Ganadhipa Stotram (Ganadhipati Ashtakam)
गणाधिप स्तोत्रम् (गणाधिपताष्टकम्) in English · English
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✦ Meaning
The Ganadhipa Stotram, also known as the Ganadhipati Ashtakam, is a richly poetic eight-verse hymn to Ganesha traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. Each verse invokes the elephant-faced Lord — Shiva's son, the ocean of compassion, the wish-fulfilling tree — to grant unfailing prosperity, destroy sins, gladden the intellect, remove calamity and bestow riches. The closing verse praises the hymn itself as an axe that cuts away hard sorrow and a sun that opens the lotus of pure speech.
Origin & Story
Traditional Sanskrit stotra (Ganadhipati Ashtakam), attributed to Adi Shankaracharya · Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya · Classical (traditionally 8th century CE)
This Ashtakam belongs to the rich tradition of devotional hymns ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya, who is said to have praised every major deity in flawless Sanskrit verse. Composed in an ornate metre dense with alliteration, it portrays Ganesha as Shiva's son and the leader of the ganas — the elephant-faced ocean of compassion who, by His mere remembrance, showers prosperity, wisdom and protection upon His devotees, and who bears in His many hands the emblems of His sovereignty.
✦ As told in scripture
The sixth verse states the hymn's central promise: for the devotee, the mere remembrance (smarana-matra) of Ganadhipa's lotus-feet causes all the glories and accomplishments of the world to arise of themselves — for He is the one unborn Supreme Lord, ever intent on the welfare of all.
Complete Text with Meaning
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śriyam anapāyinīṁ pradiśatu śrita-kalpataruḥ śiva-tanayaḥ śiro-vidhṛta-śīta-mayūkha-śiśuḥ । sakala-surāsurādi-śaraṇī-karaṇīya-padaḥ karaṭi-mukhaḥ karotu karuṇā-jaladhiḥ kuśalam ॥1॥
Meaning:May the son of Shiva grant unfailing prosperity — He who is a wish-fulfilling tree to those who take refuge in Him, who bears the cool-rayed infant moon upon His head, whose feet are worthy of being the refuge of all gods and demons; may the elephant-faced One, an ocean of compassion, bestow well-being.
dvirada-mukho dhunotu duritāni duranta-mada- tridaśa-virodhi-yūtha-kumudākara-tigma-karaḥ । kaluṣam apākarotu kṛpayā kalabhendra-mukhaḥ kula-giri-nandinī-kutuka-dohana-saṁhananaḥ ॥2॥
Meaning:May the elephant-faced One shake away our sins — He who is like the fierce sun to the night-lotus-cluster of the rutting enemies of the gods; may He of the young-elephant's face, born of the embrace of the daughter of the great mountain (Parvati), in His compassion wash away our impurity.
gaja-vadano dhinotu dhiyam ādhi-payodhi-vala- t su-jana-manaḥ-plavāyita-padāmburuho'viratam । diśatu śata-kratu-prabhṛti-nirjara-tarjana-kṛ- d ditija-chamū-chamūru-mṛga-rāḍ ibha-rāja-mukhaḥ ॥3॥
Meaning:May the elephant-faced One ever gladden our intellect — He whose lotus-feet float like a raft for the minds of the good across the ocean of anxiety; may He whose face is that of the king of elephants, the terror of the demon hordes and the rebuker of Indra's foes, grant us our desire.
atula-balo'ti-velam aghavan-mati-darpa-hara- sphurad-ahitāpakāri-mahimā vapuṣīḍha-vidhuḥ । nija-rada-śūla-pāśa-nava-śāli-śiro'ri-gadā- kuvalaya-mātuluṅga-kamalekṣu-śarāsa-karaḥ ॥4॥
Meaning:He of incomparable strength, who utterly humbles the pride of the wicked, whose majesty shines forth against all who do harm, whose body outshines the moon — bearing in His hands His own tusk, the trident, the noose, the fresh sprout of grain, the severed head of the foe, the mace, the blue lotus, the citron, the lotus and the sugar-cane bow.
haratu vipattim eṣa bhagavān sakalāpad-udāra- śravaṇa-sudhā-dhunī-mudita-mānasa-kairavakaḥ । rachayatu saṁpadaḥ sapadi deva-śikhā-maṇir- apy anu-dinam unnatiṁ vitanutāṁ vara-kuñjara-vaktraḥ ॥5॥
Meaning:May this Lord remove all adversity — He the noble One in every calamity, whose mind blossoms like a night-lily at the nectar-stream of His devotees' praise; may this crest-jewel of the gods, the One of the noble elephant-face, swiftly fashion riches and day by day increase our prosperity.
jagati vibhūtayaḥ sakala-siddhi-vidhāyi-gaṇā- dhipa-pada-paṅkaja-smaraṇa-mātrata eva nṛṇām । prabhavati yasya tasya parameśvaram ekam ajaṁ śaraṇam upāsmahe jagati sarva-hitaika-param ॥6॥
Meaning:For that man, by the mere remembrance of the lotus-feet of Ganadhipa — the bestower of every accomplishment — all glories in the world arise; Him, the one unborn Supreme Lord, solely intent on the good of all, do we worship as our refuge in this world.
paṭhatu gaṇādhipāṣṭakam idaṁ su-jano'nudinaṁ kaṭhina-śuchā-kuṭhāvali-kaṭhora-kuṭhāra-varam । vimata-parābhavod-bhaṭa-nidāgha-navīna-ghanaṁ vimala-vacho-vilāsa-kamalākara-bāla-ravim ॥7॥
Meaning:Let the good person recite daily this Ganadhipa Ashtakam — a sharp axe to the dense thicket of hard sorrow, a fresh rain-cloud to the fierce summer-heat that is the defeat of foes, and an infant sun to the lotus-pond that is the play of pure speech.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting गणाधिप स्तोत्रम् (गणाधिपताष्टकम्)
Prays for 'shriyam anapayinim' — unfailing, never-departing prosperity and the grace of Lakshmi
Each verse seeks a distinct blessing: well-being, removal of sins, a bright intellect, removal of calamity and the increase of wealth
Traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya and prized for its dense, beautiful poetry
Removes obstacles and adversity (vipatti) through Ganesha's compassion
The mere remembrance of Ganadhipa's lotus-feet is said to bring all glories to the devotee (verse 6)
Sharpens speech and eloquence — the closing verse likens the hymn to a sun opening the lotus of pure words
Suitable as a daily recitation for prosperity, protection and clarity of mind
How to Chant गणाधिप स्तोत्रम् (गणाधिपताष्टकम्)
Sit before an image of Ganesha, light a lamp and offer durva grass, red flowers and modaka. Recite the eight verses with devotion and attention to their imagery, dwelling on each blessing prayed for — prosperity, freedom from sin, clear intellect, removal of calamity and increase of wealth. As the final verse advises, the good devotee should recite this Ganadhipa Ashtakam every day; conclude with a prostration to Ganadhipa.
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