Ananda Theertha's Gangashtakam

Ananda Theertha Krutha Gangashtakam
(Octet on Ganga by Ananda Theertha)
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

Yadha vedhi thava theeram patahakee naithi gange,
Thadavadhi mala jalairnava muktha kalou syath,
Thava jalakanika kaalam papinaam papasudhyai,
Pathitha parama dheenamsthwamhi pasi prapannan. 1

Oh Holy Ganga, Till the sinner does not reach thine banks,
He does not get rid of the burden of his sins,
And a drop of your water is sufficient,
To kill all the sins of the sinner,
And so oh goddess, you save all the sinners,
Who are extremely sorrowful.

Thava shiva jala lesam vayu neetham samethya,
Sapadi nirayajaalam sunyathamethi gange,
Samalagiri samooha prasphutanthi prachanda ,
Sthvayi sakhi visatham na papa sankha kutha syath. 2

By little contact with drops of your holy water
Carried by the air , Oh Ganga,
Crowds of sins are washed away,
And the same drops break and destroy,
Mountains of collection of sins,
And how can I suspect of sin in me,
When I have a complete dip in you.

Thava shiva jala jaalam nisrutham yarhi gange,
Sakala Bhuvana jalam puthabhootham thatha bhooth,
Yama bhata kali vaartha devi luptha yamopi,
Vyadhikrutha varadeha poorna kama sakama. 3

When your holy waters began,
Flowing without stop, Oh Ganga,
The entire world was cleansed to perfection,
And the ferocity of the soldiers of Yama,
And for that matter Yama himself,
Faded away permanently,
And all people who loved this world,
Started living with glowing body and full of love.

Madhu madhu vana poogai rathna poogair na poogair,
Madhu madhu vana poogair deva poogai sapoogai,
Puraharaparamange bhasi mayeva gange,
Samayasi visha thapam deva devasya vande. 4


With crowds of honey flowers floating in spring,
With crowds of gems in the bottom,
With crowds of men eager to take bath,
With collection of sweet waters from different rivers,
With devas crowding round you to serve,
And with crowds of betel nut trees on your banks,
Hey goddess Ganga, like the enchantress Maya of the earth,
You shine on the head of Shiva and make it poison free.

Chalitha sasi kulabhai utharangai sthrangai,
Ramithanadhana dheenam anga sangai rasangai,
Viharasi jagaddhande gandayanthi gireendran,
Ramayasi nijakantham sagaram kantha kanthe. 5

With white shining and tall crowds of tides,
Resembling the moon’s face,
With several streams and rivers as a part of you,
You exist in this great Universe,
Hey Ganga, with the white colour of camphor,
You have crossed several great mountains,
And also play with ocean who is your husband.

Thava vara mahimanam chitha vachama manam,
Harihara vidhi sacra nabhi ganga vidhanthi,
Sruthikulamabhi dathe sangitham they gnantham,
Guna gana suvilapair nethi nethithi sathyam. 6

Hey goddess Ganga, even Vishnu, Brahma and Siva.
Are not able to tell your greatness,
Which is beyond description of words,
And the Vedas try to describe your greatness,
Which is very difficult to describe,
By telling, “This is not it “ and “ that is not it”.

Thava nuthinathi namanyapyacham pavayanthi,
Dadathi parama santhim divyabhogan jananam,
Ithi pathitha saeanye thwam prapnnosmi matha,
Lalitha tharange changa gange praseedha. 7

Hey ganga, even praying , saluting and meditating ,
On your names removes all sins, and gives great peace
As well as blesses the devotees with holy pleasures.
Hey goddess, who provides succor to those who are helpless,
Because of this they seek your protection.
Oh Ganga, with pretty slow moving tides, be pleased with me.

Shubha thara krutha yogadwisa nada prasadath,
Bhava haravara vidhyam prapya kasyam hi gange,
Bhagawathi thava theere neerasaram nipeeya,
Muditha hrudhaya kunje nanda soonum bhjeham. 8

Hey holy Ganga, due to good things done earlier,
I have got the blessings of Viswanadha,
Got the wisdom which destroys sorrows of life,
And am able to drink your waters,
Sitting in your banks in Varanasi,
And am able to offer prayer to Balakrishna,
In my lotus like heart.