Mantra.Tips
ganeshaganeshekadantaheramba

ඒකදන්තං මහාකායං

Ekadantam Mahakayam in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning after bath; before worship, study or new work; Ganesh Chaturthi and Sankashti·📜 Traditional Sanskrit dhyana/salutation verse to Ganesha
Share:

Origin & Story

Traditional Sanskrit dhyana/salutation verse to Ganesha · Unknown (traditional) · Traditional

Ekadantam Mahakayam is among the most popular short salutations to Ganesha, recited at the opening of worship alongside 'Vakratunda Mahakaya' and 'Shuklambaradharam'. In two lines it gathers the Lord's best-known epithets — Ekadanta, Mahakaya, Lambodara, Gajanana — and bows to him as the obstacle-destroying Heramba, the protector of all who are weak and seek his shelter.

As told in scripture

Devotees hold that even this single verse, offered with sincere devotion at the start of any task, draws the grace of Heramba — the mighty yet tender protector — to clear away obstacles and shelter those who turn to him.

The Mantra

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

ඒකදන්තං මහාකායං ලම්බෝදරගජානනම් . විඝ්නනාශකරං දේවං හේරම්බං ප්රණමාම්යහම් ..

Ekadantam mahakayam lambodara-gajananam Vighnanashakaram devam herambam pranamamyaham

Meaning:I bow to the single-tusked Lord of mighty body, the large-bellied elephant-faced one; the shining God who destroys all obstacles — to Heramba (Ganesha), the protector of the helpless, I offer my salutations.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

ඒකදන්තම්🔊EkadantamThe single-tusked one (Ekadanta)
මහාකායම්🔊mahakayamOf great / mighty body
ලම්බෝදර🔊lambodaraThe large-bellied one (Lambodara)
ගජානනම්🔊gajananamThe elephant-faced one (Gajanana)
විඝ්නනාශකරම්🔊vighnanashakaramThe one who destroys obstacles (vighna-nashaka)
දේවම්🔊devamThe shining Lord / God
හේරම්බම්🔊herambamHeramba — a name of Ganesha meaning the protector of the weak / the mighty one dear to his Mother
ප්රණමාම්යහම්🔊pranamamyahamI bow down (in salutation)

Benefits of Chanting Ekadantam Mahakayam

A short, easily memorised salutation to invoke Ganesha at the start of any worship or new work

Names Ganesha as Vighna-nashaka — the direct destroyer of obstacles

Invokes the gracious form of Heramba, the protector of the weak and helpless

Brings the Lord's auspicious image — Ekadanta, Lambodara, Gajanana — vividly to mind in devotion

Recited before examinations, journeys, business and ceremonies for an auspicious beginning

Suitable as a daily prayer and as a first Ganesha verse for children to learn

How to Chant Ekadantam Mahakayam

Repetitions3times
Best TimeMorning after bath; before worship, study or new work; Ganesh Chaturthi and Sankashti

Sit facing an image of Lord Ganesha, fold the hands and recite the verse with devotion, picturing the mighty, large-bellied, elephant-faced Lord. It may be chanted once or three times as an opening prayer (dhyana) before puja, study, examinations or any new undertaking, bowing at 'Herambam pranamamyaham' for an auspicious, obstacle-free start.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Ekadantam Mahakayam written in the Sinhala script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.
Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.
It is a single famous Sanskrit verse of salutation to Lord Ganesha. It addresses him by his well-known names — Ekadanta (single-tusked), Mahakaya (mighty-bodied), Lambodara (large-bellied) and Gajanana (elephant-faced) — and bows to him as Heramba, the obstacle-destroying Lord and protector of the weak.
Heramba is a name of Ganesha. It is traditionally understood to mean 'the protector of the weak (and helpless)' and 'the mighty one dear to his Mother'. The five-headed Heramba form, mounted on a lion, is a benevolent, protective aspect of Ganesha.
It is recited in the morning and at the beginning of any worship, study, examination or new venture, as a short prayer to invoke Ganesha and the removal of obstacles for an auspicious, successful start.
Yes. Being short, rhythmic and built from Ganesha's most familiar names, the verse is ideal for daily recitation and is often among the first Ganesha prayers taught to children.

You May Also Like

Found this helpful? Share it with loved ones 🙏

Share:

Read the full Ekadantam Mahakayam with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts