The widespread name of Ganesha in Thailand is Phra Phikanet. In the Burmese language, Ganesha is known as Maha Peinne ( бЂ™бЂџбЂ¬бЂ•бЂбЂ”бЂ№бЂ”бЂІ, pronounced ), derived from Pali MahДЃ WinДЃyaka ( бЂ™бЂџбЂ¬бЂќбЂбЂ”бЂ¬бЂљбЂЂ). Anita Raina Thapan notes that the root word pille in the name Pillaiyar might have originally meant 'the young of the elephant', because the Pali word pillaka means 'a young elephant'. He adds that the words pallu, pella, and pell in the Dravidian family of languages signify 'tooth or tusk', also ' elephant tooth or tusk'. Narain differentiates these terms by saying that pillai means a 'child' while pillaiyar means a 'noble child'. ДЄ prominent name for Ganesha in the Tamil language is Pillai ( Tamil: а®Єа®їа®іаЇЌа®іаЇ€) or Pillaiyar ( а®Єа®їа®іаЇЌа®іаЇ€а®Їа®ѕа®°аЇЌ). The names Vighnesha ( а¤µа¤їа¤аҐЌа¤ЁаҐ‡а¤¶ vighneЕ›a) and Vighneshvara ( а¤µа¤їа¤аҐЌа¤ЁаҐ‡а¤¶аҐЌа¤µа¤° vighneЕ›vara) (Lord of Obstacles) refers to his primary function in Hinduism as the master and remover of obstacles ( vighna). This name is reflected in the naming of the eight famous Ganesha temples in Maharashtra known as the Ashtavinayak ( Marathi: а¤…а¤·аҐЌа¤џа¤µа¤їа¤Ёа¤ѕа¤Їа¤•, aб№Јб№avinДЃyaka).

Vinayaka ( а¤µа¤їа¤Ёа¤ѕа¤Їа¤• vinДЃyaka) or Binayaka is a common name for Ganesha that appears in the PurДЃб№‡as and in Buddhist Tantras. The Amarakosha, an early Sanskrit lexicon, lists eight synonyms of Ganesha: Vinayaka, VighnarДЃja (equivalent to Vighnesha), DvaimДЃtura (one who has two mothers), Gaб№‡ДЃdhipa (equivalent to Ganapati and Ganesha), Ekadanta (one who has one tusk), Heramba, Lambodara (one who has a pot belly, or, literally, one who has a hanging belly), and Gajanana ( gajДЃnana) having the face of an elephant. Though the earliest mention of the word Ganapati is found in hymn 2.23.1 of the 2nd-millennium BCE Rigveda, it is however uncertain that the Vedic term referred specifically to Ganesha. Ganapati ( а¤—а¤Ја¤Єа¤¤а¤ї gaб№‡apati), a synonym for Ganesha, is a compound composed of gaб№‡a, meaning 'group', and pati, meaning 'ruler' or 'lord'. Some commentators interpret the name 'Lord of the Gaб№‡as' to mean 'Lord of Hosts' or 'Lord of created categories', such as the elements. The term more generally means a category, class, community, association, or corporation. The word gaб№‡a when associated with Ganesha is often taken to refer to the gaб№‡as, a troop of semi-divine beings that form part of the retinue of Shiva, Ganesha's father.

The name Ganesha is a Sanskrit compound, joining the words gana ( gaб№‡a), meaning a 'group, multitude, or categorical system' and isha ( Д«Е›a), meaning 'lord or master'. The Hindu title of respect Shri ( Sanskrit: а¤¶аҐЌа¤°аҐЂ IAST: Е›rД« also spelled Sri or Shree) is often added before his name. Ganesha has been ascribed many other titles and epithets, including Ganapati ( Ganpati), Vighneshvara, and Pillaiyar. Ganesha, Gupta Period (4th-6th century CE), Art of Mathura. The principal texts on Ganesha include the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana and the Ganapati Atharvasirsha. In the Ganapatya tradition of Hinduism, Ganesha is the Supreme Being. Hindu mythology identifies him as the son of Parvati and Shiva of the Shaivism tradition, but he is a pan-Hindu god found in its various traditions.

While scholars differ about his origins dating him between 1st century BCE to 2nd century CE, Ganesha was well established by the 4th and 5th centuries CE, during the Gupta period and had inherited traits from Vedic and pre-Vedic precursors. Several texts relate mythological anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits. Ganesha is also invoked as a patron of letters and learning during writing sessions. As the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rites and ceremonies. He is widely revered, more specifically, as the remover of obstacles and thought to bring good luck the patron of arts and sciences and the deva of intellect and wisdom. ДЄlthough Ganesha has many attributes, he is readily identified by his elephant head. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains and Buddhists and also in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia ( Java and Bali), Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and Bangladesh and in countries with large ethnic Indian populations including Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, and Trinidad and Tobago. Hindu denominations worship him regardless of affiliations. Ganesha ( Sanskrit: а¤—а¤ЈаҐ‡а¤¶, IAST: Gaб№‡eЕ›a), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon.

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