Stotra · Ganesha
Sankatanashana Ganesh Stotram: the twelve names of Ganesha, with meaning
Eight verses from the Narada Purana that give Ganesha's twelve names. Its name means “the destroyer of troubles”, and it is recited on Wednesdays, on Sankashti Chaturthi and before anything new.
Listen: Ganesh Stotram (Sankatanashana)
A calm computer-voiced recitation over soft music, checked line by line against the text. It is an aid to reading along, not a replacement for a priest or a family elder.
What this stotra is
In the Narada Purana the sage Narada teaches this prayer: bow to Ganesha, son of Gauri, and remember his twelve names, morning, noon and evening. The names describe him: the curved trunk, the single tusk, the dark-tawny eyes, the elephant face, the large belly, the king of obstacles, the moon on his forehead. Because it is short and clear, it is often the first Sanskrit stotra children learn.
Sankatanashana Ganesh Stotram, with meaning
Verses 2 to 4 hold the twelve names; verses 5 to 8 describe the fruit of reciting them.
Verse 1
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं गौरीपुत्रं विनायकम्।
भक्तावासं स्मरेन्नित्यमायुःकामार्थसिद्धये॥
Pranamya shirasa devam gauri-putram vinayakam,
bhaktavasam smaren nityam ayuh-kamartha-siddhaye.
अर्थ: सिर झुकाकर गौरी-पुत्र विनायक देव को प्रणाम करें, जो भक्तों के हृदय में बसते हैं, और लंबी आयु, इच्छाओं और धन की पूर्ति के लिए उनका रोज़ स्मरण करें।
Meaning: Bowing the head to the god Vinayaka, son of Gauri, who lives in the hearts of his devotees, one should remember him daily for long life and for the fulfilment of wishes and needs.
Verse 2
प्रथमं वक्रतुण्डं च एकदन्तं द्वितीयकम्।
तृतीयं कृष्णपिङ्गाक्षं गजवक्त्रं चतुर्थकम्॥
Prathamam vakratundam cha ekadantam dvitiyakam,
tritiyam krishna-pingaksham gajavaktram chaturthakam.
अर्थ: पहला नाम वक्रतुंड (टेढ़ी सूँड़ वाले), दूसरा एकदंत (एक दाँत वाले), तीसरा कृष्णपिंगाक्ष (काली-पीली आँखों वाले), चौथा गजवक्त्र (हाथी के मुख वाले)।
Meaning: First, Vakratunda, of the curved trunk; second, Ekadanta, of the single tusk; third, Krishnapingaksha, of the dark-tawny eyes; fourth, Gajavaktra, of the elephant face.
Verse 3
लम्बोदरं पञ्चमं च षष्ठं विकटमेव च।
सप्तमं विघ्नराजं च धूम्रवर्णं तथाष्टमम्॥
Lambodaram panchamam cha shashtham vikatam eva cha,
saptamam vighnarajam cha dhumravarnam tathashtamam.
अर्थ: पाँचवाँ लंबोदर (बड़े पेट वाले), छठा विकट (विशाल, अद्भुत रूप वाले), सातवाँ विघ्नराज (विघ्नों के राजा), और आठवाँ धूम्रवर्ण (धुएँ के रंग वाले)।
Meaning: Fifth, Lambodara, of the large belly; sixth, Vikata, the mighty and wondrous; seventh, Vighnaraja, king of obstacles; and eighth, Dhumravarna, the smoke-coloured.
Verse 4
नवमं भालचन्द्रं च दशमं तु विनायकम्।
एकादशं गणपतिं द्वादशं तु गजाननम्॥
Navamam bhalachandram cha dashamam tu vinayakam,
ekadasham ganapatim dvadasham tu gajananam.
अर्थ: नौवाँ भालचंद्र (माथे पर चंद्रमा वाले), दसवाँ विनायक (सबके नायक), ग्यारहवाँ गणपति (गणों के स्वामी), और बारहवाँ गजानन (हाथी के मुख वाले)।
Meaning: Ninth, Bhalachandra, with the Moon on his forehead; tenth, Vinayaka, the supreme leader; eleventh, Ganapati, lord of the ganas; and twelfth, Gajanana, the elephant-faced.
Verse 5
द्वादशैतानि नामानि त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः।
न च विघ्नभयं तस्य सर्वसिद्धिकरं प्रभो॥
Dvadashaitani namani trisandhyam yah pathen narah,
na cha vighna-bhayam tasya sarva-siddhikaram prabho.
अर्थ: जो इन बारह नामों का सुबह, दोपहर और शाम पाठ करता है, उसे विघ्नों का डर नहीं रहता; हे प्रभो, यह पाठ सब कामों में सफलता देता है।
Meaning: Whoever recites these twelve names at dawn, noon and dusk has no fear of obstacles; O Lord, this brings success in everything.
Verse 6
विद्यार्थी लभते विद्यां धनार्थी लभते धनम्।
पुत्रार्थी लभते पुत्रान्मोक्षार्थी लभते गतिम्॥
Vidyarthi labhate vidyam dhanarthi labhate dhanam,
putrarthi labhate putran moksharthi labhate gatim.
अर्थ: विद्या चाहने वाले को विद्या मिलती है, धन चाहने वाले को धन, संतान चाहने वाले को संतान, और मोक्ष चाहने वाले को परम गति।
Meaning: One who seeks learning gains learning, one who seeks wealth gains wealth, one who longs for children is blessed with them, and one who seeks liberation reaches the highest goal.
Verse 7
जपेद्गणपतिस्तोत्रं षड्भिर्मासैः फलं लभेत्।
संवत्सरेण सिद्धिं च लभते नात्र संशयः॥
Japed ganapati-stotram shadbhir masaih phalam labhet,
samvatsarena siddhim cha labhate natra samshayah.
अर्थ: जो इस गणपति स्तोत्र का जप करता है, उसे छह महीने में फल मिलता है, और एक वर्ष में सिद्धि; इसमें संदेह नहीं।
Meaning: Whoever repeats this Ganapati stotra sees its fruit in six months and its full blessing within a year; of this there is no doubt.
Verse 8
अष्टभ्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च लिखित्वा यः समर्पयेत्।
तस्य विद्या भवेत्सर्वा गणेशस्य प्रसादतः॥
Ashtabhyo brahmanebhyash cha likhitva yah samarpayet,
tasya vidya bhavet sarva ganeshasya prasadatah.
अर्थ: जो इसे लिखकर आठ विद्वान ब्राह्मणों को भेंट करता है, उसे गणेश जी की कृपा से सारी विद्या प्राप्त होती है।
Meaning: Whoever writes it out and offers it to eight learned Brahmins gains every kind of knowledge by the grace of Ganesha.
How to recite it
It takes about three minutes.
- Sit before a picture of Ganesha; offer durva grass or a flower if you have them, and light a diya.
- Recite the eight verses slowly. Traditionally it is said three times a day (trisandhya), but once a day is a good start.
- Wednesdays, Sankashti Chaturthi and the ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi are especially favoured. End with the Ganesh aarti if you like.
Questions
What are the twelve names of Ganesha?
Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Krishnapingaksha, Gajavaktra, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnaraja, Dhumravarna, Bhalachandra, Vinayaka, Ganapati and Gajanana.
Where does this stotra come from?
The Narada Purana, where Narada teaches it. It is also called the Sankatanashana (trouble-destroying) Ganesh Stotram.
Do I have to recite it three times a day?
The text praises reciting it at the three junctions of the day, but once a day with attention is a good practice. Verse 7's six months and a year describe steady practice, not a guarantee.
Text and sources
The Sanskrit text (Narada Purana) is public domain. Every verse was checked against Drik Panchang and Sanskrit Wikisource (from the Brihat Stotra Ratnakara); obvious typing slips in both (such as “smarenityam”, “gajavakra”, “phalachandram”, “nava vighnabhayam”) are corrected to the standard reading. Variants you may meet: “saptamam vighnarajendram” in verse 3 and “sarva-siddhikaram param” in verse 5. The transliteration and meanings are our own.
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