Ganapati's Names & their Meanings

[Guest guest]

Namaste all,

I came across this site and found a good page that gives details on some of the

many names of Lord Ganesh. The rest of this page maybe found at

http://www.sanatan.org/en/campaigns/Ganesh/page5.htm

Jingle bells,

Neil

 

Ganesh Chaturthi Campaign

Interesting facts about Lord Ganesh

Ganapati's Names and their Meanings Origin and meaning of name GanapatiGana +

pati = Ganapati. Pati is the nurturer. The various meanings of gana are as

follows.

According to Maharshi Panini: Gana is a collection of the eight vasus. The word

vasu refers to direction, the guardian deity or the deity of the directions

(dikpal or dikdev). Ganapati is the master (swami) of the directions. Other

deities cannot reach the place of worship in any direction without His

permission. Hence, any auspicious occasion or ritualistic worship (puja) of any

deity is commenced with the ritualistic worship of Lord Ganapati. Once, Ganapati

clears the directions, the deity one is worshipping can manifest itself there.

This is also referred as Mahadvarpujan or Mahaganapatipujan.

According to Sanskrutkosh: Gana means a pure spiritual particle (pavitrak).

Hence, Ganapati is the master of pure particles.

According to Nighantukosh: Gana is the collection of tiryak(raja) or visphutit

(tama) frequencies which are harmful to animate creation. The one controlling

them is Ganapati. There are total 360 frequencies traveling continuously

through the eight directions. The collection of these frequencies is referred

to as gana. Sage Hiranyagarbha was the exponent of these frequencies.

Some other Names

1.

Vakratunda: Generally vakratunda implies a crooked mouth or trunk. However, this

is incorrect. 'Vakran tundayati iti Vakratund' means Vakratunda is the one who

punishes those who follow the wrong (unrighteous) path and leads them to the

righteous path. The one who straightens the acute (tiryak) raja-tama

predominant 360 frequencies and makes them sattvik (sattva predominant) like

the 108 frequencies by means of His trunk.

2.

Ekadanta or Ekashrunga: This Name is bestowed because He has only one unbroken

tooth (the other is broken). It is symbolic of the singular Brahman. The word

dantin is derived from the root dru- darshayati (to show). Thus the name also

means He is the one who shows the direction to acquire the spiritual experience

of the sole Brahman which is non-dual.

3.

Krushnapingaksha: this word is derived from Krushna + pinga + aksh. Krushna

means the one with a dark complexion, pinga means smoky and aksha means the

eye. Dark complexion is in the context to the earth while smoky refers to the

clouds. Thus it means the one who has the earth and clouds as the eyes, that is

the one who can view everything on the earth and in the clouds.

4.

Gajavaktra: Gaja means clouds. He is considered the representative of the dyu

region (dev lok) the region of the deities. Vaktrat means mouth. Thus

Gajavaktrat is the vast one whose mouth constitutes the dyu region. If (symbol

Om) is placed vertically then one gets the experience of Gajavadan. The Mudgal

Puran has explained the meaning of the word gaja as ga = the principle from

which everything undergoes dissolution and ja = the principle from which

everything is created. So Gaja means Brahman.

5.

Lambodar: Lambodar is derived from lamba (large) and udar (belly). Saint Eknath

has explained the meaning of this word as,

 

The entire visible and invisible creation dwells in You. Hence You are called Lambodar.

 

- Shri Eknathi Bhagvat 1:3

6.

Vikat: Vi + krut +akat (akuti). Vi means in a specific manner, krut means done

and akat means the Final Liberation (Moksha). Hence, Vikat means the one who

generates frequencies in a specific manner and endows the Final Liberation

(Moksha). Hence, vikat means the one who generates frequencies in a specific

manner and endows the Final Liberation.

7.

Vighnesh: Vighna + ish = Vighnesh. The one who controls and destroys obstacles

is Vighnesh. Obstacle in this context is, being entrapped by the 360

(raja-tama) and 108 (sattva) frequencies. This is contrary to the target of

going beyond the three components (trigunatit). Ish is derived from i + sh -

ikshate means to look at and sh - shamayate means to cool. So ish is the one

who destroys the heat generated by these 360 and 108 frequencies. Vighnaharta

is another Name of Ganapati.

8.

Dhumravarna: Dhumra means smoke. Smoke is the first state of materialization. It

is the transitory state between the solid manifest (sagun) and the unmanifest

(nirgun) states. Thus one who possesses such a smoky complexion is Dhumravarna.

According to the rule that, 'there is no smoke without fire' Ganapati also

possesses the fire element [live coals (angar)].

9.

Bhalachandra: Bhal refers to the part of the head above the eyebrows. The

frequencies arising from Prajapati, Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu and Minakshi merge

into each other and produce many groups of thousands of frequencies. Prajapati,

Shiva, Vishnu and Minakshi are unmanifest (nirgun); however Their frequencies

are not. Amongst these the point of origin of the three frequencies namely

those of affection, mercifulness and motherly love is referred to as the moon

(chandra). Thus the one who adorns such a 'moon' on the forehead is

Bhalchandra. Actually this is Lord Shankar's Name. But since Ganapati is His

son it is also linked with Him.

10.

Vinayak: This word is derived from 'visheshrupen nayakaha'. This means the one

who is endowed with all the features of a leader. 'It is universally accepted

that there are six Vinayaks. The summary of information on Vinayaks given in

the Manavgruhyasutra and Boudhayangruhyasutra is that the Vinayak attendants

(Vinayak ganas) are destructive, troublesome and cruel. When they start

harassing one begins to behave like an insane man. One has horrifying

nightmares and is constantly fearful. To overcome this obstacle of the Vinayak

attendants, the scriptures have advocated various rituals (Shantividhi).

Vinayak, that is Ganapati is the presiding deity of these Vinayaks.'

11.

Gajanan: Gaja means elephant and anan means face. The one with a face like that

of an elephant (and a body which constitutes the entire universe).

12.

Vratapati: 'In Ganapatyatharvashirsha Ganapati is offered salutation as "Namo

Vratapataye". Vratapati is the chief of the vratyas. The Aryans bestowed this

name on that group of non-Aryans who favoured vowed religious observances

(vrats) without believing in sacrificial fires (yadnyas). The people belonging

to this group are vrats. "Vrat iva vratyaha". A twice born (dvij) without any

sanskars (rites) performed on him is also called vratya.'

13.

Chintamani: 'Chintamani is another Name of Lord Ganapati. An extroverted

tendency (kshipta), a more extroverted tendency which may even lead to sin

(mudha), an introverted tendency (vikshipta), a more introverted tendency

(ekagra) and a state in which all activities have ceased (niruddha) are the

five states of the subconscious mind (chitta). [information on this is provided

in 'Science of Spirituality : Chapter 36 - Path of Meditation (Dhyanyoga)']. The

one who enlightens on these states is Chintamani. The theory according to Mudgal

Puran is that by devotion unto Chintamani, the five states of the subconscious

mind are destroyed and total Serenity (Shanti) is acquired.'

14.

Mangalmurti : 'Man' means complete and glu-gayate means the one endowing

Serenity or purity. That which purifies both internally as well as externally

is auspicious (mangal). An image bringing auspiciousness is thus Mangalmurti.In

Maharashtra 'Mangalmurti morya' is used to proclaim Ganapati's glory. The word

morya in it refers to a famous devotee of Lord Ganesh in the fourteenth century

called Morya Gosavi, from Chinchvad, near Pune. This depicts the inseparable

relationship between God and a devotee.

15.

Umaphal: Uma is Parvati; phal means product. Ganapati acquires this Name as He

is the product, that is son of Parvati. Umaphal also means spiritual knowledge

(dnyan). Ganapati is the deity of spiritual knowledge. So this Name befits Him

in both ways.

16.

Vidyapati : Shri Ganesh is the master of the 18 vidyas -

1.

The science of proper articulation and pronunciation (shiksha)

2.

Science of rituals (kalpa)

3.

Grammar (vyakaran)

4.

Etymological explanation of difficult Vedic words (nirukta)

5.

Astrology (jyotiish)

6.

The science of prosody (Chandas)

7.

The Rugveda

8.

The Yajurveda

9.

The Samaveda

10.

The Atharvaveda

11.

The Purva-Uttarmimmansa (concerned with the correct interpretation of Vedic

rituals and the settlement of dubious points with regard to Vedic texts)

12.

A system of Hindu philosophy founded by Sage Goutam (nyaya)

13.

The Purans

14.

The science of righteous conduct (dharmashastra)

15.

Ayurveda

16.

Dhanurveda

17.

Gandharvaveda

18.

The science of ethics or morality (nitishastra) Hence before beginning the

study of any of these or in the ritual performed for their study, the

ritualistic worship of Shri Ganesh is important.

17.

Brahmanspati : The Vedas are referred to as Brahman. They may also be termed as

Vedabrahman. Ganesh is the master of the mantras in these Vedas. Hence He is

called Brahmanspati.

 

 

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