Gajanana, Gaja-anana, Gajānāna: 13 definitions

Introduction:

Gajanana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Gajanana in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Gajānana (गजानन) refers to an “elephant’s head”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.13 (“The birth of Gaṇeśa”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā said to Nārada: “Due to the difference of Kalpas, the story of the birth of Gaṇeśa is told in different ways. According to one account he is born of the great lord. His head looked at by Śani was cut off and an elephant’s head (gajānana) was put on him [saṃcitaṃ gajamānanam]. Now we narrate the story of the birth of Gaṇeśa in Śvetakalpa when his head was cut off by the merciful Śiva. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Gajānāna (गजानान).—Is Gaṇeśa.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 41. 54: 42. 35: 44. 51: IV. 27. 72. Matsya-purāṇa 154. 505.
Purana book cover
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The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

1) Gajānana (गजानन) forms part of the entourage of Viṣvaksena, as discussed in the eighth chapter of the Īśvarasaṃhitā (printed edition), a Pāñcarātra work in 8200 verses and 24 chapters dealing with topics such as routines of temple worship, major and minor festivals, temple-building and initiation.—Description of the chapter [garuḍādi-parivāra-arcana-vidhi]: [...] Why worship Viṣvaksena, where and with what (66-67)? Why and when to worship Viṣvaksena is given (68-75), along with a eulogy of those who do such worship (76-95). Where his shrine is to be located within a temple’s precincts is given (96), followed by a step-by-step outline of how to worship him (97-109a, 131-173) interspersed with descriptions of his appearance (109b-130). This section closes with a description of his entourage of Gajānana, Jayatsena, Harivaktra and Kālaprakṛti (153-160), and how they are to be worshipped along with him (161-170). [...]

2) Gajānana (गजानन) refers to one of the four subordinate commanders of Viṣvaksena, as discussed in chapter 20 of the Pauṣkarasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text of almost 5900 verses divided into forty-three chapters presented as a frame-work dialogue between Pauṣkara and Bhagavān dealing with the esoteric meaning of maṇḍala-designs, worship routines and temple-building.—Description of the chapter [viṣvaksena-arcana]: Bhagavān says that the powerful Commander-in-Chief of the gods, Viṣvaksena, must always be worshipped (1-3). Pauṣkara asks how and Bhagavān outlines the procedure, stating that the same materials offered to the central deity in a maṇḍala are always next to be offered to this Viṣvaksena (4-22). An anthropomorphic description of Viṣvaksena is given (23-38); his four subordinate commanders—Gajānana, Jayatsena, Harivaktra, and Kālaprakṛti—are also described (39-50). [...]

Pancaratra book cover
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Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

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Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts (shilpa)

Gajānana (गजानन) refers to one of the Parivāra-Devatās (“attendant deities”) according to chapter 22 (Kriyāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [parivāra-vidhi]: Iconometry continues, this chapter being given over to rules for the attendant deities [parivāra-devatā]: [e.g., Gajānana] [...]. Then the discussion turns to the vehicles of the gods, namely Brahmā’s Swan and Rudra’s Ox, etc. (61b-64).

Shilpashastra book cover
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Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

gajānana (गजानन).—m (S Elephant-faced.) A name of gaṇēśa.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

gajānana (गजानन).—m A name of gaṇapati.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Gajānana (गजानन).—epithets of Ganeśa.

Derivable forms: gajānanaḥ (गजाननः).

Gajānana is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms gaja and ānana (आनन). See also (synonyms): gajāsya.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Gajānana (गजानन).—m.

(-naḥ) The deity Ganesha. E. gaja an elephant, and ānana a face; see gajavadana.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Gajānana (गजानन):—[from gaja > gaj] m. = ja-mukha, [Gaṇeśa-purāṇa; Siṃhāsana-dvātriṃśikā or vikramāditya-caritra, jaina recension]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Gajānana (गजानन):—[gajā+nana] (naḥ) 1. m. Ganesha.

[Sanskrit to German]

Gajanana in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Gajānana (ಗಜಾನನ):—

1) [noun] = ಗಜಮುಖ [gajamukha].

2) [noun] (Jaina) name of one of the hells.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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