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Lord Ganesha, Son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati has always occupied a very special place in our hearts, for He is always present to kick start every new activity into blessed fruition, when called upon to do so. In India, from North to South and East to West, practically all humans invoke His Blessings to see them through their projects.
The Mudgalpurana has described our dearly loved Lord Ganesha, in his eight chief incarnations. Each one brings forth a certain quality and aspect of that particular purpose, for which he incarnated, at various periods in mythology.
The peoples of this Earth are very dear to Him, and each time the existence of the human was threatened with a mighty show of negative powers, he came forth, in all His glory, to save them. Each of these demons symbolizes a particular negative quality ever present in the human mind and heart. So this is also a symbolic mastery over all these negative aspects of the personality, to qualify as a Perfect Master.
This Beloved Being, a human with an elephant head, is much loved in India, and I was surprised to note, that even in Western countries His name is revered, and little statues of His likeness are kept in their altars. Even those who do not know of the religious powers of Lord Ganesha find themselves inevitably attracted to His likenesses, and end up having Him in their homes.
{{/usCountry}}This Beloved Being, a human with an elephant head, is much loved in India, and I was surprised to note, that even in Western countries His name is revered, and little statues of His likeness are kept in their altars. Even those who do not know of the religious powers of Lord Ganesha find themselves inevitably attracted to His likenesses, and end up having Him in their homes.
{{/usCountry}}1.Vakratunda: When the demon Matsarasur threatened to annihilate humankind, Lord Ganesha came riding a Lion, in His incarnation as Vakratunda, forcing Matsarasur to surrender before Him.
2. Ekdanta: The second time around Lord Ganesha incarnated as Ekdanta, using the mouse as his vehicle of transportation, to overcome the force of the demon Madasur, and capture him.
3. Mahodara: As Mahodara, Lord Ganesha overcame the combined forces of the three demons, Mohasur, Durbuddhi, and his son Jnanaari, capturing the first, and slaying the other two.
4. Gajanana: In his forth incarnation, he was known as Gajanana, where he overcame the forces of Lobhasur, son of Kuber, while riding along on a mouse.
5. Lambodara: The great angry demon Krodhasur was made to surrender before Him, as he incarnated as Lambodara, using the mouse again to ride into the battle. He also killed the demon Mayakar in this fierce battle.
6. Vikata: The demon Kamasur surrendered when Lord Ganesha appeared to him in this incarnation, riding a resplendent peacock.
7. Vighnaraja: This is His most popular incarnation, known as The Remover of Obstacles. Riding his vehicle called Sheshnag, a serpent, he strode into battle with Mamtasur, and overcame him.
8. Dhoomravarna: Lord Ganesha's eighth incarnation was as Dhoomravarna, when he went forward on his little mouse, to conquer the last of the demons controlling the human personality, Ahamtasur.
The word "Aham" signifies the human ego, and this is the demonic force which never lets go of the human till the very end. This is so entrenched in the psyche, so that the human thinks that this is all that he can identify with. This demon has also been called Ahamkarasur, or Abhimanasur, both words again pointing to the inextricable control of the ego on the human.