gangastotrariverpurification

𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰

Ganga Stotram in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 At dawn beside the Ganga (or any sacred water); above all on Ganga Dussehra, Ganga Saptami and Kartik Purnima, and during Ganga Snan·📜 Composed by Adi Shankaracharya

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Composed by Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · c. 8th century CE

Adi Shankaracharya, the great teacher of Advaita Vedanta, composed this luminous hymn of fourteen verses to Maa Ganga — the river that descends from the feet of Vishnu through Shiva's matted locks to purify the earth. He calls upon her by her many names — Bhagirathi, Jahnavi, Alakananda — and prays for refuge at her lotus feet, declaring that she washes away every sin and carries the soul across the ocean of birth and death to the supreme abode.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌿 𑌤𑌰𑌲𑌤𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇। 𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰𑌮𑍗𑌲𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌮𑌲𑍇 𑌮𑌮 𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌤𑌵 𑌪𑌦𑌕𑌮𑌲𑍇॥

Devi Sureshwari Bhagavati Gange Tribhuvana-tarini Tarala-tarange. Shankara-mauli-viharini Vimale Mama matir-astam tava pada-kamale.

Meaning:O Goddess, queen of the gods, divine Ganga, who carries the three worlds across with your trembling waves; you who play in Shiva's matted locks, O pure one — may my mind rest at your lotus feet.

Verse 2

𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍀𑌰𑌥𑌿 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌨𑌿 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌵 𑌜𑌲𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌮𑌾 𑌨𑌿𑌗𑌮𑍇 𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌃। 𑌨𑌾𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑍇 𑌤𑌵 𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌾𑌮𑌯𑌿 𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍍॥

Bhagirathi Sukhadayini Matas-tava jala-mahima nigame khyatah. Naham jane tava mahimanam Pahi kripamayi mam-ajnanam.

Meaning:O Bhagirathi, giver of joy, O Mother — the glory of your waters is sung in the Vedas. I do not know your greatness; protect me, O compassionate one, in my ignorance.

Verse 3

𑌹𑌰𑌿𑌪𑌦𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌿𑌣𑌿 𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌹𑌿𑌮𑌵𑌿𑌧𑍁𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌧𑌵𑌲𑌤𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇। 𑌦𑍂𑌰𑍀𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌯𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍॥

Hari-pada-padya-tarangini Gange Hima-vidhu-mukta-dhavala-tarange. Duri-kuru mama dushkriti-bharam Kuru kripaya bhava-sagara-param.

Meaning:O Ganga, stream that washed the feet of Hari (Vishnu), with waves white as snow, moon and pearl — take away the burden of my misdeeds, and by your grace carry me across the ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 4

𑌤𑌵 𑌜𑌲𑌮𑌮𑌲𑌂 𑌯𑍇𑌨 𑌨𑌿𑌪𑍀𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌪𑌦𑌂 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌤𑍇𑌨 𑌗𑍃𑌹𑍀𑌤𑌮𑍍। 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌿 𑌯𑍋 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌲 𑌤𑌂 𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍁𑌂 𑌨 𑌯𑌮𑌃 𑌶𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃॥

Tava jalam-amalam yena nipitam Parama-padam khalu tena grihitam. Matar-Gange tvayi yo bhaktah Kila tam drashtum na Yamah shaktah.

Meaning:Whoever has drunk your pure water has surely attained the supreme state. O Mother Ganga, upon your devotee — verily, even Yama, the lord of death, has no power to look.

Verse 5

𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌤𑍋𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌿 𑌜𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌨𑌵𑌿 𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌖𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌤𑌗𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌵𑌰𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌤𑌭𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇। 𑌭𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌨𑌨𑌿 𑌹𑍇 𑌮𑍁𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌰𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌤𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌿 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑌧𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍇॥

Patitod-dharini Jahnavi Gange Khandita-girivara-mandita-bhange. Bhishma-janani he muni-vara-kanye Patita-nivarini tribhuvana-dhanye.

Meaning:O uplifter of the fallen, Jahnavi Ganga, adorned with waves breaking upon the rent mountains; O mother of Bhishma, O daughter of the great sage, remover of the fallen's sins, blessed in the three worlds.

Verse 6

𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌲𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌵 𑌫𑌲𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍇 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌮𑌤𑌿 𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌂 𑌨 𑌪𑌤𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑍋𑌕𑍇। 𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌿 𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌯𑍁𑌵𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌤𑌰𑌲𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇॥

Kalpa-latam-iva phaladam loke Pranamati yas-tvam na patati shoke. Paravara-viharini Gange Vimukha-yuvati-krita-tarala-pange.

Meaning:Like a wish-granting creeper bearing fruit in this world — whoever bows to you does not fall into sorrow. O Ganga who sport upon both shores, whose tremulous side-glance turns even the indifferent toward you.

Verse 7

𑌤𑌵 𑌚𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑌪𑌿 𑌜𑌠𑌰𑍇 𑌸𑍋𑌽𑌪𑌿 𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌤𑌃। 𑌨𑌰𑌕𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌿 𑌜𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌨𑌵𑌿 𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌕𑌲𑍁𑌷𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌨𑌿 𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌮𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇॥

Tava chen-matah srotah snatah Punar-api jathare so'pi na jatah. Naraka-nivarini Jahnavi Gange Kalusha-vinashini mahimottunge.

Meaning:O Mother, one who has bathed in your stream is not born again in the womb. O Jahnavi Ganga, averter of hell, destroyer of impurity, lofty in glory.

Verse 8

𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑌸𑌦𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌰𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌜𑌯 𑌜𑌯 𑌜𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌨𑌵𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇। 𑌇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍁𑌟𑌮𑌣𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌚𑌰𑌣𑍇 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌦𑍇 𑌶𑍁𑌭𑌦𑍇 𑌭𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌶𑌰𑌣𑍍𑌯𑍇॥

Punar-asad-ange punya-tarange Jaya jaya Jahnavi karuna-pange. Indra-mukuta-mani-rajita-charane Sukhade shubhade bhritya-sharanye.

Meaning:Upon even the impure body you bestow purity, O holy-waved one — victory, victory to you, Jahnavi, of the compassionate glance; whose feet shine with the jewels of Indra's crown; giver of joy and good, refuge of your servants.

Verse 9

𑌰𑍋𑌗𑌂 𑌶𑍋𑌕𑌂 𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌂 𑌹𑌰 𑌮𑍇 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌕𑍁𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌪𑌮𑍍। 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑌸𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌵𑌸𑍁𑌧𑌾𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌸𑌿 𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌮 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑍇॥

Rogam shokam tapam papam Hara me bhagavati kumati-kalapam. Tribhuvana-sare Vasudha-hare Tvam-asi gatir-mama khalu samsare.

Meaning:O Bhagavati, take from me disease, grief, suffering, sin and the whole tangle of my evil thoughts. O essence of the three worlds, garland of the earth — you alone are truly my refuge in this samsara.

Verse 10

𑌅𑌲𑌕𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁 𑌕𑌰𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌮𑌯𑌿 𑌕𑌾𑌤𑌰𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍇। 𑌤𑌵 𑌤𑌟𑌨𑌿𑌕𑌟𑍇 𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌃 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌵𑍈𑌕𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌠𑍇 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌃॥

Alakanande Paramanande Kuru karunamayi katara-vandye. Tava tata-nikate yasya nivasah Khalu Vaikunthe tasya nivasah.

Meaning:O Alakananda, O supreme bliss, be merciful, O compassionate one, worthy of the prayers of the distressed. One who dwells upon your bank verily dwells in Vaikuntha.

Verse 11

𑌵𑌰𑌮𑌿𑌹 𑌨𑍀𑌰𑍇 𑌕𑌮𑌠𑍋 𑌮𑍀𑌨𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌵𑌾 𑌤𑍀𑌰𑍇 𑌶𑌰𑌟𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌣𑌃। 𑌅𑌥𑌵𑌾 𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌪𑌚𑍋 𑌮𑌲𑌿𑌨𑍋 𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌵 𑌨 𑌹𑌿 𑌦𑍂𑌰𑍇 𑌨𑍃𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍁𑌲𑍀𑌨𑌃॥

Varam-iha nire kamatho minah Kim va tire sharatah kshinah. Athava shvapacho malino dinas-tava na hi dure nripati-kulinah.

Meaning:Better to be a tortoise or a fish here in your water, or a frail lizard upon your bank, or even a lowly, wretched outcaste near you — than a high-born king far from you.

Verse 12

𑌭𑍋 𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌧𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌮𑌯𑌿 𑌮𑍁𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌰𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍇। 𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌵𑌮𑌿𑌮𑌮𑌮𑌲𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑌠𑌤𑌿 𑌨𑌰𑍋 𑌯𑌃 𑌸 𑌜𑌯𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍॥

Bho Bhuvaneshwari Punye Dhanye Devi dravamayi muni-vara-kanye. Ganga-stavam-imam-amalam nityam Pathati naro yah sa jayati satyam.

Meaning:O Bhuvaneshwari (queen of the worlds), holy and blessed, O Goddess of flowing water, daughter of the great sage — the man who daily recites this pure hymn to Ganga truly triumphs.

Verse 13

𑌯𑍇𑌷𑌾𑌂 𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌯𑍇 𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌷𑌾𑌂 𑌭𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌃। 𑌮𑌧𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌝𑌟𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌕𑌲𑌿𑌤𑌲𑌲𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌃॥

Yesham hridaye Ganga-bhaktis-tesham bhavati sada sukha-muktih. Madhura-kanta-panjhatikabhih Paramananda-kalita-lalitabhih.

Meaning:In whose hearts there is devotion to Ganga, theirs is ever joy and liberation — through these sweet, lovely verses, full of supreme bliss.

Verse 14

𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌭𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌛𑌿𑌤𑌫𑌲𑌦𑌮𑍍 𑌵𑌿𑌮𑌲𑌂 𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍। 𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌕𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰𑌰𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑌠𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑍀𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌵 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌚 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌃॥

Ganga-stotram-idam bhava-saram Vanchhita-phaladam vimalam saram. Shankara-sevaka-Shankara-rachitam Pathati sukhi bhava tava iti cha samaptah.

Meaning:This Ganga Stotram is the essence of worldly life, granting the desired fruit, pure and excellent, composed by Shankara, the servant of Shankara. One who recites it becomes happy. Thus it is complete.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿🔊Devi SureshwariO Goddess, queen of the gods

𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇🔊Bhagavati GangeO divine Mother Ganga

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌿🔊Tribhuvana-tariniwho ferries the three worlds across (to liberation)

𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰𑌮𑍗𑌲𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌿🔊Shankara-mauli-vihariniwho dwells/plays in Shiva's matted locks

𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍀𑌰𑌥𑌿🔊Bhagirathithe one brought down to earth by King Bhagiratha

𑌜𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌨𑌵𑌿🔊Jahnavidaughter of the sage Jahnu

𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌤𑍋𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌿🔊Patitod-dhariniuplifter of the fallen and sinful

𑌭𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊Bhava-sagara-paramacross the ocean of worldly existence (samsara)

𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌪𑌦𑌮𑍍🔊Parama-padamthe supreme state / liberation

𑌅𑌲𑌕𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍇🔊AlakanandeO Alakananda (the celestial source-stream of Ganga)

𑌵𑍈𑌕𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌠𑍇🔊Vaikunthein Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu

𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌕𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰𑌰𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊Shankara-sevaka-Shankara-rachitamcomposed by Shankara (Adi Shankara), the servant of Shankara (Shiva)

Benefits of Chanting Ganga Stotram

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The most beloved hymn to Maa Ganga, composed by Adi Shankaracharya in fourteen verses

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Said to wash away the sins and misdeeds of lifetimes and carry the devotee across the ocean of samsara

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Promises that the true devotee of Ganga has no fear of Yama (death) and attains the supreme state

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Recited at the river ghats, during Ganga Snan (the holy bath) and at the evening Ganga Aarti

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Bestows purity, peace and liberation (moksha); removes disease, grief and evil thoughts

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Especially powerful on Ganga Dussehra, Ganga Saptami and Kartik Purnima

How to Chant Ganga Stotram

Repetitions1times

Best TimeAt dawn beside the Ganga (or any sacred water); above all on Ganga Dussehra, Ganga Saptami and Kartik Purnima, and during Ganga Snan

Recite facing the Ganga, or visualising her, ideally after a bath, offering a lamp and flowers to the river. Read the fourteen verses slowly and with devotion — many recite it while taking the holy dip (Ganga Snan) or at the evening Ganga Aarti. It may be read daily for purity and peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Ganga Stotram written in the Grantha 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.

It is a hymn of fourteen verses to Maa Ganga, composed by Adi Shankaracharya, beginning 'Devi Sureshwari Bhagavati Gange'. It praises the river goddess by her many names — Bhagirathi, Jahnavi, Alakananda — and prays for refuge at her feet, for she washes away sin and grants liberation.

The stotra promises that one who drinks Ganga's water or is devoted to her attains the supreme state and has no fear of Yama (death). Reciting it daily is said to wash away sins, remove disease and grief, and bring purity, peace and ultimately moksha.

It is recited at dawn beside the Ganga, during Ganga Snan (the holy bath), and at the evening Ganga Aarti. Ganga Dussehra (her descent to earth), Ganga Saptami and Kartik Purnima are the most auspicious days.

It was composed by Adi Shankaracharya (around the 8th century CE), the great teacher of Advaita Vedanta, who signs the final verse as 'Shankara, the servant of Shankara (Shiva)'.