Ganpati Atharvashirsha Meaning — Line by Line

गणपति अथर्वशीर्ष

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Meaning — Line by Line

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

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Verse 1. Shanti patha
Verse 2. Upanishat
Verse 3. Svarupa tattva
Verse 4. Tvam vanmayastvam chinmayah
Verse 5. Sarvam jagadidam tvatto jayate
Verse 6. Tvam gunatrayatitah tvamavasthatrayatitah
Verse 7. Ganesha mantra
Verse 8. Ganesha gayatri
Verse 9. Ganesha rupa
Verse 10. Ashta nama ganapati
Verse 11. Phalashruti
Verse 12. Idamatharvashirshamashishyaya na deyam
Verse 13. Yo durvankurairyajati sa vaishravanopamo bhavati
Verse 14. Shanti mantra

Verse 1#

॥ शान्ति पाठ ॥ ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः श‍ृणुयाम देवाः । भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः ॥ स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवांसस्तनूभिः । व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ॥ ॐ स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः । स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः ॥ स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः । स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Shanti patha Om bhadram karnebhih sharinuyama devah Bhadram pashyemakshabhiryajatrah Sthirairangaistushtuvamsastanubhih Vyashema devahitam yadayuh Om svasti na indro vriddhashravah Svasti nah pusha vishvavedah Svasti nastarkshyo arishtanemih Svasti no brihaspatirdadhatu Om shantih shantih shantih

MeaningPeace Invocation: Om. O gods, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious; may we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O worshipful ones. With steady limbs and bodies, offering praise, may we enjoy the full span of life allotted by the gods. May Indra of ancient fame grant us well-being; may the all-knowing Pushan be gracious to us; may Tarkshya (Garuda), the swift, protect us; may Brihaspati bestow well-being upon us. Om, peace, peace, peace.

Verse 2#

॥ उपनिषत् ॥ ॐ नमस्ते गणपतये ॥ त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं तत्त्वमसि ॥ त्वमेव केवलं कर्ताऽसि ॥ त्वमेव केवलं धर्ताऽसि ॥ त्वमेव केवलं हर्ताऽसि ॥ त्वमेव सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्मासि ॥ त्वं साक्षादात्माऽसि नित्यम् ॥ १॥

Upanishat Om namaste ganapataye Tvameva pratyaksham tattvamasi Tvameva kevalam kartasi tvameva kevalam dhartasi Tvameva kevalam hartasi Tvameva sarvam khalvidam brahmasi Tvam sakshadatmasi nityam

MeaningThe Upanishad: Om, salutations to you, Ganapati. You yourself are the visible Reality (Tattva). You alone are the Creator; you alone are the Sustainer; you alone are the Destroyer. You are truly all this — you are Brahman itself. You are the eternal Self (Atman) made manifest.

Verse 3#

॥ स्वरूप तत्त्व ॥ ऋतं वच्मि ॥ सत्यं वच्मि ॥ २॥ अव त्वं माम् ॥ अव वक्तारम् ॥ अव श्रोतारम् ॥ अव दातारम् ॥ अव धातारम् ॥ अवानूचानमव शिष्यम् ॥ अव पश्चात्तात् ॥ अव पुरस्तात् ॥ अवोत्तरात्तात् ॥ अव दक्षिणात्तात् ॥ अव चोर्ध्वात्तात् ॥ अवाधरात्तात् ॥ सर्वतो मां पाहि पाहि समन्तात् ॥ ३॥

Svarupa tattva Ritam vachmi satyam vachmi Ava tvam mam ava vaktaram ava shrotaram Ava dataram ava dhataram Avanuchanamava shishyam Ava pashchattat ava purastat Avottarattat ava dakshinattat Ava chordhvattat avadharattat Sarvato mam pahi pahi samantat

MeaningI speak the divine order (Rta); I speak the Truth. Protect me; protect the speaker; protect the listener; protect the giver; protect the sustainer; protect the student who recites. Protect me from behind, from the front, from the north and the south, from above and from below. Guard me, guard me on every side, everywhere.

Verse 4#

त्वं वाङ्मयस्त्वं चिन्मयः ॥ त्वमानन्दमयस्त्वं ब्रह्ममयः ॥ त्वं सच्चिदानन्दाद्वितीयोऽसि ॥ त्वं प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि ॥ त्वं ज्ञानमयो विज्ञानमयोऽसि ॥ ४॥

Tvam vanmayastvam chinmayah Tvamanandamayastvam brahmamayah Tvam sachchidanandadvitiyosi Tvam pratyaksham brahmasi Tvam jnanamayo vijnanamayosi

MeaningYou are the essence of speech and the essence of consciousness. You are bliss itself and Brahman itself. You are Existence-Consciousness-Bliss, the one without a second. You are the directly perceptible Brahman. You are pure knowledge and pure discernment.

Verse 5#

सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तो जायते ॥ सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तस्तिष्ठति ॥ सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि लयमेष्यति ॥ सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि प्रत्येति ॥ त्वं भूमिरापोऽनलोऽनिलो नभः ॥ त्वं चत्वारि वाक्पदानि ॥ ५॥

Sarvam jagadidam tvatto jayate Sarvam jagadidam tvattastishthati Sarvam jagadidam tvayi layameshyati Sarvam jagadidam tvayi pratyeti Tvam bhumiraponalonilo nabhah Tvam chatvari vakpadani

MeaningAll this universe is born from you; all this universe is sustained by you; all this universe dissolves back into you; all this universe returns to you. You are earth, water, fire, air and ether — the five elements. You are the four levels of speech (para, pashyanti, madhyama and vaikhari).

Verse 6#

त्वं गुणत्रयातीतः ॥ त्वमवस्थात्रयातीतः ॥ त्वं देहत्रयातीतः ॥ त्वं कालत्रयातीतः ॥ त्वं मूलाधारस्थितोऽसि नित्यम् ॥ त्वं शक्तित्रयात्मकः ॥ त्वां योगिनो ध्यायन्ति नित्यम् ॥ त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं विष्णुस्त्वं रुद्रस्त्वमिन्द्रस्त्वमग्निस्त्वं वायुस्त्वं सूर्यस्त्वं चन्द्रमास्त्वं ब्रह्म भूर्भुवःस्वरोम् ॥ ६॥

Tvam gunatrayatitah tvamavasthatrayatitah Tvam dehatrayatitah tvam kalatrayatitah Tvam muladharasthitosi nityam Tvam shaktitrayatmakah Tvam yogino dhyayanti nityam Tvam brahma tvam vishnustvam rudrastvamindrastvamagnistvam Vayustvam suryastvam chandramastvam brahma bhurbhuvahsvarom

MeaningYou are beyond the three gunas; beyond the three states (waking, dream, deep sleep); beyond the three bodies; beyond the three times (past, present, future). You dwell eternally in the Muladhara chakra. You are the embodiment of the three powers (will, knowledge, action). The yogis ever meditate upon you. You are Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Indra, Agni, Vayu, Surya and Chandra; you are Brahman, the three worlds (Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svah) and Om.

Verse 7#

॥ गणेश मन्त्र ॥ गणादिं पूर्वमुच्चार्य वर्णादिं तदनन्तरम् ॥ अनुस्वारः परतरः ॥ अर्धेन्दुलसितम् ॥ तारेण ऋद्धम् ॥ एतत्तव मनुस्वरूपम् ॥ गकारः पूर्वरूपम् ॥ अकारो मध्यमरूपम् ॥ अनुस्वारश्चान्त्यरूपम् ॥ बिन्दुरुत्तररूपम् ॥ नादः सन्धानम् ॥ संहितासन्धिः ॥ सैषा गणेशविद्या ॥ गणकऋषिः ॥ निचृद्गायत्रीच्छन्दः ॥ गणपतिर्देवता ॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥ ७॥

Ganesha mantra Ganadim purvamuchcharya varnadim tadanantaram Anusvarah paratarah ardhendulasitam tarena riddham Etattava manusvarupam Gakarah purvarupam akaro madhyamarupam Anusvarashchantyarupam binduruttararupam Nadah sandhanam samhitasandhih Saisha ganeshavidya ganakarishih Nichridgayatrichchhandah ganapatirdevata Om gam ganapataye namah

MeaningThe Ganesha Mantra: First utter the letter 'ga' (the first of 'gana'), then the first vowel 'a'; add the anusvara (the nasal 'm') above, adorned by the crescent and crowned by the syllable Om (tara). This is the very form of your mantra: 'ga' is the first part, 'a' the middle, the anusvara the last, the dot (bindu) the higher form, and the resonance (nada) the joining. This is the sacred science of Ganesha. Its seer is the sage Ganaka, its metre is Nichrid-Gayatri, its deity is Ganapati: Om Gam Ganapataye Namah.

Verse 8#

॥ गणेश गायत्री ॥ एकदन्ताय विद्महे । वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि ॥ तन्नो दन्तिः प्रचोदयात् ॥ ८॥

Ganesha gayatri Ekadantaya vidmahe vakratundaya dhimahi Tanno dantih prachodayat

MeaningThe Ganesha Gayatri: May we know the One-Tusked One; may we meditate upon the Curved-Trunk One. May that Tusked Lord (Ganesha) inspire and impel us.

Verse 9#

॥ गणेश रूप ॥ एकदन्तं चतुर्हस्तं पाशमङ्कुशधारिणम् ॥ रदं च वरदं हस्तैर्बिभ्राणं मूषकध्वजम् ॥ रक्तं लम्बोदरं शूर्पकर्णकं रक्तवाससम् ॥ रक्तगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गं रक्तपुष्पैः सुपूजितम् ॥ भक्तानुकम्पिनं देवं जगत्कारणमच्युतम् ॥ आविर्भूतं च सृष्ट्यादौ प्रकृतेः पुरुषात्परम् ॥ एवं ध्यायति यो नित्यं स योगी योगिनां वरः ॥ ९॥

Ganesha rupa Ekadantam chaturhastam pashamankushadharinam Radam cha varadam hastairbibhranam mushakadhvajam Raktam lambodaram shurpakarnakam raktavasasam Raktagandhanuliptangam raktapushpaih supujitam Bhaktanukampinam devam jagatkaranamachyutam Avirbhutam cha srishtyadau prakriteh purushatparam Evam dhyayati yo nityam sa yogi yoginam varah

MeaningThe Form of Ganesha: One-tusked and four-handed, bearing the noose and the goad, holding in his hands a tusk and the boon-giving gesture, with a mouse for his banner; red in colour, pot-bellied, with winnowing-fan ears, clad in red, his body anointed with red sandal and worshipped with red flowers; the compassionate Lord, the cause of the universe, the imperishable, who appeared at the beginning of creation, beyond Nature (Prakriti) and Spirit (Purusha) — whoever meditates thus upon him daily is the foremost among yogis.

Verse 10#

॥ अष्ट नाम गणपति ॥ नमो व्रातपतये ॥ नमो गणपतये ॥ नमः प्रमथपतये ॥ नमस्तेऽस्तु लम्बोदरायैकदन्ताय ॥ विघ्ननाशिने शिवसुताय ॥ श्रीवरदमूर्तये नमो नमः ॥ १०॥

Ashta nama ganapati Namo vratapataye namo ganapataye Namah pramathapataye Namastestu lambodarayaikadantaya Vighnanashine shivasutaya Shrivaradamurtaye namo namah

MeaningThe Eight Names: Salutations to the Lord of the multitudes (Vratapati); salutations to the Lord of the ganas (Ganapati); salutations to the Lord of the Pramatha hosts. Salutations to the pot-bellied (Lambodara), the one-tusked (Ekadanta); to the destroyer of obstacles (Vighnanashin), the son of Shiva (Shivasuta); to the gracious boon-giving form (Varadamurti) — salutations again and again.

Verse 11#

॥ फलश्रुति ॥ एतदथर्वशीर्षं योऽधीते ॥ स ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ स सर्वतः सुखमेधते ॥ स सर्वविघ्नैर्न बाध्यते ॥ स पञ्चमहापापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥ सायमधीयानो दिवसकृतं पापं नाशयति ॥ प्रातरधीयानो रात्रिकृतं पापं नाशयति ॥ सायं प्रातः प्रयुञ्जानो अपापो भवति ॥ सर्वत्राधीयानोऽपविघ्नो भवति ॥ धर्मार्थकाममोक्षं च विन्दति ॥

Phalashruti Etadatharvashirsham yodhite sa brahmabhuyaya kalpate Sa sarvatah sukhamedhate sa sarvavighnairna badhyate Sa panchamahapapatpramuchyate Sayamadhiyano divasakritam papam nashayati Prataradhiyano ratrikritam papam nashayati Sayam pratah prayunjano apapo bhavati Sarvatradhiyanopavighno bhavati Dharmarthakamamoksham cha vindati

MeaningThe Fruits of Recitation: Whoever studies this Atharvashirsha becomes fit to attain Brahman. He thrives in happiness on every side; he is troubled by no obstacle; he is freed from the five great sins. One who recites it in the evening destroys the sin committed by day; one who recites it in the morning destroys the sin committed by night; reciting it morning and evening, one becomes free of sin. Reciting it everywhere, one becomes free of obstacles, and attains dharma, wealth, fulfilment of desire and liberation (the four aims of life).

Verse 12#

इदमथर्वशीर्षमशिष्याय न देयम् ॥ यो यदि मोहाद्दास्यति स पापीयान् भवति ॥ सहस्रावर्तनाद्यं यं काममधीते तं तमनेन साधयेत् ॥ ११॥ अनेन गणपतिमभिषिञ्चति स वाग्मी भवति ॥ चतुर्थ्यामनश्नन् जपति स विद्यावान् भवति ॥ इत्यथर्वणवाक्यम् ॥ ब्रह्माद्यावरणं विद्यात् ॥ न बिभेति कदाचनेति ॥ १२॥

Idamatharvashirshamashishyaya na deyam Yo yadi mohaddasyati sa papiyan bhavati Sahasravartanadyam yam kamamadhite tam tamanena sadhayet Anena ganapatimabhishinchati sa vagmi bhavati Chaturthyamanashnan japati sa vidyavan bhavati Ityatharvanavakyam Brahmadyavaranam vidyat na bibheti kadachaneti

MeaningThis Atharvashirsha is not to be given to one who is not a worthy student; whoever gives it out of delusion becomes a sinner. By a thousand recitations, whatever desire one holds in mind, that desire is accomplished. One who consecrates (abhisheka of) Ganapati with this becomes eloquent; one who recites it fasting on the fourth lunar day (Chaturthi) becomes learned and renowned — so declares the Atharvana text. One who knows this knows the truth veiled even from Brahma and the gods, and is never afraid, ever again.

Verse 13#

यो दूर्वाङ्कुरैर्यजति स वैश्रवणोपमो भवति ॥ यो लाजैर्यजति स यशोवान् भवति ॥ स मेधावान् भवति ॥ यो मोदकसहस्रेण यजति स वाञ्छितफलमवाप्नोति ॥ यः साज्यसमिद्भिर्यजति स सर्वं लभते स सर्वं लभते ॥ १३॥ अष्टौ ब्राह्मणान् सम्यग्ग्राहयित्वा सूर्यवर्चस्वी भवति ॥ सूर्यग्रहे महानद्यां प्रतिमासन्निधौ वा जप्त्वा सिद्धमन्त्रो भवति ॥ महाविघ्नात्प्रमुच्यते ॥ महादोषात्प्रमुच्यते ॥ महापापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥ स सर्वविद्भवति स सर्वविद्भवति ॥ य एवं वेद ॥ इत्युपनिषत् ॥ १४॥

Yo durvankurairyajati sa vaishravanopamo bhavati Yo lajairyajati sa yashovan bhavati sa medhavan bhavati Yo modakasahasrena yajati sa vanchhitaphalamavapnoti Yah sajyasamidbhiryajati sa sarvam labhate sa sarvam labhate Ashtau brahmanan samyaggrahayitva suryavarchasvi bhavati Suryagrahe mahanadyam pratimasannidhau va japtva siddhamantro bhavati Mahavighnatpramuchyate mahadoshatpramuchyate mahapapatpramuchyate Sa sarvavidbhavati sa sarvavidbhavati ya evam veda ityupanishat

MeaningWhoever worships with blades of durva grass becomes like Kubera (lord of wealth); whoever worships with parched grain becomes renowned and wise; whoever worships with a thousand modakas obtains the fruit desired; whoever worships with ghee and sacred fuel-sticks obtains everything — yes, obtains everything. Having a worthy eight brahmins learn it, one becomes radiant as the sun. Reciting it during a solar eclipse, on the bank of a great river, or before the image of Ganesha, one becomes accomplished in the mantra; he is freed from great obstacles, great faults and great sins, and becomes all-knowing — he becomes all-knowing. Whoever knows this — thus the Upanishad.

Verse 14#

॥ शान्ति मन्त्र ॥ ॐ सहनाववतु ॥ सह नौ भुनक्तु ॥ सह वीर्यं करवावहै ॥ तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥ ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः श‍ृणुयाम देवाः । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥ ॥ इति श्रीगणपत्यथर्वशीर्षं समाप्तम् ॥

Shanti mantra Om sahanavavatu saha nau bhunaktu Saha viryam karavavahai Tejasvinavadhitamastu ma vidvishavahai Om bhadram karnebhih sharinuyama devah Om shantih shantih shantih Iti shriganapatyatharvashirsham samaptam

MeaningClosing Peace Invocation: Om. May He protect us both (teacher and student); may He nourish us both; may we work together with vigour; may our study be brilliant and effective; may we never quarrel. Om, may we hear what is auspicious. Om, peace, peace, peace. Thus concludes the Sri Ganapati Atharvashirsha.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

ॐ गं गणपतये नमः

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah

The root (bija) mantra of Ganesha revealed in the text

त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं तत्त्वमसि

Tvameva Pratyaksham Tattvamasi

You alone are the directly perceptible Reality

गणपतये

Ganapataye

To Ganapati, the Lord of the ganas

एकदन्त

Ekadanta

The single-tusked one

वक्रतुण्ड

Vakratunda

The curved-trunk one

लम्बोदर

Lambodara

The pot-bellied one

विघ्ननाशिने

Vighnanashine

To the destroyer of obstacles

मूलाधार

Muladhara

The root chakra where Ganesha eternally dwells

सच्चिदानन्द

Sachchidananda

Existence-Consciousness-Bliss

ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते

Brahmabhuyaya Kalpate

Becomes fit to attain Brahman

Origin & History

Source: Atharva Veda tradition (Atharvashirsha Upanishad)

Author: Traditional (Vedic-Upanishadic)

Period: Ancient

The Ganpati Atharvashirsha belongs to the family of late Upanishadic 'Atharvashirsha' texts that exalt a chosen deity as the supreme Brahman. Here Lord Ganesha — the remover of obstacles invoked before every undertaking — is revealed as the very Reality from which all creation arises, in which it abides, and into which it dissolves. Long cherished by the Ganapatya tradition, it is recited daily across Maharashtra and all of India, especially during abhishekam of the Lord.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ganpati Atharvashirsha?▼

The Ganpati Atharvashirsha (or Ganapati Upanishad) is a sacred Sanskrit text associated with the Atharva Veda tradition. It declares Lord Ganesha to be Brahman itself — the supreme Reality, creator, sustainer and destroyer — and includes his bija mantra, Gayatri, meditative form and the fruits of recitation.

What is the meaning of 'Tvameva Pratyaksham Tattvamasi'?▼

It means 'You alone are the directly perceptible Reality.' It is the opening declaration that Ganesha is not merely a deity but the visible form of Brahman, the Absolute, the very Self (Atman).

What is the bija mantra in the Atharvashirsha?▼

The text reveals the formation of Ganesha's seed-mantra and gives it as 'Om Gam Ganapataye Namah', explaining how the syllable 'Gam' is constructed and crowned with Om.

What are the benefits of reciting the Ganpati Atharvashirsha?▼

The Phalashruti promises freedom from obstacles, the five great sins and fear, and the attainment of dharma, wealth, desire and liberation. A thousand recitations are said to fulfil any sincere wish, and it grants intellect, eloquence and fame.

When should the Ganpati Atharvashirsha be recited?▼

Morning and evening daily, and especially on Sankashti and Vinayaka Chaturthi, Wednesdays, and Ganesh Chaturthi. It is recited at the beginning of all Ganesha worship and during abhishekam.

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