Ganeshvara, Gaṇeśvara, Gana-ishvara: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Ganeshvara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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.
The Sanskrit term Gaṇeśvara can be transliterated into English as Ganesvara or Ganeshvara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationGaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर) 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 or Gaṇeśvaras] 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 Gaṇeśvara include Gaṇapa or Gaṇādhipa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexGaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर).—Is Gaṇeśa.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 32. 23 and 59: IV. 27. 99: 44. 70.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical studyGaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर) (lit. “one who was the chief of a troop”) is a synonym (another name) for the Lion (Siṃha), according to scientific texts such as the Mṛgapakṣiśāstra (Mriga-pakshi-shastra) or “the ancient Indian science of animals and birds” by Hamsadeva, containing the varieties and descriptions of the animals and birds seen in the Sanskrit Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Gaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर) refers to the “(elephant-faced) master of Śiva’s Gaṇas”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] I approach the great temple of goddess Mṛḍānī that opens to the west. It is guarded outside by Indra and the other [gods who guard the directions], and shines beautifully with utmost richness. I venerate the young elephant-faced master of Śiva’s gaṇas (gaṇeśvara), the destroyer of obstacles. His lotus-hands are decorated with a noose, goad, fruit, and lotus. [...]
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiGaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर) is the name of a deity [i.e., oṃ gaṇeśvarāya svāhā], according to the Kalaśa Pūjā [i.e., Kalasha Worship] ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
India history and geography
Source: What is India: Epigraphia Indica volume XXXI (1955-56)Gaṇeśvara is one of the Brāhmaṇa donees mentioned in the “Asankhali plates of Narasiṃha II” (1302 A.D.). When a grant was made to a large number of Brāhmaṇas, the chief amongst the donees seems to have been called Pānīyagrāhin especially. In the present record, though all the donees (e.g., Gaṇeśvara) are referred to as Pāṇigrāhi-mahājana, their list is headed by a Brāhmaṇa with Pāṇigrahī as his surname.
These copper plates (mentioning Gaṇeśvara) were discovered from the house of a Santal inhabitant of Pargana Asankhali in the Mayurbhanj State (Orissa). It was made when king Vīra-Narasiṃhadeva was staying at the Bhairavapura-kaṭaka (city, camp or residence).
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryGaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर).—
1) an epithet of Gaṇeśa.
2) of Śiva.
Derivable forms: gaṇeśvaraḥ (गणेश्वरः).
Gaṇeśvara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms gaṇa and īśvara (ईश्वर). See also (synonyms): gaṇeśāna.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryGaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर).—name of a former Buddha: Samādhirājasūtra p. 57 line 13.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryGaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर).—m. the chief of a troop, [Rāmāyaṇa] 4, 28, 22.
Gaṇeśvara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms gaṇa and īśvara (ईश्वर).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Gaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—father of Bhānudatta (Rasataraṅgiṇī, etc.). Oxf. 213^a.
Gaṇeśvara has the following synonyms: Gaṇapati, .
2) Gaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर):—See Gaṇeśa Daivajña. Cambr. 41. 43.
3) Gaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर):—brother of the minister Vīreśvara, patron of the author of Vivāhādipaddhati. L. 1169.
4) Gaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर):—brother of the minister Vīreśvara, father of Rāmadatta (Vivāhādipaddhati). L. 1169.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Gaṇeśvara (गणेश्वर):—[from gaṇa > gaṇ] a m. the chief of a troop, leader of a band ([genitive case] or in [compound]), [Mahābhārata xiii; Rāmāyaṇa iv]
2) [v.s. ...] [v]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a demon causing diseases, [Harivaṃśa 9556]
4) [v.s. ...] ‘chief of the animals’, the lion, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [from gaṇ] b See sub voce gaṇa.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Gaṇesvara (गणेस्वर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Gaṇesara.
[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 corpusGaṇēśvara (ಗಣೇಶ್ವರ):—
1) [noun] = ಗಣೇಶ [ganesha].
2) [noun] Śiva.
3) [noun] the leader of a group.
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: Ishvara, Gana.
Starts with: Ganeshvara acarya, Ganeshvaradikshitiya, Ganeshvaramantra, Ganeshvaramishra, Ganeshvaravilala.
Ends with: Devaganeshvara, Mahamatriganeshvara.
Full-text (+60): Devagana, Ganesara, Candaghanta, Ghantakarna, Ramadatta mantrin, Mahamatriganeshvara, Devaganeshvara, Sashthidasa, Ganeshana, Vilala, Ganeshvara acarya, Raudra, Mahakala, Ardhanarinaravapu, Ganeshvaravilala, Shatarudriya, Ganapati, Kakapada, Kundaka, Mahakesha.
Relevant text
Search found 18 books and stories containing Ganeshvara, Gaṇeśvara, Gana-ishvara, Ganesvara, Gaṇa-īśvara, Gana-isvara, Gaṇesvara, Gaṇēśvara; (plurals include: Ganeshvaras, Gaṇeśvaras, ishvaras, Ganesvaras, īśvaras, isvaras, Gaṇesvaras, Gaṇēśvaras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 250 - Greatness of Gaṇeśvara (Gaṇa-īśvara) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 61 - The Liturgy of Gaṇeśvara < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 215 - The Greatness of Śṛṅgī Tīrtha < [Section 3 - Revā-khaṇḍa]
The history of Andhra country (1000 AD - 1500 AD) (by Yashoda Devi)
Part 24 - Narasimha (A.D. 1272-1285) < [Chapter XIII - The Dynasties in South Kalinga]
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 105 - The origin of Vināyaka < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
Chapter 98 - Thousand names of Śiva (Sahasranāma) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.4.312 < [Chapter 4 - Descriptions of Śrī Acyutānanda’s Pastimes and the Worship of Śrī Mādhavendra]
Rivers in Ancient India (study) (by Archana Sarma)
11. Descriptions of the rivers in the Jambudvīpa < [Chapter 5 - Rivers in the Purāṇic Literature]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 33 - Rites for deriving benefits hereafter < [Section 7.2 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (2)]
Chapter 15 - The origin of the Second Mallikārjuna Jyotirliṅga < [Section 4 - Koṭirudra-Saṃhitā]
Chapter 9 - Śiva’s campaign < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]