Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram
संकटनाशन गणेश स्तोत्रम्
What is the Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram?
Sankata Nashana Stotram The Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn from the Narada Purana, spoken by the sage Narada, that opens with 'Pranamya shirasa devam Gauri-putram Vinayakam' and lists twelve names of Ganesha. Its name means 'the hymn that destroys crises,' and it is chanted to clear obstacles and to support a genuine wish such as knowledge, wealth, children, or liberation.
Sankata means a crisis or a tight spot, and nashana means to destroy it – so this short stotram is exactly what its name promises, a hymn meant to be reached for when things feel stuck. It comes down to us from the Narada Purana as words spoken by the sage Narada, and its structure is simple: one verse of salutation, three verses that walk through twelve names of Ganesha, and four verses that describe what steady recitation is said to bring. Because it is short enough to say from memory in under two minutes, many households keep it as their go-to Ganesha prayer for mornings, for Sankashti Chaturthi, or for the start of anything that feels uncertain.
Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram Lyrics
Sanskrit lyrics are given in Devanagari with a diacritic-free Roman transliteration alongside, so the verses can be read and chanted correctly even without knowledge of Sanskrit script.
Pranamya shirasa devam gauriputram vinayakam
Bhaktavasam smaren nityam ayuh-kamartha-siddhaye
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं गौरीपुत्रं विनायकम्
भक्तावासं स्मरेन्नित्यं आयुःकामार्थसिद्धये
Meaning
The stotram opens by telling the reciter to bow the head to Ganesha, the son of Gauri and Vinayaka, the one who removes every obstacle. He is called the resting place of his devotees, and remembering him daily is said to bring a long life along with the fulfillment of one's true wishes.
Prathamam vakratundam cha ekadantam dvitiyakam
Tritiyam krishnapingaksham gajavaktram chaturthakam
प्रथमं वक्रतुण्डं च एकदन्तं द्वितीयकम्
तृतीयं कृष्णपिङ्गाक्षं गजवक्त्रं चतुर्थकम्
Meaning
The list of twelve names begins here. First comes Vakratunda, whose trunk curves; second is Ekadanta, the one with a single tusk; third is Krishnapingaksha, whose eyes hold a reddish-brown glow; and fourth is Gajavaktra, the elephant-faced one.
Lambodaram panchamam cha shashtham vikatam eva cha
Saptamam vighnarajendram dhumravarnam tathashtamam
लम्बोदरं पञ्चमं च षष्ठं विकटमेव च
सप्तमं विघ्नराजेन्द्रं धूम्रवर्णं तथाष्टमम्
Meaning
Four more names follow. Fifth is Lambodara, the large-bellied form said to hold the whole universe within; sixth is Vikata, the awe-inspiring one; seventh is Vighnarajendra, lord and ruler over every obstacle; and eighth is Dhumravarna, the smoke-hued form.
Navamam bhalachandram cha dashamam tu vinayakam
Ekadasham ganapatim dvadasham tu gajananam
नवमं भालचन्द्रं च दशमं तु विनायकम्
एकादशं गणपतिं द्वादशं तु गजाननम्
Meaning
The list closes with the final four names: ninth is Bhalachandra, who carries the crescent moon on his forehead; tenth is Vinayaka, the foremost guide; eleventh is Ganapati, lord of the ganas; and twelfth is Gajanana, the elephant-headed one, completing the full set of twelve.
Dvadashaitani namani trisandhyam yah pathennarah
Na cha vighnabhayam tasya sarvasiddhikarah prabhuh
द्वादशैतानि नामानि त्रिसंध्यं यः पठेन्नरः
न च विघ्नभयं तस्य सर्वसिद्धिकरः प्रभुः
Meaning
Whoever recites these twelve names at the three junctures of the day, dawn, noon and dusk, need not fear obstacles – the verse calls Ganesha sarva-siddhikarah, the lord who grants every kind of accomplishment to such a person.
Vidyarthi labhate vidyam dhanarthi labhate dhanam
Putrarthi labhate putran mokshaarthi labhate gatim
विद्यार्थी लभते विद्यां धनार्थी लभते धनम्
पुत्रार्थी लभते पुत्रान्मोक्षार्थी लभते गतिम्
Meaning
This verse spells out exactly what different seekers receive: a student gains knowledge, one who seeks wealth gains wealth, one who wants a child is blessed with children, and one who seeks liberation reaches that final state. Every honest wish is treated as worth answering.
Japed ganapatistotram shadbhirmasaih phalam labhet
Samvatsarena siddhim cha labhate natra samshayah
जपेद्गणपतिस्तोत्रं षड्भिर्मासैः फलं लभेत्
संवत्सरेण सिद्धिं च लभते नात्र संशयः
Meaning
Regular recitation of this Ganapati stotram is said to show results within six months, and to bring full accomplishment within a year – the verse takes care to add that this is stated without any doubt.
Ashtebhyo brahmanebhyashcha likhitva yah samarpayet
Tasya vidya bhavet sarva ganeshasya prasadatah
अष्टेभ्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च लिखित्वा यः समर्पयेत्
तस्य विद्या भवेत्सर्वा गणेशस्य प्रसादतः
Meaning
The closing verse describes an old custom of writing out this stotram and offering copies to eight learned Brahmins. Whoever does so, it says, receives complete knowledge through Ganesha's grace.
Meaning of the Twelve Names of Ganesha
The heart of this stotram is its middle section, three verses that string together twelve names of Ganesha, each one pointing at a different form or quality. Reciting all twelve together is treated as its own act of worship, almost like a compact set of names of the divine used elsewhere in Hindu prayer.
- Vakratunda – the one whose trunk curves
- Ekadanta – the one with a single tusk
- Krishnapingaksha – the one whose eyes carry a reddish-brown glow
- Gajavaktra – the elephant-faced one
- Lambodara – the large-bellied form, said to hold the universe within
- Vikata – the awe-inspiring, unusual form
- Vighnarajendra – lord and ruler over every obstacle
- Dhumravarna – the smoke-hued form
- Bhalachandra – the one who wears the crescent moon on his forehead
- Vinayaka – the foremost guide, the one who leads without a superior
- Ganapati – lord of the ganas, Shiva’s attendants
- Gajanana – the elephant-headed one
The name Sankata Nashana, the destroyer of crises, is not decorative. Verse 5 promises that reciting the twelve names three times a day removes the fear of obstacles, and verse 6 widens that promise to cover whatever a person is actually reaching for: knowledge for a student, wealth for someone in need, a child for someone hoping for one, or liberation for someone seeking that. The stotram treats a sankata not as one fixed kind of trouble but as whatever is currently standing between a person and what they need.
When to Chant the Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram
- – Sit facing east or north if possible, in a clean and quiet space, ideally after a wash
- – Light a lamp or incense in front of an image of Ganesha if one is available, though this is not required
- – Begin with a simple salutation such as Om Gam Ganapataye Namah before starting the stotram
- – Recite all eight verses in order, keeping the pace unhurried so each name in verses 2 to 4 is clear
- – If chanting for a specific need, hold that intention in mind especially through verse 6
- – Repeat at dawn, noon and dusk if following the trisandhya recommendation of verse 5, or once daily if that is not practical
- – Close with a moment of silence or a final bow before returning to the day
Benefits of Chanting the Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram
The stotram itself lists most of these benefits directly in its verses, rather than leaving them to later commentary.
- : Said to remove the fear of obstacles (vighna-bhaya) when the twelve names are recited regularly
- : Traditionally chanted before exams, journeys, or new undertakings as a request for a clear path
- : Verse 6 links it to specific goals – knowledge, wealth, children, or liberation – depending on what the reciter is seeking
- : Short enough to memorize and recite daily, making it practical for a consistent morning practice
- : Connects the reciter to all twelve names and forms of Ganesha in a single short prayer
- : Often used on Sankashti Chaturthi and Ganesh Chaturthi alongside other Ganesha prayers
- : The text states results are noticeable within six months of steady recitation, and complete within a year
Origin in the Narada Purana
This stotram is drawn from the Narada Purana, one of the eighteen major Puranas, and is framed as Narada uvacha – words spoken by the sage Narada. The colophon that closes the hymn in the source texts reads iti shri-narada-purane sankatanashana-ganesha-stotram sampurnam, marking it as complete within that Purana.
Unlike longer Ganesha hymns that describe his mythology or his many forms in detail, this stotram is built for repetition. Its eight verses move quickly from salutation, to the twelve names, to a plain statement of what steady recitation is said to bring, which is likely why it has stayed in daily use across households rather than being reserved for elaborate ritual.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram?
It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn to Ganesha from the Narada Purana, spoken by the sage Narada. It opens with Pranamya shirasa devam Gauri-putram Vinayakam and is built around twelve names of Ganesha, recited to clear obstacles and support genuine wishes.
What are the 12 names of Ganesha in this stotram?
In order, they are Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Krishnapingaksha, Gajavaktra, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnarajendra, Dhumravarna, Bhalachandra, Vinayaka, Ganapati, and Gajanana. Each name points to a different form or quality of Ganesha, and verse 5 states that reciting all twelve at dawn, noon and dusk removes the fear of obstacles.
What does Pranamya Shirasa Devam mean?
It means 'having bowed the head to the god.' It is the opening line of the stotram, instructing the reciter to salute Ganesha, the son of Gauri and Vinayaka, and to remember him daily for a long life and the fulfillment of genuine wishes.
How is this different from the Maha Ganapati Stotram or Ganesha Pancharatnam?
They are three separate texts. The Maha Ganapati Stotram opens differently and has its own verse structure, the Ganesha Pancharatnam is a five-verse hymn composed by Adi Shankara in a distinct meter, and the Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram is this eight-verse Narada Purana hymn built around the twelve names. They are often chanted together but should not be mixed up as the same prayer.
When should I chant this stotram?
Verse 5 recommends the three junctures of the day – dawn, noon and dusk. In practice, most people chant it once daily at dawn, or specifically on Sankashti Chaturthi and Ganesh Chaturthi, or before starting something new that needs a clear path.
What benefits does the stotram itself claim?
Verse 5 says regular recitation removes the fear of obstacles. Verse 6 says a student gains knowledge, a wealth-seeker gains wealth, someone wanting children is blessed with them, and a seeker of liberation reaches that state. Verse 7 adds that results appear within six months and are complete within a year.
Can beginners chant this stotram without knowing Sanskrit?
Yes. The Roman transliteration on this page is written without diacritics so it can be read phonetically, alongside the Devanagari for anyone who reads the script. At only eight short verses, it is one of the easier Ganesha stotras to memorize.
Is this stotram meant only for removing problems?
Its name does center on removing a sankata, a crisis or a tight spot, but verse 6 widens its scope to any real wish – learning, financial need, children, or liberation. It functions both as a prayer for relief and as a general Ganesha prayer for whatever a person is working toward.
॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥