Vinayaki: Lesser-known story of Lord Ganesh’s elephant-headed consort
Not many know! There's a female elephant-headed goddess known as Vinayaki or Ganeshini. The stone structure of this lesser-known female deity is placed in one of the shrines of the Thanumalayan temple in Kanyakumari district. Read more to know in details.
New Delhi: Ganesh Chaturthi is fast approaching. And Lord Ganesh, the central deity revered during this festival, needs no introduction. On this day, Hindus celebrate the birth of their beloved elephant-headed god in the Bhadrapada month of the Hindu calendar. Revered as the remover of all obstacles, this day is celebrated grandly. But not many know, there’s a female elephant-headed goddess known as Vinayaki or Ganeshini. The stone structure of this lesser-known female deity is placed in one of the shrines of the Thanumalayan temple in Kanyakumari district.
Seated cross-legged in Sukhasana, the thin, four-armed goddess has a battle-axe in her upper-left hand and a conch in the lower left hand. In her two right hands, she holds a vase and a staff, around which she entwines her long trunk. This depiction of the elephant-headed goddess in the 1,300-year-old temple is among the few rare representations of the deity that arouse interest and curiosity.
Who is Vinayaki?
Devi Purana identifies Vinayaki as the shakti of Ganesha, characterised by her elephant head and ability to remove obstacles like Ganesha, and includes her as the ninth Matrika. Vinayaki is often overshadowed by the popularity of her consort, Ganesh. She is not often represented by an icon or human form. And is only known by feminine versions of the elephant god – Gajanani, Vighneshi, Gajarupa.
Places representing Vinayaki
The earliest representation of Vinayaki was found in Rajasthan’s Rairh in the form of a damaged terracotta sculpture, dated back to earlier than the 5th century. The rest of the representations appeared only after the 10th century BCE.
In the tantric temple, Chausath Yogini, located in Odisha’s Hirapur, she is one of the 64 Yoginis or a sacred feminine force in a dancing pose.
Some other rare sculptures of Vinayaki have been found in temples in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Vinayaki Chaturthi
The fourth day after every new moon is celebrated as Vinayaki Chaturthi, a day significant for Lord Ganesha but named after his female form.
With little documentation on this female deity, naturally, many of you may have been astonished to hear of the female representation of Ganesh. But not anymore.