Gananatha, Gana-natha, Gaṇanātha: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Gananatha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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)
Gaṇanātha (गणनाथ, “lord of gaṇas”) refers to one of the fifty-six vināyakas located at Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), and forms part of a sacred pilgrimage (yātrā), described in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa (Skanda-purāṇa 4.2.57). He is also known as Gaṇanāthavināyaka, Gaṇanāthagaṇeśa and Gaṇanāthavighneśa. These fifty-six vināyakas are positioned at the eight cardinal points in seven concentric circles (8x7). They center around a deity named Ḍhuṇḍhirāja (or Ḍhuṇḍhi-vināyaka) positioned near the Viśvanātha temple, which lies at the heart of Kāśī, near the Gaṅges. This arrangement symbolises the interconnecting relationship of the macrocosmos, the mesocosmos and the microcosmos.
Gaṇanātha is positioned in the North-western corner of the seventh circle of the kāśī-maṇḍala. According to Rana Singh (source), his shrine is located at “Jnanavapi, Aparnath Math, CK 37 / 1”. Worshippers of Gaṇanātha will benefit from his quality, which is defined as “the protector from the curses of demigods”. His coordinates are: Lat. 25.18659, Lon. 83.00572 (or, 25°11'11.7"N, 83°00'20.6"E) (Google maps)
Gaṇanātha, and the other vināyakas, are described in the Skandapurāṇa (the largest of the eighteen mahāpurāṇas). This book narrates the details and legends surrounding numerous holy pilgrimages (tīrtha-māhātmya) throughout India. It is composed of over 81,000 metrical verses with the core text dating from the before the 4th-century CE.
Gaṇanātha (गणनाथ) is an epithet of both Śiva and Gaṇeśa, as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa-māhātmya chapter 6.—Accordingly, “in order to ward off obstacles to the discourse, Gaṇanātha should be worshipped. The lord of the story Śiva and the book, Śivapurāṇa, too must be worshipped with piety. The story of Śivapurāṇa must be listened to with careful attention. The recipient must be intelligent, pure in mind, delighted at the heart and a follower of conventions”.
Gaṇanātha (गणनाथ).—See Gaṇeśa.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 27. 72: Vāyu-purāṇa 109. 22.
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.
India history and geography
Gananatha refers to Gananathar: one of the Siddhars (Siddhas) and Rishis mentioned by Rangarasa Desiga Swamigal in his Siddhargal Potri Thoguppu. Each name in the list starts with prefix ‘Om’ followed by the Siddhar’s names and ends with refrain ‘Thiruvadigal Potri’. For example for Gananatha: ஓம் கனநாதர் திருவடிகள் போற்றி [ōm kaṉanātar tiruvaṭikaḷ pōṟṟi].—These Siddhas experienced union with the ultimate reality and witnessed a spiritual transformation of their intellectual, mental, vital and ultimately, physical bodies.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
gaṇanātha (गणनाथ).—m (S) Lord or leader of the troops (of Shiva), i. e. Gaṇesh. Hence fig. Any Captain or leading man, a Corypheus.
gaṇanātha (गणनाथ) [-pati, -पति].—m The deity gaṇēśa. gaṇapatīcēṃ nāṃva ghēṇēṃ To make a beginning.
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Gaṇanātha (गणनाथ).—
1) an epithet of Śiva.
2) of Gaṇeśa.
3) the leader of the attendants of any god; Bhāgavata 5.17.13.
4) the head of an assemblage or corporation; Bṛ. S.15.4.
Derivable forms: gaṇanāthaḥ (गणनाथः).
Gaṇanātha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms gaṇa and nātha (नाथ). See also (synonyms): gaṇanāthaka.
Gaṇanātha (गणनाथ).—m.
(-thaḥ) A name of Ganesha. E. gaṇa, and nātha lord.
Gaṇanātha (गणनाथ).—[masculine] = gaṇeśa.
1) Gaṇanātha (गणनाथ):—[=gaṇa-nātha] [from gaṇa > gaṇ] m. ‘lord of various classes of subordinate gods’, Śiva, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] Gaṇeśa, [Bhaviṣya-purāṇa, khaṇḍa 1 & 2: bhaviṣya-purāṇa & bhaviṣyottara-purāṇa; Vetāla-pañcaviṃśatikā [Introduction] 1.]
Gaṇanātha (गणनाथ):—[gaṇa-nātha] (thaḥ) 1. m. Ganesha.
Gaṇanātha (गणनाथ):—(gaṇa + nātha) m.
1) ein Beiname Śiva’s [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 199,] [Scholiast] —
2) der Gott Gaṇeśa [Śabdaratnāvalī im Śabdakalpadruma] [Vetālapañcaviṃśati.1,1.] [Weber’s Verzeichniss 136,a, ult.]
Gaṇanātha (गणनाथ):—m. —
1) *Beiname Śiva's. —
2) der Gott Gaṇeśa.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Gaṇanātha (ಗಣನಾಥ):—
1) [noun] the leader of a group of people.
2) [noun] Gaṇēśa.
3) [noun] Śiva.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Natha, Gana.
Starts with (+0): Gana-nathar, Gananathaganesha, Gananathaka, Gananathapana, Gananathapriya, Gananathapriya, Gananathavighnesha, Gananathavinayaka.
Full-text (+0): Gananathavighnesha, Gananathaganesha, Gananathavinayaka, Gananathapriya, Gananayaka, Ganaraja, Dantivadana, Ganapa, Pancadevata, Ganapati, Jayavighnamahayantra, Gananathaka, Kananatan, Bhanudatta, Kamada, Gana-nathar, Vinayaka, Lalita.
Relevant text
Search found 31 books and stories containing Gananatha, Gana-natha, Gaṇa-nātha, Gaṇanātha; (plurals include: Gananathas, nathas, nāthas, Gaṇanāthas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Lalitopakhyana (Lalita Mahatmya) (by G.V. Tagare)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Narada Purana (English translation) (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 66 - Daily Prayers and Ritual < [Part 3 - Pūrva-bhāga: Tṛtīya-pāda]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 8.13.75 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]
Verse 1.15.24 < [Chapter 15 - Revelation of the Universal Form to Nanda’s Wife]
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 214 - Procedure of Gaṇapati Worship < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 324 - Greatness of Gaṇanātha < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 325 - Greatness of Unnata Svāmī (Svāmin) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)