Mahodara

Mahodara · mahā-udara, “great-bellied”

Mahodara is a name used for more than one being in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Each is listed below with where it is told; choose the one you are looking for.

Devatās

• Gaṇeśa, The Remover of Obstacles: Mahodara, “the great-bellied”, a name of Gaṇeśa used in his pūjā and in the Gaṇeśa Gāyatrī. Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 71

People

• Mahodara Muni: a muni with a skull stuck in his leg, freed at the Kapālamocana tīrtha on the Sarasvatī, which is named for this event. Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 42; Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 18

Named in passing

• Mahodara the rākshasa: a rākshasa of Laṅkā, slain by Nīla in the war, told on Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa