Maha Ganapati Stotram
महागणपति स्तोत्रम्
What is the Maha Ganapati Stotram?
Maha Ganapati Stotram The Maha Ganapati Stotram is a 16-verse Sanskrit hymn composed by the monk-teacher Sri Raghava Chaitanya in praise of Ganesha as Maha Ganapati, supreme lord of the ganas. It pictures him enthroned amid his consort and a circle of protector deities, and closes with a promise that the three worlds turn favorable toward anyone who recites it often.
The Maha Ganapati Stotram is one of the more elaborate hymns dedicated to Ganesha. Instead of a short string of praise names, it paints an entire scene: Ganesha seated on a jewel-studded throne shaped like a hexagon set inside a triangle, his consort beside him, Vishnu and Shiva paying their respects nearby, and a ring of named guardian deities standing watch. Composed in Sanskrit by the wandering teacher Sri Raghava Chaitanya, it builds toward a closing verse that promises steady goodwill and influence to whoever chants it regularly.
Maha Ganapati Stotram Lyrics in English
Each verse is given in readable Roman transliteration with the original Devanagari beneath it; tap Meaning under any verse to read it in plain English.
Yogam yogavidam vidhuta-vividha-vyasanga-shuddhashaya
pradurbhuta-sudharasa-prasrimara-dhyanaspada-dhyasinam
anandaplavamana-bodha-madhuramoda-cchata-meduram
tam bhumanam upasmahe parinatam dantavalasyatmana
योगं योगविदां विधूतविविधव्यासङ्गशुद्धाशय
प्रादुर्भूतसुधारसप्रसृमरध्यानास्पदाध्यासिनाम्
आनन्दप्लवमानबोधमधुरामोदच्छटामेदुरं
तं भूमानमुपास्महे परिणतं दन्तावलास्यात्मना
Meaning
We meditate on that Infinite Being who clears away every distraction from the minds of those who know true meditation, who rises like nectar in the awareness of the wise, and who has taken the gentle, radiant form of the elephant-faced one.
Tara-shri-para-shakti-kama-vasudha-rupanugam yam vidu-
stasmai stat pranatir ganadhipataye yo raginabhyarthyate
Amantrya prathamam vareti varadetyartena sarvam janam
Svaminme vasham anayeti satatam svahadibhih pujitah
तारश्रीपरशक्तिकामवसुधारूपानुगं यं विदु-
स्तस्मै स्तात्प्रणतिर्गणाधिपतये यो रागिणाभ्यर्थ्यते
आमन्त्र्य प्रथमं वरेति वरदेत्यार्तेन सर्वं जनं
स्वामिन्मे वशमानयेति सततं स्वाहादिभिः पूजितः
Meaning
Salutations to that Lord of the ganas, known through his sacred seed-sounds, who is worshipped continually with offerings, and to whom every anxious devotee first cries out, 'O giver of boons, bring my life under your protection.'
Kallolanchala-chumbita-ambudatata-vikshudra-vambhonidhau
dvipe ratnamaye sura-druma-vana-amodaika-medasvini
mule kalpataror mahamanimaye pithe akshara-ambhoruhe
shatkona-akalita-trikona-rachana-satkarnike amum bhaje
कल्लोलाञ्चलचुम्बिताम्बुदतताविक्षुद्रवाम्भोनिधौ
द्वीपे रत्नमये सुरद्रुमवनामोदैकमेदस्विनि
मूले कल्पतरोर्महामणिमये पीठेऽक्षराम्भोरुहे
षट्कोणाकलितत्रिकोणरचनासत्कर्णिकेऽमुं भजे
Meaning
I worship him on his gem-covered island, fragrant with celestial groves, ringed by an ocean whose foaming waves kiss the shore, where at the foot of the wish-fulfilling tree he sits on a great jewelled seat shaped like a lotus with a hexagon and triangle at its heart.
Chakra-prasa-rasala-karmuka-gada-sad-bijapura-dvija-
vrihyagra-utpala-pasha-pankaja-karam shundagra-jagrad-ghatam
Ashlishtam priyaya sarojakaraya ratnasphurad-bhushaya
Manikya-pratimam mahaganapatim vishvesham ashasmahe
चक्रप्रासरसालकार्मुकगदासद्बीजपूरद्विज-
व्रीह्यग्रोत्पलपाशपङ्कजकरं शुण्डाग्रजाग्रद्घटम्
आश्लिष्टं प्रियया सरोजकरया रत्नस्फुरद्भूषया
माणिक्यप्रतिमं महागणपतिं विश्वेशमाशास्महे
Meaning
We seek the grace of Maha Ganapati, ruby-radiant lord of the universe, who holds a discus, spear, bow, mace, pomegranate, rice-ear, lotus, noose and a water-pot balanced at his trunk, held close by his beloved consort adorned in sparkling gems.
Danambhah-parimedura-prasrimara-vyalambi-rolamba-bhrit-
sindura-aruna-ganda-mandala-yuga-vyajat prashasti-dvayam
trailokyeshta-vidhana-varna-subhagam yah padmaraga-upamam
dhatte sa shriyam atanotu satatam devo gananam patih
दानाम्भःपरिमेदुरप्रसृमरव्यालम्बिरोलम्बभृ-
त्सिन्दूरारुणगण्डमण्डलयुगव्याजात्प्रशस्तिद्वयम्
त्रैलोक्येष्टविधानवर्णसुभगं यः पद्मरागोपमं
धत्ते स श्रियमातनोतु सततं देवो गणानां पतिः
Meaning
May that lord of the ganas, his vermilion temples glowing and drawing swarms of bees, his ruby-red form pleasing to all three worlds, ever extend prosperity to us.
Bhramyan mandara-ghurnana-paravasha-kshirabdhi-vichi-cchata
sacchhaya ashchala-chamara-vyatikara-shri-garva-sarvankashah
dikkanta-ghanasara-chandana-rasasarah shrayantam manah
svachchhanda-prasara-pralipta-viyato herambadanta-tvishah
भ्राम्यन्मन्दरघूर्णनापरवशक्षीराब्धिवीचिच्छटा
सच्छायाश्चलचामरव्यतिकरश्रीगर्वसर्वङ्कषाः
दिक्कान्ताघनसारचन्दनरसासाराः श्रयन्तां मनः
स्वच्छन्दप्रसरप्रलिप्तवियतो हेरम्बदन्तत्विषः
Meaning
May the glow of Heramba's tusks, spreading freely across the sky like a shower of sandal paste in every direction and outshining even the churning milky ocean's waves, settle peacefully in our minds.
Muktajala-karambita-pravikasan-manikya-punja-cchata
kantah kambu-kadamba-chumbita-vana-abhoga-pravala-upamah
jyotsna-pura-taranga-manthara-tarat-sandhya-vayasya-schiram
herambasya jayanti dantakirana-akirnah sharira-tvishah
मुक्ताजालकरम्बितप्रविकसन्माणिक्यपुञ्जच्छटा
कान्ताः कम्बुकदम्बचुम्बितवनाभोगप्रवालोपमाः
ज्योत्स्नापूरतरङ्गमन्थरतरत्सन्ध्यावयस्याश्चिरं
हेरम्बस्य जयन्ति दन्तकिरणाकीर्णाः शरीरत्विषः
Meaning
Victorious forever are the radiances of Heramba's body, glowing among strings of pearls like a cluster of blooming rubies, gentle as coral shoots touched by conch shells, rippling like moonlight blending into the changing colors of twilight.
Shundagra-akalitena hemakalashena-avarjitena kshara-
nnana-ratnachayena sadhaka-janan sambhavayan kotishah
danamoda-vinoda-lubdha-madhupa-protsarana-avirbhava-
t-karna-andolana-khelano vijayate devo ganagramanih
शुण्डाग्राकलितेन हेमकलशेनावर्जितेन क्षर-
न्नानारत्नचयेन साधकजनान्सम्भावयन्कोटिशः
दानामोदविनोदलुब्धमधुपप्रोत्सारणाविर्भव-
त्कर्णान्दोलनखेलनो विजयते देवो गणग्रामणीः
Meaning
Victorious is the leader of the ganas, who honors his devotees a millionfold with gems pouring from the golden pot at his trunk-tip, and who flaps his ears playfully to wave off the bees drawn to his sweet fragrance.
Herambam pranamami yasya puratah shandilya-mule shriya
bibhratya-amburuhe samam madhuripuste shankha-chakre vahan
nyagrodhasya tale saha-adrisutaya shambhus tatha dakshine
bibhranah parashum trishulam itaya devya dharanya saha
हेरम्बं प्रणमामि यस्य पुरतः शाण्डिल्यमूले श्रिया
बिभ्रत्याम्बुरुहे समं मधुरिपुस्ते शङ्खचक्रे वहन्
न्यग्रोधस्य तले सहाद्रिसुतया शम्भुस्तया दक्षिणे
बिभ्राणः परशुं त्रिशूलमितया देव्या धरण्या सह
Meaning
I bow to Heramba, before whom Vishnu stands holding a conch and discus beside Lakshmi with her lotus, while at the foot of a banyan tree to his right stands Shiva with Parvati, carrying an axe and trident along with the earth-goddess.
Pashchat pippalam ashrito ratipatir devasya ratyutpale
bibhratya samam aikshavam dhanurishun paushpan vahan pancha cha
Vame chakra-gadadharah sa bhagavan krodah priyangostale
hastodyach-chuka-shali-manjarikaya devya dharanya saha
पश्चात्पिप्पलमाश्रितो रतिपतिर्देवस्य रत्योत्पले
बिभ्रत्या सममैक्षवं धनुरिषून्पौष्पान्वहन्पञ्च च
वामे चक्रगदाधरः स भगवान्क्रोडः प्रियाङ्गोस्तले
हस्तोद्यच्छुकशालिमञ्जरिकया देव्या धरण्या सह
Meaning
Behind, near a peepal tree, stands Kamadeva with his sugarcane bow and five flower arrows beside Rati holding a lotus, while to the left sits Vishnu in his boar form bearing a discus and mace, with the earth-goddess holding ripened paddy that draws a parrot near.
Shatkona-ashrishu shatsu shad-gajamukhah pasha-ankusha-abhivaran-
bibhranah pramada-sakhah prithu-mahashona-ashma-punja-tvishah
Amodah puratah pramoda-sumukhau tam chabhito durmukhah
pashchat parshvagato’sya vighna iti yo yo vighnakarteti cha
षट्कोणाश्रिषु षट्सु षड्गजमुखाः पाशाङ्कुशाभीवरा-
न्बिभ्राणाः प्रमदासखाः पृथुमहाशोणाश्मपुञ्जत्विषः
आमोदः पुरतः प्रमोदसुमुखौ तं चाभितो दुर्मुखः
पश्चात्पार्श्वगतोऽस्य विघ्न इति यो यो विघ्नकर्तेति च
Meaning
At the six corners of the hexagon stand six elephant-faced guardians glowing like heaps of red gems, holding a noose and goad beside their consorts. Amoda and gentle Pramoda stand in front, Durmukha to the sides, and Vighna with Vighnakarta stand behind, the very ones who create and clear obstacles.
Amoda-adi-ganeshvara-priyatamas tatraiva nityam sthitah
Kanta-shlesha-rasajna-manthara-drishah siddhih samriddhis tatah
Kantir ya madanavati ityapi tatha kalpeshu ya giyate
Sanya yapi madadrava tad-apara dravinyamuh pujitah
आमोदादिगणेश्वरप्रियतमास्तत्रैव नित्यं स्थिताः
कान्ताश्लेषरसज्ञमन्थरदृशः सिद्धिः समृद्धिस्ततः
कान्तिर्या मदनावतीत्यपि तथा कल्पेषु या गीयते
सान्या यापि मदद्रवा तदपरा द्राविण्यमूः पूजिताः
Meaning
The consorts of Amoda and the other gana-lords dwell there eternally, their soft gaze full of the joy of loving embrace, and from them arise Siddhi and Samriddhi, success and abundance, along with Kanti, Madanavati and other honored attendants.
Ashlishtau vasudhetyatho vasumati tabhyam sita-lohitau
varshantau vasu-parshvayor vilasatastau shankha-padmau nidhi
angany anvatha mataras cha paritah shakra-adayo’bjashraya-
stad bahyeh kulishadayah paripatat-kalanala-jyotishah
आश्लिष्टौ वसुधेत्यथो वसुमती ताभ्यां सितालोहितौ
वर्षन्तौ वसुपार्श्वयोर्विलसतस्तौ शङ्खपद्मौ निधी
अङ्गान्यन्वथ मातरश्च परितः शक्रादयोऽब्जाश्रया-
स्तद्बाह्येः कुलिशादयः परिपतत्कालानलज्योतिषः
Meaning
Clasped together, the earth-goddesses shower down white and red beside the treasure-lords Shankha and Padma. Around them sit the guardian mothers led by Indra, and beyond them stand protectors blazing like the fire that consumes the world at the end of time.
Ittham vishnu-shiva-aditattva-tanave shri-vakratundaya hum-
kara-akshipta-samasta-daitya-pritana-vrataya dipta-tvishe
Ananda-ika-rasa-avabodha-lahari vidhvasta-sarvormaye
Sarvatra prathamana-mugdha-mahase tasmai parasmai namah
इत्थं विष्णुशिवादितत्त्वतनवे श्रीवक्रतुण्डाय हुं-
काराक्षिप्तसमस्तदैत्य पृतनाव्राताय दीप्तत्विषे
आनन्दैकरसावबोधलहरी विध्वस्तसर्वोर्मये
सर्वत्र प्रथमानमुग्धमहसे तस्मै परस्मै नमः
Meaning
Salutations to that Supreme Being, embodied in the essence of Vishnu, Shiva and every other principle, who as the curved-trunked lord scatters entire armies of demons with the sound of his roar, whose brilliance rises as pure waves of blissful awareness, and whose radiance shines first, everywhere.
Seva-hevaki-devasura-nara-nikara-sphara-kotira-koti-
kati-vyatika-mana-dyumani-sama-mani-shreni-bhaveni-kanam
Rajan-nirajana-shri-sukha-charana-nakha-dyota-vidyotamanah
Shreyah stheyah sa deyan mama vimaladrisho bandhuram sindhurasyah
सेवा हेवाकिदेवासुरनरनिकरस्फारकोटीरकोटी-
काटिव्याटीकमानद्युमणिसममणिश्रेणिभावेणिकानाम्
राजन्नीराजनश्रीसुखचरणनखद्योतविद्योतमानः
श्रेयः स्थेयः स देयान्मम विमलदृशो बन्धुरं सिन्धुरास्यः
Meaning
That gracious, elephant-faced lord, whose glowing toenails outshine the jewelled crowns of the countless gods, demons and men bowed in devoted service before him, may he grant me lasting good fortune.
Etena prakata-rahasya-mantra-mala-
garbhena sphutatara-samvida stavena
Yah stauti prachurataram mahaganesham
Tasyeyam bhavati vashamvada trilokī
एतेन प्रकटरहस्यमन्त्रमाला-
गर्भेण स्फुटतरसंविदा स्तवेन
यः स्तौति प्रचुरतरं महागणेशं
तस्येयं भवति वशंवदा त्रिलोकी
Meaning
Whoever recites this hymn often, which carries within it a garland of open and hidden mantras, comes to find all three worlds naturally turning favorable toward them.
Meaning & Significance
The Maha Ganapati Stotram is built in two parts. The first fifteen verses paint a single, continuous scene: Ganesha seated at the center of his own court, on a jewelled seat shaped like a hexagon set inside a triangle, holding a discus, mace, lotus and other emblems, with his consort beside him. Around him stand Vishnu and Shiva with their own consorts, Kamadeva and Rati under a peepal tree, and named guardian deities at each corner of the hexagon. The sixteenth verse is the phala shruti, the promise attached to the hymn: whoever chants it often will find circumstances and people turning favorable toward them.
That final line is really the heart of why this stotram gets used before big decisions. It is not asking Ganesha to remove a single obstacle so much as asking him to put the reciter in a position of quiet command over their own situation, the way he sits in command over the deities gathered around him in the verses. That is why it fits so naturally with themes like leadership and success rather than just relief from trouble.
It is worth being upfront that this is not a beginner’s chant in the way a simple aarti is. The Sanskrit is dense, built from long compound words in a classical meter, and the imagery draws on the same hexagon-and-triangle symbolism used in Sri Chakra worship. Treat it the way you would treat a piece of scripture you are still getting to know: read the meaning alongside the words the first several times, and let the verses become familiar gradually rather than trying to memorize them in one sitting.
How Do You Chant the Maha Ganapati Stotram?
- Set up a simple space. – Sit facing east or north, light a lamp or a stick of incense, and keep an image or idol of Ganesha in front of you.
- Settle your mind first. – Chant Om Gam Ganapataye Namah a few times before starting the stotram, just to bring your attention into the room.
- Go slowly through the verses. – Follow the transliteration line by line rather than rushing; the compounds are long, so pace matters more than speed here.
- Read the meaning as you go. – Especially in the first few weeks, glance at the meaning under each verse so the Sanskrit stops feeling abstract.
- Keep your palms together. – A simple Anjali mudra through the recitation is enough; no elaborate mudras are required.
- End with the phala shruti. – Let the sixteenth verse land as a statement of intent, then sit quietly for a breath or two before getting up.
- On Ganesh Chaturthi – add it to your regular Ganesha puja, right after the aarti, while the lamp is still lit.
What Are the Benefits of Chanting?
The verses themselves point to what devotees have long associated with this stotram: clarity, steadiness and a sense of favorable circumstance rather than any single specific outcome.
- Clearer thinking: The opening verses ask for freedom from mental distraction, which is why many people chant this before a decision that needs a level head.
- Fewer obstacles: The guardian figures named in the verses, including Vighna and Vighnakarta, are traditionally understood as the very forces that create and remove hurdles, now standing in service.
- Confidence in leadership: The closing verse's promise of the three worlds turning favorable is often read as support for anyone stepping into a position where others are looking to them for direction.
- Steadiness under pressure: The imagery of Ganesha seated calmly amid a full court, unmoved by the activity around him, is used as a mental anchor during stressful periods.
- Support for new ventures: Chanting it before starting a business, a project or a course of study follows the same logic as any Ganesha invocation before new beginnings.
- A settled, protected feeling: The detailed description of guardian deities on every side gives the hymn a specific sense of being surrounded and looked after, beyond a general blessing.
Origin & Composer
The stotram closes with a colophon that names its author directly: iti shrimat paramahamsa parivrajakacharyavarya Sri Raghava Chaitanya virachitam maha ganapati stotram, meaning this hymn was composed by Sri Raghava Chaitanya, described as an eminent teacher who had taken the highest renunciate vows of the paramahamsa order and lived as a wandering monk. Beyond that title, little biographical detail about him survives outside the stotra collections that carry his work, which is common for authors of this kind of devotional Sanskrit literature.
It is easy to mix this hymn up with other Ganesha stotras that share part of the name. The Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram, drawn from the Narada Purana, is a different and simpler text focused on removing specific troubles. The Ganesha Pancharatnam, just five verses long and composed by Adi Shankaracharya, is shorter and uses a completely different set of praise-names. The Maha Ganapati Stotram stands apart from both: longer, denser, and built around a single sustained image of Ganesha’s court rather than a list of his qualities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maha Ganapati Stotram?
It is a 16-verse Sanskrit hymn to Ganesha as Maha Ganapati, composed by Sri Raghava Chaitanya. Rather than listing praise-names, it describes a single detailed scene of Ganesha enthroned amid his consort and a full circle of guardian deities.
Who composed the Maha Ganapati Stotram?
The closing colophon credits Sri Raghava Chaitanya, described as a paramahamsa parivrajakacharya, a renunciate teacher who had taken the highest monastic vows and lived as a wandering ascetic.
How many verses does the Maha Ganapati Stotram have?
There are 16 verses in total: 15 descriptive verses picturing Ganesha's divine court, followed by a sixteenth phala shruti verse that states the benefit of reciting the hymn.
What are the benefits of chanting the Maha Ganapati Stotram?
Devotees chant it for mental clarity, the removal of obstacles, confidence when stepping into leadership, and a sense of circumstances turning favorable, all themes drawn directly from the verses themselves.
Is the Maha Ganapati Stotram the same as the Ganesha Pancharatnam or Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram?
No. The Ganesha Pancharatnam is a shorter, five-verse hymn by Adi Shankaracharya, and the Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram comes from the Narada Purana with a simpler structure. The Maha Ganapati Stotram is a distinct, longer text by Sri Raghava Chaitanya.
When is the best time to chant the Maha Ganapati Stotram?
Early morning after bathing is traditional, especially before a decision or new undertaking. Wednesdays and Ganesh Chaturthi are considered especially fitting days for it.
Can beginners chant this stotram?
Yes, but it helps to know going in that the Sanskrit is dense and compound-heavy compared to a short chalisa or aarti. Reading the meaning alongside the transliteration for the first several recitations makes it far more approachable.
Does the Maha Ganapati Stotram need to be chanted only during Ganesh Chaturthi?
No, it can be chanted on any day, though it is commonly added to the daily puja during Ganesh Chaturthi and on Wednesdays throughout the year.
॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥