Maladevi Temple, 9th/10th CE, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India.....KJS Chatrath

 I visited the Maladevi Temple, 9th/10th CE, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India about a fortnight back. Photo: kjs.Chatrath

 

Female form of Lord Ganesha t Neelakantheshwara Temple, Viddisha, India. .....by K J S Chatrath

 

I visited Neelakantheswar Temple in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India about 10 days back. I was intrigued to see a statue of what appeared to be Lord Ganesha in female form. I had never come across a female form of Lord Ganesha in any temple or in any book. So I took the help of internet and came cross some fascinating information.

 

It was Vinayaki. Vinayaki is the rare, largely forgotten female form of Lord Ganesha, often referred to as Ganeshani, Ganendree, or Ganesvari. Recognized in Tantric traditions and some Puranas, she is depicted as an elephant-headed goddess, embodying wisdom, power, and the removal of obstacles. Rare, ancient images exist in temples, such as the Chausath Yogini temples. It is seen in some temples in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

 

She is represented with an elephant head and a feminine body, often portrayed as a powerful and independent deity. Names include Vighneshvari ("Mistress of Obstacles"), Ganeshani ("Female Ganesha"), and Gajanani.

 

While often linked to Ganesha, the Matsya Purana describes her as one of the Matrikas (mother goddesses) created by Shiva to fight the demon Andhaka. She is sometimes interpreted as a shakti of Shiva, or in Tantric traditions, as a powerful independent entity.

 

Sculptures show her in similar postures to Ganesha, sometimes with a pot-belly and a trunk. Her idols are rarely found in Yogini temples and, in very rare Tantric contexts, she is depicted as the mother of Ganesha, representing the source of his wisdom.

 

In Buddhist texts, she is sometimes referred to as Ganapatihridaya (the heart of Ganesha), demonstrating her role as a distinct divine entity.

 

#Ganesha #Vinayaki #64Yoginis #MadhyaPradesh #Odisha #kjschatrath

 

 

 

 

Visiting Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh, India..................KJS Chatrath

 

"Many hues of my beloved India- 12".......shared by K J S Chatrath

 

Ariyappar Temple, 9th/16th CE, Tamil Nadu, India...................by K.J.S.Chatrath

 

                                            Ariyappar Temple, 9th/16th CE, Tamil Nadu, India.

Crying for attention and care...........by K J S Chatrath

 

Crying for attention and care.................broken pieces lying scattered around the 10th century Bhand Devra Temple in district Baran, Rajasthan that I visited in December 2025. This temple and small area around it is under the protection of the Archeological Survey of India. #BhandDevra #Baran #Rajasthan #India #kjschatrath

Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram- broken pieces crying for attention.............says K J S Chatrath

 

The Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram, located near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, is a 12th-century UNESCO World Heritage site built by Rajaraja Chola II.

I found these broken pieces in the temple compound last month, crying for attention. #Darasuram #TamilNadu #kjschatrath #12thCE