Sri Ganesha Chalisa (śrī gaṇeśa cālīsā)
A forty-verse Hindi devotional hymn to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and lord of beginnings. It recounts his birth, his form and his deeds, and closes with the promise that regular recitation clears difficulties and grants wisdom. Traditionally read on Sankashti Chaturthi, on Wednesdays, and before starting anything new.
jaya gaṇapati sadguṇa sadana, kavivara badana kṛpāla | vighna haraṇa maṃgala karaṇa, jaya jaya girijālāla ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Victory to Ganapati, the abode of every noble quality, gracious towards poets and devotees. You take away obstacles and bring good fortune. Glory to you, the beloved son of Girija.
jaya jaya jaya gaṇapati gaṇarājū | maṃgala bharaṇa karaṇa śubha kājū ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Glory to you, Ganapati, king of the ganas. You fill every worthy undertaking with auspiciousness and see it begun well.
jaya gajabadana sadana sukhadātā | viśva vināyaka buddhi vidhātā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Glory to the elephant-faced one, the dwelling of joy and its giver. As Vinayaka of all the worlds you are the ordainer of intelligence.
vakra tuṇḍa śuci śuṇḍa suhāvana | tilaka tripuṇḍa bhāla mana bhāvana ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Your curved tusk and pure trunk are lovely to behold. The tripundra mark on your brow delights the heart.
rājata maṇi muktana ura mālā | svarṇa mukuṭa śira nayana viśālā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):A garland of gems and pearls shines on your chest, a golden crown rests on your head, and your eyes are wide and full of grace.
pustaka pāṇi kuṭhāra triśūlaṃ | modaka bhoga sugandhita phūlaṃ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):In your hands are the book, the axe and the trident. Modaks are offered to you along with fragrant flowers.
sundara pītāmbara tana sājita | caraṇa pādukā muni mana rājita ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Your body is adorned with beautiful yellow silk, and your sandalled feet reign in the hearts of the sages.
dhani śivasuvana ṣaḍānana bhrātā | gaurī lalana viśva-vikhyātā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Blessed are you, son of Shiva and brother of the six-faced Kartikeya. As Gauri's darling you are renowned throughout the world.
ṛddhi siddhi tava caँvara sudhāre | mūṣaka vāhana sohata dvāre ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Riddhi and Siddhi wave the fly-whisk beside you, and your mouse mount stands gracefully at your door.
kahauṃ janma śubha kathā tumhārī | ati śuci pāvana maṃgalakārī ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Now I tell the auspicious story of your birth, a story utterly pure, sanctifying and bringing good fortune.
eka samaya girirāja kumārī | putra hetu tapa kīnhā bhārī ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Once the daughter of the mountain king undertook severe austerities in the longing for a son.
bhayo yajña jaba pūrṇa anūpā | taba pahuँcyo tuma dhari dvija rūpā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):When that matchless sacrifice was completed, you arrived there having taken the form of a brahmin.
atithi jāni kai gaurī sukhārī | bahu vidhi sevā karī tumhārī ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Recognising a guest, Gauri was glad, and served you attentively in every way she could.
ati prasanna hvai tuma vara dīnhā | mātu putra hita jo tapa kīnhā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Greatly pleased, you granted the boon for which the Mother had performed her austerities, the boon of a son.
milahi putra tuhi buddhi viśālā | binā garbha dhāraṇa yahi kālā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):You will obtain a son of vast intelligence, and at this very time, without bearing him in the womb.
gaṇanāyaka guṇa jñāna nidhānā | pūjita prathama rūpa bhagavānā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):He will be leader of the ganas, a treasury of virtue and wisdom, the Lord worshipped first of all.
asa kahi antardhyāna rūpa hvai | pālanā para bālaka svarūpa hvai ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Having spoken thus, the form vanished from sight and appeared again as a child in the cradle.
bani śiśu rudana jabahi tuma ṭhānā | lakhi mukha sukha nahiṃ gaurī samānā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):When as an infant you began to cry, Gauri looked upon your face and her joy could not be contained.
sakala magana sukha maṃgala gāvahiṃ | nabha te surana sumana varṣāvahiṃ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):All were absorbed in delight and sang songs of blessing, while the gods rained down flowers from the sky.
śambhu umā bahudāna luṭāvahiṃ | sura muni jana suta dekhana āvahiṃ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Shambhu and Uma gave away gifts without stint, as gods, sages and people came to see the child.
lakhi ati ānanda maṃgala sājā | dekhana bhī āye śani rājā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Seeing the great rejoicing and festive array, King Shani too came to look upon the child.
nija avaguṇa guni śani mana māhīṃ | bālaka dekhana cāhata nāhīṃ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Weighing his own affliction in his mind, Shani was unwilling to look upon the child.
girijā kachu mana bheda baḍha़āyo | utsava mora na śani tuhi bhāyo ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):A doubt grew in Girija's heart, and she thought: Shani, my celebration has not pleased you.
kahana lage śani mana sakucāī | kā karihau śiśu mohi dikhāī ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Shani spoke with hesitation in his heart: what will you gain by making me look upon the infant?
nahiṃ viśvāsa umā ura bhayaū | śani soṃ bālaka dekhana kahayaū ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):No conviction arose in Uma's heart, and she pressed Shani to look upon the child.
paḍa़tahiṃ śani dṛga koṇa prakāśā | bālaka śira uḍa़i gayo ākāśā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):The instant the corner of Shani's gaze fell upon him, the child's head flew away into the sky.
girijā girīṃ vikala hvai dharaṇī | so dukha daśā gayo nahiṃ varaṇī ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Girija fell to the earth, undone with grief. That state of sorrow is beyond describing.
hāhākāra macyo kailāśā | śani kīnhyoṃ lakhi suta ko nāśā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):An outcry broke out across Kailasa, for all saw that Shani's look had undone the child.
turata garuḍa़ caḍha़i viṣṇu sidhāye | kāṭi cakra so gaja śira lāye ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):At once Vishnu set out mounted on Garuda, and severing it with his discus, brought back the head of an elephant.
bālaka ke dhaḍa़ ūpara dhārayo | prāṇa maṃtra paḍha़ śaṃkara ḍārayo ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):It was set upon the child's body, and Shankara recited the life-giving mantra and restored his breath.
nāma gaṇeśa śambhu taba kīnhe | prathama pūjya buddhi nidhi vara dīnhe ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Shambhu then gave him the name Ganesha, and the boon of being worshipped first and being a treasury of wisdom.
buddhi parīkṣā jaba śiva kīnhā | pṛthvī kara pradakṣiṇā līnhā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):When Shiva set a test of wisdom, the task was to circle the whole earth.
cale ṣaḍānana bharami bhulāī | racī baiṭha tuma buddhi upāī ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):The six-faced one set off and wandered astray, while you sat still and devised a wiser course.
caraṇa mātu-pitu ke dhara līnheṃ | tinake sāta pradakṣiṇa kīnheṃ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):You held the feet of your mother and father and made seven circuits around them.
dhani gaṇeśa kahi śiva hiya haraṣe | nabha te surana sumana bahu barase ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Shiva's heart rejoiced and he cried, Blessed is Ganesha, while the gods showered flowers from the sky.
tumharī mahimā buddhi baḍa़āī | śeṣa sahasa mukha sakai na gāī ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Your greatness and the glory of your wisdom are such that even Shesha with his thousand mouths cannot sing them.
maiṃ mati hīna malīna dukhārī | karahuँ kauna bidhi vinaya tumhārī ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):I am dull of understanding, impure and full of sorrow. By what means can I offer you fitting praise?
bhajata rāmasundara prabhudāsā | jaga prayāga kakarā durvāsā ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Thus sings Ramsundar, servant of the Lord, of Prayag, Kakra and Durvasa in this world.
aba prabhu dayā dīna para kījai | apanī śakti bhakti kucha dījai ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Now, Lord, show mercy to this lowly one, and grant me some measure of your strength and devotion.
śrī gaṇeśa yaha cālīsā, pāṭha karai dhara dhyāna | nita nava maṃgala gṛha basai, lahe jagata sanmāna ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Whoever recites this Ganesh Chalisa with a steady mind will find fresh blessing dwelling in the home each day, and will win respect in the world.
sambandha apane sahasra daśa, ṛṣi paṃcamī dineśa | pūraṇa cālīsā bhayo, maṃgala mūrti gaṇeśa ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):On the day of Rishi Panchami this Chalisa was brought to completion, by the grace of Ganesha, the auspicious form.
Related Sacred Hymns & Chants
Shri Hanuman Chalisa
The auspicious 40-verse devotional hymn composed by Goswami Tulsidas invoking the boundless strength, wisdom, and protection of Lord Hanuman.
StotraSankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram
The auspicious hymn composed by Sage Narada invoking the 12 sacred names of Lord Ganesha to remove all obstacles and adversities.
StotraExample Stotra
One or two sentences about this text.