Vinayaka

Vinayaka is a widely venerated form of the Hindu god Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati. He is regarded as the remover of obstacles, the patron of beginnings, wisdom, and the arts, and is commonly worshipped at the start of rituals and new ventures.

The name Vinayaka comes from Sanskrit and is often interpreted as “leader” or “guide,” reflecting his role as one who shows the way and removes impediments. In iconography, Vinayaka is typically depicted with an elephant head, a round belly, and four arms, holding a rope, an axe, a modak (sweet), and sometimes a lotus or prayer beads. A mouse commonly serves as his vehicle.

In popular myth, Vinayaka is the elder son of Shiva and Parvati. A well-known legend describes Parvati creating him from mud or sandal paste to guard her while she bathed; Shiva, unaware of his identity, beheaded him. Vishnu then restored him by placing the head of an elephant on his body, and he was granted a boon that he should be worshipped first in any ritual.

Worship of Vinayaka is widespread across India and in Hindu communities abroad. Ganesh Chaturthi, a major annual festival, celebrates his birth and features processions, temple idols, and offerings such as modak. Devotees also invoke him at the beginning of new endeavors through mantras like Om Gan Ganapataye Namah, seeking his blessings for a smooth start and the removal of obstacles. Vinayaka is one of several names for Ganesha, who is also known as Ganapati and Vighneshvara.