Ganapa, Gana-pa, Gaṇapa: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Ganapa means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationGaṇapa (गणप) refers to the “leaders of gaṇas (Śiva’s attendants)”, who came to mount Kailāsa after Śiva gave out his Nāda sound which pervaded the three worlds (trailokya), as described in the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.19, :—“[...] these and other leaders of Gaṇas [viz., Gaṇapas] were all powerful (mahābala) and innumerable (asaṃkhyāta). They had thousand hands (sahasrahasta), matted hair (jaṭa), crown (mukuṭa) etc. They had crescent moon as their embellishing decoration (candra-avataṃsa); they were blue-necked (nīla-kaṇṭha), three-eyed (trilocana), adorned with necklaces (keyūra), earings (kuṇḍala), crowns (mukuṭa) and other ornaments (alaṃkṛta). Lord of Gaṇas emulating Brahmā, Indra and Viṣṇu and shining with the brilliance of crores of suns and possessed of Aṇimā etc. reached there. The Gaṇa chiefs and other noble souls of spotless splendour eagerly reached there desirous of seeing Śiva. Reaching the spot they saw Śiva, bowed to and eulogised him”.
Other names for Gaṇapa include Gaṇeśvara or Gaṇādhipa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexGaṇapa (गणप).—A deity.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 19. 81.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryGaṇapa (गणप).—
1) Name of Śiva.
2) Name of Gaṇeśa. [He is the son of Śiva and Pārvatī, or of Pārvatī only; for according to one legend, he sprang from the scurf of her body. He is the god of wisdom and remover of obstacles; hence he is invoked and worshipped at the commencement of every important undertaking. He is usually represented in a sitting posture, short and fat, with a protuberant belly, and four hands; riding a mouse; and with the head of an elephant. This head has only one tusk, the other having been lost in a scuffle between him and Paraśurāma when he opposed the latter's entrance to Śiva's inner apartments; (whence he is called Ekadanta, Ekadaṃṣṭra &c.). There are several legends accounting for his elephant head. It is said that he wrote the Mahābhārata at the dictation of Vyāsa who secured his services as a scribe from the god Brahman].
3) also an epithet of Bṛhaspati and Indra.
4) the leader of a class or troop.
Derivable forms: gaṇapaḥ (गणपः).
Gaṇapa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms gaṇa and pa (प). See also (synonyms): gaṇapati.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryGaṇapa (गणप).—[masculine] the same, protector or chief of a corporation.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Gaṇapa (गणप):—[=gaṇa-pa] [from gaṇa > gaṇ] m. (= -nātha) Gaṇeśa, [Śaṃkara-vijaya xiv, 6]
2) [v.s. ...] the head of a corporation, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā xxxii, 18.]
[Sanskrit to German]
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
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusGaṇapa (ಗಣಪ):—[noun] = ಗಣನಾಥ [gananatha].
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)
Starts with (+64): Ganapada, Ganapadani, Ganapadavi, Ganapaddhati, Ganapaka, Ganapalinga, Ganapanktika, Ganaparibhasha, Ganaparva, Ganaparvata, Ganaparvvata, Ganapata, Ganapatacaturthi, Ganapatala, Ganapatamantra, Ganapatha, Ganapatha paniniya, Ganapathasamgraha, Ganapathimalanga, Ganapati.
Ends with: Bettaganapa, Paccaganapa, Pachaganapa, Rudra ganapa, Rudraganapa, Saraguduganapa, Thaganapa.
Full-text (+41): Rudra ganapa, Kanapar, Kakapada, Kundaka, Mahakesha, Sukesha, Shankhakarna, Kundin, Pingala, Abhimukha, Dunduma, Parvataka, Dhanavaha, Vaha, Agnika, Sarvantaka, Jalanka, Nakulisha, Diptatma, Bhanuka.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Ganapa, Gana-pa, Gaṇa-pa, Gaṇapa; (plurals include: Ganapas, pas, Gaṇapas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shat-cakra-nirupana (the six bodily centres) (by Arthur Avalon)
Verse 31a < [Section 6]
Lalitopakhyana (Lalita Mahatmya) (by G.V. Tagare)
The chariot of Mantriṇīnāthā (Geyacakra or Gīticakra)
Chapter 34 - The Region of Śiva and of the guardians of quarters
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 38 - Kusumeśvara (kusuma-īśvara-liṅga) < [Section 2 - Caturaśīti-liṅga-māhātmya]
Chapter 39 - Akrūreśvara (akrūra-īśvara-liṅga) < [Section 2 - Caturaśīti-liṅga-māhātmya]
Chapter 37 - The Importance of Aṅgārikī Caturthī < [Section 1 - Avantīkṣetra-māhātmya]
The history of Andhra country (1000 AD - 1500 AD) (by Yashoda Devi)
Part 4 - Singaladeva (A.D. 1247-1253) < [Chapter XIV - The Yadavas]