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Ganesha Mangalashtakam Meaning — Line by Line

गणेश मङ्गलाष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Ganesha Mangalashtakam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. gajānanāya gāṅgeya-sahajāya sadātmane ।
  2. Verse 2. nāga-yajñopavītāya nata-vighna-vināśine ।
  3. Verse 3. ibha-vaktrāya chendrādi-vanditāya chid-ātmane ।
  4. Verse 4. sumukhāya su-śuṇḍāgrotkṣiptāmṛta-ghaṭāya cha ।
  5. Verse 5. chatur-bhujāya chandrārdha-vilasan-mastakāya cha ।
  6. Verse 6. vakra-tuṇḍāya vaṭave vandyāya varadāya cha ।
  7. Verse 7. pramoda-moda-rūpāya siddhi-vijñāna-rūpiṇe ।
  8. Verse 8. maṅgalaṁ gaṇa-nāthāya maṅgalaṁ hara-sūnave ।
  9. Verse 9. ślokāṣṭakam idaṁ puṇyaṁ maṅgala-pradam ādarāt ।
Verse 1#

gajānanāya gāṅgeya-sahajāya sadātmane ।

गजाननाय गाङ्गेयसहजाय सदात्मने गौरीप्रियतनूजाय गणेशायास्तु मङ्गलम् ॥१॥

gajānanāya gāṅgeya-sahajāya sadātmane । gaurī-priya-tanūjāya gaṇeśāyāstu maṅgalam ॥1॥

MeaningMay there be auspiciousness to Ganesha — the elephant-faced, the brother of Kartikeya, the ever-existent Self, the beloved son of Gauri.

Verse 2#

nāga-yajñopavītāya nata-vighna-vināśine ।

नागयज्ञोपवीताय नतविघ्नविनाशिने नन्द्यादिगणनाथाय नायकायास्तु मङ्गलम् ॥२॥

nāga-yajñopavītāya nata-vighna-vināśine । nandyādi-gaṇa-nāthāya nāyakāyāstu maṅgalam ॥2॥

MeaningMay there be auspiciousness to the Leader — He who wears the serpent as His sacred thread, who destroys the obstacles of those who bow to Him, the lord of Nandi and the other ganas.

Verse 3#

ibha-vaktrāya chendrādi-vanditāya chid-ātmane ।

इभवक्त्राय चेन्द्रादिवन्दिताय चिदात्मने ईशानप्रेमपात्राय नायकायास्तु मङ्गलम् ॥३॥

ibha-vaktrāya chendrādi-vanditāya chid-ātmane । īśāna-prema-pātrāya nāyakāyāstu maṅgalam ॥3॥

MeaningMay there be auspiciousness to the Leader — the elephant-faced, worshipped by Indra and the gods, the very Self of consciousness, the beloved of Ishana (Shiva).

Verse 4#

sumukhāya su-śuṇḍāgrotkṣiptāmṛta-ghaṭāya cha ।

सुमुखाय सुशुण्डाग्रोत्क्षिप्तामृतघटाय सुरवृन्दनिषेव्याय चेष्टदायास्तु मङ्गलम् ॥४॥

sumukhāya su-śuṇḍāgrotkṣiptāmṛta-ghaṭāya cha । sura-vṛnda-niṣevyāya cheṣṭadāyāstu maṅgalam ॥4॥

MeaningMay there be auspiciousness to the fulfiller of desires — the gracious-faced One, who lifts a pot of nectar with the tip of His fine trunk, who is served by the hosts of the gods.

Verse 5#

chatur-bhujāya chandrārdha-vilasan-mastakāya cha ।

चतुर्भुजाय चन्द्रार्धविलसन्मस्तकाय चरणावनतानन्ततारणायास्तु मङ्गलम् ॥५॥

chatur-bhujāya chandrārdha-vilasan-mastakāya cha । charaṇāvanatānanta-tāraṇāyāstu maṅgalam ॥5॥

MeaningMay there be auspiciousness to Him who carries across the endless ones who bow at His feet — the four-armed One, on whose head the half-moon shines.

Verse 6#

vakra-tuṇḍāya vaṭave vandyāya varadāya cha ।

वक्रतुण्डाय वटवे वन्द्याय वरदाय विरूपाक्षसुतायास्तु विघ्ननाशाय मङ्गलम् ॥६॥

vakra-tuṇḍāya vaṭave vandyāya varadāya cha । virūpākṣa-sutāyāstu vighna-nāśāya maṅgalam ॥6॥

MeaningMay there be auspiciousness for the destruction of obstacles to the curved-trunked One, the youthful (Brahmacharin), the adorable, the boon-giver, the son of Virupaksha (Shiva).

Verse 7#

pramoda-moda-rūpāya siddhi-vijñāna-rūpiṇe ।

प्रमोदमोदरूपाय सिद्धिविज्ञानरूपिणे प्रकृष्टपापनाशाय फलदायास्तु मङ्गलम् ॥७॥

pramoda-moda-rūpāya siddhi-vijñāna-rūpiṇe । prakṛṣṭa-pāpa-nāśāya phaladāyāstu maṅgalam ॥7॥

MeaningMay there be auspiciousness to the giver of fruits — He who is the very form of joy and delight, the embodiment of accomplishment and knowledge, the destroyer of grievous sin.

Verse 8#

maṅgalaṁ gaṇa-nāthāya maṅgalaṁ hara-sūnave ।

मङ्गलं गणनाथाय मङ्गलं हरसूनवे मङ्गलं विघ्नराजाय विघ्नहर्त्रेऽस्तु मङ्गलम् ॥८॥

maṅgalaṁ gaṇa-nāthāya maṅgalaṁ hara-sūnave । maṅgalaṁ vighna-rājāya vighna-hartre'stu maṅgalam ॥8॥

MeaningAuspiciousness to the lord of the ganas; auspiciousness to the son of Hara; auspiciousness to the king of obstacles; may there be auspiciousness to the remover of obstacles.

Verse 9#

ślokāṣṭakam idaṁ puṇyaṁ maṅgala-pradam ādarāt ।

श्लोकाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं मङ्गलप्रदमादरात् पठितव्यं प्रयत्नेन सर्वविघ्ननिवृत्तये ॥९॥

ślokāṣṭakam idaṁ puṇyaṁ maṅgala-pradam ādarāt । paṭhitavyaṁ prayatnena sarva-vighna-nivṛttaye ॥9॥

MeaningThis holy octet, the bestower of auspiciousness, should be recited with reverence and care for the removal of all obstacles.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

मङ्गलम्
maṅgalam
Auspiciousness / may there be auspiciousness — the refrain ending each verse
गजाननाय
gajānanāya
To the elephant-faced one
गाङ्गेयसहजाय
gāṅgeya-sahajāya
To the brother of Kartikeya (Gangeya, son of Ganga)
गौरीप्रियतनूजाय
gaurī-priya-tanūjāya
To the beloved son of Gauri (Parvati)
गणेशाय
gaṇeśāya
To Ganesha, the Lord of the ganas
नागयज्ञोपवीताय
nāga-yajñopavītāya
To Him who wears a serpent as the sacred thread
नतविघ्नविनाशिने
nata-vighna-vināśine
To the destroyer of the obstacles of those who bow to Him
इभवक्त्राय
ibha-vaktrāya
To the elephant-faced one
इन्द्रादिवन्दिताय
indrādi-vanditāya
To Him worshipped by Indra and the gods
ईशानप्रेमपात्राय
īśāna-prema-pātrāya
To the object of Shiva's (Ishana's) love
सुमुखाय
sumukhāya
To the fair-faced / gracious one
सुशुण्डाग्रोत्क्षिप्तामृतघटाय
su-śuṇḍāgrotkṣiptāmṛta-ghaṭāya
To Him who lifts a pot of nectar with the tip of His fine trunk
चतुर्भुजाय
chatur-bhujāya
To the four-armed one
चन्द्रार्धविलसन्मस्तकाय
chandrārdha-vilasan-mastakāya
To Him on whose head the half-moon shines
वक्रतुण्डाय
vakra-tuṇḍāya
To the curved-trunked one
वरदाय
varadāya
To the giver of boons
विरूपाक्षसुताय
virūpākṣa-sutāya
To the son of Virupaksha (Shiva, the three-eyed)
विघ्नराजाय
vighna-rājāya
To the king of obstacles (their lord and remover)
विघ्नहर्त्रे
vighna-hartre
To the remover of obstacles
श्लोकाष्टकम् इदं पुण्यम्
ślokāṣṭakam idaṁ puṇyam
This holy set of eight verses
सर्वविघ्ननिवृत्तये
sarva-vighna-nivṛttaye
For the removal of all obstacles

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Sanskrit Mangalashtakam (Ganapatya tradition)

Author: Unknown (traditional)

Period: Classical / medieval

The Mangalashtakam is a well-loved form of devotional poetry in which eight verses each invoke 'mangalam' — auspiciousness — upon a chosen deity, to be sung at the threshold of worship or any important beginning. This Ganesha Mangalashtakam gathers His most beloved names and images — Gajanana, son of Gauri and Shiva, brother of Skanda, wearer of the serpent-thread, four-armed bearer of the half-moon, the curved-trunked king and remover of obstacles — into a single garland of blessing, so that the devotee opens every undertaking by calling down Ganesha's auspicious grace.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ganesha Mangalashtakam?
It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn (ashtakam) that invokes auspiciousness (mangalam) upon Lord Ganesha. Each line ends with 'astu mangalam' — 'may there be auspiciousness' — praising Ganesha by his many names, forms and emblems.
When is the Ganesha Mangalashtakam recited?
Because it invokes auspiciousness, it is sung at the very start of worship, ceremonies, weddings and new undertakings, and is especially popular on Ganesh Chaturthi, Sankashti Chaturthi and Vinayaka Chaturthi.
What does 'mangalam' mean and why is it repeated?
'Mangalam' means auspiciousness, well-being and blessing. It is repeated as the refrain of every verse so that the whole hymn becomes a continuous invocation of Ganesha's auspicious grace, fittingly chanted to begin any sacred or important activity.
What benefit does reciting it bring?
The concluding verse states that this holy octet, recited with reverence and care, brings about 'sarva-vighna-nivritti' — the removal of all obstacles — and bestows auspiciousness, accomplishment and the fruits of one's efforts.

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