Skip to main content

Ganesha - Reviving the series - 7

We have all heard so many names for Lord Ganesha. Each name signifies the form and a particular characteristic of the god. Some times, the god is referred to by a name that connects with the culture and the mindset of the people. Hence the demographics of the devotees plays an important role in naming the god himself who is above and beyond the divisions of the human mind. This is mostly done for the sole reason of being able to connect with him and internalize him within ourselves.



A small synopsis of 108 names of Ganesha and their meaning is thus provided below to be able to understand a little more - 

  1. Akhurath: One who has mouse as his charioteer
  2. Alampata : Ever eternal lord
  3. Amit : Incomparable lord
  4. Anantachidrupamayam: Infinite and consciousness   personified
  5. Avaneesh: Lord of the whole world
  6. Avighna: Remover of obstacles
  7. Balaganapati: Beloved and lovable child
  8. Bhalchandra: Moon-crested lord
  9. Bheema: Huge and Gigantic
  10. Bhudhividhata: God of knowledge
  11. Bhupati: Lord of the gods
  12. Bhuvanpati: God of the gods
  13. Buddhinath: God of wisdom
  14. Budhipriya: Knowledge bestower
  15. Chaturbhuj: One who has four arms
  16. Devadeva: Lord of all lords
  17. Devantakanashakarin: Destroyer of evils and asuras
  18. Devarata: One who accepts all gods
  19. Devendrashika: Protector of all gods
  20. Dharmik: One who gives charity
  21. Dhoomravarna: Smoke-Hued lord
  22. Durja: Invincible lord
  23. Dvaimatura: One who has two mothers
  24. Ekaakshara: He of the single syllable
  25. Ekadanta: Single-Tusked lord
  26. Ekadrishta: Single-Tusked lord
  27. Eshanputra: Lord Shiva’s son
  28. Gadadhara: One who has the mace as his weapon
  29. Gajakarna: One who has eyes like an elephant
  30. Gajanana: Elephant-Faced lord
  31. Gajananeti: Elephant-Faced lord
  32. Gajavakra: Trunk of the elephant
  33. Gajavaktra: One who has mouth like an elephant
  34. Ganadhakshya: Lord of all Ganas (Gods)
  35. Ganadhyakshina: Leader of all the celestial bodies
  36. Ganapati: Lord of all Ganas (Gods)
  37. Gaurisuta: The son of Gauri (Parvati)
  38. Gunina: One who is the master of all virtues
  39. Haridra: One who is golden colored
  40. Heramba: Mother’s Beloved son
  41. Kapila: Yellowish-Brown coloured
  42. Kaveesha: Master of poets
  43. Kripalu: Merciful lord
  44. Krishapingaksha: Yellowish-Brown eyed
  45. Krti: Lord of music
  46. Kshamakaram: The place of forgiveness
  47. Kshipra: One who is easy to appease
  48. Lambakarna: Large-Eared lords
  49. Lambodara: The huge bellied lord
  50. Mahabala: Enormously strong lord
  51. Mahaganpati: Omnipotent and supreme lord
  52. Maheshwaram: Lord of the universe
  53. Mangalamurti: All auspicious lord
  54. Manomay: Winner of hearts
  55. Mrityunjaya: Conqueror of death
  56. Muktidaya: Bestower of eternal bliss
  57. Mundakarama: Abode of happiness  57
  58. Mushikvahana: One who has mouse as charioteer
  59. Nadapratithishta: One who appreciates and loves music
  60. Namasthetu: Vanquisher of all evils and vices and sins
  61. Nandana: Lord Shiva’s son
  62. Nideeshwaram: Giver of wealth and treasures
  63. Omkara: One who has the form of OM
  64. Pitambara: One who has yellow-colored body
  65. Pramoda: Lord of all abodes
  66. Prathameshwara: First among all
  67. Purush: The omnipotent personality
  68. Rakta: One who has red-colored body
  69. Rudrapriya: Beloved of lord Shiva
  70. Sarvadevatman: Acceptor of all celestial offerings
  71. Sarvasiddanta: Bestower of skills and wisdom
  72. Sarvatman: Protector of the universe
  73. Shambhavi: The son of Parvati
  74. Shashivarnam: One who has a moon like complexion
  75. Shoorpakarna: Large-eared Lord
  76. Shuban: All auspicious lord
  77. Shubhagunakanan: One who is the master of all virtues
  78. Shweta: One who is as pure as the white colour
  79. Siddhidhata: Bestower of success and accomplishments
  80. Siddhipriya: Bestower of wishes and boons
  81. Siddhivinayak: Bestower of success
  82. Skandapurvaja: Elder brother of Skanda (Lord Kartik)
  83. Sumukha: Auspicious face
  84. Sureshwaram: Lord of all lords
  85. Swaroop: Lover of beauty
  86. Tarun: Ageless
  87. Uddanda: Nemesis of evils and vices
  88. Umaputra: The son of goddess Uma (Parvati)
  89. Vakratunda: Curved trunk lord
  90. Varadavinayaka: Bestower of Success
  91. Varaganapati: Bestower of boons
  92. Varaprada: Granter of wishes and boons
  93. Veeraganapati: Heroic lord
  94. Vidyavaridhi: God of wisdom
  95. Vighnahara: Remover of obstacles
  96. Vighnaraja: Lord of all hindrances
  97. Vighnarajendra: Lord of all obstacles
  98. Vighnavinashanaya: Destroyer of all obstacles and impediments
  99. Vignaharta: Demolisher of obstacles
  100. Vigneshwara: Lord of all obstacles
  101. Vikat: Huge and gigantic
  102. Vinayaka: Lord of all
  103. Vishwamukha: Master of the universe
  104. Vishwaraja: King of the world
  105. Yagnakaya: Acceptor of all sacred and sacrificial offerings
  106. Yashaskaram: Bestower of fame and fortune
  107. Yashvasin: Beloved and ever popular lord
  108. Yogadhipa: The lord of meditation

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Flags and their meanings in Mahabharata

Last night I was telling the bedside story to the younger love of my life, when she asked – “How do you identify the leader of the troop in a war – particularly in a warzone where a lot of people are fighting against each other”? While I explained to her how the modern warfare works and how the generals lead the army today, I also imagined the warcraft of yesterday and started to describe the vivid imagination fueled by the magnanimity of the movies like Bahubali, Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat. The job was simple as we both had watched the movies together. And she understood all that I told her. Yet a question from her made me fumble – Do all the warriors have a flag on their chariot, and what do they mean? In my research for the answer, I stumbled upon the information that I would like to share with you too. In the Viraat Parva of Mahabharata, Arjuna under the disguise of Brihannala plays the role of the charioteer for Prince Uttara of Virata kingdom. Under the condition

Ganesha - Reviving the series - 10

The series cannot be completed without mentioning the reach of Lord Ganesha to cultures outside of India. In this last post for this year’s series, I shall try to present some more lesser known facts about the spread of the Lord Ganesha’s influence in Indian and non Indian cultures. During the early medieval period, both Jains and Buddhists incorporated Ganesh into their pantheon. The Ganesha cult thus travelled with the Mahayana Buddhism to distant lands, including Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Tibet, China, Mongolia and Japan. Ganesha’s worship spread in all the regions rapidly. Manjangan ( Ganesha ) temple in  Bali ,  Indonesia Ganesha in Ta Prohm, Angkor For the Jains, Ganesha appears to have taken over certain functions of Kubera. The earliest reference to Ganesha in Jainism is in the Abhidhanacintamani of Hemachandra. It refers to several appelations of Lord Ganesha such as Herama, Ganavgnesa and Vinayaka and visualizes him as elephant headed, pot bellied

Karwa Chauth - Why does moon rise so late?

I have often wondered as to why the moon rises late on the Karwa Chauth night. It’s probably because our hungry stomachs rebel and start cursing the moon instead of praying, that slows it down! Actually on a full moon day, the moon rises exactly at the time of sunset. The moon takes 27.3 days to travel once around the earth. This is also the next full moon day. To travel 360 degrees in 27.3 days, the moon moves approx. 13 degrees towards the east every day. Thus the moon rise increases by approx. 48 min per day in relation to the sunset. On the Karva Chauth day – 4 days after the full moon day, the moon rises 48*4 = 192 min (3 hrs and 12 min) after the sunset. Now please do notice the moon rise timings everyday and see the pattern!