Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 14
सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः (Sakalādi-mantra-uddhāra) — Chapter Colophon/Transition
गजाख्यं गजशीर्षञ्च गाङ्गेयं गणनायकम् त्रिरावर्तङ्गगनगङ्गोपतिं पूर्वपङ्क्तिगम्
gajākhyaṃ gajaśīrṣañca gāṅgeyaṃ gaṇanāyakam trirāvartaṅgaganagaṅgopatiṃ pūrvapaṅktigam
उसे ‘गजाख्य’ और ‘गजशीर्ष’, ‘गाङ्गेय’ तथा ‘गणनायक’ के रूप में; और ‘त्रिरावर्त’, ‘गगनगङ्गोपति’ तथा ‘पूर्वपङ्क्तिग’ नामों से भी आवाहन करना चाहिए।
Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instruction style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Name-based invocation (nāma-smarana) of Gaṇapati using specific epithets to establish presence and protection at the start of worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Gaṇapati nāma-smarana: Gajākhya, Gajaśīrṣa, Gāṅgeya, Gaṇanāyaka, Trirāvarta, Gaganagaṅgopati, Pūrvapaṅktiga","lookup_keywords":["Gajākhya","Gajaśīrṣa","Gaṇanāyaka","Gāṅgeya","Gaganagaṅgopati"],"quick_summary":"Invoke Gaṇapati through a curated set of epithets emphasizing elephant-form, leadership of gaṇas, celestial associations, and foremost protective presence."}
Alamkara Type: Pariyāya (synonymic epithet-list)
Concept: Nāma is a direct upāya: repeated epithets function as invocation, focusing mind and calling the deity’s specific powers (vighna-hara, nāyaka).
Application: Use these names as a short pūrvāṅga before pūjā/japa, especially at beginnings (ārambha) and before travel, study, or rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devata-nama-smarana (Invocation through sacred epithets and deity-names)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual setting where the worshipper recites a garland of Gaṇapati names; the deity appears with elephant head and leader’s bearing, with celestial Gaṅgā flowing above as a symbolic arc.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Gaṇapati with prominent elephant head, attendants (gaṇas) behind, a stylized celestial river band above (gaganagaṅgā), priest in profile chanting name-list, warm ochres and reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Gaṇapati enthroned, gold-lettered epithets in panels around (Gajākhya, Gajaśīrṣa, etc.), gold river motif above, ornate jewelry and arch, devotional ambiance.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean composition with Gaṇapati at center and a surrounding ring of written names like a nāma-cakra; subtle river/cloud motif for celestial Gaṅgā; instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly devotional scene with a pandit reading a scroll of epithets, Gaṇapati icon on a pedestal, delicate cloud-band suggesting heavenly river, fine borders and calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गजशीर्षञ्च = गजशीर्षम् च; त्रिरावर्तङ्गगनगङ्गोपतिं = त्रिरावर्तम् गगनगङ्गोपतिम् (पाठे अनुस्वार/संयोग-सन्धि).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 317 (Ganapati invocation and worship sequence)
FAQs
It teaches nāma-smarana (ritual invocation through epithets): using a sequence of sacred names—especially Gaṇeśa-identifying titles like Gajaśīrṣa and Gaṇanāyaka—as part of formal worship to establish the deity’s presence and auspiciousness.
By cataloguing functional deity-epithets used in worship, it preserves practical liturgical vocabulary alongside the Purana’s many other domains—making it a reference-style compendium for ritual procedure, mantra usage, and devotional practice.
Invoking Gaṇeśa through authoritative epithets is traditionally linked with obstacle-removal (vighna-śamana), securing auspicious beginnings, and strengthening the merit (puṇya) of any subsequent rite or undertaking.