GODDESS VINAYAKI THE FEMALE GANESA (Ganesha)

Quite a good deal of fresh study has been recently attempted by many a scholar on some well-known deities, their religious systems and iconographies as well as their metaphysical symbolism. However, only a few writers have endeavored to discover new or obscure aspects of certain lesser-known gods of goddesses. One such outstanding example is that of Vinayaki, the female form of the god Ganesa-Vinayaka. The present work introduces the problem of studying this curious goddess while discussing her names and identity as known from the texts, her antiquity as well as her iconic descriptions and representations in Indian art throught the ages. The learned author has collected and analyzed in critical details a great amount of material that had remained so far not properly studied with respect to this unique aspect of Ganesa, conceived as transformed into a female, with elephantine bust and affiliated attributes.

About The Author:

Dr. P.K. Agrawala is a well-known scholar of Indology working as a University Professor in the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology of the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. His special field of investigation is Ancient Indian Art, Iconography and Religious thought

Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations

1. The Name
   
2. Antiquity
   
3. Elephant-faced Goddess Vinayaki in Literature
   
4. Elephant-faced Goddess Vinayaki in India Art
   Apendix I
   Multiple Ganapatis and their Female Saktis
   Word-Index