Hrishikesha (हृषीकेश, IAST: hṛṣīkeśa) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy-name meaning “The lord and master of all the senses”. From hṛṣīka (the senses) and īśa (lord, master), this beloved name of Vishnu declares His sovereignty over every faculty of perception and action.

Meaning, etymology & significance

Hṛṣīkeśa is one of the most philosophically significant names in the Vaishnava tradition. Hṛṣīka refers to the senses (indriyāṇi), and īśa means master or lord; together they name Vishnu as the supreme ruler of all sensory and cognitive powers in every being. The Bhagavad Gītā uses this name for Kṛṣṇa at a pivotal moment, reinforcing that the charioteer holding Arjuna's reins is also the master of every indriya in the cosmos.

Hrishikesha is also the name of a sacred pilgrimage town (Rishikesh) on the banks of the Gaṅgā in Uttarakhand, demonstrating how deeply this epithet has permeated Indian sacred geography. Pronounced hrish-ee-KE-sha, it remains a traditionally revered and recognizable given name.

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Scriptural source

Hrishikesha appears in the Vishnu Sahasranama, among the sacred names of Vishnu.