Ganesa Ashtakam

Ganashtakam
(Octet on Ganesa)

Translated by ,
P.R.Ramachander

(This pretty prayer is addressed to Lord Ganesa, the remover of all obstacles.)

Eka dantham maha kayam thaptha kanchanna sannibham,
Lambodharam visalaksham Vandeham gana nayakam. 1

Salutations to the God who is the leader of Ganas*,
Who has only one tusk,
Who has a very big body,
Who looks like molten gold,
Who has a very big paunch,
And has very broad eyes.
* Lord Shiva’s attendants

Moungee krishnajina dharam, naga yagnopaveethinam,
Balendu vilasa mouleem , vandeham gana nayakam. 2

Salutations to the God who is the leader of Ganas,
Who has a girdle made of munja grass and with deer’s skin,
Who wears serpent as sacred thread,
And who wears infant moon on his head.

Ambika hrudayanandam mathrubhi paripalitham,
Bhakthapriyam, madonmatham , vandeham gana nayakam. 3

Salutations to the God who is the leader of the ganas,
Who makes the heart of Parvathi happy,
Who is looked after by his mother,
And who likes devotees and is exuberant with zest.

Chithra rathna chithranga, chithra mala vibhooshitham,
Chithra roopa dharam devam vandeham gana nayakam. 4

Salutations to the God who is the leader of ganas,
Who has bright features and wears many coloured gems,
Who wears multi coloured garlands,
And who has a bright and clear form.

Gaja vakthram , sura sreshtam , karna chamara bhooshitham,
Pasangusa dharam devam vande Gana nayakam. 5

Salutations to the God who is the leader of ganas,
Who is the great deva with the neck of am elephant,
Who is ornamented by fan like ears,
And who holds the rope and goad in his hands

Mooshikothama maroohya deva asura maha have,
Yodhukamam maha veeryam vandeham gana nayakam. 6

Salutations to the God who is the leader of ganas,
Who rides on the great mouse,
Who is greatly worshipped by devas and asuras,
Who is a desirable warrior with great valor

Yaksha kinnara gandharva sidha vidhyadharai sada,
Sthuyamaanam mahathmaanam, vandeham gana nayakam. 7

Salutations to the God who is the leader of ganas,
Who is great and to whom prayers are offered by,
Yakshas, Kinnara , Gandharwas, Sidhas and Vidhyadharas.

Sarva vigna haram devam sarva vigna vivarjitham,
Sarva sidha pradatharam , Vandeham Gana Nayakam. 8

Salutations to the God who is the leader of ganas,
Who removes all types of obstacles,
Who excludes all types of obstacles,
And who blesses one with all achievements.

Ganashtakamidham punyam bhakthitho ya paden nara,
Vimuktha sarva papebhyo rudhra lokam sa gachathi. 9

The man who reads with devotion this holy octet on Ganesa,
Would be freed of all his sins and in the end go to the land of Lord Shiva.