, pp. vi-ix.For a description of the Ganapati forms based on personal inspection of one of the Mysore originals, see: Martin-Dubost, pp. 120-123, 376.Line drawings of the 32 meditation forms along with the Sanskrit descriptions appearing in the Śrītattvanidhi are given in: Glory of Ganesha (Central Chinmaya Mission Trust: Bombay, 1995), pp. 85-118. The same set of drawings but with some substitutions in order and naming appears in John A. Grimes, Ganapati: Song of the Self, SUNY Series in Religious Studies (State University of New York Press: Albany, 1995) . The Ganesha-centric scripture Mudgala Purana is the first to list them.Grimes p. 52
Detailed descriptions are included in the Shivanidhi portion of the 19th-century Kannada Sritattvanidhi. There are also sculptural representations of these thirty-two forms in the temples at Nanjangud and Chāmarājanagar (both in Mysore district, Karnataka), done about the same time as the paintings were done and also at the direction of the same monarch.Ramachandra Rao, p. vi. 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 that existed from the 4th century, nor those with fourteen and twenty arms that appeared in Central India in the 9th and 10th centuries.Martin-Dubost, p. 120.
Ramachandra Rao says that:
List
Name English Meaning Image Description || || "Childlike Ganapati" tatra bālagaṇapatidhyānaṁ karasthakadalīcūta | panasekṣucamodakaṁ | bālasūryanibhaṁ vaṁde || || 1 ||
Adorned with a garland of tender flowers, having plantain (banana), mango, jack fruit, sugarcane and sweets (modaka) in His hands and who is effulgent like the rising sun Chinmayananda, p. 87. (red color). "Youthful Ganapati" || ||
|| 2 ||
"Carrying in His hands the noose, hook, rice-cake, guava fruit, rose apple, own (broken) tusk, bunch of corn ears (paddy) and sugarcane and who vividly shines forth with His brilliant youthfulness"Chinmayananda, p. 88. (Red Color).
(According to the Mudgala Purana version, kadubu - an edible specific to Lord Ganapati is mentioned instead of rice-cake). "Devotee (Devotion) Ganapati" atha bhaktagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE |
nArikELAmrakadaLI | guDapAyasadhAriNaM | sharaccaMdrAbhavapuShaM | bhajE bhaktagaNAdhipaM ||3|| shvEtavarNaH
Described as “ the Lord of His devotees and who shines like the autumn moon, with coconut, mango, plantain (banana), jaggery and sweets in his hands."Chinmayananda, p. 89. (White Colour)
"Valiant Ganapati" atha vIragaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
bhEtALashaktisharakAr^mukacakraKaDga | KaTvAMgamudgaragadAMkushanAgapAshAn | shUlaM ca kuMtaparashuM dhvajamudvahaMtaM | vIraM gaNEshamaruNaM satataM smarAmi ||4 || rakatavarNaH
"Armed with Bhetala, the weapon of power(shakti), arrow, bow, wheel(Chakra or discus), sword, club, hammer, mace, hook, nagapasha (serpent noose), spear, plough, and the shining axe."Chinmayananda, p. 90. (Red Colour).
(According to the Mudgala Purana version, flag is mentioned instead of plough). The "Powerful" Ganapati atha shaktigaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
AliMgya dEvIM haritAMgayaShTiM | parasparAshliShTakaTipradEshaM | saMdhyAruNaM pAshasRuNI vahaMtaM | bhayApaham Sakti ganESameeDE |
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. "Ganapati the Twice-Born" atha dvijagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
yaM pustukAkShaguNadaMDakamaMDala shrIvidyOtamAnakarabhUShaNa miMduvarNaM | staMbEramAnanacatuShTayashObhamAnaM | tvAM yaH smarEddvijagaNAdhipatE sadhanyaH ||6|| shubhravarNaH
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). Ganapati bestowing success (Siddhi) or "The Accomplished Ganapati" atha siddhagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
pakvacUtaPalapuShpamaMjarI | mikShudaMDatilamOdakaisvaha | udvahanvarashumastu tE namashrI samRuddhiyutahEmapiMgaLa ||7|| piMgaLavarNaH
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. "Ganapati devouring the remnants of the meal" atha uCiShTagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE || nīlābjadāḍimīvīṇā śālīguṁjākṣasūtrakaṁ ǀ dadhaducciṣṭanāmāyaṁ gaṇēśaḥ pātu mēcakaḥ ǁ
graṁthāṁtare |
nārīyōnirasāsvada | lōlupaṁ kāmamōhitamiti ||8|| nīlavarṇaḥ
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 goddess's thigh. Ganapati - "Lord of Obstacles" atha viGnagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
shaMKEkShucApakusumEShukuThArapAsha | cakrasvadaMtasRuNimaMjarikAshanAdaiH | pANishritaiH parisamIhitabhUShaNashrI | viGnEshvarO vijayatE tapanIyagaura H || 9 || svarNavarNaH
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) "Ganapati who is easy to Appease" or "Quick-acting Ganapati" atha kShipragaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
daMtakalpalatApAsha | ratnakuMbhAMkushOjvalaM | baMdhUkakamanIyAbhaM | dhyAyEtkShipragaNAdhipaM ||10|| raktavarNaH
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). "Mother's Beloved Son" Ganapati atha hEraMbagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
abhayavaradahastaM pAshadaMtAkShamAlAsRuNiparashudadhAnaM mudgaraM mOdakaM ca | PalamadhigatasiMhaH paMcamAtaMgavaktrO | gaNapatiratigauraH pAtu hEraMbanAmA || 11 || gauravarNaH
The five-headed 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). / "Ganapati the Fortunate" similar to Goddess Lakṣmī atha lakShmIgaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
bibhrANashshukabIjapUrakamiLanmANikyakuMbhAMkushA | npApAshaM kalpalatAM ca KaDgavilasajjyOtissudhAnirJaraH | shyAmEnAttasarOruhENa sahitaM dEvI dvayaM cAMtike | gaurAMgo varadAnahastasahito lakShmIgaNEshovatAt || 12 || gauravarNaH
Embracing his wives Siddhi (Achievement) and Buddhi (Wisdom). He is white (fair) 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). "The Great Ganapati" atha mahAgaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE||
hastIMdrAnanamiMducUDamaruNaCAyaM triNEtraM rasAdAshliShTaM priyayA sapadmakarayA svAMkastayA saMtataM| bIjApUragadEkShukArmukalasaccakrAbjapAshOtphala | vrIhyagrasvaviShANaratnakalashAnhastair^vahaMtaM bhajE ||13|| raktavarNaH
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. "Ganapati the Victorious" atha vijayagaNapatidhyAnaM ||mudgalapurANE ||
pAshAMkushasvadaMtAmraPalavAnAKuvAhanaH viGnaM nihaMtu nassarvaM | raktavarNO vinAyakaH ||14 || raktavarNaH
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. "Ganapati the Dancer" atha nRuttagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
pAshAMkushApUpakuThAradaMta caMcatkarAkluptavarAMguLIyakaM | pItaprabhaM kalpatarOradhastAM | bhajAmi nRuttOpapadaM gaNEshaM || 15 || pItavarNaH
Dancing 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. "The Elevated Ganapati" atha UrdhvagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
kalhArashAlikamalEkShukacApabANa | daMtaprarOhagadabhRutkanakOjjvalAMgaH | AliMganOdyatakarO haritAMgayaShTyA | dEvyA karOtu shubhamUrdhvagaNAdhipomE ||16|| kanakavarNaH
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. Ganapati identified with "Single Syllable"(gaṃ). atha EkAkSharagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
raktO raktAMgarAgAMshukakusumayutastuMdilashcaMdramauLe | nesatraiyusaktastribhirvAmanakaracaraNo bIjapUraM dadhAnaH | hastAgrakluptapAshAMkusharadavaradO nAgavaktrOhibhUShO | dEvaH padmAsanasthO bhavatu suKakarO bhUtaye viGnarAjaH ||17|| raktavarNaH
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). The "Boon-giver" Ganapati atha varagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
siMdUrAbhamibhAnanaM triNayanaM hastE ca pAshAMkushau | bibhrANaM madhumatka pAlamanishaM sAdhviMdumauLiM bhajE || puShTyAshliShTatanuM dhvajAgrakarayA padmOllasaddhastayA | tadyOnyAhitapANimAttavasumatpAtrOllasatpuShkaraM ||18|| raktavaraNaH
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. Lord "of the Three-letters A+U+M" Ganapati atha tryakShagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
gajEMdravadanaM sAkShAccalatkarNaM sacAmaraM | hEmavarNaM caturbAhuM | pAshAMkushadharaM varaM | svadaMtaM dakShiNE hastE | savyE tvAmraPalaM tathA | puShkarE mOdakaM caiva | dhArayaMtaH manusmarEt ||19|| svarNavarNaH
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. Ganapati the "Quick-rewarder" atha kShipraprasAdagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
dhRutapAshAMkushakalpalatAsvaradashca bIjapUrayutaH | shashishakalakalitamaulistrilOcanO ruNashca gajavadanaH | bhUsurabhUShadIptO bRuhadudaraH padma viShvarollasitaH | viGnapayOdharapavanaH karadhRutakamalassadAstu mE bhUtyai ||20|| aruNavarNaH
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 (kalpalatā), the noose, the lemon. "The curcuma-colored Ganapati". atha haridrAgaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE||
haridrAbhaM caturbAhuM | haridrAvadanaM prabhuM | pAshAMkushadharaM dEvaM | mOdakaM daMtamEva ca | bhaktAbhayapradAtAraM | vaMdE viGnavinAshanaM ||21|| haridrAvarNaH