Ganesh Chalisa
गणेश चालीसा
✦ Meaning
The Ganesh Chalisa is a forty-verse hymn to Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed remover of obstacles and lord of wisdom. It recounts his divine birth, his glories and his blessings upon devotees who remember him at the start of every venture. Reciting it is believed to remove obstacles, bestow wisdom, success and prosperity, and bring auspicious beginnings.
Origin & Story
Hindu devotional tradition (Chalisa literature) · Unknown (folk composition in the Chalisa tradition) · Medieval period
The Ganesh Chalisa draws from multiple Puranic sources for the birth story of Lord Ganesha. The version narrated in this chalisa describes how Parvati performed severe penance for a son, and a divine Brahmin (Ganesha himself in disguise) appeared, blessed her, and then manifested as a baby on a cradle. Other versions from the Shiva Purana describe Parvati creating Ganesha from sandalwood paste. Regardless of the version, all agree that Ganesha is the firstborn son of Shiva and Parvati and holds the supreme position of being worshipped before all other deities.
✦ As told in scripture
One of the most famous miracles associated with Ganesha occurred on September 21, 1995, when millions of Ganesha statues across India and around the world were reported to be drinking milk offered by devotees. The phenomenon, known as the 'Milk Miracle,' began at a temple in New Delhi and spread worldwide within hours. Scientists and skeptics investigated but could not fully explain the phenomenon. For devotees, it was Ganesha demonstrating his living presence — the same presence invoked through prayers like the Ganesh Chalisa. The event remains one of the most widely witnessed and documented religious phenomena in modern history.
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Complete Text with Meaning
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जय गणपति सदगुण सदन, कविवर बदन कृपाल । विघ्न हरण मंगल करण, जय जय गिरिजालाल ॥
Jaya ganapati sadaguna sadana, kavivara badana kripala vighna harana mamgala karana, jaya jaya girijalala
Meaning:Glory to Ganapati, the abode of virtues, the gracious-faced lord praised by poets; remover of obstacles and doer of all that is auspicious — victory, victory to the son of Girija (Parvati)!
जय जय जय गणपति गणराजू । मंगल भरण करण शुभः काजू ॥
Jaya jaya jaya ganapati ganaraju mamgala bharana karana shubhah kaju
Meaning:Victory, victory, victory to Ganapati, king of the ganas; who fills all with auspiciousness and accomplishes every good work.
जै गजबदन सदन सुखदाता । विश्व विनायका बुद्धि विधाता ॥
Jai gajabadana sadana sukhadata vishva vinayaka buddhi vidhata
Meaning:Hail, elephant-faced one, abode and giver of joy; lord of the universe (Vinayaka) and bestower of intellect.
वक्र तुण्ड शुची शुण्ड सुहावना । तिलक त्रिपुण्ड भाल मन भावन ॥
Vakra tunda shuchi shunda suhavana tilaka tripunda bhala mana bhavana
Meaning:Of curved trunk and bright, lovely tusk; the three-lined tilak on your brow delights the mind.
राजत मणि मुक्तन उर माला । स्वर्ण मुकुट शिर नयन विशाला ॥
Rajata mani muktana ura mala svarna mukuta shira nayana vishala
Meaning:A garland of gems and pearls shines upon your chest; a golden crown upon your head, and large, wide eyes.
पुस्तक पाणि कुठार त्रिशूलं । मोदक भोग सुगन्धित फूलं ॥
Pustaka pani kuthara trishulam modaka bhoga sugandhita phulam
Meaning:A book in your hand, the axe and the trident; offerings of modak sweets and fragrant flowers.
सुन्दर पीताम्बर तन साजित । चरण पादुका मुनि मन राजित ॥
Sundara pitambara tana sajita charana paduka muni mana rajita
Meaning:Adorned in beautiful yellow silk; your sandalled feet delight the minds of sages.
धनि शिव सुवन षडानन भ्राता । गौरी लालन विश्व-विख्याता ॥
Dhani shiva suvana shadanana bhrata gauri lalana vishva-vikhyata
Meaning:Blessed brother of the six-faced Kartikeya and son of Shiva; darling of Gauri, renowned throughout the world.
ऋद्धि-सिद्धि तव चंवर सुधारे । मुषक वाहन सोहत द्वारे ॥
Riddhi-siddhi tava chamvara sudhare mushaka vahana sohata dvare
Meaning:Riddhi and Siddhi wave the royal fan over you; your mouse-mount graces your doorway.
कहौ जन्म शुभ कथा तुम्हारी । अति शुची पावन मंगलकारी ॥
Kahau janma shubha katha tumhari ati shuchi pavana mamgalakari
Meaning:Now I tell the auspicious story of your birth — most pure, holy and bestowing every blessing.
एक समय गिरिराज कुमारी । पुत्र हेतु तप कीन्हा भारी ॥
Eka samaya giriraja kumari putra hetu tapa kinha bhari
Meaning:Once the daughter of the mountain-king (Parvati) performed great penance for the sake of a son.
भयो यज्ञ जब पूर्ण अनूपा । तब पहुंच्यो तुम धरी द्विज रूपा ॥
Bhayo yajna jaba purna anupa taba pahumchyo tuma dhari dvija rupa
Meaning:When that matchless sacrifice was complete, you arrived bearing the form of a brahmin.
अतिथि जानी के गौरी सुखारी । बहुविधि सेवा करी तुम्हारी ॥
Atithi jani ke gauri sukhari bahuvidhi seva kari tumhari
Meaning:Recognizing the guest, Gauri rejoiced and served you in every way.
अति प्रसन्न हवै तुम वर दीन्हा । मातु पुत्र हित जो तप कीन्हा ॥
Ati prasanna havai tuma vara dinha matu putra hita jo tapa kinha
Meaning:Greatly pleased, you granted her a boon for the penance she had done to gain a son:
मिलहि पुत्र तुहि, बुद्धि विशाला । बिना गर्भ धारण यहि काला ॥
Milahi putra tuhi, buddhi vishala bina garbha dharana yahi kala
Meaning:“You shall obtain a son of vast intellect — and at this very moment, without bearing a womb.
गणनायक गुण ज्ञान निधाना । पूजित प्रथम रूप भगवाना ॥
Gananayaka guna jnana nidhana pujita prathama rupa bhagavana
Meaning:He shall be the lord of the ganas, a treasure-house of virtue and wisdom, worshipped first of all the gods.”
अस कही अन्तर्धान रूप हवै । पालना पर बालक स्वरूप हवै ॥
Asa kahi antardhana rupa havai palana para balaka svarupa havai
Meaning:So saying, the brahmin vanished, and took the form of a child upon the cradle.
बनि शिशु रुदन जबहिं तुम ठाना । लखि मुख सुख नहिं गौरी समाना ॥
Bani shishu rudana jabahim tuma thana lakhi mukha sukha nahim gauri samana
Meaning:When you as the infant began to cry, no joy equalled Gauri's as she beheld your face.
सकल मगन, सुखमंगल गावहिं । नाभ ते सुरन, सुमन वर्षावहिं ॥
Sakala magana, sukhamamgala gavahim nabha te surana, sumana varshavahim
Meaning:All were absorbed in joy and sang of bliss and blessing; from the sky the gods rained down flowers.
शम्भु, उमा, बहुदान लुटावहिं । सुर मुनिजन, सुत देखन आवहिं ॥
Shambhu, uma, bahudana lutavahim sura munijana, suta dekhana avahim
Meaning:Shambhu (Shiva) and Uma gave away great gifts in charity; gods and sages came to behold the son.
लखि अति आनन्द मंगल साजा । देखन भी आये शनि राजा ॥
Lakhi ati ananda mamgala saja dekhana bhi aye shani raja
Meaning:Seeing the great festival of joy and celebration, Shani (Saturn) the king also came to behold him.
निज अवगुण गुनि शनि मन माहीं । बालक, देखन चाहत नाहीं ॥
Nija avaguna guni shani mana mahim balaka, dekhana chahata nahim
Meaning:Mindful of his own flaw within his heart, Shani did not wish to look upon the child.
गिरिजा कछु मन भेद बढायो । उत्सव मोर, न शनि तुही भायो ॥
Girija kachhu mana bheda badhayo utsava mora, na shani tuhi bhayo
Meaning:Girija took some offence in her mind: “At my festival has even Shani not been pleased to look upon my son?”
कहत लगे शनि, मन सकुचाई । का करिहौ, शिशु मोहि दिखाई ॥
Kahata lage shani, mana sakuchai ka karihau, shishu mohi dikhai
Meaning:Shani spoke, hesitating in his heart: “What shall happen if I look upon the child?”
नहिं विश्वास, उमा उर भयऊ । शनि सों बालक देखन कहयऊ ॥
Nahim vishvasa, uma ura bhayau shani som balaka dekhana kahayau
Meaning:No belief arose in Uma's heart; she bade Shani look upon the boy.
पदतहिं शनि दृग कोण प्रकाशा । बालक सिर उड़ि गयो अकाशा ॥
Padatahim shani driga kona prakasha balaka sira uड़i gayo akasha
Meaning:The instant Shani's sidelong eye cast its ray, the child's head flew off into the sky.
गिरिजा गिरी विकल हवै धरणी । सो दुःख दशा गयो नहीं वरणी ॥
Girija giri vikala havai dharani so duhkha dasha gayo nahim varani
Meaning:Girija fell to the ground, distraught; that state of sorrow cannot be described.
हाहाकार मच्यौ कैलाशा । शनि कीन्हों लखि सुत को नाशा ॥
Hahakara machyau kailasha shani kinhom lakhi suta ko nasha
Meaning:An uproar arose upon Kailasa — it was seen that Shani had caused the son's destruction.
तुरत गरुड़ चढ़ि विष्णु सिधायो । काटी चक्र सो गज सिर लाये ॥
Turata garuड़ chaढ़i vishnu sidhayo kati chakra so gaja sira laye
Meaning:At once Vishnu set off mounted on Garuda; he severed a head with his discus and brought an elephant's head.
बालक के धड़ ऊपर धारयो । प्राण मन्त्र पढ़ि शंकर डारयो ॥
Balaka ke dhada़ upara dharayo prana mantra paढ़i shamkara darayo
Meaning:He placed it upon the child's torso, and Shankara, reciting the mantra of life, revived him.
नाम गणेश शम्भु तब कीन्हे । प्रथम पूज्य बुद्धि निधि, वर दीन्हे ॥
Nama ganesha shambhu taba kinhe prathama pujya buddhi nidhi, vara dinhe
Meaning:Shambhu then gave him the name Ganesha, and the boon of being worshipped first, a treasure of wisdom.
बुद्धि परीक्षा जब शिव कीन्हा । पृथ्वी कर प्रदक्षिणा लीन्हा ॥
Buddhi pariksha jaba shiva kinha prithvi kara pradakshina linha
Meaning:When Shiva tested their intelligence, the brothers were to circle the earth.
चले षडानन, भरमि भुलाई । रचे बैठ तुम बुद्धि उपाई ॥
Chale shadanana, bharami bhulai rache baitha tuma buddhi upai
Meaning:The six-faced Kartikeya went wandering, lost in confusion; but you devised a clever plan.
चरण मातु-पितु के धर लीन्हें । तिनके सात प्रदक्षिण कीन्हें ॥
Charana matu-pitu ke dhara linhem tinake sata pradakshina kinhem
Meaning:You took hold of the feet of your mother and father, and made seven circuits around them.
धनि गणेश कही शिव हिये हरषे । नभ ते सुरन सुमन बहु बरसे ॥
Dhani ganesha kahi shiva hiye harashe nabha te surana sumana bahu barase
Meaning:“Blessed is Ganesha!” said Shiva, his heart delighted; from the sky the gods rained many flowers.
तुम्हरी महिमा बुद्धि बड़ाई । शेष सहसमुख सके न गाई ॥
Tumhari mahima buddhi baड़ai shesha sahasamukha sake na gai
Meaning:Your glory and the greatness of your wisdom — even the thousand-mouthed Shesha could not sing them.
मैं मतिहीन मलीन दुखारी । करहूं कौन विधि विनय तुम्हारी ॥
Maim matihina malina dukhari karahum kauna vidhi vinaya tumhari
Meaning:I am dull-witted, impure and sorrowful — by what means can I offer you fitting prayer?
भजत रामसुन्दर प्रभुदासा । जग प्रयाग, ककरा, दुर्वासा ॥
Bhajata ramasundara prabhudasa jaga prayaga, kakara, durvasa
Meaning:Ramsundar Prabhudas, of Prayag (Kakra, of the line of Durvasa), worships you.
अब प्रभु दया दीना पर कीजै । अपनी शक्ति भक्ति कुछ दीजै ॥
Aba prabhu daya dina para kijai apani shakti bhakti kuchha dijai
Meaning:Now, O Lord, show mercy upon the lowly; grant me a little of your power and devotion.
श्री गणेश यह चालीसा, पाठ करै कर ध्यान । नित नव मंगल गृह बसै, लहे जगत सन्मान ॥
Shri ganesha yaha chalisa, patha karai kara dhyana nita nava mamgala griha basai, lahe jagata sanmana
Meaning:Whoever recites this Ganesh Chalisa with a focused mind and meditation — ever-new auspiciousness dwells in his home, and he gains honour in the world.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Ganesh Chalisa
Removes all obstacles from the path of the devotee
Bestows wisdom, intelligence, and clarity of thought
Ensures success in new ventures, examinations, and business endeavors
Brings auspiciousness and good fortune to the household
Ganesha is worshipped first before all other gods — this chalisa invokes his primary blessing
Removes fear and anxiety related to upcoming challenges
Grants spiritual knowledge and the ability to discriminate between right and wrong
How to Chant Ganesh Chalisa
Sit before a Ganesha idol or image. Offer modak, durva grass, and red flowers. Light a diya and incense. Recite the Ganesh Chalisa with devotion and concentration. It is traditional to begin any new project, journey, or important task with this chalisa. Reciting it on Wednesdays (Ganesha's day) and during Ganesh Chaturthi is especially auspicious.
Frequently Asked Questions
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