108 Names of Ganesha and Their Meanings

Ganesha — the elephant-deity riding a mouse — has become one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. This not only suggests the importance of Ganesha, but also shows how popular and pervasive this deity is in the minds of the masses.

108 Names And Their Meanings

1. Akhuratha: One With Mouse As His Charioteer

Lord Ganesha, with a huge body, has a small mouse as his charioteer. The hugeness matters little when the study of life principles is considered. The soul may be the greatest or the smallest. This represents life in its totality and Lord Ganesha is suggestive of these cosmic aspects.

2. Alampata: The Eternal

By whose issuance this world of illusion is manifest, whose creation is this universe, who is the Lord of all gods and creation, he is the Eternal, Lord Ganesha.

3. Amit: One Who Has No Comparison

Ganesha is the embodiment of ‘OM’, the symbol of the Great God. He is the Eternal Spirit, the Beginning of all beginnings, beyond comparison.

4. Anantachidrupamayam: Infinite And Consciousness Personified

He who is the root cause of the worlds, who is uniquely manifest in the hearts of all, can be realised only by concentrated meditation. Lord Ganesha, the Infinite, is beyond distinctions and beginning.

5. Avaneesh: Master Of The Whole Earth

As a rotund, elephant-faced figure, Lord Ganesha is the Lord and Master of the whole earth. He is the protector of the visible world and leader of the helpless, destroying all evil and obstacles.

6. Avighna: Without Obstacles

The mighty, massive Ganesha, mounted on his vehicle, bestows everything desired if his devotees chant his name with fervour and devotion; He is also responsible in keeping away all obstacles from their path.

7. Balaganapati: The Beloved Child

Lord Ganesha is adored by all the gods, even by the four-faced Brahma, and Lord Indra. As the elephant-faced child, he is the colour of the rays of the rising sun.

8. Bhalchandra: Sporting The Moon Crest

A moon crest adorns the forchead of Lord Ganesha. It denotes a pot of nectar, providing divine coolness to the wearer. It also denotes intelligence and mental, enlightenment, the moon being the symbol of mind and peace.

9. Bheema: Gigantic

The massive Lord Ganesha reposes on the jewelled throne with the snare, the hamulus and the lotus flower in his hands. On his forehead r poses the moon. He is four-armed, has a single tusk, a trunk askew, a potbelly and he is gigantic.

10. Bhoopati: Lord Of The Lords

Bhoopati, also called Ganapati, is the Lord of the lords, the Master of the ganas or celestial hordes. He is worshipped by Brahma himself and is worshipped in all the three worlds.

11. Bhoovanpati: Lord Of The Lords

Bhoovanpati is the Great God Himself to whom even the Trinity – Vishnu the Protector, Shiva the Destroyer and Brahma the Creator – pay obeisance and propitiate Him to save the world from evil.

12. Buddhinath: Lord Of Wisdom

Lord Ganesha, the Lord of wisdom is the repository of all knowledge. His illimitable erudition makes even Goddess Saraswati and Sage Narada bow their heads in awe.

13. Buddhipriya: Bestower Of Knowledge

Buddhipriya, the repository of knowledge, bestows guileless discretion to the worshipper. As ruler of the Mooladhara Chakra or plexus, he arouses a person’s latent energy or fife force to take him to the Divine Light.

14. Buddhividhata: God Of Wisdom

By chanting Lord Ganesha’s name day in and day out, one gets richer by imbibing all knowledge and wisdom from him, who is of enlightened heart and unwavering wisdom.

15. Chaturbhujeti: Four-Armed

The four-armed Ganesha is an embodiment of truth, discretion, having control over money power and bondage. These four arms represent the four castes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra, symbolically indicating his divinity.

16. Devadeva: Lord of All Lords

Lord Ganesha is the Master of all. He is always worshipped in the three worlds by all, and is the first to be reverenced among the celestials.

17. Devantakanashakarin: Destroyer Of Demons

Lord Ganesha, the Destroyer of evils slew the powerful demons, re-establishing righteousness and peace in the three worlds.

18. Devavrata: Accepter of All Penances

The elephant-faced Ganesha is propitiated by all as He is Auspiciousness personified. He is the granter of boons and -responds to penances of his devotees.

19. Devendrashika: Protector Of the Gods

Lord Ganesha, Protector of the gods is their beloved. With a large form, who has the mouse as his vehicle, he is the embodiment of peace and tranquillity-the giver of peace to all.

20. Dharmik: One Who Favours Charity

The Great Lord Ganesha is gentle, forgiving and compassionate- ‘ He likes to prod man with his goad to the path of righteousness and truth so that he can learn to be charitable.

21. Dhoomravarna: Smoke-Coloured Body

The smoke-hued Ganesha is the beloved Lord of gods and mortals. His body is sometimes compared with a red lotus. His hands are ornamented with gem-studded bangles and his whole smoke-coloured image is enchanting.

22. Durja: The Invincible

Ganesha, the elephant-faced, pot-bellied Lord is Infinite Strength and Power personified. He is deathless, has no beginning or end – he is invincible.

23. Dvaimatura: Son Of Two Mothers

Goddess Parvati created~ a child from the perspiration that came off her body. She lowered him into the River Ganga and he grew into a large being. Both Parvati and Ganga claimed to be his mother.

24. Ekaakshara: Of The Single Syllable

Lord Ganesha is the symbol of a single syllable ‘OM’, the symbol of the Great God. He is also known as Pranava, the sound from which the world emanated.

25. Ekadanta: He Of Single Tusk

The rotund, massive Ganesha sports a single tusk, a broken one, which symbolises him as beyond the rules of cosmic orderliness, as he is the cosmos itself. The broken tusk represents the shedding of the ego,

26. Ekadrishta: Single-Tusked

The single-tusked Ganesha stands for one direction. He gathers information from various directions, but having decided his course of direction, he does not waver. The single tusk represents the non-dualistic nature of reality.

27. Eshanputra: Son Of Shiva

Lord Ganesha is the elder son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. He is the elephant-faced son, having a simple broken tusk and a trunk that is askew. He is the delight of them.

28. Gadadhara: Wielder Of The Mace

As Gadadhara, Lord Ganesha wields powerful weapons for destroying demons of evil. The gada or Mace is the divine weapon used to wipe out evil and slay the asuras.

29. Gajakarna: Elephant-Eared

The elephant-eared Ganesha is the embodiment of goodness and virtue, his size belying his non-violent nature.

30. Gajanana: Elephant-Faced

Lord Ganesha in the form of Gajanana, with an elephant face, is deemed to be a very auspicious symbol, warding off possible mishaps and troubles. He stands for power and strength.

31. Gajananeti: Elephant-Faced

The elephant-faced Lord Ganesha is one-tusked, has a large, body with a huge belly, and is capable of destroying all obstacles’.

32. Gajavakra: Elephant Trunk

Ganesha with his twisted trunk is symbolic of his vast knowledge and powers of discrimination, vital for spiritual progress. The curved trunk is shaped like ‘OM’ also symbolic of the life force energy.

33. Gajavaktra: Elephant-Mouthed

The elephant-mouthed Ganesha is very fond of sweets. With a huge belly signifying wealth and the modaka sweet in his hand, symbolic of the sweetness of the realised Inner Self, he personifies love.

34. Ganadhakshya: Lord Of The Celestial Hordes

Lord Ganesha is the Chief of the group of gods, the celestials. He is the first to be worshipped by the gods and mortals alike. He is the Lord of all he surveys, the Master of the earth, the universe, the cosmos, all creation.

35. Ganadhyakshina: Lord Of The Celestials

Lord Ganesha is the Lord of the gods and is the beloved of all. As the Chief and Supreme God among gods’, he is worshipped by all.

36. Ganapati: Lord Of The Ganas

Lord Ganesha is also called Ganapati, the Lord of the celestial hordes. He is the Supreme Deity, Lord Almighty, who rules over the entire kingdom of the gods.

37. Gaurisuta: Son Of Gauri

Gauri is another name of Goddess Parvati. Gaurisuta is Lord Ganesha, the deft son of Gauri. He enlightens and causes his mother’s face to blossom with his love and devotion.

38. Gunina: Lord Of All Virtues

Gunina, the Lord of all virtues, is Grace personified, making everything auspicious. His immense grace and radiance is supreme and ethereal, and is adored by one and all.

39. Haridra: The Golden One

Lord Ganesha, although smoke-coloured, is the Golden One, as he has a moon crest on his forehead, a sacred thread in the form of a serpent round his body, cheeks anointed with a vermilion paste, glowing golden like the rays of the sun.

40. Heramba: Beloved Of The Mother

Lord Ganesha is Heramba, the fire-headed Protector of the weak. He is his mother’s beloved, and is her protector.

41. Kapil: Tawny-Coloured

The tawny-coloured elephant-faced Ganesha is the God of wisdom who teaches that the path of success and achievement is through the use of intellect, and that through wisdom alone can one reach salvation.

42. Kaveesha: Lord Of Poets

Ganesha is the Lord of wisdom from whom emanates knowledge that is divine. All poets invoke his grace before picking up their pens, for he is the Lord of poets from whose divine pen flow divine words.

43. Kirti: Lover Of Music

Lord Ganesha is Nada Brahman, Lord of music. He is the repository of knowledge and a mine of virtues from whom emanates illimitable erudition, and cosmic music and rhythm.

44. Kripakaram: Who Is Merciful

Lord Ganesha, as Kripakaram, wavy with profound kindness, is the sea exhibited by his eyes. He is ever Merciful and the beacon of divine fight.

45. Krishapingaksha: Black- Yellowish -Brown -Eyed

Lord Ganesha, whose, eyes radiate power, compassion, wisdom and love, is omnipotent and infinite. His small eyes dazzle with the exuberance of the fight of a million suns.

46. Kshamakaram: Abode Of Forgiveness

Constant and regular chanting of Lord Ganesha’s name is a sure path for atonement of sins. He is the abode of forgiveness, the seat of compassion, and most forgiving. Repose faith in him and he will protect you.

47. Kshipra: Quick-Acting

Handsome of appearance and red in colour like the hibiscus flower, he holds his broken tusk, noose, goad, and sprig of the wish-fulfilling tree in his, hands and a pot of precious gems in his trunk.

48. Lambakarna: Large-Eared

The large-eared Ganesha is a mine of information gathered from all directions. His large ears are used for winnowing information, retaining only the essentials.

49. Lambodara: Huge-Bellied

The big-bellied Ganesha is the symbol of the whole universe-all that is conceivable in the whole cosmos- from which all events of the world emerge. It is symbolic of his capacity to assimilate the whole information.

50. Mahabala: Extremely Strong

Lord Ganesha, with his huge body, is symbolic of the cosmos or the universe. He is extremely strong and powerful, endowed with intellectual prowess.

51. Mahaganapati: The Omnipotent And All-Powerful

Lord Ganesha, the Almighty, the Supreme Infinite, is omnipotent and all powerful. His infinite form is beyond man’s comprehension, and is limitless.

52. Maheshwaram: Lord Of The Universe

Maheshwaram, from whom the universe is born, is the Eternal Brahman. All the elements-earth, fire, air, water and ether-are manifest in him. He is the Supreme Lord of the universe.

53. Mangalamoorti: The Auspicious

Lord Ganesha is the personification of all that is auspicious. He who was worshipped by Lord Shiva before his vanquishing Tripurasur, by Lord Vishnu before his tying of Bali in the rope, by Lord Brahma before creating the world, by Parvati before her slaying the demon Manisha, is Mangalamoorti.

54. Manomay: Conqueror Of One’s Heart

Lord Ganesha is the God of all people, big and small, educated and illiterate. He is compassionate and forgiving, wise and intellectual. With his huge body, gentle eyes and calm countenance, he fills one’s heart with love.

55. Mritunjaya: Deathless

The Infinite Lord Ganesha has no beginning or end. He is deathless and the root cause of the creation. He is the embodiment of ‘OM’, the symbol of the Great God who has no end and is invincible.

56. Mudakaram: Abode Of Joy

Lord Ganesha is the home of Siddhi and Buddhi, the repository of knowledge and the abode of joy. He bestows happiness and welfare to all.

57. Muktidaya: Giver Of Eternal Peace

Muktidaya is Lord Ganesha who grants security to his devotees, thereby providing eternal peace. He destroys all the obstacles that one may face when entreated by his devotees.

58. Musikvahan: He With The Mouse As His Vehicle

Lord Ganesha, with his massive body, favours the Mouse as his beloved vehicle. The mouse, known to cause great havoc, is kept under the control of Ganesha by serving as his vehicle.

59. Nadapratithista: Lover Of Music

Lord Ganesha is symbolic of the music and rhythm of the cosmos. He loves music and sometimes a veena is one of the attributes seen in his hands. He is the patron of music and dance.

60. Namasthetu: Destroyer Of All Sins

Lord Ganesha is the sea-fire to end the sea. He purges the devotees of all sins by incinerating the sins and impieties by his holy fire.

61. Nandana: Son Of Lord Shiva

Nandana, son of Lord Shiva, is the mind-born son of Lord Shiva, or, as popularly believed, the creation of Parvati. He is the elder son of Shankara, and the beloved of his mother, Uma.

62. Nideeswaram: Master Of All Kinds Of Treasures

Lord Ganesha, the repository of knowledge, is adorable, with his plump body, his tusk broken and single. His is the Lord of all wealth-material as well as spiritual-endowed with intrinsic qualities that command the respect of all.

63. Pashin: One Who Sits Like A Rock

Lord Ganesha is Infinite and Consciousness personified, solid and unwavering like a rock, who is unshakeable, invincible, the seat of infinite power, the pure essence of luminous mind.

64. Pitambar: Wearer Of Yellow Clothes

Lord Ganesha, who wears clothe-5 of white and yellow, personifies purity and uniqueness. With a deep knowledge of the self, he is the eternal spirit who is changeless yet causes change all around.

65. Pramod: Lord Of The Place

As Pramod, Lord Ganesha is the only refuge of the shelterless as he is Lord of the place. He is the Lord of the gods, the repository of wisdom, the seat of spiritual awakening, from whom creation has come.

66. Prathameshvar: One Who Holds The First Place

Lord Ganesha, the eternal spirit, the Brahman, is the God of Auspiciousness, holding the first place. He is the Beginning of all beginnings, worshipped by Mahesha and other gods.

67. Purush: The Supreme Authority

Lord Ganesh is Punish, the Supreme Authority. He is the Omniscient Lord Almighty who rules over the entire universe. He is the Ultimate Reality, the One Truth, the Manifest Spirit.

68. Rakta: Red-coloured

Lord Ganesha’s body hue is compared to the red lotus and his tusk to the vermilion blood marks when it is thrust into his enemies for destruction.

69. Rudrapriya: Beloved Of Shiva

Lord Ganesha, the beloved son of Shiva, is the Master of all, whose virtuous qualities are orisoned by even the creator, Brahma. He is Shiva’s revered and noble son.

70. Sarvadevatman: Accepter Of Celestial Offerings

As Lord of the gods, Lord Ganesha is happy to accept the loving offerings of the celestials. They adore and worship him, and as their Master, and he bestows his grace on them.

71. Sarvasiddhanta: Provider of Adeptness To His Disciples

The repository of wisdom and knowledge, Lord Ganesha bestows success on his devotees. He who

chants his name continually will be sure of being blessed with the ability to be adept in all his actions.

72. Sarvatman: Blesser Of The Universe

He who dwells in every heart in a secret manner, by whose command this entire world exists, who is Infinite and the Enlighter of the hearts, by knowledge, he is Sarvatman, Lord Ganesha.

73. Shambhavi: Son Of Parvati

Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shankar and Goddess Parvati. He is the playfully deft son and is adored by his parents. He enlightens and causes his mother’s face to blossom with love for him.

74. Shashivarnam: Moon -Complexioned

He who is attired in a white garment and who is all pervading, is Lord Ganesha, the elephant-faced Lord with a moon-complexion that glows brightly, indicating mental enlightenment, the moon being the symbol of peace.

75. Shoorpakarnai: Large-Eared

Lord Ganesha is the Lord with large ears. These large ears serve the purpose of gathering information from all possible directions. Like a winnowing basket, His ears are receptive and attuned to every mortal’s cry of woe or praise.

76. Shuban: One Who Is Auspicious

A prayer to Lord Ganesha precedes all worship for he is auspicious and nothing can take place without invoking his name. For, he is the remover of obstacles in one’s path, and the guarantor of success in. all ventures.

77. Shubhagunakanan: Mine Of All Virtues

Lord Ganesha is the Lord of all treasures and virtues; symbolic of perfection and infinite beauty he is compassionate, forgiving, endearing and protector of all that is good.

78. Shweta: White Colour

The huge-bellied Lord Ganesha, with an elephant face, a single-tusk which is askew, has his body and clothes white, being worshipped on the shore of ocean of milk with white flowers. His face beams the beatitude.

79. Siddhidhata: Bestower Of Success

The chanting of Lord Ganesha’s name will pay rich dividends in the form of being bestowed with success. The Lord is the bestower of the desired abilities.

80. Siddhipriya: Bestower Of Boons

Siddhipriya is Lord Ganesha who grants the desires and boons of his devotees. Being compassionate and large-hearted the elephant-faced Ganesha fulfils the wishes of worshippers.

81. Siddhivinayaka: Bestower Of Success

Lord Ganesha’s huge pot-belly is symbolic of wealth and success. He bestows both on his devotees, being the kind and compassionate Lord who grants them boons and showers them with success.

82. Skandapoorvaja: Older Than Skanda

Ganesha is the older son of Shiva and Parvati, and brother of Skanda (Karthik). He is the destroyer of the asura’s pride, and protector of the weak and helpless. He protects and loves his brother Skanda.

83. Sumukha: Of Auspicious And Pleasant Visage

His strange visage is in the form of ‘OM’, the sound symbolic of the cosmic reality. Ganesha, with the bulky body, stands for the cosmos in its entirety. He is the symbol of auspiciousness.

84. Sureshwaram: Lord Of All The Gods

Sureshwaram is Lord Ganesha as Head of the ganas or celestials. He is the Supreme Being, the Foremost Being, the very cause of the creation of the cosmos Lord Almighty.

85. Swaroop: Lover Of Beauty

Lord Ganesha, the Master of resourcefulness and perfection in all spheres, is a lover of beauty. His awkward body signifies that outward form has no connection with inner beauty and spiritual perfection.

86. Tarun: The Youthful

The young Ganesha, ever youthful, is Wisdom personified. His huge body takes on the colour of red like the noonday sun, depicting the strength of, youth.

87. Uddanda: Punisher Of Evil

Uddanda is Lord Ganesha as punisher of evil. He also forgives those who seek his pardon. He is the vanquisher of demons and remover of all obstacles.

88. Umaputra: Son Of Uma

Uma, another name of Parvati, desired to have a son. Lord Shiva granted her wish and Ganesha took form. He is the beloved son of Uma, her delight, and obedient servant, ever ready to serve her.

89. Vakratunda: Askew-Trunked

Lord Ganesha, the single-tusked one, is attributed with an askew proboscis or trunk, which symbolises power, capable of destroying all obstacles and evil.

90. Varaganapati: Bestower Of Boons

Ganesha is the bestower of’ all fruits of desire and granter of all adeptness that his worshippers seek. He is magnanimous and forgiving, being a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.

91. Varaprada: Granter Of Boons

Lord Ganesha grants boons to his devotees. He is most efficacious. He gives knowledge to the seeker of wisdom, prosperity to those desiring wealth, issues to the childless, and guidance to the attainment of spiritual liberation.

92. Varadavinayaka: Bestower Of Bounty And Success

The massive Ganesha, the granter of boons to his devotees, is the guarantor of success in all ventures. His devotees need never fear failure. As the benefactor of his devotees, he is greatly adored by them.

93. Veeraganapati: The Valiant Warrior

The red-complexioned Ganesha is sometimes attributed with eight pairs of arms, holding a bow, arrow, goblin, spear, hammer, mace, pick-axe, serpent, banner, trident, discus, goad, noose, battleaxe, sword and shield – all signs of a valiant warrior.

94. Vidyavaridhi: Repository Of All Knowledge

Lord Ganesha is the God of wisdom. He incinerates ignorance by his divine fire and enlightens by his knowledge. He is a goldmine of knowledge and wisdom.

95. Vignahara: Destroyer Of Evil

Vignahara is Lord Ganesha, who, like a vigorous wind, scatters away and destroys the dark clouds of evil. His name’s mere recollection removes all sins.

96. Vignaharta: Destroyer Of Obstacles

Lord Ganesha is a veritable sceptre that destroys all obstacles. He is the destroyer of multitudes of obstacles, destroyer of all afflictions.

97. Vighnanashin: Destroyer Of Obstacles

The askew-trunked Ganesha, also called Vighnanashin, is the destroyer of all impediments. He is the destroyer of darkness created by’ Obstacles.

98. Vighnaraja: Lord Of All Obstacles

The veritable sceptre to destroy all objects, Lord Ganesha is invincible. He is the inimitable jungle fire who destroys the jungle of troubles for his devotees. He is the destroyer of multitudes of obstacles.

99. Vighnarajendra: Lord Of All Obstacles

The noble Ganesha is the King of all the factors causing obstacles. He causes obstacles for the demons and enemies, causing them to stumble and be vanquished.

100. Vighnavinashanaya: Destroyer Of All Afflictions

The four-armed Ganesha is sometimes attributed with eight pairs of hands that are symbolic of destruction of evil. He protects his devotees by destroying all afflictions.

101. Vigneshwar: Lord Of All Obstacles

Vigneshwar, the only sun to destroy the darkness caused by obstacles, the only fire to incinerate the jungle of impediments, the only Garuda to browbeat the haughty snakes of troubles, is the Lord of all obstacles

102. Vikat: Of The Monstrous Figure

Lord Ganesha, the most adorable one, adored by all gods, is endowed with a huge, monstrous body, symbolising unity of the primeval forest denizen with man – combining the physical energies of mortals.

103. Vinayaka: Lord Of All

As Vinayaka, Lord Ganesha is the Supreme Leader of all, being endowed with special qualities. He is the Chief of all the celestial demi-gods, and is ever adored by them.

104. Vishwamukha: Lord Of The Universe

Lord Ganesha is the Supreme Reality, the Atman of all. He is the witness of all that is happening in the world. He is the Lord of the universe, the Supreme Being who has no beginning, who has no end.

105. Yagnakaya: Accepter of Sacrificial Fires

The calm and majestic Ganesha, with the strength and power of an elephant, is the Lord of the universe. He evokes great love and accepts the sacrificial fires offered to him by gods and mortals.

106. Yashaskaram: Giver Of Fame And Glory

Lord Ganesha is worshipped by both the devas and the asuras, for he is the Lord of the gods. He gives prosperity, fame and glory to-all the worlds, shining with a lustrous glow.

107. Yashvasin: The Popular

The pot-bellied, askew-trunked single-tusk Ganesha is popularly the beloved of all. He is the subject of those who sing his praise, the jewel from whose face flows nectar.

108. Yogadhipa: Lover Of Meditation

Lord Ganesha is the fountainhead of wisdom, the Great God ‘ that Eternal Truth, that Eternal Reality. His name is chanted at the beginning and end of meditation at all times.