NAME COLLECTION

Names of Ganesha

Names of Ganesha and Ganapati found in the Amarakośa, the Agni Purāṇa and the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa.

This collection follows names to their sources. It describes where a name comes from, not who uses it.

Names recorded in Indian use

Gaṇeśa

lord of the gaṇas (Shiva's attendant hosts); BndP 2.42.33 gives exactly this etymology

Agni Purāṇa 71.006ab; Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa bndp_2,42.33

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Gajānana

elephant-faced (gaja 'elephant' + ānana 'face'); BndP 2.42.35 ties it to the elephant's head

Amarakośa 1.1.94; Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa bndp_2,42.35

Vināyaka

remover (of obstacles) (Monier-Williams:); Ganesha

Amarakośa 1.1.93; Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa bndp_2,42.30

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Gaṇanātha

Monier-Williams: Gaṇeśa; analysis: 'lord of the gaṇas'

Gaṇapati

leader of a troop or assemblage (gaṇa + pati); Ganesha

Agni Purāṇa 71.006ab

Other names in the sources

These words are named in the sources as names of the deity. Their listing here does not say that they are used as given names.

Ekadanta

one-toothed (Monier-Williams:); BndP 2.42.39 says the tooth was broken by Rama (Parashurama)

Amarakośa 1.1.94; Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa bndp_2,42.39

Lambodara

pot-bellied (Monier-Williams:); BndP 2.42.34 says all universes are in his belly

Amarakośa 1.1.94; Agni Purāṇa 71.005cd; Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa bndp_2,42.34

Vakratuṇḍa

with a curved trunk/beak (Monier-Williams:); BndP 2.42.40 gives the etymology

Agni Purāṇa 71.006cd; Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa bndp_2,42.40

Bhālacandra

having the moon on his forehead (Monier-Williams:); BndP 2.42.36

Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa bndp_2,42.36

Heramba

a name of Ganesha (Monier-Williams:; no gloss)

Amarakośa 1.1.94

Vighnarāja

king of obstacles (vighna + rāja); Monier-Williams: = vighnapati

Amarakośa 1.1.93

Gaṇādhipa

chief of a troop (gaṇa + adhipa); Ganesha

Amarakośa 1.1.93; Agni Purāṇa 71.006ab

Gaṇanāyaka

chief of Shiva's attendants; Ganesha

Agni Purāṇa 71.006ab

Dvaimātura

Monier-Williams: N. of Gaṇeśa (L.); analysis: 'having two mothers'

Amarakośa 1.1.93

Vighneśa

Monier-Williams: = vighnapati; analysis: 'lord of obstacles'

Vighneśvara

Monier-Williams: = vighnapati; analysis: 'lord of obstacles'

Siddhivināyaka

a form of Ganesha (Monier-Williams:)

Mahodara

Agni Purāṇa 71.005cd; Agni Purāṇa 71.006cd

Gajavaktra

Agni Purāṇa 71.006ef

Vighnanāśana