gaṇeśa aṣṭakam

The Eightfold Hymn of Adoration to Lord Ganesha

Salutations to the divine and auspicious Lord Ganesha.

An Invocation and Prayer to the Blessed Lord Ganesha

Salutations, endless salutations unto You, the large-bellied Lord, the divine son of Shiva and sovereign of the celestial hosts; the bestower of wisdom and the destroyer of worldly sorrows. Worshipped across the three realms, the supreme and wondrous cause of all creation, the annihilator of obstacles, and the giver of eternal joy.

An Invocation and Prayer to the Auspicious Goddess Saraswati

I bow to the auspicious Mother of the Universe, Saraswati, who pervades the entire cosmos; I bow to Her who holds the sacred book, the supreme essence of all Vedanta. I bow to Her who is the very form of Brahman, the pure and spotless one; I bow to the Mother of the World, the divine Goddess who destroys all sorrow and shines as the supreme embodiment of pure consciousness.

Thus begins the Sri Ganesha Ashtakam—the eightfold hymn of adoration to the auspicious Lord Ganesha.

To the unborn, the stainless, the attribute-less embodiment of pure wisdom, the formless essence of existence, the Supreme Lord; to Him who is the auspiciousness of the universe, adored by all creation, the sacred Lord who bestows all perfection—to that Ganesha, I bow in deep reverence.

To the ever-tranquil, who is the very form of the Absolute, dwelling in the transcendent fourth state of consciousness, the sole eternal refuge of all living beings; the supreme, eternal source of infinite bliss, desireless and self-contained, the Lord who bestows all perfection—to that Ganesha, I bow in deep reverence.

To the Guru of the wise, the ultimate reality of the yogis, the destroyer of all obstacles for all living beings, Lord Ganesha; the ever-auspicious, the peerless son of Mother Parvati, the Lord who bestows all perfection—to that Ganesha, I bow in deep reverence.

I bow to that Lord Ganesha, who is ever adorned with sacred Durva grass, vermilion, red flowers, fragrant sandalwood, and beautiful red garments; the eternal embodiment of supreme wisdom, the indivisible and infinite Lord, who bestows all success and spiritual perfection.

To the supremely gentle, independent, unconditioned, and most excellent one; the embodiment of supreme wisdom, bliss, and true existence, who is easily attainable. To the highly perfected Lord of sages, the divine son of the great Lord Shiva, the Lord who bestows perfection—to that Ganesha, I bow in deep reverence.

To Him upon whom the Gods ever meditate, and whom the sacred Vedas eternally praise; in whose divine refuge all living beings reside—to that Lord Ganesha, the bestower of all perfection, I bow in deep reverence.

I bow to that Lord Ganesha, the supreme master who bestows righteousness, prosperity, pleasure, and ultimate liberation; who grants progeny, wisdom, and indeed everything. To that Lord who fulfills all the desires of the seeker and bestows ultimate success, I offer my salutations.

I pray to You eternally, O Ganesha; may You ever be pleased with me, O Lord of Wisdom. Grant me Your supreme, divine vision, O Infinite One; I bow to that Lord Ganesha, the sovereign master who bestows all fulfillment.

Those who, purifying themselves in the quiet hours of dawn, constantly recite this sacred Ganesha Ashtakam, shall find it to be the bestower of supreme joy and ultimate liberation.

Thus ends the Sri Ganesha Ashtakam composed by Brahmachari Gayatriswaroopa.