Ganesha

Ganapati Atharvashirsha

गणपत्यथर्वशीर्षम्

The Ganapati Atharvashirsha (also called Gaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣam or Gaṇapatya Upaniṣad) is a sacred Upanishad from the Atharvaṇa tradition, dedicated entirely to Lord Gaṇeśa. It declares Gaṇeśa to be the Supreme Brahman itself — not merely an auspicious deity, but the very ground of all existence. The text reveals Gaṇeśa as the embodiment of all five elements, all three guṇas, all three states of consciousness, and the root of all sound in the sacred syllable 'Gaṃ'. It is traditionally recited 21 times for the removal of obstacles, at the start of any undertaking, and during Gaṇeśa worship (especially on Gaṇeśa Chaturthi).

गणपति अथर्वशीर्ष (गणपत्यथर्वशीर्षम् अथवा गाणपत्य उपनिषद्) अथर्ववेद की परम्परा का एक पवित्र उपनिषद् है जो पूर्णतः भगवान गणेश को समर्पित है। यह घोषणा करता है कि गणेश स्वयं परब्रह्म हैं — केवल एक मंगलकारी देवता नहीं, अपितु समस्त सत्ता का आधार। पाठ में गणेश को पञ्चभूतों, त्रिगुणों, चेतना की तीनों अवस्थाओं और 'गं' बीजाक्षर में समस्त ध्वनि का मूल बताया गया है।

Writer: Ganaka Rishi (Atharvaṇa tradition)Source: Ganapati Upanishad (Atharvaveda)Source: Atharvaveda Upanishads Source: Atharvaveda11 verses

Śānti Pāṭha — Opening Peace

ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः । भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः । स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवाग्ँसस्तनूभिः । व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ॥ ॐ स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः । स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः । स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः । स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Translation

O gods, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious. May we see with our eyes what is auspicious. With steady limbs and bodies, offering praise, may we enjoy the life granted by the gods. May Indra of great renown, Pūṣan the all-knowing, Tārkṣya Ariṣṭanemi, and Bṛhaspati grant us well-being. OM — Peace, Peace, Peace.

Namaskāra — Salutation to Gaṇapati

ॐ नमस्ते गणपतये । त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं तत्त्वमसि । त्वमेव केवलं कर्तासि । त्वमेव केवलं धर्तासि । त्वमेव केवलं हर्तासि । त्वमेव सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्मासि । त्वं साक्षादात्मासि नित्यम् ॥

Translation

OM — Salutation to you, O Gaṇapati! You alone are the directly perceived Truth. You alone are the Creator. You alone are the Sustainer. You alone are the Destroyer. You alone are verily all this Brahman. You are directly the eternal Self.

Rakṣā Mantra — Protection in All Directions

अव त्वं माम् । अव वक्तारम् । अव श्रोतारम् । अव दातारम् । अव धातारम् । अवानूचानमव शिष्यम् । अव पश्चात्तात् । अव पुरस्तात् । अवोत्तरात्तात् । अव दक्षिणात्तात् । अव चोर्ध्वात्तात् । अवाधरात्तात् । सर्वतो मां पाहि पाहि समन्तात् ॥

Translation

Protect me. Protect the speaker (teacher). Protect the listener (student). Protect the giver. Protect the sustainer. Protect the teacher of the tradition and the disciple. Protect from behind, from the front, from the north, from the south, from above, from below. Protect me from all sides — protect, protect!

Brahmopaniṣad — Ganesha as Brahman

त्वं वाङ्मयस्त्वं चिन्मयः । त्वमानन्दमयस्त्वं ब्रह्ममयः । त्वं सच्चिदानन्दाद्वितीयोऽसि । त्वं प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि । त्वं ज्ञानमयो विज्ञानमयोऽसि ॥

Translation

You are made of all speech. You are pure consciousness. You are bliss. You are Brahman. You are the non-dual Sat-Cit-Ānanda (Being-Consciousness-Bliss). You are directly Brahman. You are the form of both knowledge and wisdom.

Sṛṣṭi Mantra — Ganesha as the Universe

सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तो जायते । सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तस्तिष्ठति । सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि लयमेष्यति । सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि प्रत्येति । त्वं भूमिरापोऽनलोऽनिलश्च । त्वं चत्वारि वाक्पदानि ॥

Translation

All this universe is born from you. All this universe is sustained by you. All this universe will dissolve into you. All this universe returns to you. You are earth, water, fire, and air. You are the four levels of speech.

Guṇātīta — Beyond the Three Guṇas

त्वं गुणत्रयातीतः । त्वमवस्थात्रयातीतः । त्वं देहत्रयातीतः । त्वं कालत्रयातीतः । त्वं मूलाधारस्थितोऽसि नित्यम् । त्वं शक्तित्रयात्मकः । त्वां योगिनो ध्यायन्ति नित्यम् ॥

Translation

You are beyond the three guṇas. You are beyond the three states of consciousness. You are beyond the three bodies. You are beyond the three times. You are eternally present in the Mūlādhāra chakra. You embody the three śaktis. The yogis meditate upon you eternally.

Viśvarūpa — Ganesha as All Gods

त्वं ब्रह्मास्त्वं विष्णुस्त्वं रुद्रस्त्वमिन्द्रस्त्वमग्निस्त्वं वायुस्त्वं सूर्यस्त्वं चन्द्रमास्त्वं ब्रह्म भूर्भुवःस्वरोम् ॥

Translation

You are Brahmā, you are Viṣṇu, you are Rudra, you are Indra, you are Agni, you are Vāyu, you are Sūrya, you are Candra — you are Brahman, the three worlds, and OM.

Gāṇeśa Vidyā — The Secret of Gaṃ

गणादिं पूर्वमुच्चार्य वर्णादिं तदनन्तरम् । अनुस्वारः परतरः । अर्धेन्दुलसितम् । तारेण ऋद्धम् । एतत्तव मनुस्वरूपम् । गकारः पूर्वरूपम् । अकारो मध्यमरूपम् । अनुस्वारश्चान्त्यरूपम् । बिन्दुरुत्तररूपम् । नादः संधानम् । सागंश्च संहिता । एषा गणेशविद्या । गणकऋषिः । निचृद्गायत्री छन्दः । गणपतिर्देवता । ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥

Translation

First utter 'Gaṇa' (the syllable Ga-ग), then the first vowel 'a' (अ), then the anusvāra (nasal dot), adorned with the half-moon, enriched with OM — this is your mantra-form. Ga is the first part, 'a' is the middle, the anusvāra is the end, the bindu is above, nāda is the junction — together they form Gaṃ. This is the Gaṇeśa Vidyā. Its Ṛṣi is Ganaka, its meter is Nicṛt Gāyatrī, its deity is Gaṇapati. OM Gaṃ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ.

Dhyāna Mantra — Meditation on the Form

एकदन्तं चतुर्हस्तं पाशमङ्कुशधारिणम् । रदं च वरदं हस्तैर्बिभ्राणं मूषकध्वजम् । रक्तं लम्बोदरं शूर्पकर्णकं रक्तवाससम् । रक्तगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गं रक्तपुष्पैः सुपूजितम् । भक्तानुकम्पिनं देवं जगत्कारणमच्युतम् । आविर्भूतं च सृष्ट्यादौ प्रकृतेः पुरुषात्परम् । एवं ध्यायति यो नित्यं स योगी योगिनां वरः ॥

Translation

Single-tusked, four-armed, holding a noose and a goad, bearing his own tusk and the boon-granting gesture — with the mouse as his emblem. Red-hued, large-bellied, winnowing-fan-eared, clad in red, anointed with red sandal, worshipped with red flowers. Compassionate to devotees, the imperishable cause of the universe, manifested at the beginning of creation, beyond both Nature and Spirit. He who meditates upon this form eternally — that yogi is the foremost among all yogis.

Namaskāra Ṣaṭka — Sixfold Salutation

नमो व्रातपतये । नमो गणपतये । नमः प्रमथपतये । नमस्तेऽस्तु लम्बोदरायैकदन्ताय । विघ्ननाशिने शिवसुताय । श्रीवरदमूर्तये नमः ॥

Translation

Salutation to the Lord of all hosts. Salutation to Gaṇapati. Salutation to the Lord of the Pramathas. Salutation to the large-bellied, single-tusked, destroyer of obstacles, son of Śiva — salutation to the auspicious boon-granting form.

Phalashruti — Benefits of Recitation

एतदथर्वशीर्षं योऽधीते । स ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते । स सर्वविघ्नैर्न बाध्यते । स सर्वतः सुखमेधते । स पञ्चमहापापात्प्रमुच्यते । सायमधीयानो दिवसकृतं पापं नाशयति । प्रातरधीयानो रात्रिकृतं पापं नाशयति । सायंप्रातः प्रयुञ्जानो अपापो भवति । सर्वत्राधीयानोऽपविघ्नो भवति । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षं च विन्दति ॥

Translation

Whoever studies this Atharvashirsha becomes fit for union with Brahman. No obstacles afflict them. Happiness grows for them in all directions. They are freed from the five great sins. Recited in the evening, it destroys the sins of the day. Recited in the morning, it destroys the sins of the night. Recited both morning and evening, one becomes sinless. Recited everywhere, all obstacles are removed. They attain dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation — all four aims of life.