About this reading
Read sixteen names of Ganesha, including Sumukha, Ekadanta and Gajanana, with short explanations of their devotional imagery.
This is a name invocation collection. The explanations below are concise reading aids, rather than a complete word-by-word translation. Recitation traditions can differ.
Original text and meaning
1. सुमुखाय
ॐ सुमुखाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ sumukhāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha of the gracious face.
2. एकदन्ताय
ॐ एकदन्ताय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ ekadantāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha with one tusk.
3. कपिलाय
ॐ कपिलाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ kapilāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha described by the tawny-coloured epithet Kapila.
4. गजकर्णकाय
ॐ गजकर्णकाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ gajakarṇakāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha with elephant-like ears.
5. लम्बोदराय
ॐ लम्बोदराय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ lambodarāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha with the large belly.
6. विकटाय
ॐ विकटाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ vikaṭāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha of the extraordinary form.
7. विघ्नराजाय
ॐ विघ्नराजाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ vighnarājāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha as lord over obstacles.
8. विनायकाय
ॐ विनायकाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ vināyakāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha revered as Vinayaka.
9. धूमकेतवे
ॐ धूमकेतवे नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ dhūmaketave namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha known by the epithet Dhumaketu.
10. गणाध्यक्षाय
ॐ गणाध्यक्षाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ gaṇādhyakṣāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha who presides over the ganas.
11. भालचन्द्राय
ॐ भालचन्द्राय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ bhālacandrāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha bearing the moon on his forehead.
12. गजाननाय
ॐ गजाननाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ gajānanāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha of the elephant face.
13. वक्रतुण्डाय
ॐ वक्रतुण्डाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ vakratuṇḍāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha with the curved trunk.
14. शूर्पकर्णाय
ॐ शूर्पकर्णाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ śūrpakarṇāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha with broad ears like a winnowing fan.
15. हेरम्बाय
ॐ हेरम्बाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ herambāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha revered by the traditional name Heramba.
16. स्कन्दपूर्वजाय
ॐ स्कन्दपूर्वजाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ skandapūrvajāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Ganesha as the elder brother of Skanda.
Reading and repetition
- Read the text slowly and understand its meaning first. You may begin with one name or one prayer.
- Sit comfortably and repeat at a natural pace. Clear, attentive reading matters more than a count; no number is prescribed for every reader.
- Roman text is a reading aid. It does not encode Vedic pitch accents or replace instruction in your recitation tradition. Follow appropriate guidance for a formal ritual.
- The accompanying artwork is a symbolic devotional depiction. Use it to connect the name being read with its subject.
Text reference
Consult the Sanskrit text reference
The collection uses selected names and short traditional texts. The explanations and reading guidance above were written for this collection.
