8 Interesting Facts About Lord Ganesha You May Not Know

The head of the lord Ganesha symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is considered the ultimate reality of humanity and his human body symbolizes Maya, the trappings of earthly existence.

Lord Ganesha Wrote the Mahabharata

It is believed that Rishi Vyasa requested Lord Ganesha to write the Mahabharata as he recited it. He decided to do it after Vyasa agreed to recite it without any interruptions and Vyasa, in turn, made him promise he would understand what was being said before he wrote it down.

Meaning of Ganapati

‘Gana’ means category. Everything that we perceive through our senses or grasp through our mind can be expressed in terms of category. The principle from which all such categories have manifested themselves is Ganapati, the Lord of categories. In effect, it means the origin of the whole creation, God Himself;

Meaning of Gajanana or Gajamukha

A common Sanskrit word to denote elephant is ‘Gaja’.Hence the name Gajanana or Gajamukha (elephant-faced) for Ganapati. But the word ‘Gaja’ has a deeper connotation. ‘Ga’ indicates ‘Gati’, the final goal towards which the entire creation is moving. ‘Ja’ stands for ‘Janma’ or birth or origin. Hence ‘Gaja’ signifies God from whom the worlds have come out and towards whom they are progressing, to be ultimately dissolved in Him. The elephant head is thus purely symbolical and points to this truth;

A factor we observe in creation is its two-fold manifestation as the microcosm (Suksmanda) and macrocosm (Brahmanda). Each is a replica of the other. They are one in two and two in one. The elephant head stands for the macrocosm and the human body for the microcosm. The two forms one unit. Since the macrocosm is the goal of the microcosm, the elephant part has been given greater prominence by making it the head.

Elephant-Human form of Ganapati

The elephant-human form of Ganapati is the iconographical representation of the great Vedantic dictum, ‘tat-tvam-asi'(which means You the apparently limited individual are in essence the Cosmic Truth, the Absolute). The elephant stands for the cosmic whereas the human stands for the individual.

Lord Ganesha in Buddhism

Lord Ganesha’s popularity isn’t restricted to Hindu alone — he appears as Buddhist god Vinayaka in Mahayana Buddhism too — and is often seen dancing. He has distinct regional characteristics in Tibet, China, and Japan. The earliest stone statue of the Elephant God in North China dates back to as early as AD 531.

Indonesia prints Lord Ganesha on its 20,000 Rupiah note. Indonesia has strong cultural ties with India and Hinduism. Hinduism is practised by 1.7% of the total population, and by 83.5% of the population in Bali as of the 2010 census. Hinduism is one of the six official religions of Indonesia. In 2010, there was an estimated total of over 4 million Hindus in Indonesia.

Wives of Lord Ganesha

According to scriptures, Lord Ganesh had two wives Ridhhi (representing Prosperity) and Sidhhi (representing Intellectual Enlightenment). Furthermore, he had two sons – Ridhhi bore him Subha (representing Auspiciousness) while Sidhhi bore him Labha (representing Profit).

Birth of Lord Ganesha

According to Shiva Purana, it was Parvati’s friends Jaya and Vijaya’s decision to make Lord Ganesha. They had suggested Parvati that Nandi and others follow the instructions of Lord Shiva only. Therefore, there should be someone who follows Parvati’s orders too. Hence, Parvati made Ganesha from the dirt of her body.

108 Names of Lord Ganesha

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. Bhupati = Lord of the Gods
11. Bhuvanpati = God of the Gods
12. Buddhinath = God of Wisdom
13. Buddhipriya = Knowledge
14. Buddhividhata = God of Knowledge
15. Chaturbhuj = One who has Four Arms
16. Devadeva = Lord of All Lords
17. Devantakanashakarin = Destroyer of Evils and Asuras
18. Devavrata = One who accepts all Penances
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 Coloured
40. Heramba = Mother’s Beloved Son
41. Kapila = Yellowish-Brown Coloured
42. Kaveesha = Master of Poets
43. Krti = Lord of Music
44. Kripalu = Merciful Lord
45. Krishapingaksha = Yellowish-Brown Eyed
46. Kshamakaram = The Place of Forgiveness
47. Kshipra = One who is easy to Appease
48. Lambakarna = Large-Eared Lord
49. Lambodara = The Huge Bellied Lord
50. Mahabala = Enormously Strong Lord
51. Mahaganapati = Omnipotent and Supreme Lord
52. Maheshwaram = Lord of The Universe
53. Mangalamurti = All Auspicious Lord
54. Manomay = Winner of Hearts
55. Mrityuanjaya = Conqueror of Death
56. Mundakarama = Abode of Happiness
57. Muktidaya = Bestower of Eternal Bliss
58. Musikvahana = One who has mouse as charioteer
59. Nadapratithishta = One who Appreciates and Loves Music
60. Namasthetu = Vanquisher of All Evils & Vices & 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. Sarvasiddhanta = 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 Color
79. Siddhidhata = Bestower of Success & Accomplishments
80. Siddhipriya = Bestower of Wishes and Boons
81. Siddhivinayaka = Bestower of Success
82. Skandapurvaja = Elder Brother of Skand (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. Varaganapati = Bestower of Boons
91. Varaprada = Granter of Wishes and Boons
92. Varadavinayaka = Bestower of Success
93. Veeraganapati = Heroic Lord
94. Vidyavaridhi = God of Wisdom
95. Vighnahara = Remover of Obstacles
96. Vignaharta = Demolisher of Obstacles
97. Vighnaraja = Lord of All Hindrances
98. Vighnarajendra = Lord of All Obstacles
99. Vighnavinashanaya = Destroyer of All Obstacles & Impediments
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 & Sacrificial Offerings
106. Yashaskaram = Bestower of Fame and Fortune
107. Yashvasin = Beloved and Ever Popular Lord
108. Yogadhipa = The Lord of Meditation