The Many Names of Lord Ganesh

Ganesha has many names. The word Ganesha itself is made up of gana (followers of Shiva) and isha (lord), thus Shiva appointed him the lord of his ganas. Ga  means "knowledge", na means " salvation" both of which are combined in gana.

• Ganapati (Lord of the tribe or attendants "lord of the ganas", Shiva's multitude of attendants)
• Vinayak( knowledgeable)
• Vighnesvara (controller of all obstacles)
• Gajanana (elephant-faced)
• Gajadhipati (Lord of elephants)
• Lambkarn (long-eared)
• Lambodar (pendant-bellied)
• Ekadant (having one tusk).
• Pillaiyar (In south India) 
• Shakti Ganpati (Tantric Cult)
• Suryanganpati (Nepal)
• Prahaganpati (Cambodia)
• Vinayakshra (Japan)
• The Greek God of wisdom is known as Janus and is pictured with the head of an elephant.
• In Mexico, an elephant headed, human torso God is worshipped.

Whatever the name the beloved elephant-faced-Deity has intrigued thinking men all over the world, all through the ages even unto the present day.

All those who want the obstacles removed and receive auspicious fruits, must remember the twelve names of Lord Ganesh.

SUMUKHASHCHAIKADANTASHCHA KAPILOGAJA KARNAKAH |
LAMBODARASHCHA VIKATOVIDHNANASHO VINAYAKAH||
DHUMAKETURGANADHYAKSHO BHALCHANDRO GAJANANAH|
DVADASHAITANI NAMANI YAH PATHECHCHHRIGUYADAPI||
VIDYARAMBHE VIVAHE -CHA PARVESHE NIGRAME TATHA|
SANGRAME SANKATE CHAIVA VIDHNASTASYA NA JAYETE||

Meaning : 1) Sumukha, 2) Ekadanta, 3) Kapila, 4) Gajakarna, 5) Lambodara, 6) Vikath, 7) Vidhnanashaka, 8) Vinayaka, 9) Dhumraketu, 10) Ganadhayaksha, 11) Bhalchandra, 12) Gajanana. These are the twelve names of Lord Ganesh whoever recites or hears these twelve names at the beginning of education, marriage, journey, or war or at the time of crises, never faces any obstacle in any of his works.