Vatapi Ganapatim Bhaje Meaning — Line by Line

वातापि गणपतिं भजेऽहम्

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Vatapi Ganapatim Bhaje with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

वातापि गणपतिं भजेऽहं वारणास्यं वरप्रदं श्री

vātāpi gaṇapatiṃ bhaje'haṃ vāraṇāsyaṃ varapradaṃ śrī

MeaningI worship Ganapati of Vatapi, the elephant-faced bestower of boons.

Verse 2#

भूतादि संसेवित चरणं भूत भौतिक प्रपञ्च भरणम् वीतरागिणं विनत योगिनं विश्वकारणं विघ्नवारणम्

bhūtādi saṃsevita caraṇaṃ bhūta bhautika prapañca bharaṇam vītarāgiṇaṃ vinata yoginaṃ viśvakāraṇaṃ vighnavāraṇam

MeaningHis feet are served by the elements and all beings; He sustains the whole universe of matter; He is free of passion, adored by humble yogis, the cause of the cosmos and the remover of all obstacles.

Verse 3#

पुरा कुम्भ सम्भव मुनिवर प्रपूजितं त्रिकोण मध्यगतं मुरारि प्रमुखाद्युपासितं मूलाधार क्षेत्रस्थितम् परादि चत्वारि वागात्मकं प्रणव स्वरूप वक्रतुण्डम् निरन्तरं निटिल चन्द्रखण्डं निज वामकर विधृतेक्षुदण्डम् करांबुज पाश बीजापूरं कलुष विदूरं भूताकारम् हरादि गुरुगुह तोषित बिम्बं हंसध्वनि भूषित हेरंबम्

purā kumbha sambhava munivara prapūjitaṃ trikoṇa madhyagataṃ murāri pramukhādyupāsitaṃ mūlādhāra kṣetrasthitam parādi catvāri vāgātmakaṃ praṇava svarūpa vakratuṇḍam nirantaraṃ niṭila candrakhaṇḍaṃ nija vāmakara vidhṛtekṣudaṇḍam karāmbuja pāśa bījāpūraṃ kaluṣa vidūraṃ bhūtākāram harādi guruguha toṣita bimbaṃ haṃsadhvani bhūṣita herambam

MeaningWorshipped of old by the great sage Agastya, seated at the centre of the mystic triangle, adored by Vishnu (Murari) and the foremost gods, abiding in the Muladhara chakra; He is the embodiment of the four forms of speech (Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama, Vaikhari), the curved-trunked One whose form is the very Pranava (Om), with a crescent moon ever upon His brow, holding a sugarcane stalk in His left hand, bearing in His lotus-hands the noose and the pomegranate; far removed from all impurity, whose form is the elements themselves, whose image delights Lord Shiva and Guruguha (Skanda) — Heramba, adorned by (the raga) Hamsadhwani. Him I adore.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

वातापि गणपतिं

vātāpi gaṇapatiṃ

Ganapati of Vatapi (the deity at Tiruvarur whose icon, by tradition, came from Vatapi/Badami).

भजेऽहम्

bhaje'ham

I worship / I adore.

वारणास्यं

vāraṇāsyaṃ

He of the elephant face (varana = elephant, asya = face).

वरप्रदं

varapradaṃ

The bestower of boons.

भूतादि संसेवित चरणं

bhūtādi saṃsevita caraṇaṃ

Whose feet are served by the elements (bhutas) and all beings.

भूत भौतिक प्रपञ्च भरणम्

bhūta bhautika prapañca bharaṇam

The sustainer of the whole material universe of elements and their products.

वीतरागिणं

vītarāgiṇaṃ

He who is free from all passion / desirelessness.

विनत योगिनं

vinata yoginaṃ

He before whom the yogis bow / who is adored by humble yogis.

विश्वकारणं विघ्नवारणम्

viśvakāraṇaṃ vighnavāraṇam

The cause of the universe and the remover of obstacles.

पुरा कुम्भ सम्भव मुनिवर प्रपूजितं

purā kumbha sambhava munivara prapūjitaṃ

Worshipped of old by the great sage Agastya (born of a pot, kumbha-sambhava).

त्रिकोण मध्यगतं

trikoṇa madhyagataṃ

Seated at the centre of the triangle (the mystic yantra).

मूलाधार क्षेत्रस्थितम्

mūlādhāra kṣetrasthitam

Abiding in the Muladhara chakra (the root centre at the base of the spine).

परादि चत्वारि वागात्मकं

parādi catvāri vāgātmakaṃ

Embodying the four forms of speech — Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama and Vaikhari.

प्रणव स्वरूप वक्रतुण्डम्

praṇava svarūpa vakratuṇḍam

The curved-trunked One whose very form is the Pranava (Om).

निटिल चन्द्रखण्डं

niṭila candrakhaṇḍaṃ

With a crescent (slice) of the moon upon His forehead.

निज वामकर विधृतेक्षुदण्डम्

nija vāmakara vidhṛtekṣudaṇḍam

Holding a stalk of sugarcane in His own left hand.

करांबुज पाश बीजापूरं

karāmbuja pāśa bījāpūraṃ

Bearing in His lotus-hands the noose (pasha) and a pomegranate fruit (bijapura).

कलुष विदूरं भूताकारम्

kaluṣa vidūraṃ bhūtākāram

Far removed from all impurity, whose form is the very elements.

हरादि गुरुगुह तोषित बिम्बं

harādi guruguha toṣita bimbaṃ

Whose image delights Shiva (Hara) and Guruguha (Skanda / the composer's signature).

हंसध्वनि भूषित हेरंबम्

haṃsadhvani bhūṣita herambam

Heramba (Ganesha) adorned by (the raga) Hamsadhwani — also 'graced by the sound of the swan'.

Origin & History

Source: Carnatic kriti by Muthuswami Dikshitar, in raga Hamsadhwani, Adi tala (Sanskrit, early 19th century CE)

Author: Muthuswami Dikshitar

Period: c. 1775-1835 CE

Muthuswami Dikshitar, a master of both music and the Sanskrit tradition, composed this kriti in praise of the Vatapi Ganapati enshrined at Tiruvarur. Tradition relates that this very form of Ganesha was carried from Vatapi (Badami) to the Tamil land. Dikshitar wove into the song the deepest layers of Ganesha's worship — His seat in the Muladhara, His identity with Om and the four forms of speech — making it both a devotional hymn and a profound meditation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'Vatapi Ganapatim'?▼

It is a famous Sanskrit kriti (devotional song) in praise of Lord Ganesha, composed by Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775-1835) in the raga Hamsadhwani. It is among the most popular Carnatic compositions and is traditionally sung at the very start of a concert as an invocation to Ganesha.

Which Ganesha is 'Vatapi Ganapati'?▼

Vatapi Ganapati refers to the deity worshipped at the Thyagaraja temple in Tiruvarur. Tradition holds that the icon was brought from Vatapi (Badami) by the general Paranjyoti (later the saint Siruthondar). Dikshitar's kriti honours this very form of Ganesha.

Who was Muthuswami Dikshitar?▼

Muthuswami Dikshitar was one of the 'Trinity' of Carnatic music, alongside Tyagaraja and Syama Sastri. A great devotee and master of Sanskrit, his compositions are noted for their depth of devotion, scriptural and tantric content, and majestic musical settings. His signature 'mudra' is 'Guruguha'.

Why is it sung at the beginning of concerts?▼

Because Ganesha is the remover of obstacles and is invoked first before any auspicious undertaking. Set in the bright, auspicious raga Hamsadhwani, 'Vatapi Ganapatim' is the ideal opening piece, seeking the Lord's grace for a successful performance.

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