Sankata Nashak Ganesha Stotram - Sankashtahara Chaturthi

Sankata Naashan Ganesh Stotram was recited by Narada Maharshi, as per the Narada Puran. The hymns refer to the twelve names of Ganesha, each embodying significant qualities. 

I believe this recitation was performed by Narada to appease Vighneswara after Narada bathed in a river to rid himself of a curse, possibly the Alakananda River in Badrinath or the Narayana Lake at the site of Saraswati's merger into the sea in Gujarat. Though I am not certain whether my belief is true.

Whatever the context, this stotram was offered by Narada Muni to us to obtain the blessings of Lord Ganesha.

Devotees observing Sankashtahara Chaturthi consider this stotram as one of the most effective means to obtain his grace and blessings by observing the fast on that day.

Sankata Nashak Ganesha Stotram

PraNamya sirasaa dEvam Gouriputram vinaayakam

bhaktaavaasam smarEn nityam aayuh kaamaartha siddhayE || (1)

Meaning:

I offer my salutations to Lord Ganesha, the son of Mother Gauri and known as Vinaayak (short form of Vighna Naayak), with my head bowed. I worship him daily to obtain the blessings of long life and other fruits of requirements.

Prathamam vakratundam cha Ekadantam dviteeyakam

triteeyam krishna pingaaksham gajavaktram chaturthakam || (2)

Meaning:

First of all, you have a twisted/curved trunk/snout, which signifies your adaptability to circumstances.

Second, you are single-tusked, which refers to your quick wit ( he broke one of his tusks to use it as a pen while writing the Mahabharat)

Thirdly, your eyes are dark red (or golden wheat-hued), which signifies your sharp vision and intelligence.

Your fourth identity is an elephant countenance (the front portion of his face) that signifies your magnanimous nature/generosity, and cleverness.

LambOdaram panchamam cha sashtam vikatamEva cha

saptamam vighnaraajam dhoomra varNam tathaashtamam || (3)

Meaning:

The fifth quality of Ganesha is a large stomach, which refers to his ability to engross the whole universe within him, and the largeness of his qualities.

Sixth is Vikatam, referring to the seriousness and ferocity of his nature.

Seventh, he is Vighnaraj, the King of Obstacles. It specifies his control over obstacles and hindrances.

His eighth speciality is his smoky/ashy hue, wherein he appears in his four shoulders to control ego and arrogance. 

navamam phaalachandram cha dashamam tu vinaayakam

Ekaadasham GaNapatim dvaadasham tu Gajaananam || (4)

Meaning:

Ninth is Phaalachandraa. His face glows like moonlight attributing to his glowing personality, as well as his superb position.

Tenth is that He is Vinayak, without any superior above him. It denotes his empowerment.

Eleventh, He is GaNapati, the Lord of GaNAs. All beings are under his control, assisting Him to protect his devotees from any kind of obstacles or problems.

Twelve, He is Gajaanan. He bears an elephant face. This attribute points to his huge form, Strength, Valor, and Rule.

Phalashruthi

dvaadashaitaani naamaani trisandhyam yah pathEnnaraha

na cha vighna bhayam tasya sarvasiddhi kaarakam prabhO (5)

Meaning:

These are the twelve names of Ganesha that showcase his unique features and qualities. Whoever recites these twelve names, thrice a day, does not suffer from fear or obstacles. They succeed in their endeavors with his grace.

Vidyaarthi labhatE vidyaan dhanaarthi labhatE dhanam

putraarthi labhatE putraan mOkshaarthi labhatE gatim (6)

Meaning:

Those who seek education obtain Education/Knowledge. Those seeking wealth possess wealth. Seekers of children obtain children, and seekers of Moksha/Liberation are granted thus.

JapEt gaNapati stotram shadbhirmaasai phalam labhEt

samvatsarENa siddhimcha labhatE naatra sanshayah (7)

Meaning:

Reciting this stotram for six months grants all the fruits of life.

If one renders such service for a full year, they earn enlightenment and superior powers.

There is no doubt in these results.

AshtabhyO braahmaNebhyascha likhitvaa yah samarpayEt

tasya vidyaa bhavEt sarvaa GaNeshasya prasaadatah (8)

Meaning:

If you write these lyrics in your handwriting and distribute them to eight brahmins, you will be graced with complete knowledge and everything blessed by Ganesha.

16 Names of Ganesha - Ganesha Shodasa nama stotram

Ganesha, as you know, is the Lord of all Ganas. He is the Pratham Poojya Lord. You need to worship him at first before performing any worship or ritual. By doing so, it is believed that all your efforts and desires get fulfilled without any hindrance or failure. Such are the powers of this Lord Ganesha.

But, most of us may not be familiar with the fact that Ganesha bears sixteen wonderful names to his credit which are being recited by each one of us during the Ganesh Chauth puja performance. He gets worshiped with those names even by Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, and all the angels, etc. before performing any auspicious or important work.

Here is the full verse that contains these sixteen names.

sumukha schaikadantascha kapilO gajakarNakah |
lambOdarascha vikatO vighnarAjO gaNAdhipah |
dhoomakEtur gaNadhyakshah phAlachandrO gajAnanah |
vakratunda shsoorpakarNah hEramba sskandapoorvajah |
shOdashaitAni nAmAni yah paTEh shruNuyAdapi ||
vidyArambhE vivAhEcha pravEshE nirgamE tathA |
samgrAmE sarvakAryESu vighnastanya najAyatE |
abhiipsitArtha sidhyartham poojitO yassurairapi |
sarvavighnachchidE tasmai shri gaNAdhipatayE namah ||

In the above verse, each line of the First Four Lines contains four names each of Ganesha thus totaling to the sixteen names (shodashaitaani naamaani) of Lord Ganesha as follows:

16 Names of Ganesha

1)Sumukha (beautiful-faced)
2)Ekadanta (one possessing a single tusk)
3)Kapila (of reddish-brown-colored)
4)Gajakarnaka (elephant-eared)
5)Lambodara (possessor of large stomach or belly)
6)Vikata (ferocious and misshapen))
7)Vighnaraja (lord of obstacles)
8)Ganadhipa (leader of ganas)
9)Dhumaketu (smoky-flag bearer)
10)Ganadyaksha (lord of ganas)
11)Phalachandra (bearing Moon-Like Face)
12)Gajanana (elephant-faced or headed)
13)Vakratunda (of twisted-tusk)
14)Shoorpakarna (Having large fan-shaped ears)
15)Heramba (protector of the weak)
16)Skandapoorvaja (Born before Skanda)

The remaining lines of the above verse signify the benefits of uttering these above-mentioned sixteen names of Lord Ganesha.

5th line tells us that these are the sixteen names that need to be recited or listened to.
6th line tells this should be done at the start of introducing a child to school or at marriages and at all occasions of the beginning of any work or accomplishment of rituals, etc.
7th line refers to all battles or fights during daily life and at all work involvements that it should be applied for getting protection from failures.
8th line tells that even the angels, demons, and all celestial and other inhabitants practice this for fulfilling their desires.
The 9th line expresses gratitude to Lord Ganesha for destroying and driving away all those vighnas or obstructions from our life.

Ganesha Ashtakam Lyrics With Meanings

Ganesha Ashtakam is rendered in the worship of Lord Ganesha, the Elephant-Headed God. He is the Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Lord.




Lord Ganesha is the lord of all Ganas. Gana means a group. So, Ganesha is the head or chief of all the different groups of living beings all over the universe. He is in control of all those Ganas and thereby he is able to execute various tasks through them.

Ganesha is believed to be capable of removing all the obstacles in your path if you worship Him with sincere faith and belief.

That is why people pray to Ganesha before starting any work or project. Even for the worship of Lord Shiva or Lord Narayan, you need to first worship Ganesha and then start your puja or worship. Thereby Ganesha helps you in seeking their blessings.

Ashtakam is a composition of eight verses in the praise of God describing his beauty and other superb qualities.

The eight verses or slokas in the praise of Lord Ganesha are provided here with their meanings in English.

Ganesha Ashtakam

Gaja vakthram, sura srEshtam, karNa chAmara bhooshitam |
pAsAngusha dharam devam, vandEham GaNa nAyakam ||     ( 1 )

Meaning: Oh, elephant-headed (or necked), superior among angels, and adorned with fan-like ears, oh God that holds the rope and goad in Thy hands, my salutations to You the leader of Ganas.


Eka dantam, mahAkAyam, taptha kAnchana sannibham |
lambOdaram, vishAlAksham, vandEham GaNa nAyakam ||  ( 2 )

Meaning: Oh God, possessing a single tusk, large body, and resembling (glowing like) a molten Gold, whose stomach is long (big), and eyes are wide; my salutations to Thee, the leader of Ganas.


MounjiikrishnAjina dharam, nAga yajnOpaviitinam |
bAlEndu vilAsa mouLiim, vandEham GaNa nAyakam || ( 3 )

Meaning: One who wears moonja grass & deerskin on his waist, and a serpent as the sacred thread, who has the infant moon in his lock of hair over the head; my salutations to Thee, Oh leader of GaNas.


AmbikAhridayAnandam, matrubhih paripAlitam |
Bhaktapriyam, madOnmattam, vandEham GaNa nAyakam || ( 4 )

Meaning: One who makes Mother Ambika's (Parvati's) heart happy, who is looked after by his mother, one who loves his devotees, and gets excited by his vigor, my salutations to Thee, the leader of Ganas.


Chitra ratna chitrAnga, chitramAlA vibhooshitam |
chitra roopa dharam dEvam, vandEham GaNa nAyakam || ( 5 )

Meaning: Oh Lord, who has unique features decorated with colorful gems and garlands, and who bears a unique form; my salutations to Thee, oh leader of GaNas.


Mooshakottama mAroohya, dEvAsura mahAhavE |
yOdhukAmam mahAviiryam, vandEham GaNa nAyakam || ( 6 )

Meaning: One who rides on the superior mouse, who is worshiped by devas (angels) and asuras (demons) alike, and greatest among all warriors, my salutations to Thee, oh leader of GaNas.


Yaksha kinnara ghandarva siddha vidyAdharai sadA |
sthuyamAnam mahAbAhum, vandEham GaNa nAyakam || ( 7 )

Meaning: The Yakshas, Kinnaras, Gandharvas, and Vidyadharas always keep offering prayers to Thee, oh valorous-shouldered, my salutations to Thee, oh leader of GaNas.


Sarva vighna haram dEvam, sarva vighna vivarjitam |
sarva siddhi pradAtaram, vandEham GaNa nAyakam || ( 8 )

Meaning: One who removes all obstacles, and relieves you from the hurdles in your path, one who provides you with all divine powers (or your desires); my salutations to Thee, oh leader (or Lord) of GaNas.

Ending sloka:

GaNAshtakamidam puNyam bhaktitho ya padhEnnarah |
vimuktA sarva pApEbhyO rudra lOkam sa gachhati ||

Meaning: Whoever recites this pious and virtuous octane (eight verses) of Ganesha with utter devotion, he will get relieved from all his worldly sins and goes to the Rudra Loka which is the abode of Lord Shiva.