The Eightfold Prayer to Lord Ganesha
Aum, Sri Mahaaganaadhipataye Namah
Guidelines for pronunciation are in the footnotes at the end of the page
Ganeshaashtakam
ekadantam mahaakaayam thapthakaanchana sannibham |
lambodaram
vishaalaksham vandeham gananaayakam ||
maunjee krishnaajinadharam naagayajnopaveetham |
baalendu
shakalam maulau vandeham gananaayakam ||
chitrarathna vichitraangam chitramaalaa vibhushitam |
kaamaruupadharam devam vandeham gananaayakam ||
gajavaktram surashreshtam karnachaamara bhushitam |
pasaankusa
dharam devam vandeham gananaayakam ||
mooshakottama maruhya devaasura mahaahave |
yoddhakaamam
mahaaveeryam vandeham gananaayakam ||
yaksha kinnara gandharva siddha vidyaadharaissadaa |
sthuuyamaanam
mahaabaahum vandeham gananaayakam ||
ambikaa hridayaanandam maatrubhih pariveshtitham |
bhaktapriya
madonmattham vandeham gananaayakam ||
sarva vighna karam devam sarva vighna vivarjitham |
sarvasiddhi
pradaathaaram vandeham gananaayakam ||
ganaashtakamidam punyam yah pathetsatatam narah |
siddhyanthi
sarvakaryani vidyaavaan-dhanavan-bhaveth ||
Suggestions for Further Reading
- Everyday Prayers to Lord Ganesha
- Maha Ganesha Pancha-ratnam
- A Morning Prayer to Lord Ganesha
- Sankata-naasana Ganapathi Sthothram
- A Hindu Prayer, Ganeshashtakam
- Ganesha Shodhasa Naama Puuja
- Popular Prayers of Shakti, Devi, Mother Goddess
- English Devotional Prayers to Hindu Gods and Goddesses
- Popular Prayers of Lord Ganesha
- Popular Prayers of Lord Krishna
- Popular Prayers of Goddess Lakshmi
- Navagraha Dhyana Slokam
- Popular Prayers of Vishnu
- The Dream and Despair of a Yogi
- The Idolaters - The Idol(H)aters
- Chidlren of Darkness - Kali Yuga
- Devotional Prayers to Lord Shiva
- The Vedas as the Source of Valid Knowledge
- Hymns from the Rig Veda
- The Meaning and Concept of Mantra in Hinduism
- Praying With the Right Attitude
- Why and How Should We Pray? The Prayer Purpose
- Essays On Dharma
- Esoteric Mystic Hinduism
- Introduction to Hinduism
- Hindu Way of Life
- Essays On Karma
- Hindu Rites and Rituals
- The Origin of The Sanskrit Language
- Symbolism in Hinduism
- Essays on The Upanishads
- Concepts of Hinduism
- Essays on Atman
- Hindu Festivals
- Spiritual Practice
- Right Living
- Yoga of Sorrow
- Happiness
- Mental Health
- Concepts of Buddhism
- General Essays
Guidelines to pronunciation: Sanskrit is essentially a language of sounds and sound vibrations. The efficacy of Sanskrit prayers depends upon the vibrations that are produced during chanting. It is difficult to transliterate Sanskrit words into English with full justification to the original sounds. In the above stated transliteration we followed a simple approach to make it easier even for those who are not familiar with English or Sanskrit. Wherever you find repeat vowels (aa, uu, ee) please stretch the vowel sound (for ex., aa as in vast or path, uu as in cool or root, ee as in eel or feel). Similarly, "ai" should be pronounced as in gait, fight, or tight. Th should be pronounced as in think or thick, but when t alone is used, it should be pronounced as in two, top or tip.