Adhi Vinayaka

Adhi Vinayaka (Sanskrit: आदि विनायक, IAST: Ādi Vināyaka, also known as Nara Mukha Vinayaka)[1] is a form of the Hindu deity Ganesha (Vinayaka), which portrays Ganesha with a human head, prior to being decapitated by his father, Shiva. This specific form of Ganesha is rarely worshipped, with only few dedicated shrines, such as the one near Koothanur, Tamil Nadu.[2] The word aadi or aadhi (आदि) means the 'first', and aadi-vinaayaka = "Vinayak in his first form", when he had a human head. [3]

Adhi Vinayaka
Ganesh with human head at Aadhi Vinaykar Temple, Koothanur, Tamil Nadu.
AffiliationGanesha
GenderMale
Personal information
Parents
SiblingsKartikeya, Ashokasundari

Etymology

This form's most common name, Adhi Vinayaka, derives from the word adhi, literally meaning "primordial" or "ancient". The secondary name Nara Mukha Vinayaka derives from the words nara ("human") and mukha ("face"). "Vinayaka" is a common name for the deity Ganesha.[1]

Iconography

The Adhi Vinayaka phase of Ganesha was prior to the events of being decapitated by Shiva and obtaining the elephant or gaja head. In this phase, Ganesha resembles his brothers Ayyappan and Murugan.

References
  1. "Adi Vinayaka - The Primordial Form of Ganesh". agasthiar.org. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  2. Awasthi, Anshu (September 8, 2016). "This Is The ONLY Temple in The World Where Lord Ganesha Has a Human Face! Here's Its Amazing Story". Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  3. "गणेशजी के इस रूप को देखकर भक्त रह जाते हैं हैरान, दर्शन हो जाता है कल्याण". 22 January 2019.
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