Lord Ganesh Chalisa

“Shree Ganeshay Namah”

JAI JAIÂ VANDANA BHUVANAÂ NANDANA GAURI GANESHA
DUKHA DVANDVANA PHANDANA HARANAÂ SUNDARA SUVANA MAHESHA

Glory, glory, all glory to you, O Ganesha; to you, the whole world pays homage, for you are the delight of Gauri and the charming son of Shiva. You are the extirpator of all pairs of contraries (such as joy and sorrow, birth and death, attraction and repulsion, etc.) and deliver from them.

JAYATI SHAMBHU-SUTAGAURI-NANDANAÂ VIGHNA HARANA NAASANA BHAVA-PHADANA
JAI GANANAYAKA JANASUKHA DAAYAKAÂ VISHWA VINAAYAKA BUDDHI-VIDHAAYAKA

Glory to you, O son of Shambhu and delight of Gauri; you are the destroyer of all obstacles and deliverer of all from the cycle of birth and death. Glory to you, O leader of Shiva's henchmen, bestower of happiness on all your votaries, teacher of all, and operator of the intellect!

EKA RADANA GAJABADANA VIRAAJATAÂ VAKRATUNDA SHUCHI SHUNDA SUSAJATA
TILAKA TRIPUNDA BHAALA SHASHI SOHATAÂ CHABI SAKHI SURA NARA MUNI MANA MOHATA

O Ganesha (Vakratunda), resplendent is the only tusk which you have on your elephant face and well-adorned is your sacred trunk; the crescent-shaped triple mark on your forehead is as beautiful as the moon, and the celestials, men and ascetics who behold your loveliness cannot off its spell.

URA MANI-MAALASARORUHA LOCHANAÂ RATNA MUKUTA SIRA SOCHA VIMOCHANA
KARA KUTHAARA SHUCHI SUBHAGA TRISHULAMÂ MODAKA BOGA SUGANDHITA PHUULAM

On your bosom is a garland of jewels, in your eyes the beauty of the full-blown lotus and on your head a crown of gems. You deliver your devotees from anxiety and wield a sacred axe and a beautiful trident in your hands. Sweet laddus among delicacies and fragrant blossoms among flowers are your favourites.

SUNDARA PITAAMBARATANA SAAJITAÂ CHARANA PAADUKAA MUNI MANA RAAJITA
DHANI SHIVA-SUVANA BHUVANA SUKHA DAATAAÂ GAURII-LALANA SHADAANANA BHRAATAA

Blessed are you, O Kaartikeya's brother and beloved son of Shiva and Gauri; elegantly attired in a beautiful yellow silken dress and wearing a pair of wooden sandals all studded with gems on your feet, you are the source of all the blessings of the world.

RIDDHI SIDDHI TAVACHANVARA SUDHAARAHINÂ MUUSHAKA VAAHANA SOHITA DVAARAHIN
TAVA MAHIMAA KO VARNE PAARAAÂ JANMA CHARITRA VICHITRA TUMHAARAA

Both prosperity and accomplishment wave royal whisks (chowries) over you (as if they were chowrie-burdars), and your vehicle, the mouse, adds to your splendour at your door. As the story of your life is so strange and mysterious, who can venture to describe your magnificence, which passes all telling?

EKA ASURA SHIVA-RUUPABANAAVAIÂ GAURIIHIN CHALANA HETU TAHAM AAVAI
YAHA KAARANA TE SHRI SHIVA-PYAARIIÂ NIJA TANA-MAILA MUURTI RACHI DAARII

A demon disguised as Shiva often came there to delude Gauri to foil his design; Gauri, the beloved consort of Shiva created a divine form from the scurf of her body.

SO NIJA SUTA KARIGRIHA RAKHAVAAREÂ DVAARAPAALA SAMA TEHIN BAITHAARE
JABAHIN SVAYAM SHRI SHIVA TAHAN AAYEÂ BINU PAHICHANA JAANA NAHIN PAAYE

Asking her son to keep watch, she stationed him at the palace door like a doorkeeper. When Shiva himself came there, he, being unrecognised, was denied entrance into the house.

PUUCHYO SHIVA HOKINAKE LAALAAÂ BOLATA BHE TUMA VACHANA RASAALAA
MAIN HUN GAURII-SUTA SUNI LIIJAIÂ AAGE PAGA NA BHAVANA HITA DIIJAI

Shiva asked: Tell me, who is your father? In a sweet voice, you replied, Hearken, sir, I am Gauri's son; don't you dare advance even a step beyond this point.

AAVAHIN MAATU BUUJHITABA JAAOÂ BAALAKA SE JANI BAATA BARHAAO
CHALANA CHAHYO SHIVA BACHANA NA MAANYOÂ TABA HVAI KRUDDHA YUDDHA TUMA THAANYO

'O Sir! Let me take my mother's permission before I allow you to go inside; wrangling with a mere stripling like me will be of no avail.' Not listening to your behest, Shiva attempted to rush towards the house, which so vexed you that you, waxing furious, threw the gauntlet down.

TATKSHANA NAHI KACHUSHAMBHU BICHAATYOÂ GAHI TRISHULA BHUULA VASHA MAARYO
SHIRIISA PHUULA SAMA SIRA KATI GAYAUUÂ CHATA URI LOPA GAGANA MAHAM BHAYAUU

In a fit of rage, Shiva picked up his trident and driven by delusion, hurled it on you. Your head, tender like the Shirisa flower, was severed, and instantly it soared into the sky and disappeared there.

GAYO SHAMBHU JABABHAVANA MANJHAARIIÂ JAHAN BAITHII GIRIRAAJA-KUMAARII
PUUCHE SHIVA NIJA MANA MUSKAAYEÂ KAHAHU SATII SUTA KAHAN TE JAAYE

When Shiva went happily inside where Gauri, daughter of the Mountain king was sitting, he smilingly asked, Tell me, Sati how did you give birth to son?

KHULIGE BHEDA KATHAASUNI SAARIIÂ GIRII VIKALA GIRIRAAJA DULAARI
KIYO NA BHALA SVAAMII ABA JAAOÂ LAAO SHISA JAHAAN SE PAAO

On hearing the whole episode, the mystery cleared. Gauri, though the daughter of the great mountain King (celebrated for immobility) was so moved and distraught that she fell to the ground and said, 'You have done me a great disfavour, my Lord; Now go and fetch the severed head of my son from wherever you find it!'

CHALYO VISHNU SANGASHIVA VIGYANIÂ MILYO NA SO HASTIIHIN SIRA AANII
DHARA UUPARA STITHA KARA DIINHYONÂ PRAANA-VAAYUSANCHAALANA KIINHYON

Shiva, an expert in all skills, took his departure accompanied by Vishnu, but having failed to find the head, they brought one of an elephant and placed it upon the trunk and breathed life into it.

SHRI GANESHA SHIVANAAMA DHARAAYOÂ VIDYAA BUDDHI AMARA VARA PAAYO
BHE PRABHU PRATAHAMA PUUJYA SUKHADAAYAKAÂ VIGHNA VINAASHAKA BUDDHI VIDHAAYAKA

It was Lord Shiva who named you Shri Ganesha and blessed you with knowledge, wisdom and immortality. You are O Lord, the first among those who are worshipped; you bring joy to the faithful, destroy all obstructions and cause the operation of the intellect.

PRATHAMAHIN NAAMALETA TAVA JOIIÂ JAGA KAHAN SAKALA KAAJA SIDHA HOII
SUMIRAHIN TUMAHIN MILAHIN SUKHA NAANAAÂ BINU TAVA KRIPAA NA KAHUN KALYAANAA

Whosoever remembers you before embarking on any mission finds all his tasks accomplished in the world. The very remembrance of your name brings all happiness without your all-pardoning grace there is no security and well-being anywhere in the world.

TUMHARAHIN SHAAPABHAYO JAGA ANKITAÂ BHAADAVAN CHAUTHII CHANDRA AKALANKITA
JABAHIN PARIIKSHA SHIVA TUHIIN LIINHAAÂ PRADAKSHINAA PRITHVII KAHI DIINHAA

Cursed by you, the moon's face was tarnished with the black reflection of the earth as it appears on the fourth day in the bright half of Bhadrapada (Bhaado), which none would dare to look at. When Shiva wanted to test you (your might and intelligence), he asked you to circumnavigate the earth.

SADMUKHA CHALYOMAYUURA URAAIIÂ BAITHI RACHE TUMA SAHAJA UPAAII
RAAMA NAAMA MAHI PARA LIKHI ANKAAÂ KIINHA PRADAKSHINAA TAJI MANA SHAMKAA

While Sadmukha (your brother Kaartikeya) went flying on his peacock, you adopted an easier course) without budging, you scribbled the name of Raama on the ground and, abandoning all misgivings, circumnavigated it.

SHRIPITU-MAATU-CHARANA DHARI LIINHYOÂ TAA KAHAN SAATA PRADAKSHINAA KIINHYO
PRITHVII PARIKRAMAA PHALA PAAYOÂ ASA LAKHI SURANA SUMANA VARSHAYO

(With utmost devotion) you clasped the feet of your parents and circumnavigated them seven times. Thus were you rewarded with the fruit of having circumnavigated the earth, a feat that made the gods rain down flowers on you.

'SUNDARADAASA' RAAMA KE CHERAAÂ DURVAASAA AASHRAMA DHARI DERAA
VIRACHYO SHRIGANESHA CHAALIISAAÂ SHIVA PURAANA VARNITA YOGIISHA

While dwelling in the hermitage of the sage Durvasa, Sundardaasa, a devotee of Raama, composed this hymn to Ganesha in forty verses just as the foremost among the adepts in the Shiva Purana had done.

NITYA GAJAANANA JOGUNA GAAVATAÂ GRIHA VASI SUMATI PARAMA SUKHA PAAVATA
JANA-DHANA-DHYAANYA SUVANA SUKHA DAAYAKAÂ DEHIN SAKALA SHUBHA SHRI GANANAAYAKA

The wise who hymn the glory of Ganesha daily are blessed with supreme bliss. The lord of Shiva's henchmen, who blesses his votaries with wealth, progeny and happiness, also bestows upon them every auspicious object.

DOHAA

SHRI GANESHAACHAALIISAA, PAATHA KARAI DHARI DHYAANAÂ NITA NAVA MANGALA MODA LAHI, MILAI JAGATA SAMMAANA
DVAI SAHASRA DASA VIKRAMII, BHAADRA KRISHNA TITHI GANGAÂ PUURANA CHAALIISAA BHAYO, SUNDARA BHAKTII ABHANGA

He who repeats this hymn earnestly is blessed with all felicity and gracious gifts, the novelty of which grows ever greater, as well as great honour. On the third day of the dark half of the month of Bhaadra in the Vikrama year two thousand and ten (A. D.1953) this hymn in forty verses was completed. Thus has Sundaradaasa demonstrated his unflinching devotion to Lord Ganesha.