Ganesha -- 108 Names

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Names of Ganesh

Chapter summary

The four Ganesh incarnations during the Yuga

The eight incarnations of Ganesh

The twelve main names of Ganesh

The twenty one names of Ganesh

The thirty two names of Ganesh

The fifty one names of Ganesh

The litanies of one hundred and eight names

Litany of one thousand names of Ganesh

 

The topic of the Ganesh names is nearly endless. Indeed, these names are

supposed to reflect all the qualities, all the powers of this beloved god. The

Ganesh devotees think that these powers have no limitation. Although it's

impossible to give a comprehensive description on that subject, it looks really

interesting to express some of the Ganesh names. This overview allows the reader

to get a rough idea about the "functions" of Ganesh. The four Ganesh

incarnations during the Yuga

According to the Ganesha Purâna, four Ganesh incarnations came on earth during

the different periods (yuga), in order to fight the devils. They are :

Mahotkata with ten arms, seated on a lion, shining like the sun, came during the

Krita Yuga to kill the demons Narântak and Devântak White-colored Shri

Mayureshvar with six arms, riding the peacock, faced the demon Sindhu during

the Treta Yuga Red-colored Shri Gajânana with four arms, mounted on his rat,

destroyed the demon Sindur during the Dwapara Yuga Dhûmraketu is the form of

Ganesh who will come in the future; we are now living in the Kali Yuga.

Two-arms and smoke-colored Dhûmraketu will ride on a blue horse; he will fight

all the devils to restore peace and harmony in the world.

The eight incarnations of Ganesh

The Mudgala Purâna, is an eminent scripture dated of the 16 th century. It tells

the story of the eight incarnations of Ganesh. Let us describe them in brief :

Vakratunda, "the Lord with the curved trunk". He is represented seated on a

lion. He came to struggle against the devil Matsara, who is the symbol of

jealousy. Ekadanta, "the Lord who has only one tusk". exterminated Mada, the

demon of drunkeness. Mahodara, "the Lord who has a big belly", gives battle to

Moha, the demon of illusion. Gajânana, "the Lord with an elephant face", put

Lobha, the demon of greed, to death . Lambodara, "the Lord with a protuberant

belly", masters Krodha, the demon of anger. Vikata, "the misshapen", subdued

Kâma, the demon of desire Ekadanta, Mahodara, Gajânana, Lambodara and Vikata

are represented mounted on a rat. Under the form of Vighnarâja, "the Lord King

of obstacles", lying on Shasha, the Snake of Eternity, Ganesh destroyed Mama,

the demon of ego. Finally, the last Ganesh incarnation is Dhûmravarna, "the

Lord with a tawny color", riding a mouse, who got victory over Ahamkâra, the

demon of self-infatuation.

These mythic forms demonstrate that Ganesh has the capacity to reduce all the

human weaknesses, such as jealousy, drunkeness, illusion, greed, anger, desire,

egotism, self-infatuation (arrogance), which send the devotee away from his path

to god. We must notice that the battle against these ennemies of the human being

are really the basis of the sadhana for the spiritual seeker. But, for all that,

the demons are not definitely destroyed. They are only under control and the

spiritual path only allows this result. The twelve main names of Ganesh

The Ganesha Purâna, important text of the Gânapatya, gives a list of the twelve

main names of the elephant-headed-god. These names must be used before any

ritual. They are the following :

Sumukha : "The very graceful Lord" Ekadanta : "The Lord who has only one tusk"

Kapila : "The Lord of a tawny color" Gajakarna : "The Lord with elephant ears"

Lambodara : "The Lord with a prominent belly" Vikata : "The Misshapen"

Vighnanâsaka : "The Lord destroyer of obstacles" Ganâdhipa : "The Lord

Protector of the Gana" Dhûmraketu : "The Lord of a smoky color" with two arms

riding on a blue horse, Ruler of the Kali Yuga Ganâdhyaksha : "The Minister of

the Gana" Bhâlachandra : "The Lord who wears the moon crescent on his head"

Gajânana : "The Lord with an elephant face".

We notice that the incarnations 2, 4, 5, 6, are also found in this list. Of

course, in this Purâna, we meet many other Ganesh names. There is also litany

of one thousand names of Ganesh… (see below). The twenty one names of Ganesh

During a pûjâ, offerings of flowers and rice accompany the 21 Ganesh names (eka

vishanti nama) as follow :

Vighnarâja : "The King of obstacles" Gajânana : "The Lord who has an elephant

face" Lambodara : "The Lord with a prominent belly" Shivatmaja (son of Shiva)

Vakratunda : "The Lord with a twisted trunk" Supakarna Ganeshvara : "The Lord

of the Gana" Vighnanashin : "The Destroyer of Obstacles" Vikata : "The

Misshapen" Vamana : "The Dwarf" Sarvadeva Sarvadukhavinâshi Vighnarhartr : "The

Lord who cancels the obstacles" Dhûmrâja Sarvadevâdhideva Ekadanta : "The Lord

who has only one tusk" Krishnapingala : "The blue and dark Lord" Bhâlachandra :

"The Lord who carries the crescent of moon on his head" Gananâtha : "The supreme

Chief of the Gana" Shankarasunav : "The son of Shankara" Anangapujita : "The

formless Lord"

The thirty two names of Ganesh

The Srîtattvanidhi is a document written in the 19 th century in Karnataka,

under the guidance of the Mysore Mahârâja. It compiles and describes in detail

the thirty two main forms of Ganesh.

Bâla Ganapati : "Ganapati the Child". He has four arms. His hands bear a mango,

a small branch of a mango-tree, a stem of sugar-cane and a cake. Taruna

Ganapati : "Ganapati the Teenager". Her has eight arms. His hands expose the

single tusk, the elephant goad, the kapittha fruit, the sugar-cane, the noose,

the paddy ear, the apûpa cake. Bhakta Ganapati : "Ganapati, the Perfect

Worshippert". He has four arms. His hands show a banana, the small branch of a

mango-tree, the bowl of sugared rice (payâsapâtra). Vîra Ganapati : "Ganapati

the Hero". He has sixteen arms. He wears the trident, the vampire, the two-head

club, the axe, the arrow, the elephant goad, the sword, the disc, the pestle,

the club, the snake, the spear, the banner, the bow, the noose and the small

damaru drum. Shakti Ganapati : "Ganesh embracing the goddess Success; -

Pushti". He has four arms. His low right hand shows the movement of lack of

fear (abhaya); the two others wear the elephant goad and the noose; the last

hand, who holds a lemon, embraces the goddess. With the top of his trunk,

Shakti Ganapati holds a cake. Ucchista Ganapati : "Ganapati devouring the

remnants of the meal". He has six arms. His hands show the rosary, the

pomegranate, the paddy ear (shalyagra), the nocturnal lotus, the lute (vîna) ;

his sixth hand sometimes bears a guñja berry, embraces the goddess. The

Ucchista Ganapati trunk is placed on the goddesse's thigh. Siddhi Ganapati :

"Ganapati bestowing success", fond of the sesame cake. He has four arms. His

hands hold the axe, the noose, the sugar-cane stem and the mango. Dvija

Ganapati : "Ganapati the Twice-Born". He has four heads and four arms. His

hands hold the rosary, the washing pot (kamandalu), the walking-stick of an

ascetic or the ritual spoon (sruk) and the manuscript on palm-leaves (pustaka).

Vighna Ganapati : "Ganapati removing the obstacles". He has eight arms. His

hands hold the single tusk, the disc, the arrow-flowers, the hatchet, the

conch, the sugar-cane stem, the noose, the elephant goad. With the tip of his

trunk, he carries a bunch of flowers (pushapamañjari). Kshipra Ganapati :

"Ganapati the Speedyle". He has four arms. His hands show the single tusk, the

elephant goad, the creeper of the votive tree (kalpalatâ), the noose. With the

end of his trunk, he carries the stone cup full of precious stones

(ratnakumbha). Heramba Ganapati : "The five-heads Ganapati riding the lion". He

has ten arms. His first hand shows the movement of lack of fear(abhaya), the

others hold the rosary, the citron, the club, the elephant goad, the noose, the

axe, the kadabu cake, the single tusk; his tenth hand shows the movement which

bestows boons (varada). Lakshmî Ganapati : "Ganapati the Fortunate" embracing

his wives Siddhi and Buddhi. He has eight arms. His hands hold a pomegranate, a

sword, the the creeper of the votive tree, the elephant goad, the parrot, the

noose, the jewels pot; his eighth hand bestows boons (varada). Mahâganapati :

"The Great Ganapati" with the goddess Wealth - Pushti. He has ten hands. His

hands hold the single tusk, the pomegranate, the club, the sugar-cane bow, the

disc, the conch, the noose, the nocturnal lotus, the paddy ear, the jewels pot.

Vijaya Ganapati : "Ganapati the Victorious", riding a rat which trots at a smart

pace. He has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the

noose and the mango. Nrtya Ganapati : "The Dancing Ganapati" under the

boon-tree. He has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad,

the noose, the axe (parashu) or the hatchet (kuthâra). The dhyâna sloka

specifies that one of the four hands can show a cake apûpa. Ûrdhva Ganapati :

"The Rising Ganapati", seated with his Shakti on his left thigh. He has eight

arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the arrow-flower, the daylight lotus, the

blue lily (kalhara), the sugar-cane bow, the paddy ear, the club; his last hand

claps the goddess. The extremity of his trunk is rolled around the right breast

of the goddess. Vara Ganapati : "The Delightful Ganapati" with the goddess

Wealth - Pushti, seated on his left thigh. He has four arms. His first three

hands hold the elephant goad, the skull filled with liquor (madhumatkapâla) and

the noose. The fourth hand creeps between the thighs of the goddess who holds a

lotus and a banner. Ekâkshara Ganapati : "Ganapati identified with the word

OM". He has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the

noose and the cake modaka. Somtimes, he wears, with the extremity of his trunk

(bîjapûra). Tryakshara Ganapati : "The Three-letters A+U+M Ganapati". He has

four ars. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the

mango. He holds the cake modaka with the trunk end. Kshipraprasâda Ganapati :

"Ganapati bestowing quickly his mercy". He has six arms. His hands hold the

single tusk, the elephant goad, the lotus, the creeper of the votive tree

(kalpalatâ), the noose, the lemon. Haridrâ Ganapati : "The curcuma-colored

Ganapati". He has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad,

the noose and the cake modaka. Ekadanta Ganapati : "The Single Tusk Ganapati".

He has four arms. His hands hold a large tusk, a rosary, a hatchet (kuthâra)

and the small ball of sweets (laddu). Shristi Ganapati : "Ganapati the

Creator", riding a big rat. His has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk,

the elephant goad, the noose and the mango. Uddanda Ganapati : "Ganapati the

Unchained", with his Shakti seated on his left thigh. He has twelve arms. His

hands hold the single tusk, the club, the nocturnal lotus, the noose, the paddy

ear, the elephant goad, the washing pot (kamandalu), the sugar-cane bow, the

disc, the daylight lotus, the conch and the pomegranate. His trunk is placed on

the top of the goddesse's breast or, sometimes, maintains a jewels pot

(manikumbha). Sankatahara Ganapati : "Ganapati seated on a large lotus with his

Shakti "; he removes the impediments. He has four arms. His first hand show the

movement to bestow boons (varada) ; the three others hold the elephant goad,

the noose and the bowl of sugared rice (pâyasapâtra). Dundhi Ganapati : "The

Ganapati which we have to look for". He has four arms. His hands hold the

single tusk, the rosary, the hatchet (kuthâra) and the pot of jewels

(ratnapâtra). Trimukha Ganapati : "The Tree-Head Ganapati". He has six arms.

His first hand shows the movement which gives boons (varada), the four others

hols a very sharp elephant goad, a rudrâksha grain of the rosary, the noose and

the ambrosia pot (amritakumbha) ; the sixth hand removes the fear (abhaya).

Simha Ganapati : "The Lion-face Ganapati". He has eight arms. His first hand

shows the movement which bestow boons (varada). The following hold the disc,

the bunch of flowers, the lute (vîna), thez daylight lotus, the jewels pot, the

creeper of the votive tree; the last hand shows the movement which removes fear

(abhaya). Yoga Ganapati : "Ganapati the Ascetic". He has four arms. His legs

are surrounded with the meditation girdle (yogapatta). His hands hold the

rosary, the elbow-rest or the walking-stick, the noose and the sugar-cane.

Durgâ Ganapati : "Ganapati similar the the Goddess Durgâ". He has eight arms.

His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the arrow, the rosary, the

noose, the bow, the creeper of the votive tree (kalpalatâ) and the rose-apple

fruit. Rnamocaka Ganapati : "Ganapati who discharges from debts". He has four

arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the

rose-apple fruit. The fifty one names of Ganesh

South India is the main region where 51 names are given to Ganesh, as many as

letters of the sanskrit alphabet. We remember that those letters are also

found, in a specific order, on the chakra petals. Thus, there are four in the

mûladhara chakra where Ganesh is the presiding deity. The litanies of one

hundred and eight names of Ganesh

During the pûjâ, one uses to repeat a litany of one hundred and eight names only

(Shri Ganesh ashtottara shata nâma). The lists look nearly similar but can

differ on some details. We give one of these lists in annex . Each name is

preceded by the mantra OM and following by the word namaha (which means "I/We

bow (to Ganesh)") Litany of one thousand names of Ganesh

This is the acme of the litanies. The litanies of the

one-thousand-and-eight-names (Shri Ganesha Sahasra Nâma) covers most of the

qualities given to the invoked deity. One will find such a list in the

following books : SADGURU SANT KESHAVADAS (1988). MARTIN-DUBOST (1997), which

provides many (not the complete set) Ganesh names found in the litany of the

Ganesha Purâna.

http://perso.club-internet.fr/ganapati/anglais/anoms.htmlDo You ?

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