Before any prayer, any journey, any new beginning, Hindus call upon Ganesha — Vighnaharta, the remover of obstacles. Son of Shiva and Parvati, with the head of an elephant and the heart of a child, he is the patron of wisdom, learning and success.
"He once wrote the entire Mahabharata as the sage Vyasa spoke it, breaking off his own tusk when his pen ran dry."
Wise, gentle and endlessly clever, Ganesha teaches that intelligence outweighs strength. A child who carries his name is wished a path cleared of obstacles and filled with new beginnings.
More name stories
Krishna
Few names carry as much depth, divinity and love as Krishna — the one who draws all hearts toward the divine.
Ibrahim
A prophetic name spanning three faiths and four thousand years of faith and surrender.
Lakshmi
Goddess of wealth, beauty and grace — the divine mother of prosperity and good fortune.
Mary
Blessed mother, sea of grace — revered across Christianity as the name closest to the divine.
Gurpreet
Love of the Guru — a Sikh name that breathes devotion, humility and divine grace.