Ganesh Chalisa

Hail, hail, hail to King Ganpati, who fills our lives with blessings and brings every good task to a fortunate completion.

Glory to the elephant-faced one, the home and giver of happiness, leader of the whole world and the dispenser of wisdom and intellect.

His curved tusk and pure, graceful trunk are lovely to behold, and the three-lined tilak on his forehead delights the heart of every devotee.

A garland of gems and pearls shines upon his chest, a golden crown rests on his head, and his eyes are large and wide.

In his hands he holds a book, an axe and a trident, and he is offered modak sweets and fragrant flowers.

His body is adorned in a beautiful yellow silk garment, and the sandals upon his feet delight the minds of the sages.

Blessed son of Shiva and brother of the six-faced Kartikeya, the darling of Gauri and the sustainer of the universe.

Riddhi and Siddhi fan you with whisks, while your mount, the mouse, waits gracefully at your door.

I now tell the blessed story of your birth, an account that is utterly pure, sanctifying and bringer of good fortune.

Once the daughter of the mountain king, Parvati, performed severe penance in her longing for a son.

When that matchless sacrifice was complete, you arrived there having taken the form of a brahmin.

Recognising you as a guest, Gauri was gladdened and served you in many ways.

Greatly pleased, you granted her the boon she had sought through her penance for the sake of a son.

You declared that she would obtain a son of vast intelligence, and at that very moment, without conceiving in the womb.

He would be the leader of the ganas, a treasury of virtue and knowledge, the Lord worshipped first of all the gods.

Having said this, you vanished from sight, and appeared as an infant lying in the cradle.

When you, become a baby, began to cry, Gauri gazed upon your face with a joy beyond all measure.

Everyone, absorbed in delight, sang songs of happiness and auspiciousness, while the gods rained down flowers from the sky.

Shiva and Parvati gave away gifts in abundance, and gods, sages and people came to behold their son.

Seeing the great joy and festive splendour, King Shani too came to look upon the child.

Aware of his own fault within his heart, Shani was unwilling to look at the child.

Parvati grew a little suspicious in her mind, thinking that Shani did not share in her celebration.

For how long could Shani hold back out of hesitation? He wondered what harm would come if he were shown the infant.

Uma did not believe his caution and insisted that Shani look upon the child.

The moment Shani's sidelong glance fell upon him, the child's head flew off into the sky.

Parvati, overcome with grief, collapsed to the ground, and the depth of that sorrow cannot be described.

An outcry of anguish broke out across Kailash when it was seen that Shani's glance had destroyed the son.

At once Vishnu set out riding Garuda, and with his discus he cut off and brought back the head of an elephant.

He placed it upon the child's body, and Shankar recited the life-giving mantra to restore his breath.

Shiva then gave him the name Ganesha and granted him the boon of being worshipped first and of being a storehouse of wisdom.

When Shiva set a test of intelligence, the task was to circle the whole earth in reverence.

The six-faced Kartikeya set off wandering and lost his way, while you sat and devised a clever plan.

You took hold of the feet of your mother and father and circled around them seven times.

Crying 'Blessed Ganesha!', Shiva rejoiced in his heart, and the gods showered down a great rain of flowers from the heavens.

Your glory and the greatness of your wisdom are such that even thousand-mouthed Shesha cannot fully sing them.

I am dull of mind, impure and sorrowful — in what fitting way can I possibly offer you my prayer?

Ramsundar Prabhudas worships you, having seen Prayag, Kakra and the seat of Durvasa.

Now, O Lord, show your mercy upon this humble one, and grant me some measure of your strength and devotion.