ganeshaganapativinayakaprayer-shloka

Mushikavahana Modaka Hasta (Ganesha Prayer)

मूषिकवाहन मोदकहस्त (गणेश प्रार्थना) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Before starting any new work, study or journey; Ganesh Chaturthi; Tuesdays and Fridays; daily morning prayer·📜 Traditional Ganesha prayer / dhyana shloka

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

Mushikavahana Modaka Hasta is one of the most popular short prayers to Lord Ganesha, taught to children and recited before any new beginning. In four lines it lovingly describes Ganesha — riding his mouse, holding a modaka, with fan-like ears and the sacred thread — and salutes him as the son of Shiva and the remover of all obstacles. It is a perfect opening prayer for worship, study and auspicious work.

Origin & Story

Traditional Ganesha prayer / dhyana shloka · Unknown (traditional) · Classical

This affectionate verse is among the most widely taught Ganesha prayers in homes and schools. Each epithet paints a feature of Ganesha's iconic form — the mouse mount, the modaka in hand, the broad fan-like ears, the sacred thread, his short rounded form — and identifies him as the son of Maheshwara (Shiva) and the great Vinayaka who clears all obstacles. As Ganesha is honoured first in every undertaking, this prayer naturally serves as an opening invocation.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally believed that Ganesha removes obstacles from the path of any task begun with his name; countless devotees recount that a sincere salutation to his feet before a journey, examination or new venture turned difficulty into smooth success.

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The Mantra

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Mūṣikavāhana modakahasta Chāmarakarṇa vilambitasūtra Vāmanarūpa maheśvaraputra Vighnavināyaka pāda namaste

Meaning:O Lord whose vehicle is the mouse, who holds a sweet modaka in your hand, whose great ears fan like chamaras, upon whom the sacred thread hangs gracefully; O short-formed one, son of Lord Shiva, O Vinayaka who removes all obstacles — I bow to your holy feet.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Mūṣikavāhana🔊One whose vehicle (vahana) is the mouse

Modakahasta🔊One who holds a modaka (sweet dumpling) in his hand

Chāmarakarṇa🔊One whose ears are like fans (chamara), fanning away worries

Vilambitasūtra🔊One on whom the sacred thread (yajnopavita) hangs gracefully

Vāmanarūpa🔊One of short / dwarf-like form

Maheśvaraputra🔊The son of Maheshwara (Lord Shiva)

Vighnavināyaka🔊Vinayaka, the remover of obstacles (vighna)

Pāda🔊Feet (your holy feet)

Namaste🔊Salutations to you / I bow to you

Benefits of Chanting मूषिकवाहन मोदकहस्त (गणेश प्रार्थना)

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A simple, complete prayer to invoke Ganesha before any new venture or worship

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Believed to remove obstacles (vighnas) from one's path

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Easy for children and beginners to learn and chant

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Brings success, smoothness and auspiciousness to undertakings

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Cultivates devotion to Ganesha as the gentle, beloved son of Shiva and Parvati

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Settles and focuses the mind before study or examinations

How to Chant मूषिकवाहन मोदकहस्त (गणेश प्रार्थना)

Repetitions3times

Best TimeBefore starting any new work, study or journey; Ganesh Chaturthi; Tuesdays and Fridays; daily morning prayer

Fold your hands, picture Lord Ganesha with his mouse, modaka and fan-like ears, and chant the verse three times before beginning any important task. It is commonly recited at the start of the day, before opening books to study, and at the beginning of all pujas, since Ganesha is worshipped first among the gods.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete मूषिकवाहन मोदकहस्त (गणेश प्रार्थना) written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Mushika-vahana means 'one whose vehicle (vahana) is the mouse (mushika).' Lord Ganesha rides a small mouse, a charming symbol of his power to make even the smallest creature his mount and to overcome obstacles great and small.

The modaka is a sweet dumpling beloved by Ganesha. It symbolizes the sweetness of attained wisdom and the rewards of spiritual effort. 'Modaka-hasta' means 'the one with a modaka in his hand.'

Before any new beginning — starting a journey, opening a business, beginning study, or commencing a puja. Since Ganesha is the remover of obstacles and is worshipped first, this short prayer is ideal for any auspicious start.

Yes, it is one of the first Ganesha prayers taught to children because it is short, rhythmic, and vividly describes Ganesha's beloved form. It instills devotion and is easy to remember.