Viswanath

Viswanath is a masculine given name and a surname of Indian origin. It is formed from Sanskrit elements such as Vishva or Viṣva, meaning world or universe, and nātha or nāth, meaning lord, protector, or master. The combined meaning is often rendered as “lord of the universe” or “ruler of all.” Spelling variations arise from transliteration and regional pronunciation, including Vishwanath, Viswanath, Viswanatha, and Vishwanatha.

The name has religious significance in Hinduism, where Viswanath is an epithet of Lord Shiva. It is associated with temples and sacred places dedicated to Shiva, most famously the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, a major pilgrimage site. Because of its spiritual resonance, Viswanath is used widely as both a given name and a surname across India and among the Indian diaspora.

Usage and distribution: Viswanath and its variants are found across many Indian linguistic communities, including Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Marathi speakers. As a given name, it is common in northern and southern states, while as a surname it appears in various regions with no single regional pattern.

Notable people: Gundappa Viswanath is a well-known Indian cricketer who played for India in the 1970s and 1980s. The name appears in other fields as well, but biographical coverage outside regional languages may be limited in English-language sources.

See also: Kashi Vishwanath Temple; Vishwanath as a name; variations in spelling and transliteration.