Lord Ganesha Names: Meaning, Rashi & Stories Behind the Names
Lord Ganesha, the beloved elephant-headed deity, is revered as the remover of obstacles, the god of wisdom, and the harbinger of prosperity. He is worshipped at the beginning of any auspicious task, ensuring success and good fortune. Over centuries, Lord Ganesha has been bestowed with numerous names, each reflecting his divine qualities, attributes, and legendary tales.
In this blog, we explore some of the most significant names of Lord Ganesha, their meanings, associated Rashi (zodiac sign), and a short story explaining how he earned each name.
Lord Ganesha Names with Meaning, Rashi & Stories
| Name | Meaning | Rashi | Story Behind the Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vighnaharta | Remover of obstacles | Vrishabha (Taurus) | Once, the Devas faced numerous difficulties in their endeavors. They prayed to Ganesha, who cleared their path by defeating all obstacles, earning him this name. |
| Lambodara | One with a big belly | Mithuna (Gemini) | Sage Agastya blessed Ganesha with the ability to digest all the troubles of his devotees, symbolized by his large belly. |
| Gajanana | Elephant-faced deity | Simha (Leo) | When Lord Shiva placed the head of an elephant on Ganesha after an unfortunate event, he was named ‘Gajanana.’ |
| Ekdanta | One-tusked lord | Karka (Cancer) | During a battle with a demon, Ganesha broke one of his tusks to write the Mahabharata, thus becoming ‘Ekdanta.’ |
| Vinayaka | Supreme leader, guide | Tula (Libra) | After proving his wisdom in a competition with Kartikeya, he was honored as the supreme guide and leader. |
| Heramba | Protector of the weak | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Once, a group of sages prayed to Ganesha to save them from demons, and he fiercely protected them, earning this title. |
| Sumukha | The one with a beautiful face | Kanya (Virgo) | When Ganesha’s face was transformed into that of an elephant, gods admired his divine beauty, calling him ‘Sumukha.’ |
| Balachandra | Adorned with a crescent moon | Meena (Pisces) | The moon once laughed at Ganesha’s appearance, and as a result, was cursed. Later, Ganesha forgave him and wore a crescent moon on his head. |
| Dhumraketu | Smoke-bannered lord | Makara (Capricorn) | During a battle against evil forces, Ganesha led the charge with a smoky banner, striking fear into his enemies. |
| Mahaganapati | The great lord of wisdom | Dhanu (Sagittarius) | After pleasing Lord Shiva with deep devotion and knowledge, he was granted the title of ‘Mahaganapati.’ |
