ಶ್ರೀಗಣೇಶಾಯ ನಮಃ ॥
- ಶ್ರೀಗಣೇಶದ್ವಾದಶನಾಮಸ್ತೋತ್ರಮ್ (śrīgaṇeśadvādaśanāmastotram)the hymn of the twelve names of Shri Ganesha
- ಶ್ರೀಗಣೇಶಾಯ (śrīgaṇeśāya)to Shri Ganesha
- ನಮಃ (namaḥ)salutations
anvaya ಶ್ರೀಗಣೇಶದ್ವಾದಶನಾಮಸ್ತೋತ್ರಮ್ ಶ್ರೀಗಣೇಶಾಯ ನಮಃ
ಪ್ರಸನ್ನವದನಂ ಧ್ಯಾಯೇತ್ಸರ್ವವಿಘ್ನೋಪಶಾನ್ತಯೇಃ ॥ ೧॥
- ಶುಕ್ಲಾಮ್ಬರಧರಮ್ (śuklāmbaradharam)dressed in white
- ವಿಷ್ಣುಮ್ (viṣṇum)the one who is everywhere
- ಶಶಿವರ್ಣಮ್ (śaśivarṇam)bright as the moon
- ಚತುರ್ಭುಜಮ್ (caturbhujam)with four arms
- ಪ್ರಸನ್ನವದನಮ್ (prasannavadanam)with a calm, smiling face
- ಧ್ಯಾಯೇತ್ (dhyāyet)one should meditate on
- ಸರ್ವವಿಘ್ನೋಪಶಾನ್ತಯೇ (sarvavighnopaśāntaye)so that every obstacle is calmed
anvaya ಸರ್ವವಿಘ್ನೋಪಶಾನ್ತಯೇ ಶುಕ್ಲಾಮ್ಬರಧರಮ್ ವಿಷ್ಣುಮ್ ಶಶಿವರ್ಣಮ್ ಚತುರ್ಭುಜಮ್ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನವದನಮ್ [ದೇವಮ್] ಧ್ಯಾಯೇತ್
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ವಿಷ್ಣುಮ್ all-pervading — Here it describes Ganesha as present everywhere. The same verse is also recited as a prayer to Vishnu himself.
ಸರ್ವವಿಘ್ನೋಪಶಾನ್ತಯೇ for the calming of all obstacles — Upashanti means calming or settling. The obstacles are quietened so the work can begin.
note This is the well-known Shuklambaradharam verse, said at the start of countless pujas. It is not one of the twelve names; it is placed before them as a meditation. The printed text reads ವಿಶ್ಣುಂ and ಶಾನ್ತಯೇಃ. The usual readings are ವಿಷ್ಣುಂ and ಶಾನ್ತಯೇ, and the word-by-word follows those.
ಸರ್ವವಿಘ್ನಹರಸ್ತಸ್ಮೈ ಗಣಾಧಿಪತಯೇ ನಮಃ ॥ ೨॥
- ಅಭೀಪ್ಸಿತಾರ್ಥಸಿದ್ಧ್ಯರ್ಥಮ್ (abhīpsitārthasiddhyartham)to get what they wish for
- ಪೂಜಿತಃ (pūjitaḥ)is worshipped
- ಯಃ (yaḥ)who
- ಸುರಾಸುರೈಃ (surāsuraiḥ)by gods and demons alike
- ಸರ್ವವಿಘ್ನಹರಃ (sarvavighnaharaḥ)the remover of all obstacles
- ತಸ್ಮೈ (tasmai)to him
- ಗಣಾಧಿಪತಯೇ (gaṇādhipataye)to the lord of the ganas
- ನಮಃ (namaḥ)salutations
anvaya ಯಃ ಸರ್ವವಿಘ್ನಹರಃ ಅಭೀಪ್ಸಿತಾರ್ಥಸಿದ್ಧ್ಯರ್ಥಮ್ ಸುರಾಸುರೈಃ ಪೂಜಿತಃ ತಸ್ಮೈ ಗಣಾಧಿಪತಯೇ ನಮಃ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಸುರಾಸುರೈಃ by the gods and the asuras — Naming both sides makes the point that everyone turns to him before they begin, whoever they are.
note A simple salutation that sums up why Ganesha is worshipped first: whatever someone hopes to achieve, they come to him before anything else.
ಪ್ರಸನ್ನೋ ಭವ ಮೇ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ವರದಾತರ್ವಿನಾಯಕ ॥ ೩॥
- ಗಣಾನಾಮ್ (gaṇānām)of the ganas
- ಅಧಿಪಃ (adhipaḥ)lord
- ಚಣ್ಡಃ (caṇḍaḥ)fierce
- ಗಜವಕ್ತ್ರಃ (gajavaktraḥ)elephant-faced
- ತ್ರಿಲೋಚನಃ (trilocanaḥ)three-eyed
- ಪ್ರಸನ್ನಃ (prasannaḥ)pleased
- ಭವ (bhava)be
- ಮೇ (me)with me
- ನಿತ್ಯಮ್ (nityam)always
- ವರದಾತಃ (varadātaḥ)O giver of boons
- ವಿನಾಯಕ (vināyaka)O Vinayaka
anvaya [ಹೇ] ಗಣಾನಾಮ್ ಅಧಿಪಃ ಚಣ್ಡಃ ಗಜವಕ್ತ್ರಃ ತ್ರಿಲೋಚನಃ ವರದಾತಃ ವಿನಾಯಕ [ತ್ವಮ್] ಮೇ ನಿತ್ಯಮ್ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನಃ ಭವ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಚಣ್ಡಃ fierce — Fierce towards whatever stands in the way. In the same breath the verse asks him to be pleased with the one praying.
ತ್ರಿಲೋಚನಃ three-eyed — A mark he shares with his father Shiva.
note The verse first describes the lord of the ganas and then speaks to him directly, asking only that he stay pleased with the one reciting.
ಲಮ್ಬೋದರಶ್ಚ ವಿಕಟೋ ವಿಘ್ನನಾಶೋ ವಿನಾಯಕಃ ॥ ೪॥
- ಸುಮುಖಃ (sumukhaḥ)Sumukha, of the lovely face
- ಚ (ca)and
- ಏಕದನ್ತಃ (ekadantaḥ)Ekadanta, of the single tusk
- ಚ (ca)and
- ಕಪಿಲಃ (kapilaḥ)Kapila, the tawny one
- ಗಜಕರ್ಣಕಃ (gajakarṇakaḥ)Gajakarnaka, with an elephant's ears
- ಲಮ್ಬೋದರಃ (lambodaraḥ)Lambodara, the big-bellied
- ಚ (ca)and
- ವಿಕಟಃ (vikaṭaḥ)Vikata, of striking form
- ವಿಘ್ನನಾಶಃ (vighnanāśaḥ)Vighnanasha, destroyer of obstacles
- ವಿನಾಯಕಃ (vināyakaḥ)Vinayaka, the leader
anvaya ಸುಮುಖಃ ಚ ಏಕದನ್ತಃ ಚ ಕಪಿಲಃ ಗಜಕರ್ಣಕಃ ಲಮ್ಬೋದರಃ ಚ ವಿಕಟಃ ವಿಘ್ನನಾಶಃ ವಿನಾಯಕಃ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಕಪಿಲಃ tawny, reddish-brown — A colour name, the shade of a tawny cow.
ವಿಕಟಃ of a form beyond the ordinary — Vikata can mean huge, unusual or formidable. As a name of Ganesha it is said with wonder.
note The twelve names begin here: eight in this verse and four in the next. A different set of twelve names, beginning with Vakratunda, is found in the Sankata Nashana stotra of the Narada Purana.
ದ್ವಾದಶೈತಾನಿ ನಾಮಾನಿ ಗಣೇಶಸ್ಯ ತು ಯಃ ಪಠೇತ್ ॥ ೫॥
- ಧೂಮ್ರಕೇತುಃ (dhūmraketuḥ)Dhumraketu, whose banner is smoke
- ಗಣಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷಃ (gaṇādhyakṣaḥ)Ganadhyaksha, head of the ganas
- ಭಾಲಚನ್ದ್ರಃ (bhālacandraḥ)Bhalachandra, with the moon on his forehead
- ಗಜಾನನಃ (gajānanaḥ)Gajanana, the elephant-faced
- ದ್ವಾದಶ (dvādaśa)twelve
- ಏತಾನಿ (etāni)these
- ನಾಮಾನಿ (nāmāni)names
- ಗಣೇಶಸ್ಯ (gaṇeśasya)of Ganesha
- ತು (tu)indeed
- ಯಃ (yaḥ)whoever
- ಪಠೇತ್ (paṭhet)reads
anvaya ಧೂಮ್ರಕೇತುಃ ಗಣಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷಃ ಭಾಲಚನ್ದ್ರಃ ಗಜಾನನಃ [ಇತಿ] ಯಃ ತು ಗಣೇಶಸ್ಯ ಏತಾನಿ ದ್ವಾದಶ ನಾಮಾನಿ ಪಠೇತ್
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಧೂಮ್ರಕೇತುಃ the one with the smoke banner — In the Ganesha Purana, Dhumraketu is the form Ganesha takes at the end of the Kali age.
ಭಾಲಚನ್ದ್ರಃ the one who wears the moon on his forehead — The crescent on his brow, as on Shiva's.
note The last four names complete the twelve, and the verse turns to the one who reads them. The sentence carries on into the next verse, which says what that reader gains.
ಇಷ್ಟಕಾಮಂ ತು ಕಾಮಾರ್ಥೀ ಧರ್ಮಾರ್ಥೀ ಮೋಕ್ಷಮಕ್ಷಯಮ್ ॥ ೬॥
- ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥೀ (vidyārthī)one who seeks learning
- ಲಭತೇ (labhate)gains
- ವಿದ್ಯಾಮ್ (vidyām)learning
- ಧನಾರ್ಥೀ (dhanārthī)one who wants wealth
- ವಿಪುಲಮ್ (vipulam)plenty of
- ಧನಮ್ (dhanam)wealth
- ಇಷ್ಟಕಾಮಮ್ (iṣṭakāmam)the wish they hold dear
- ತು (tu)and
- ಕಾಮಾರ್ಥೀ (kāmārthī)one who has a wish
- ಧರ್ಮಾರ್ಥೀ (dharmārthī)one who seeks dharma
- ಮೋಕ್ಷಮ್ (mokṣam)liberation
- ಅಕ್ಷಯಮ್ (akṣayam)that never ends
anvaya ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥೀ ವಿದ್ಯಾಮ್ ಲಭತೇ ಧನಾರ್ಥೀ ವಿಪುಲಮ್ ಧನಮ್ [ಲಭತೇ] ಕಾಮಾರ್ಥೀ ತು ಇಷ್ಟಕಾಮಮ್ [ಲಭತೇ] ಧರ್ಮಾರ್ಥೀ ಅಕ್ಷಯಮ್ ಮೋಕ್ಷಮ್ [ಲಭತೇ]
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಅಕ್ಷಯಮ್ undecaying, never used up — The verse uses this word only for liberation, since the other gains can all be used up.
note The verse names what different people come asking for and promises each the thing they came for, with liberation placed last as the highest. The printed ಧನಾರ್ಥಿ is read ಧನಾರ್ಥೀ.
ಸಙ್ಗ್ರಾಮೇ ಸಙ್ಕಟೇ ಚೈವ ವಿಘ್ನಸ್ತಸ್ಯ ನ ಜಾಯತೇ ॥ ೭॥
- ವಿದ್ಯಾರಮ್ಭೇ (vidyārambhe)at the start of studies
- ವಿವಾಹೇ (vivāhe)at a wedding
- ಚ (ca)and
- ಪ್ರವೇಶೇ (praveśe)on entering a new home
- ನಿರ್ಗಮೇ (nirgame)on setting out
- ತಥಾ (tathā)likewise
- ಸಙ್ಗ್ರಾಮೇ (saṅgrāme)in battle
- ಸಙ್ಕಟೇ (saṅkaṭe)in a crisis
- ಚ (ca)and
- ಏವ (eva)even
- ವಿಘ್ನಃ (vighnaḥ)an obstacle
- ತಸ್ಯ (tasya)for that person
- ನ (na)not
- ಜಾಯತೇ (jāyate)arises
anvaya ವಿದ್ಯಾರಮ್ಭೇ ವಿವಾಹೇ ಚ ಪ್ರವೇಶೇ ನಿರ್ಗಮೇ ತಥಾ ಸಙ್ಗ್ರಾಮೇ ಸಙ್ಕಟೇ ಚ ಏವ ತಸ್ಯ ವಿಘ್ನಃ ನ ಜಾಯತೇ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ಪ್ರವೇಶೇ on entering — Usually taken as entering a new house, the griha pravesha.
ನಿರ್ಗಮೇ on going out — Leaving home on a journey.
note These are the moments of life when Ganesha is worshipped first: a child's first lesson, a wedding, moving into a house, leaving on a journey. The verse promises that for the one who knows these names, nothing will block the way.
- ಇತಿ (iti)so ends
- ಮುದ್ಗಲಪುರಾಣೋಕ್ತಮ್ (mudgalapurāṇoktam)as told in the Mudgala Purana
- ಶ್ರೀಗಣೇಶದ್ವಾದಶನಾಮಸ್ತೋತ್ರಮ್ (śrīgaṇeśadvādaśanāmastotram)the hymn of the twelve names of Shri Ganesha
- ಸಮ್ಪೂರ್ಣಮ್ (sampūrṇam)is complete
anvaya ಇತಿ ಮುದ್ಗಲಪುರಾಣೋಕ್ತಮ್ ಶ್ರೀಗಣೇಶದ್ವಾದಶನಾಮಸ್ತೋತ್ರಮ್ ಸಮ್ಪೂರ್ಣಮ್
