Vinayagar

Vinayagar, also known as Vināyakar, Gaṇapati, or Pillaiyar in Tamil, is the Tamil form of Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity revered as the remover of obstacles, god of wisdom, and lord of beginnings. His origins are deeply rooted in both Vedic and Puranic traditions. The Rigveda (2.23.1) invokes Gaṇapati as the lord of the hosts (gaṇas), a title later associated with Vinayagar. The Skanda Purana (Kāśīkhaṇḍa) narrates his birth from the divine energy of Parvati, who created him from the turmeric paste of her bath, and his subsequent beheading by Shiva, replaced with an elephant's head. This myth underscores his role as a guardian and the embodiment of wisdom gained through sacrifice.

Iconographically, Vinayagar is depicted with a single elephant head, four arms, and a potbelly. He holds a modaka (sweet dumpling) symbolizing spiritual sweetness, an axe (paraśu) to cut attachments, a noose (pāśa) to bind obstacles, and his broken tusk (used to write the Mahabharata as per the Mahabharata Ādi Parva). His vahana, the mouse (mūṣika), represents the tamed mind that can navigate any obstacle. Principal myths include his race around the universe with his brother Murugan, where Vinayagar's circumambulation of his parents Shiva and Parvati is deemed the highest wisdom (Skanda Purana). In Tamil Nadu, Vinayagar is worshipped with great fervor, especially during Vinayagar Chaturthi (also called Pillaiyar Chaturthi), when clay idols are installed and immersed.

The Vinayagar Agaval, a Tamil devotional poem by Avvaiyar, extols his virtues. Regional traditions include the concept of 'Sukha Vinayagar' (bestower of happiness) and 'Dvimukha Vinayagar' (two-faced) in certain temples. In Hindu cosmology, Vinayagar presides over the mūlādhāra chakra, grounding spiritual energy. He is invoked at the start of all rituals, marriages, and ventures, as stated in the Bhagavata Purana (5.17.14) where he is worshipped for success. His worship transcends sectarian boundaries, making him one of the most popular deities in South India.

Same as Pillaiyar. Often depicted with mouse. Holds modaka, axe, noose.