Chapter 57 - Manifestation of Dhuṇḍhi Vināyaka and Fifty-six Vināyakas

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Note: Ḍhuṇḍhi Vināyaka alias Ḍhuṇḍhirāja has a prime position at the centre of Kāśī. He is to be worshipped by pilgrims on entrance to Kāśī. His name is derived from ḍhuḍh—‘to search, to find’ (v 33 in this chapter). Śiva got entrance into Kāśī through his machinations. Hence this name.

This chapter gives the locations of the fifty-six Vināyakas at Kāśī. These Vināyakas are arrayed at the eight directional points in seven concentric circles centring around Ḍhuṇḍhirāja near the Viśvanātha Temple, as follows: (See vv 59-114).—

I. (1) Arka, (2) Durga, (3) Bhīmacaṇḍa, (4) Dehalī; (5) Uddaṇḍa, (6) Pāśapāṇi, (7) Kharva, (8) Siddhivināyka;
II. (1) Laṃbodara, (2) Kūṭadanta, (3) Śālakaṭaṇṭaka, (4) Kūṣmāṇḍa, (5) Muṇḍavināyaka, (6) Vikaṭadvija, (7) Rājaputra, (8) Praṇava;
III. (1) Vakratuṇḍa, (2) Ekadanta, (3) Trimukha, (4) Pañcāsya, (5) Heraṃba, (6) Vighnarāja, (7) Varada, (8) Modakapriya;
IV. (1) Abhayada, (2) Siṃhatuṇḍa, (3) Kūṇītākṣa, (4) Kṣipraprasādana, (5) Cintāmaṇi, (6) Dantahasta, (7) Picaṇḍila, (8) Uddaṇḍamuṇḍa.
V. (1) Sthūladanta, (2) Kalipriya, (3) Caturdanta, (4) Dvituṇḍa, (5) Jyeṣṭha, (6) Gajavināyaka, (7) Kālavināyaka, (8) Nāgeśa;
VI. (1) Maṇikarṇa, (2) Āśāvināyaka, (3) Sṛṣṭigaṇeśa, (4) Yakṣavighneśa, (5) Gajakarṇa, (6) Citraghaṇṭa, (7) Sthūlajaṅgha, (8) Mitravināyaka;
VII. (1)—(5) Moda and others, (6) Jñānavināyaka, (7) Dvāravighneśa, (8) Avimuktavināyaka.]

Skanda said:

Lord Viśveśa entered the auspicious city of Vārāṇasī.

1. O excellent sage, Viśveśa was accompanied by Viśvā (Goddess Pārvatī), Mahāśākha, Viśākha and myself. Nandi and Bhṛṅgī proceeded ahead.

2. He was accompanied by Naigameya and surrounded on all sides by Rudras; he was eulogized by Sanaka and others and attended upon by the celestial sages.

3. He was hailed with joy by the commanders of all the Āyatanas (regional shrines) and by the Guardians of the Quarters. All the holy Tīrthas displayed their holy waters. Gandharvas sang songs of auspicious import.

4. He was adored by celestial damsels who danced with the gestures of the hands resembling tender sprouts. He was greeted all round in the firmament by means of musical instruments sounding automatically.

5. All the quarters reverberated with the deafening sounds of the Vedic chants by the sages. The groups of Cāraṇas eulogized him. He was surrounded everywhere by aerial chariots.

6. The great Lord who was showered with parched grains slipping down through the fists of the ladies of heaven, experienced horripilation due to excess of joy.

7. Many groups of Vidyādhara women offered him garlands as presents. He was greeted and hailed by Yakṣas, Guhyakas, Siddhas and other sky-traversers.

8. Animals and birds went ahead indicating the auspicious omens of the time of entry. Kṛnnarīs and Kinnaras with beaming faces extolled him.

9. Great festivity was celebrated and displayed by Viṣṇu, Mahālakṣmī, Brahmā, Viśvakarman, Nandin and Gaṇeśa.

10. Nāga damsels performed the rites of Nīrājana (waving of the lights) all round. Thus the great Lord entered the auspicious city of Vārāṇasī.

11. Even as all the Devas were watching, the Bull-emblemed Lord got down from the great bull, embraced the Lord of Gaṇas and spoke:

12. “The fact that I have reached the auspicious city of Vārāṇasī, very difficult of access even to me, is due to the favour of this child alone.

13. What is difficult to be accomplished even by a father in all the three worlds can be easily accomplished by a son. The instance for the same is I myself.

14. By the powers of his intellect, something has been achieved by this Elephant-faced One in order to facilitate my entrance into Kāśī.

15. I have really become one blessed with a son inasmuch as he has accomplished through his manliness a long-cherished desire of mine.”

16. After saying this, the destroyer of the three cities oft-eulogized by Indra and others, joyously eulogized the Elephantfaced One with dear words.

Śrīkaṇṭha said:

17. Be victorious, O foremost one among those who cause obstacles. You are the cause of freedom from obstacles unto your devotees. O one free from obstacles, O subduer of obstacles, O one with great obstacles reduced to a single obstacle!

18. Be victorious, O Lord of all Gaṇas! be victorious, O leader of all Gaṇas, O one whose lotus-like feet are bowed to by the Gaṇas, O one with countless good qualities!

19. Be victorious, O omnipresent one, O Lord of all, O single treasure-house of all intellects, O one conversant with all the worlds of Māyā, O Lord worshipped at the beginning in the course of all rites!

20. O auspicious one among all auspicious ones! Be victorious, O cause of auspiciousness unto all. O subduer of inauspiciousness! O cause of salvation! O most auspicious of all auspicious things!

21. Be victorious, O one worthy of the adoration of those who create (like Brahmā and others), O one bowed to by the one who sustains (i.e. Viṣṇu), O one who is venerable to the one who causes annihilation (Rudra)! Be victorious, O one who bestows success in the performance of good acts.

22. O one whose lotus-like feet are worthy of the adoration to Siddhas! Be victorious, O granter of the fulfilment of desires. O sole storehouse of all Siddhis (the eight supernatural powers)! O indicator of great Siddhis and prosperities!

23. O creator of all Guṇas! O one beyond all the Guṇas! O leader of all good qualities! O one with perfect conduct! O one identical with wealth! Be victorious, O you who are extolled!

24. Be victorious, O Lord of all armies! O bestower of strength on the enemy of Bala (i.e. Indra)! O one with the tips of the teeth as bright as cranes! O young boy of great valour!

25. O Lord, O support of infinite greatness, O piercer of the mountain (Krauñca)^[1], O one who has lifted up the Elephants of the Quarters by the tips of the tusks! Be victorious, O (Lord) with serpents for ornaments!

26. O merciful Lord of divine form, those who bow down to you on the earth attain salvation though they may be the doers of all sinful acts. You always remove all their great calamities. You bestow on them heavenly pleasures and salvation too.

27. O Vighnarāja, those who are perceived even for a moment on the earth by means of your benign glances have all their sins reduced. They are Puruṣottamas (Viṣṇus, most excellent ones among men) and Lakṣmī looks at them with benign glances.

28. O Lord who are expert in destroying promptly the obstacles of those who bow down, you are like the Sun unto the lotus-like heart of Dākṣāyaṇī. Those who eulogize thee are heard to have become renowned. There is nothing surprising in it. It is surprising that only they are the leaders of Gaṇas.

29. Those who regularly adore the pair of your feet do flourish with plenty of sons, grandsons, wealth and grain. Their lotus-like feet shall be regularly eulogized by many servants. They will obtain untainted wealth and fortune worthy of being enjoyed by kings.

30. O ultimate cause of all causes, you are the cause of all. You alone are worthy of being known by Vedic scholars for ever. O Lord of divine form incapable of being expressed by ordinary words, you are something worthy of being sought after by the original words (of the scriptures).

31. The Vedas do not know you really, O stage-manager of the mobile and the immobile beings. Even Brahmā and others do not know you. You alone annihilate, protect and create everything. O Lord who cannot be comprehended even mentally, how is it possible to eulogize you adequately?

32. I have killed the Daityas, the chief of whom were Tripuras, Andhaka and Jalandhara who had already been destroyed by the arrows of your angry glances. Excepting you who has the power even to wish for the success of the tasks that yield benefits even if they were to be insignificant.

33. The root Ḍhūṇḍh is well-known to mean “to search for”. Your name Ḍhuṇḍhi is due to the fact that you search for everything that your devotees require (and bestow on them). O Ḍhuṇḍhirāja, O Vināyaka, which embodied soul can obtain access to Kāśī too without your pleasure?

34. If a resident of Kāśī bows down to your lotus-like feet first and then bows down to me, I reach up to the root of his ear and impart (the Tāraka Mantra), before the departure of the lifebreath, something whereby he is not reborn in the world.

35. A devotee takes his holy bath in Maṇikarṇikā along with the cloth worn and walks ahead (not minding) the feet getting soiled. He offers libation to the celestial sages, human beings and the manes. He then comes to Jñānodatīrtha (Jñānavāpī) and worships you.

36. First the devotee should propitiate you by means of huge quantities of sweetmeat of great flavour, incense, lights, garlands and sweet-smelling unguents, and then me capable of bestowing the benefit of Kāśī. O Ḍhuṇḍhi, thereby who does not flourish?

37. A devotee may undertake pilgrimage to Tīrthas and that too without the conventional order. Even then, due to your benign, merciful glances, all the obstacles and calamities antagonistic to his own welfare, shall be removed, O Dhuṇḍhi, and he will obtain the complete benefit here at Kāśī.

38. If anyone bows down to you, O Ḍhuṇḍhi Vināyaka, everyday early in the morning at Kāśī, all the obstacles shall be removed and no object on the surface of the earth shall be inaccesible to him here and hereafter.

39. If anyone repeats the name of Ḍhuṇḍhi Vināyaka, all the eight Siddhis will repeat his name in the heart everyday. He will enjoy different kinds of pleasures worthy of being enjoyed by Devas. In the end he will be wooed by Goddess Nirvāṇa Kamalā (Glory of Liberation).

40. O Ḍhuṇḍhirāja, O bestower of all Siddhis, even if one staying far off remembers the pedestal of your feet everyday, he will get the entire benefit of staying in Kāśī. My words cannot be contradicted or falsified at any time.

41. O blessed one, I know that it is for the removal of innumerable obstacles that you have assumed different forms and stay here in this holy spot.

42. Let these heaven-dwellers listen. I shall mention all those forms of yours, O sinless one, assumed in the different areas.

43. First, you are Dhuṇḍhirāja slightly to my right. You seek out and bestow all the desired objects and wealth on the devotees.

44. O son, O Gaṇeśa, if diverse kinds of adoration are performed unto you on the Caturthī (fourth day) coinciding with a Tuesday with huge quantities of Modakas (sweetmeats) of fragrant flavour and scented garlands, I make them Gaṇas.

45. Those who worship you on every Caturthī with concentration of mind, O Ḍhuṇḍhi, are really blessed. O elephantfaced one, they will place their left foot on the head of all miseries and mishaps and attain the status of the Elephantfaced One.

46. O Ḍhuṇḍhi, the devotees who observe Naktavrata (taking food only at night) and worship you on the fourth day of the bright half of Māgha will be worthy of being worshipped by the enemies of Asuras.

47. The devotee shall cover (make) Laḍḍus with white gingelly seeds and eat them on the bright Caturthī of Māgha after undertaking the annual pilgrimage.

48. On that Caturthī, O Ḍhuṇḍhi, the Yātrā (pilgrimage) should be assiduously performed by those who wish for fulfilment of the worship at the holy spot, for your propitiation. It shall remove all calamities.

49. He who does not perform that Yātrā nor offers Naivedya with Laḍḍus of gingelly seeds should be at my bidding struck with thousands of obstacles.

50. A devotee conversant with the Mantras shall devoutly perform Homa with gingelly seeds, ghee and other requisites on that Caturthī. His Mantra will become fruitful.

51. O Gajānana, O Ḍhuṇḍhi, the Mantra, be it Vedic or otherwise, should be repeated in your presence. It will then accord the desired Siddhis (fulfilment of desires).

Īśvara said:

52. It is certain that a person of excellent mind who reads this eulogy composed by me will never be afflicted by obstacles.

53. If anyone recites this meritorious eulogy of Ḍhuṇḍhi in the presence of Ḍhuṇḍhi, all the Siddhis will stay near him always.

54. After repeating this eulogy with adequately controlled mind, the devotee shall never be assailed by mental sins at any time.

55. The man who repeats the prayer unto Ḍhuṇḍhi shall attain wives, sons, land, excellent horses, excellent houses, wealth and foodgrains.

56. This eulogy uttered by me is named Sarvasaṃpatkara (‘Giver of all prosperities’). It should be assiduously repeated always by one who desires salvation.

57. If anyone is desirous of going anywhere for a specific purpose, he should go after repeating this meritorious prayer. Invariably all the Siddhis (achievements) shall come face to face to him.

58. I shall mention another thing also. Let those heaven-dwellers listen. I shall mention the places where Ḍhuṇḍhi had stayed for the sake of guarding the holy spot.

First Circle of Vināyakas:

59. At the confluence of Gaṅgā and Asi at Kāśī is the Vināyaka named Arkavināyaka. If he is visited on Sundays by people, he will subdue all distresses.

60. Gaṇādhyakṣa named Durga is the destroyer of all wretchedness. It is in the southern region of the holy spot and should be assiduously worshipped.

61. On the south-west of the holy spot near Bhīmacaṇḍī is Bhīmacaṇḍavināyaka. On being visited he removes great fear.

62. On the western side of the holy spot is Dehalivināyaka. There is no doubt about this that he will remove all the obstacles of the devotees.

63. On the north-western side of the holy place is the Gajānana named Uddaṇḍa. He will always strike down massive groups of obstacles.

64. On the north of Kāśī, Pāśapāṇi-Vināyaka (Vināyaka with the Pāśa, noose, in his hand) always binds obstacles due to the devotion of the residents of Kāśī.

65. The beautiful Kharvavināyaka is at the confluence of Gaṅgā and Varaṇā. He will subdue and shorten even huge obstacles of good devotees.

66. To the east of the holy spot Siddhivināyaka is always ready to protect the holy spot. It is on the west of Yamatīrtha and is a prompt bestower of powers on a Sādhaka (aspirant).

67. These eight Vināyakas are on the outer ring of Kāśī. They expel non-devotees and bestow all the Siddhis on the devotees.

Second Circle of Vināyakas:

68. Henceforth I shall mention those Vināyakas who protect this holy spot Avimukta on the second external ring.

69. On the western bank of the heavenly river, to the north of Arkavināyaka is Laṃbodara Gaṇādhyakṣa (‘Leader of Gaṇas’) who washes off all the mud of obstacles.

70. To the west thereof and to the north of Durga-Vināyaka is Kūṭadanta. He is the annihilator of difficulties and calamities. He always protects this holy place.

71. Slightly to the north-east of Bhīmacaṇḍa Gaṇeśa is Śālakaṭaṃkaṭa, the protector of this holy spot. This Gaṇādhyakṣa is worthy of being adored.

72. The Vināyaka named Kūṣmāṇḍa is situated on the east of Dehalivighneśa. He is to be worshipped always by the devotees for the suppression of great mishaps and calamities.

73. Muṇḍavināyaka stationed in the south-east direction of the Gaṇapati named Uddaṇḍa is extremely renowned. He is to be adored well by devotees.

74. His body is stationed in Pātāla. The head is situated in Kāśī. Hence the Lord in Kāśī is spoken as Muṇḍavināyaka.

75. One shall attain the position of the lordship of Gaṇas by worshipping the Gaṇapati Vikaṭadvija to the south of the Gaṇeśāna (named) Pāśapāṇi.

76. The Vināyaka named Rājaputra is on the south-west of the Lord named Kharva. On being worshipped, he will reinstate a king who has lost his kingdom.

77. The Gaṇādhipa named Praṇava is on the western bank of Gaṇgā and to the south of Rājaputra. On being bowed down to he will lead (a devotee) to heaven.

78. These eight Vināyakas are situated in Kāśī in the second external ring. They will dispel all the obstacles of those who permanently stay in Kāśī.

Third Circle of Vināyakas:

79. Those Vighnarājas who are stationed in this holy spot on the third external ring, according protection always, should be mentioned by me now.

80. Vakratuṇḍa, the remover of mass of sins, is stationed to the north of Laṃbodara who is on the beautiful bank of the heavenly river.

81. Ekadantaka stationed on the north of the Gaṇapati Kūṭadanta shall always protect Ānandakānana from calamities.

82. The monkey-lion-elephant-faced Vighneśa named Trimukha (Three-faced) is situated to the north-east of Śālakaṭaṅkaṭa. He is the remover of the fear of (people of) Kāśī.

83. The Vighnarāṭ named Pañcāsya is in the eastern direction of Kūṣmāṇḍa. With an excellent chariot (drawn by) lions, he protects the city of Vārāṇasī.

84. The Lord named Heraṃba stationed in the south-east of Muṇḍavināyaka is worthy of being worshipped always. He will fulfil the desires of all the residents of Kāśī like Aṃbā (Goddess).

85. For the purpose of Siddhi, a wise devotee should worship the Gaṇapati (named) Vighnarāja who destroys all obstacles. He is stationed to the south of Vikaṭadanta.

86. The Gaṇādhyakṣa named Varada stationed slightly in the south-west direction from the Vināyaka (named) Rājaputra, should be worshipped. He is the bestower of boons on the devotees.

87. The Gaṇeśa (named) Modakapriya is stationed to the south of Praṇavavighneśa on the auspicious bank of the celestial river in the Piśaṅgila Tīrtha. He is worthy of being adored.

Fourth Circle of Vināyakas:

88. Eight Vināyakas should be clearly visualised by men with delighted minds in Kāśī on the fourth external ring. They are the destroyers of the obstacles of the devotees.

89. The Vināyaka Abhayada who is the destroyer of the fear of all, is stationed on the bank of the heavenly river in the northern direction from Vakratuṇḍa.

90. The Vināyaka (named) Siṃhatuṇḍa is stationed on the north of Ekadaśana (Ekandanta). He destroys the elephants in the form of calamities of the inhabitants of Vārāṇasī.

91. The Gaṇādhyakṣa (named) Kūṇitākṣa is stationed in the north-eastern direction of Trituṇḍa (Trimukha). He will protect Māhāśmaśāna (i.e. Kāśī) from the evil eye of the wicked.

92. Kṣipraprasādana stationed to the east of Pañcāsya shall protect the city. Siddhis are quickly attained by the worship of Kṣipraprasādana.

93. Cintāmaṇi Vināyaka is stationed to the south-east of Heraṃba. He is like Cintāmaṇi (wish-yielding stone) unto the devotees. He will directly present (to the devotees) whatever is thought of by them.

94. The Gaṇeśvara (named) Dantahasta is towards the south of Vighnarāja. He will be (commanding) thousands of obstacles to harass men who hate Vārāṇasī.

95. The Lord named Piciṇḍila is to the south-west of Varada. He is surrounded by Yātudhānas (demons) and protects the city day and night.

96. What is it that the Heraṃba named Uddaṇḍamuṇḍa does not bestow on devotees when visited? He is stationed in Pilipilā Tīrtha to the south of Modakapriya (Vināyaka).

Fifth Circle of Vināyakas:

97. I shall now mention the Vināyakas twice-four (= eight) in number, stationed in Kāśī on the fifth external ring and protecting the holy spot.

98. The Gaṇeśāna named Sthūladanta is stationed on the bank of the heavenly river to the north of Abhayaprada. To the good, he bestows enormous Siddhis.

99. The Vināyaka (named) Kalipriya is stationed to the north of Siṃhatuṇḍa. Among those who harass the devotees flocking to the Tīrtha, he creates natural quarrel always.

100. The Vināyaka named Caturdanta is on the north-east of Kūṇitākṣa. Masses of obstacles shall perish merely by visiting this Lord.

101. The Gaṇanāyaka named Dvituṇḍa is stationed to the east of Kripraprasādana. He looks equally majestic both in front and behind.

102a. By visiting him, men will attain all-round glory and splendour.

102b-103. The Gaṇādhyakṣa named Jyeṣṭha is the eldest of my numerous sons. He is stationed to the south-east of Cintāmaṇi Vināyaka. For the acquisition of surpassing excellence he should be adored well on the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Jyeṣṭha.

104. Gaja-Vināyaka is to be adored in the southern direction of Dantahasta. By worshipping him devoutly prosperity with elephants will be attained.

105. Kāla-Vināyaka is to the south of the Gaṇapati named Piciṇḍila. By resorting to him, men will not have the fear of the god of Death

106. The devotee is honoured in Nāgaloka by visiting the Gaṇapa named Nāgeśa stationed in the southern direction from the Gaṇapa named Uddaṇḍamuṇḍa.

Sixth Circle of Vināyakas:

107. Hereafter the Vighnanāyakas stationed on the sixth external ring are being mentioned. Merely by listening to their names men will achieve supernatural power.

108. The Gaṇapati named Maṇikarṇa is the destroyer of obstacles in the east. Āśā Vināyaka is stationed in the southeast fulfilling the hopes and desires of a devotee.

109. Sṛṣṭigaṇeśa in the south is the indicator of creation and annihilation. Yakṣa Vighneśa in the south-west is the destroyer of all obstacles and is the greatest.

110. Gajakarṇa in the west is the cause of welfare to all. The Gaṇapati named Citraghaṇṭa protects the city in the north-west.

111-112. In the north Sthūlajaṅgha subdues the sins of those who control their minds. That auspicious Vināyaka named Mitravināyaka protects the city of Īśa in the north-east. He is to be worshipped in the north of Yama Tīrtha.

Seventh Circle of Vināyakas:

I shall mention the Vināyakas stationed on the seventh external ring.

113-114. The five Vighneśas are Moda and others; the sixth one is Jñānavināyaka; the seventh one is Dvāravighneśa present in front of the great door. Avimukta Vināyaka, the eighth one, removes all the distress of those with humble minds in my holy spot Avimukta.

115. He who remembers these fifty-six Gajamukhas even when he is in a far-off country, shall attain knowledge on death.

116. If a devotee recites this meritorious eulogy of Ḍhuṇḍhi involving fifty-six Gajānanas, he becomes a meritorious-souled one. He gets supernatural powers at every step.

117. Wherever one may be, all these Gaṇeśvaras should be remembered. They protect a man falling into the ocean of great calamity.

118. On hearing this eulogy of great merit and these Vìnāyakas, one is never afflicted by obstacles. One is rid of all sins too.

119-120. After saying this, the Lord of the Devas became highly joyous in his mind. He was coronated by Brahmā and others. He granted them whatever they desired. Efficient that he was in doing the proper thing, he entertained all of them duly. He then entered the royal palace built by Viśvakarmaṇ

Skanda said:

121. Thus Vighnajit (‘Subduer of obstacles’ i.e. Gaṇeśa) was eulogized by the Lord of Devas. That Vināyaka created thus many of his own forms.

122 O Pot-born One, by repeating these names of Ḍhuṇḍhirāja, a man shall get whatever he desires.

123. There are thousands, nay innumberable, forms of the Gaṇeśa Ḍhuṇḍhi there, devoutly worshipped by many devotees.

124. They are Bhagīratha, Gaṇādhyakṣa, Hariścandra, Vināyaka, the Gaṇapati named Kaparda and then Binduvināyaka.

125. These and others are the Vighneśas installed by everyone of the devotees. By worshipping them too men do attain all riches.

126. By listening to this meritorious chapter with faith, a man gets rid of all obstacles and obtains the desired position.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Here Gaṇeśa is identified with Skanda, as it was Skanda who pierced the Krauñca mountain (Commentator).