ଶ୍ରୀଗଣେଶାଯ ନମଃ ॥
- ଶ୍ରୀଗଣେଶଦ୍ଵାଦଶନାମସ୍ତୋତ୍ରମ୍ (śrīgaṇeśadvādaśanāmastotram)the hymn of the twelve names of Shri Ganesha
- ଶ୍ରୀଗଣେଶାଯ (śrīgaṇeśāya)to Shri Ganesha
- ନମଃ (namaḥ)salutations
anvaya ଶ୍ରୀଗଣେଶଦ୍ଵାଦଶନାମସ୍ତୋତ୍ରମ୍ ଶ୍ରୀଗଣେଶାଯ ନମଃ
ପ୍ରସନ୍ନଵଦନଂ ଧ୍ଯାଯେତ୍ସର୍ଵଵିଘ୍ନୋପଶାନ୍ତଯେଃ ॥ ୧॥
- ଶୁକ୍ଲାମ୍ବରଧରମ୍ (śuklāmbaradharam)dressed in white
- ଵିଷ୍ଣୁମ୍ (viṣṇum)the one who is everywhere
- ଶଶିଵର୍ଣମ୍ (śaśivarṇam)bright as the moon
- ଚତୁର୍ଭୁଜମ୍ (caturbhujam)with four arms
- ପ୍ରସନ୍ନଵଦନମ୍ (prasannavadanam)with a calm, smiling face
- ଧ୍ଯାଯେତ୍ (dhyāyet)one should meditate on
- ସର୍ଵଵିଘ୍ନୋପଶାନ୍ତଯେ (sarvavighnopaśāntaye)so that every obstacle is calmed
anvaya ସର୍ଵଵିଘ୍ନୋପଶାନ୍ତଯେ ଶୁକ୍ଲାମ୍ବରଧରମ୍ ଵିଷ୍ଣୁମ୍ ଶଶିଵର୍ଣମ୍ ଚତୁର୍ଭୁଜମ୍ ପ୍ରସନ୍ନଵଦନମ୍ [ଦେଵମ୍] ଧ୍ଯାଯେତ୍
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ଵିଷ୍ଣୁମ୍ all-pervading — Here it describes Ganesha as present everywhere. The same verse is also recited as a prayer to Vishnu himself.
ସର୍ଵଵିଘ୍ନୋପଶାନ୍ତଯେ 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 ଵିଶ୍ଣୁଂ and ଶାନ୍ତଯେଃ. The usual readings are ଵିଷ୍ଣୁଂ and ଶାନ୍ତଯେ, and the word-by-word follows those.
ସର୍ଵଵିଘ୍ନହରସ୍ତସ୍ମୈ ଗଣାଧିପତଯେ ନମଃ ॥ ୨॥
- ଅଭୀପ୍ସିତାର୍ଥସିଦ୍ଧ୍ଯର୍ଥମ୍ (abhīpsitārthasiddhyartham)to get what they wish for
- ପୂଜିତଃ (pūjitaḥ)is worshipped
- ଯଃ (yaḥ)who
- ସୁରାସୁରୈଃ (surāsuraiḥ)by gods and demons alike
- ସର୍ଵଵିଘ୍ନହରଃ (sarvavighnaharaḥ)the remover of all obstacles
- ତସ୍ମୈ (tasmai)to him
- ଗଣାଧିପତଯେ (gaṇādhipataye)to the lord of the ganas
- ନମଃ (namaḥ)salutations
anvaya ଯଃ ସର୍ଵଵିଘ୍ନହରଃ ଅଭୀପ୍ସିତାର୍ଥସିଦ୍ଧ୍ଯର୍ଥମ୍ ସୁରାସୁରୈଃ ପୂଜିତଃ ତସ୍ମୈ ଗଣାଧିପତଯେ ନମଃ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ସୁରାସୁରୈଃ 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.
ପ୍ରସନ୍ନୋ ଭଵ ମେ ନିତ୍ଯଂ ଵରଦାତର୍ଵିନାଯକ ॥ ୩॥
- ଗଣାନାମ୍ (gaṇānām)of the ganas
- ଅଧିପଃ (adhipaḥ)lord
- ଚଣ୍ଡଃ (caṇḍaḥ)fierce
- ଗଜଵକ୍ତ୍ରଃ (gajavaktraḥ)elephant-faced
- ତ୍ରିଲୋଚନଃ (trilocanaḥ)three-eyed
- ପ୍ରସନ୍ନଃ (prasannaḥ)pleased
- ଭଵ (bhava)be
- ମେ (me)with me
- ନିତ୍ଯମ୍ (nityam)always
- ଵରଦାତଃ (varadātaḥ)O giver of boons
- ଵିନାଯକ (vināyaka)O Vinayaka
anvaya [ହେ] ଗଣାନାମ୍ ଅଧିପଃ ଚଣ୍ଡଃ ଗଜଵକ୍ତ୍ରଃ ତ୍ରିଲୋଚନଃ ଵରଦାତଃ ଵିନାଯକ [ତ୍ଵମ୍] ମେ ନିତ୍ଯମ୍ ପ୍ରସନ୍ନଃ ଭଵ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ଚଣ୍ଡଃ fierce — Fierce towards whatever stands in the way. In the same breath the verse asks him to be pleased with the one praying.
ତ୍ରିଲୋଚନଃ 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.
ଲମ୍ବୋଦରଶ୍ଚ ଵିକଟୋ ଵିଘ୍ନନାଶୋ ଵିନାଯକଃ ॥ ୪॥
- ସୁମୁଖଃ (sumukhaḥ)Sumukha, of the lovely face
- ଚ (ca)and
- ଏକଦନ୍ତଃ (ekadantaḥ)Ekadanta, of the single tusk
- ଚ (ca)and
- କପିଲଃ (kapilaḥ)Kapila, the tawny one
- ଗଜକର୍ଣକଃ (gajakarṇakaḥ)Gajakarnaka, with an elephant's ears
- ଲମ୍ବୋଦରଃ (lambodaraḥ)Lambodara, the big-bellied
- ଚ (ca)and
- ଵିକଟଃ (vikaṭaḥ)Vikata, of striking form
- ଵିଘ୍ନନାଶଃ (vighnanāśaḥ)Vighnanasha, destroyer of obstacles
- ଵିନାଯକଃ (vināyakaḥ)Vinayaka, the leader
anvaya ସୁମୁଖଃ ଚ ଏକଦନ୍ତଃ ଚ କପିଲଃ ଗଜକର୍ଣକଃ ଲମ୍ବୋଦରଃ ଚ ଵିକଟଃ ଵିଘ୍ନନାଶଃ ଵିନାଯକଃ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
କପିଲଃ tawny, reddish-brown — A colour name, the shade of a tawny cow.
ଵିକଟଃ 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.
ଦ୍ଵାଦଶୈତାନି ନାମାନି ଗଣେଶସ୍ଯ ତୁ ଯଃ ପଠେତ୍ ॥ ୫॥
- ଧୂମ୍ରକେତୁଃ (dhūmraketuḥ)Dhumraketu, whose banner is smoke
- ଗଣାଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷଃ (gaṇādhyakṣaḥ)Ganadhyaksha, head of the ganas
- ଭାଲଚନ୍ଦ୍ରଃ (bhālacandraḥ)Bhalachandra, with the moon on his forehead
- ଗଜାନନଃ (gajānanaḥ)Gajanana, the elephant-faced
- ଦ୍ଵାଦଶ (dvādaśa)twelve
- ଏତାନି (etāni)these
- ନାମାନି (nāmāni)names
- ଗଣେଶସ୍ଯ (gaṇeśasya)of Ganesha
- ତୁ (tu)indeed
- ଯଃ (yaḥ)whoever
- ପଠେତ୍ (paṭhet)reads
anvaya ଧୂମ୍ରକେତୁଃ ଗଣାଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷଃ ଭାଲଚନ୍ଦ୍ରଃ ଗଜାନନଃ [ଇତି] ଯଃ ତୁ ଗଣେଶସ୍ଯ ଏତାନି ଦ୍ଵାଦଶ ନାମାନି ପଠେତ୍
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ଧୂମ୍ରକେତୁଃ the one with the smoke banner — In the Ganesha Purana, Dhumraketu is the form Ganesha takes at the end of the Kali age.
ଭାଲଚନ୍ଦ୍ରଃ 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.
ଇଷ୍ଟକାମଂ ତୁ କାମାର୍ଥୀ ଧର୍ମାର୍ଥୀ ମୋକ୍ଷମକ୍ଷଯମ୍ ॥ ୬॥
- ଵିଦ୍ଯାର୍ଥୀ (vidyārthī)one who seeks learning
- ଲଭତେ (labhate)gains
- ଵିଦ୍ଯାମ୍ (vidyām)learning
- ଧନାର୍ଥୀ (dhanārthī)one who wants wealth
- ଵିପୁଲମ୍ (vipulam)plenty of
- ଧନମ୍ (dhanam)wealth
- ଇଷ୍ଟକାମମ୍ (iṣṭakāmam)the wish they hold dear
- ତୁ (tu)and
- କାମାର୍ଥୀ (kāmārthī)one who has a wish
- ଧର୍ମାର୍ଥୀ (dharmārthī)one who seeks dharma
- ମୋକ୍ଷମ୍ (mokṣam)liberation
- ଅକ୍ଷଯମ୍ (akṣayam)that never ends
anvaya ଵିଦ୍ଯାର୍ଥୀ ଵିଦ୍ଯାମ୍ ଲଭତେ ଧନାର୍ଥୀ ଵିପୁଲମ୍ ଧନମ୍ [ଲଭତେ] କାମାର୍ଥୀ ତୁ ଇଷ୍ଟକାମମ୍ [ଲଭତେ] ଧର୍ମାର୍ଥୀ ଅକ୍ଷଯମ୍ ମୋକ୍ଷମ୍ [ଲଭତେ]
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ଅକ୍ଷଯମ୍ 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 ଧନାର୍ଥି is read ଧନାର୍ଥୀ.
ସଙ୍ଗ୍ରାମେ ସଙ୍କଟେ ଚୈଵ ଵିଘ୍ନସ୍ତସ୍ଯ ନ ଜାଯତେ ॥ ୭॥
- ଵିଦ୍ଯାରମ୍ଭେ (vidyārambhe)at the start of studies
- ଵିଵାହେ (vivāhe)at a wedding
- ଚ (ca)and
- ପ୍ରଵେଶେ (praveśe)on entering a new home
- ନିର୍ଗମେ (nirgame)on setting out
- ତଥା (tathā)likewise
- ସଙ୍ଗ୍ରାମେ (saṅgrāme)in battle
- ସଙ୍କଟେ (saṅkaṭe)in a crisis
- ଚ (ca)and
- ଏଵ (eva)even
- ଵିଘ୍ନଃ (vighnaḥ)an obstacle
- ତସ୍ଯ (tasya)for that person
- ନ (na)not
- ଜାଯତେ (jāyate)arises
anvaya ଵିଦ୍ଯାରମ୍ଭେ ଵିଵାହେ ଚ ପ୍ରଵେଶେ ନିର୍ଗମେ ତଥା ସଙ୍ଗ୍ରାମେ ସଙ୍କଟେ ଚ ଏଵ ତସ୍ଯ ଵିଘ୍ନଃ ନ ଜାଯତେ
chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas
ପ୍ରଵେଶେ on entering — Usually taken as entering a new house, the griha pravesha.
ନିର୍ଗମେ 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.
- ଇତି (iti)so ends
- ମୁଦ୍ଗଲପୁରାଣୋକ୍ତମ୍ (mudgalapurāṇoktam)as told in the Mudgala Purana
- ଶ୍ରୀଗଣେଶଦ୍ଵାଦଶନାମସ୍ତୋତ୍ରମ୍ (śrīgaṇeśadvādaśanāmastotram)the hymn of the twelve names of Shri Ganesha
- ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣମ୍ (sampūrṇam)is complete
anvaya ଇତି ମୁଦ୍ଗଲପୁରାଣୋକ୍ତମ୍ ଶ୍ରୀଗଣେଶଦ୍ଵାଦଶନାମସ୍ତୋତ୍ରମ୍ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣମ୍