ṛṇahartā gaṇeśa stotram

The Hymn to Lord Ganesha for the Removal of Debts

On the beautiful Mount Kailasha, the daughter of the mountain (Parvati) asked Lord Shambhu (Shiva), who bears the crescent moon on His head and is endowed with the knowledge of the six amnayas (sacred traditions).

Goddess Parvati said: O Lord of Lords, O Supreme Master, who is fully versed in the meaning of all scriptures, please kindly tell me now the means for the destruction of debts.

Lord Shiva said: O auspicious one, you have asked well with the desire for the welfare of the worlds. I shall explain all of that to you; listen attentively.

Om. Of this Sri Rinahara Maha Ganapati Stotram, the sage is Sadashiva, the meter is Anushtup, and the deity is Sri Rinahara Maha Ganapati (the great remover of debts). 'Glaum' is the seed (bija), 'Gah' is the power (shakti), and 'Gom' is the pin (kilaka). Its application (viniyoga) is in chanting for the destruction of my debts. Om Ganesha, salutations to the thumbs. 'Rinam Chhindhi' (cut the debts), salutations to the index fingers. 'Varenyam', salutations to the middle fingers. 'Hum', salutations to the ring fingers. 'Namah', salutations to the little fingers. 'Phat', salutations to the palms and backs of the hands. Thus ends the Nyasa (installation) of the heart and other parts.

Meditation: I bow to that Lord Ganesha, who is of the color of vermilion, who has two arms and a large belly, who is seated on a lotus petal, who is constantly served by Brahma and other gods, and who is accompanied by the Siddhas (perfected beings).

Fivefold Worship: May that son of Parvati, who was perfectly worshipped by Brahma at the beginning of creation for the attainment of fruitful results, always destroy my debts.

May that son of Parvati, who was perfectly worshipped by Lord Shambhu prior to the destruction of the demon Tripura, always destroy my debts.

May that son of Parvati, who was worshipped by Lord Vishnu for the purpose of slaying Hiranyakashipu and other demons, always destroy my debts.

May that son of Parvati, the Lord of the Ganas, who was greatly worshipped by the Goddess (Durga) during the slaying of the demon Mahisha, always destroy my debts.

May that son of Parvati, who was greatly worshipped by Lord Kumara (Kartikeya) prior to the destruction of the demon Taraka, always destroy my debts.

May that son of Parvati, Lord Ganesha, who was indeed worshipped by the Sun God (Bhaskara) for his own perfection, always destroy my debts.

May that son of Parvati, the leader of the Ganas, who was worshipped by the Moon God (Shashi) for the increase of his radiance, always destroy my debts.

May that son of Parvati, who was worshipped by the sage Vishwamitra for the protection of his austerities, always destroy my debts.

This debt-destroying hymn is the annihilator of severe poverty. One should recite it once daily, with a focused mind, for an entire year.

Leaving behind terrible poverty, one attains a state of wealth equal to Kubera. This great mantra, ending with 'Phat', consists of fifteen and a half syllables.

The Mantra is thus: "Om Ganesha Rinam Chhindhi Varenyam Hum Namah Phat." One who is pure in thought should recite this mantra at the end of the stotram.

Its preliminary practice (purashcharana) is said to be completed by reciting it twenty-one times daily. By perfectly repeating it a thousand times over six months, one becomes dear to the Lord.

Such a person becomes equal to Brihaspati in wisdom, and equal to the Lord of Wealth (Kubera) in riches. For this specific goal, a purashcharana of ten thousand recitations is prescribed.

By perfectly repeating it one hundred thousand times, one obtains all desired fruits. Merely by remembering it, ghosts, spirits, and ghouls (bhutas, pretas, and pishachas) are destroyed.

Thus ends the Rinahara Ganapati Stotram, which is contained within the Sri Krishna Yamala Tantra.