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.
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