ṛṇahartā gaṇeśa stotram

• ṛṇaharagaṇeśastotramthe hymn to Ganesha who takes debt away

anvaya ṛṇaharagaṇeśastotram

ṛṇa debt — Rina is what is owed. The hymn is recited by people under money debt, and its own last verses set out how many times to say it and for how long.

note From the Krishna Yamala Tantra. It is built on one idea: every god who had a hard thing to do worshipped Ganesha first, so let him clear this debt too.

• kailāsaparvateon Mount Kailasa
• ramyebeautiful
• śambhumShambhu
• candrārdhaśekharamwho wears the half moon in his hair
• ṣaḍāmnāyasamāyuktamwho holds the six lines of teaching
• papracchaasked
• nagakanyakāthe mountain's daughter

anvaya ramye kailāsaparvate nagakanyakā candrārdhaśekharam ṣaḍāmnāyasamāyuktam śambhum papraccha

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ṣaḍāmnāya the six lines of teaching — The amnayas are the streams of tantric teaching, counted as six by facing direction: east, south, west, north, upper and lower.

nagakanyakā the mountain's daughter — Parvati, daughter of Himavan. Naga here is a mountain, not a snake.

• pārvatīParvati
• uvācasaid
• deveśaO lord of the gods
• parameśānaO highest master
• sarvaśāstrārthapāragawho has crossed to the far side of every teaching
• upāyamthe way
• ṛṇanāśasyaof the wiping out of debt
• kṛpayākindly
• vadatell
• sāmpratamnow

anvaya pārvatī uvāca deveśa parameśāna sarvaśāstrārthapāraga sāmpratam kṛpayā ṛṇanāśasya upāyam vada

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

pāraga who has crossed to the far side — Paraga is one who has reached the other bank. Of a teaching it means he has gone through the whole of it.

• śrīśivaḥShri Shiva
• samyakwell
• pṛṣṭamasked
• tvayāby you
• bhadreO good one
• lokānāmof the worlds
• hitakāmyayāwishing the good
• tatthat
• sarvamall
• sampravakṣyāmiI shall tell
• sāvadhānāattentive
• avadhārayatake it in

anvaya śrīśivaḥ bhadre lokānām hitakāmyayā tvayā samyak pṛṣṭam tat sarvam sampravakṣyāmi sāvadhānā avadhāraya

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

note The printed śrīśivaḥ stands for śrīśiva uvāca, Shri Shiva said.

• oṃOm
• asyaof this
• śrīṛṇaharamahāgaṇapatistotrasyaShri Rinahara Maha Ganapati hymn
• sadāśivaḥSadashiva
• ṛṣiḥis the seer
• anuṣṭupchandaḥAnushtubh is the metre
• śrīṛṇaharamahāgaṇapatiḥShri Rinahara Maha Ganapati
• devatāis the deity
• glauṃglaum
• bījamis the seed
• gaḥgah
• śaktiḥis the power
• goṃgom
• kīlakamis the pin
• mamamy
• ṛṇanāśanefor the wiping out of debt
• japein this recitation
• viniyogaḥis the application
• gaṇeśaGanesha
• aṅguṣṭhābhyāmto the two thumbs
• namaḥsalutation
• ṛṇamthe debt
• chindhicut
• tarjanībhyāmto the two index fingers
• vareṇyammost to be chosen
• madhyamābhyāmto the two middle fingers
• humhum
• anāmikābhyāmto the two ring fingers
• kaniṣṭhikābhyāmto the two little fingers
• phaṭphat
• karatalakarapṛṣṭhābhyāmto the palms and the backs of the hands
• evamin the same way
• hṛdayādinyāsāḥthe placings on the heart and the rest

anvaya oṃ asya śrīṛṇaharamahāgaṇapatistotrasya sadāśivaḥ ṛṣiḥ anuṣṭupchandaḥ śrīṛṇaharamahāgaṇapatiḥ devatā glauṃ bījam gaḥ śaktiḥ goṃ kīlakam mama ṛṇanāśane jape viniyogaḥ gaṇeśa aṅguṣṭhābhyām namaḥ ṛṇam chindhi tarjanībhyām vareṇyam madhyamābhyām hum anāmikābhyām kaniṣṭhikābhyām phaṭ karatalakarapṛṣṭhābhyām evam hṛdayādinyāsāḥ

chandas Prose

bījam the seed — The seed syllable a mantra grows from. Shakti is the force in it and kilaka the pin that locks it; all three are named before recitation.

nyāsa placing — Nyasa is touching each finger and each part of the body while saying one piece of the mantra, so that the mantra is set on the body before it is said aloud.

phaṭ phat — A syllable that ends a mantra with a snap, used where something is to be cut or driven off. Here what is cut is the debt.

note The six pieces of the mantra are given out one to each pair of fingers, and the same six are then placed on the heart and the rest of the body.

• dhyānamthe meditation
• sindūravarṇamthe colour of vermilion
• dvibhujamtwo-armed
• gaṇeśamGanesha
• lambodaramwith a hanging belly
• padmadaleon a lotus petal
• niviṣṭamseated
• brahmādidevaiḥby Brahma and the other gods
• parisevyamānamwaited upon
• siddhaiḥby the siddhas
• yutamattended
• tamhim
• praṇamāmiI bow to
• devamthe god

anvaya dhyānam sindūravarṇam dvibhujam lambodaram padmadale niviṣṭam brahmādidevaiḥ parisevyamānam siddhaiḥ yutam tam gaṇeśam devam praṇamāmi

chandas Upajāti, 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas

sindūravarṇam the colour of vermilion — The orange-red sindura smeared on his image, which is why the figure in the mind is that colour too.

• pañcapūjāḥthe five offerings
• sṛṣṭyādauat the beginning of creation
• brahmaṇāby Brahma
• samyakproperly
• pūjitaḥworshipped
• phalasiddhayeso that the work would bear fruit
• sadāalways
• evaindeed
• pārvatīputraḥthe son of Parvati
• ṛṇanāśamthe wiping out of debt
• karotumay he do
• mefor me

anvaya pañcapūjāḥ sṛṣṭyādau brahmaṇā phalasiddhaye samyak pūjitaḥ pārvatīputraḥ sadā eva me ṛṇanāśam karotu

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

pañcapūjāḥ the five offerings — Scent, flowers, incense, lamp and food, offered before the hymn begins.

note Eight verses follow the same shape. Each names someone with a hard thing to do, says that he worshipped Ganesha first, and asks for the same help with a debt.

• tripurasyaof Tripura
• vadhātthan the killing
• pūrvambefore
• śambhunāby Shambhu
• samyakproperly
• arcitaḥworshipped
• sadāalways
• evaindeed
• pārvatīputraḥthe son of Parvati
• ṛṇanāśamthe wiping out of debt
• karotumay he do
• mefor me

anvaya tripurasya vadhāt pūrvam śambhunā samyak arcitaḥ pārvatīputraḥ sadā eva me ṛṇanāśam karotu

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

tripura Tripura — The three flying cities of the asuras. Shiva burned them with one arrow, and the story says his chariot broke down first because he had not saluted Ganesha.

• hiraṇyakaśipvādīnāmof Hiranyakashipu and the rest
• vadhārtefor the killing
• viṣṇunāby Vishnu
• arcitaḥworshipped
• sadāalways
• evaindeed
• pārvatīputraḥthe son of Parvati
• ṛṇanāśamthe wiping out of debt
• karotumay he do
• mefor me

anvaya hiraṇyakaśipvādīnām vadhārte viṣṇunā arcitaḥ pārvatīputraḥ sadā eva me ṛṇanāśam karotu

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

note vadhārte is printed for vadhārthe, for the sake of the killing.

• mahiṣasyaof Mahisha
• vadheat the killing
• devyāby the Goddess
• gaṇanāthaḥthe lord of the ganas
• prapūjitaḥworshipped well
• sadāalways
• evaindeed
• pārvatīputraḥthe son of Parvati
• ṛṇanāśamthe wiping out of debt
• karotumay he do
• mefor me

anvaya mahiṣasya vadhe devyā gaṇanāthaḥ prapūjitaḥ pārvatīputraḥ sadā eva me ṛṇanāśam karotu

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

mahiṣa Mahisha — The buffalo asura killed by Durga, the fight told at length in the Devi Mahatmya.

• tārakasyaof Taraka
• vadhātthan the killing
• pūrvambefore
• kumāreṇaby Kumara
• prapūjitaḥworshipped well
• sadāalways
• evaindeed
• pārvatīputraḥthe son of Parvati
• ṛṇanāśamthe wiping out of debt
• karotumay he do
• mefor me

anvaya tārakasya vadhāt pūrvam kumāreṇa prapūjitaḥ pārvatīputraḥ sadā eva me ṛṇanāśam karotu

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

kumāreṇa by Kumara — Kartikeya, born to kill Taraka. Even the brother, born for that one task, worshipped Ganesha before it.

• bhāskareṇaby the Sun
• gaṇeśaḥGanesha
• hiindeed
• pūjitaḥwas worshipped
• caand
• svasiddhayefor his own success
• sadāalways
• evaindeed
• pārvatīputraḥthe son of Parvati
• ṛṇanāśamthe wiping out of debt
• karotumay he do
• mefor me

anvaya bhāskareṇa hi ca svasiddhaye gaṇeśaḥ pūjitaḥ pārvatīputraḥ sadā eva me ṛṇanāśam karotu

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

• śaśināby the Moon
• kāntivṛddhyarthamto make his light grow
• pūjitaḥwas worshipped
• gaṇanāyakaḥthe leader of the ganas
• sadāalways
• evaindeed
• pārvatīputraḥthe son of Parvati
• ṛṇanāśamthe wiping out of debt
• karotumay he do
• mefor me

anvaya śaśinā kāntivṛddhyartham gaṇanāyakaḥ pūjitaḥ pārvatīputraḥ sadā eva me ṛṇanāśam karotu

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

śaśinā by the Moon — Shashin, the one with the hare, is the moon. He is the god who once laughed at Ganesha and was cursed to wane, which makes his worship here pointed.

• pālanāyafor the keeping
• caand
• tapasāmof his austerities
• viśvāmitreṇaby Vishvamitra
• pūjitaḥwas worshipped
• sadāalways
• evaindeed
• pārvatīputraḥthe son of Parvati
• ṛṇanāśamthe wiping out of debt
• karotumay he do
• mefor me

anvaya viśvāmitreṇa ca tapasām pālanāya pūjitaḥ pārvatīputraḥ sadā eva me ṛṇanāśam karotu

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

viśvāmitreṇa by Vishvamitra — The king who became a sage, whose austerities were broken more than once. He worships not to gain anything but to keep what he has already earned.

• idamthis
• ṛṇaharamdebt-clearing
• stotramhymn
• tīvradāridryanāśanamwhich destroys hard poverty
• ekavāramonce
• paṭhetone should recite
• nityamevery day
• varṣama year
• ekamone
• samāhitaḥwith a settled mind

anvaya idam ṛṇaharam tīvradāridryanāśanam stotram samāhitaḥ ekam varṣam nityam ekavāram paṭhet

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

samāhitaḥ with a settled mind — Samahita is gathered together, the opposite of scattered. It is the one condition the hymn puts on the reciter.

note The hymn now gives its own directions: once a day for a year.

• dāridryampoverty
• dāruṇamharsh
• tyaktvāhaving left behind
• kuberasamatāma standing equal to Kubera
• vrajetone would reach
• phaḍantaḥending in phat
• ayamthis
• mahāmantraḥgreat mantra
• sārdhapañcadaśākṣaraḥof fifteen and a half syllables

anvaya dāruṇam dāridryam tyaktvā kuberasamatām vrajet ayam phaḍantaḥ mahāmantraḥ sārdhapañcadaśākṣaraḥ

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

sārdhapañcadaśākṣaraḥ of fifteen and a half syllables — The half syllable is the closing फट्, counted as half because it ends in a consonant with no vowel of its own.

• mantraḥthe mantra
• yathāis as follows
• oṃOm
• gaṇeśaGanesha
• ṛṇamthe debt
• chindhicut
• vareṇyammost to be chosen
• humhum
• namaḥsalutation
• phaṭphat
• imamthis
• mantrammantra
• paṭhetone should recite
• anteat the end
• tataḥthen
• caand
• śucibhāvanaḥwith a clean mind

anvaya mantraḥ yathā oṃ gaṇeśa ṛṇam chindhi vareṇyam hum namaḥ phaṭ tataḥ ca śucibhāvanaḥ ante imam mantram paṭhet

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

chindhi cut — A plain imperative, the same word used for cutting a rope. The mantra does not ask for the debt to be paid but for it to be cut through.

note The mantra itself, the one placed on the fingers in the nyasa at the start.

• ekaviṃśatisaṅkhyābhiḥby counts of twenty-one
• puraścaraṇamthe preparatory round
• īritamis said to be
• sahasrāvartanātby a thousand turns
• samyakproperly
• ṣaṇmāsamfor six months
• priyatāmthe state of being dear
• vrajetone would reach

anvaya ekaviṃśatisaṅkhyābhiḥ puraścaraṇam īritam ṣaṇmāsam samyak sahasrāvartanāt priyatām vrajet

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

puraścaraṇa the preparatory round — Purashcharana is the fixed number of recitations done before a mantra is used for anything, the way a tool is prepared before work.

• bṛhaspatisamaḥequal to Brihaspati
• jñānein knowledge
• dhanein wealth
• dhanapatiḥthe lord of wealth
• bhavethe would become
• asyaof this
• evaitself
• ayutasaṅkhyābhiḥby counts of ten thousand
• puraścaraṇamthe preparatory round
• īritamis said to be

anvaya jñāne bṛhaspatisamaḥ dhane dhanapatiḥ bhavet asya eva ayutasaṅkhyābhiḥ puraścaraṇam īritam

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

bṛhaspati Brihaspati — The teacher of the gods, the measure of learning, as Kubera is the measure of wealth.

ayuta ten thousand — The next count up from a thousand in the old reckoning, and the next step in this practice.

• lakṣama hundred thousand
• āvartanātby turns
• samyakproperly
• vāñchitamwished for
• phalamthe fruit
• āpnuyātone would gain
• bhūtapretapiśācānāmof bhutas, pretas and pishachas
• nāśanamthe destruction
• smṛtimātrataḥby the mere remembering of it

anvaya samyak lakṣam āvartanāt vāñchitam phalam āpnuyāt smṛtimātrataḥ bhūtapretapiśācānām nāśanam

chandas Anuṣṭubh (śloka), 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

note The count rises through the last three verses: twenty-one, a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand.

• itihere ends
• śrīkṛṣṇayāmalatantrāntargatamcontained in the Shri Krishna Yamala Tantra
• ṛṇaharagaṇapatistotramthe Rinahara Ganapati hymn
• sampūrṇamcomplete

anvaya iti śrīkṛṣṇayāmalatantrāntargatam ṛṇaharagaṇapatistotram sampūrṇam

chandas Prose

yāmala Yamala — A Yamala is a class of tantra, named for the pairing of god and goddess in which it is spoken.