Idols of Lord Ganesh should not have weird forms and attires

The form of the idol should be such that devotion (bhakti) and spiritual emotion (bhav) towards the deity should be awakened instantly on seeing it.

Lord Ganesh with multi hand and multi head	Ganesh made up of bottles

Nowadays, the custom of making idols of Lord Ganesh in varied forms and attires has become prevalent, e.g. Lord Ganesh attired in a loin cloth, resembling Lord Krushna adorning a peacock feather on the head, resembling Lord Dattâtraya, attired as a child, etc. are seen. During the period of the freedom struggle, Ganesh idols would be made in the form of Gandhiji or Nehruon public demand. Similarly, idols resembling King Shivâjî Mahârâj or a saint are made today also. Idols of Ganapati playing cricket or football, riding a motorcycle, etc. are also made.

Example: A Ganesh festival committee in Kalyân near Mumbaî had made a Ganesh idol from medical equipment, a syringe to depict the trunk, kidney trays were used for the ears, a bottle for the crown, gloves for the hands and capsules for eyes.

This is totally erroneous because Lord Ganapati cannot be compared to a leader, soldier, sportsman, etc. The Ganesh idol is humanised to gain cheap popularity and publicity. There is a difference between saints and deities; hence idols should not be made in the form of saints too.

Depicting the deity in such weird forms amounts to disrespect for the deity

According to the science of Spirituality, each deity is a specific principle. According to the doctrine that the word, touch, form, taste, fragrance and the energy associated with them coexist, only if the idol is made in accordance with the science behind the idol, is the principle of the respective deity drawn towards it. If this doctrine is not followed when making the idol then that principle is not imbibed in that idol. Consequently, the devotee does not benefit from that idol from the view point of Spirituality.

Idol should be a seated one, not standing

If a guest pays a visit, we offer him a seat and not keep him standing. During Ganesh Chaturthî, we invoke Lord Ganapati that is invite Him. One should offer Him a seat and proper hospitality. Harbouring the spiritual emotion (bhâv) that Lord Ganapati has actually come to visit us. Besides due to the entire weight of the idol resting on the feet, the idol may even break if it is kept in the standing position for ten consecutive days. Hence one should make an idol which is seated on a wooden seat.

Losses incurred when the Ganesh idol is worshipped in a different form rather than that which is usually worshipped :

Some such examples are given below.

1. Once a devotee of Lord Ganesh installed an idol of Lord Ganesh slaying demon Sindurasur, in his house. Since that day, the atmosphere in his home was ruined.

2. Once a person gave a picture of Lord Ganapati seated on a snail to Mr. Gajanan Salgaonkar, an idol maker from Bardez in Goa to have a similar idol made. Paying no heed to the refusal by the idol maker, he got such an idol made from him merely out of obstinancy. Later that individual incurred tremendous loss.

3. Some years ago, a member of a Ganesh festival committee from Miraj bought a new Bullet motorcycle. During Ganesh Chaturthî, he installed a Ganesh idol on his motor cycle depicting, ‘Ganapati riding a Bullet’. Within a few days of the immersion of the idol, that individual had a fall from that very motorcycle and sustained injuries.

4. An individual insisted on having an idol of Ganapati riding a tiger and got it made. Thereafter, within a year all his cattle were killed by a tiger.

Read Further:
Idols should not be huge
Making an idol from china clay or mud