About this stotra
This is one of the most beloved prayers offered to Lord Ganesha, the God of auspiciousness and success, as he is known for removing obstacles. A great way to start the day, this prayer is also chanted before starting any new activity. The verse emphasises Lord Ganesha’s divine attributes: being worshipped by celestial beings, enjoying sacred offerings, and being the beloved son of Goddess Parvati.
Most profoundly, he is "śoka vināśa kāraṇaṃ", the cause of destruction of sorrow - which can be understood at different depths of devotion. For the devotee facing life's challenges, He is the compassionate deity who removes sorrows and obstacles, bringing relief and protection. His very name "Vighneshwara" offers solace. Vighna means obstacles, or difficulties and Ishwara means Lord, ruler, or master. As our inner connection with the divine deepens, these words unveil their deeper truth - that he dissolves the very root cause (kāraṇaṃ) of our suffering: which is the primal ignorance that makes us feel separate from our true Self. The beauty of this phrase lies in how it addresses both the immediate needs of the suffering devotee and the ultimate resolution of all suffering through spiritual transformation.
By bowing to the lotus feet (pāda paṅkajam) of the Lord, devotees express their complete surrender, seeking his grace and protection. Chanting this verse fosters a sense of devotion, and trust in Lord Ganesha for guidance, strength, and the elimination of sorrows.
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
Gajananam Bhuthaganadhi – Verse 1
गजाननं भूतगणादि सेवितं
कपित्थजम्बूफलसार भक्षितम्
उमासुतं शोकविनाशकारणं
नमामि विघ्नेश्वर पादपङ्कजम्
gajānanaṃ bhūtagaṇādi sevitaṃ
kapitthajambūphalasāra bhakṣitam
umāsutaṃ śokavināśakāraṇaṃ
namāmi vighneśvara pādapaṅkajam
I bow to the lotus feet of Lord Vighneshwara (the remover of obstacles), who is served by the celestial beings and other devotees, who relishes the essence of kapittha and jambu fruits, who is the son of Goddess Uma (Parvati), and who is the cause of the destruction of sorrow.
Word by word
- गजाननं (gajānanaṃ)
- elephant-faced (gaja:elephant | ānanaṃ:face)
- भूतगणादि (bhūtagaṇādi)
- attended by spirits and others (bhūta:spirits | gaṇa:group | ādi:and others)
- सेवितं (sevitaṃ)
- served by
- कपित्थजम्बूफलसार (kapitthajambūphalasāra)
- essence of kapittha and jambu fruits (kapittha:wood apple | jambū:jambu fruit | phala:fruit | sāra:essence)
- भक्षितम् (bhakṣitam)
- consumed
- उमासुतं (umāsutaṃ)
- son of Uma (umā:Uma | sutaṃ:son)
- शोकविनाशकारणं (śokavināśakāraṇaṃ)
- cause of sorrow's destruction (śoka:sorrow | vināśa:destruction | kāraṇaṃ:cause)
- नमामि (namāmi)
- I bow
- विघ्नेश्वर (vighneśvara)
- Lord of obstacles (vighna:obstacle | īśvara:lord)
- पादपङ्कजम् (pādapaṅkajam)
- lotus feet (pāda:feet | paṅkajam:lotus)
