Ganesha Avatar

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great pomp on the Chaturthi date of the Shukla Paksha of the Bhadrapada month. This date is also known as Siddhi Vinayak Vrat. According to the Puranas, Lord Ganesha was born on this day, so this festival is celebrated with great pomp across the country, especially in Maharashtra. On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, the idol of Lord Ganesha is installed and the Lord is bid farewell on the day of Anant Chaturdashi. But do you know that Lord Ganesha has also taken eight incarnations from time to time to protect religion? These eight incarnations are called Ashtavinayaka.

Vakratunda Avatar

Lord Ganesha took the Vakratunda avatar to kill the demon Matsarasur. Matsarasur was a devotee of Lord Shiva and had received a boon from Lord Shiva that he would not be afraid of any creature of any species. Matsarasur also had two sons and both were cruel. After receiving the boon, Matsarasur started torturing the gods on the orders of Shukracharya. Then Lord Ganesha took the Vakratunda avatar defeated Matsarasur and killed both his sons.

Ekadanta Avatar

Once Maharishi Chyavana created Madasur through his penance he was also called the son of Maharishi. Madasur took initiation from the demon Guru Shukracharya and started torturing the gods. Then all the gods invoked the son of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati, then the Lord incarnated as Ekadanta. Ekadanta Bhagwan defeated Madasur in the war and gave the boon of fearlessness to the gods.

Mahodar Avatar

The demon Guru Shukracharya trained a demon named Mohasur in weapons and prepared him to fight against the gods. Troubled by the atrocities of Mohasur, the gods and goddesses together invoked Lord Ganesha. Then Ganeshji took the Mahodar avatar. Mahodar means one with a big belly. Mahodar rode his mouse and went to fight Mohasur. Then Mohasur made Mahodar's avatar his Ishta without fighting.

Vikat Avatar

Once Lord Vishnu violated the chastity of Jalandhar's wife Vrinda to destroy him. After that Jalandhar had a son Kamasura. Kamasura did severe penance of Lord Shiva, pleased with which Mahadev gave him the boon of Trilok Vijay. After getting the boon, Kamasura started torturing the gods. Troubled by the demon, all the gods meditated on Lord Ganesha and prayed for freedom from the demon. Then Lord Ganesha took the Vikat Avatar. In this avatar, Lord Ganesha came riding on a peacock and defeated Kamasura.

Gajanan Avatar

Lobhasur was born due to the greed of Lord Kuber. Lobhasur went to the refuge of the demon Guru Shukracharya and took education from there. On the advice of Shukracharya, Lobhasur did rigorous penance to get a boon from Lord Shiva. Pleased with the sadhana, Lord Shiva gave the boon of being fearless to Lobhasur. After getting the boon, Lobhasur captured all the world. Then everyone prayed to Ganeshji and Lord Ganesha incarnated as Gajanan. After this, on Shukracharya's advice, Lobhasura accepted defeat without fighting.

Lambodar Avatar

Once a demon named Krodhasur did penance of Sun God. Pleased with the penance, Sun God gave Krodhasur the boon of conquering the universe. After this, all the gods and goddesses got scared of Krodhasura and called upon Lord Ganesha. Hearing the prayers of the gods, Lord Ganesha took the avatar of Lambodar. Lord Lambodar stopped Krodhasur and explained that one can never conquer the universe and neither can one be an invincible warrior. Krodhasur then stopped his campaign and went to Patala Lok forever.

Vighnaraj Avatar

Once Maa Parvati was strolling with her friends on Mount Kailash when they started laughing. From their laughter, a giant man was born and they named him 'Mam'. Mam went to the forest to do penance, where he met Shambhasur. Shambhasur gave Mam many demonic powers. After this Mam pleased Lord Ganesha and asked for the rule of the universe. When Shukracharya came to know about this, he gave Mam the position of Daityaraja. After getting the position, Mam captured the gods and put them in prison. Then the gods invoked Lord Ganesha and informed him about their problems. Lord Ganesha took the form of Vighnaraj and then humiliated Mamasur and got the gods released from the prison.

Dhumravarna Avatar

Once Brahmaji made Lord Surya the ruler of the kingdom of Karma, which made him arrogant. While ruling, Lord Surya sneezed, which resulted in the birth of a demon. The demon born from the sneeze was named Aham. Aham demon went to Guru Shukracharya and became Ahantasur. After this, he created his kingdom and also got a boon by worshipping Lord Ganesha. After getting the boon, Ahantasur started torturing the gods, then everyone invoked Lord Ganesha. On the call of the gods, Lord Ganesha took the form of Dhumravarna. Dhumravarna's color was like smoke and he was quite fierce. He had a fierce noose in one of his hands, from which fierce flames were coming out. Dhumravarna ended Ahantasur and gave relief to the gods.

Conclusion

The eight major incarnations of Ganesha, who is worshipped first among all the gods and goddesses, are Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Mahodar, Gajanan, Lambodar, Vikat, Vighnaraj and Dhumravarna. In these incarnations, where there is a wonderful description of Ganesha taking the demons under his protection instead of killing them, it is also clearly visible that the demons with whom Ganesha fought during these incarnations were born from the weaknesses of the gods. When these weaknesses are exposed in humans, then Mahabharata happens. If you are also facing problems in life and want a solution for it, then you can talk to astrologers.