The Ganapati Atharvashirsha, a sacred Upanishad from the Atharvaveda, is a divine hymn that unveils the profound essence of Bhagwan Ganesh, the remover of obstacles and the embodiment of wisdom, bliss, and cosmic unity. Its verses, resonating with spiritual depth, paint a vivid and enchanting picture of Ganeshji, inviting devotees into a realm of devotion, awe, and eternal connection with the divine. Let’s understand the meaning of this Stotram / Upanishad in simple language. I have avoided verse numbering as it differs many a times but all verses are taken.

ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवा। भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः।।
स्थिरैरंगैस्तुष्टुवां सस्तनूभिः। व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः।।

ॐ स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः। स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः॥
स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः। स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु॥
ॐ शांतिः॥ शांतिः॥ शांतिः॥

These opening mantras, drawn from the Taittiriya Upanishad, are a heartfelt prayer for peace and divine grace. They invoke the blessings of the devas, asking that our ears hear auspicious sounds, our eyes behold sacred visions, and our bodies remain strong to sing praises of the divine. The verses call upon Indra, the mighty one of ancient fame; Pushan, the knower of all; Tarkshya, the protector from harm; and Brihaspati, the lord of wisdom, to grant well-being and serenity. The threefold chant of “Shanti” envelops the mind, body, and soul in a tranquil embrace, preparing the heart to receive the radiant wisdom of Bhagwan Ganesh.

ॐ नमस्ते गणपतये।।
त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं तत्त्वमसि। त्वमेव केवलं कर्ताऽसि। त्वमेव केवलं धर्ताऽसि। त्वमेव केवलं हर्ताऽसि।
त्वमेव सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्मासि। त्वं साक्षादात्माऽसि नित्यम्

O Bhagwan Ganesh, I bow to you with boundless devotion! You are the eternal truth, the very essence of existence, shining before us as the ultimate reality. You alone are the creator, weaving the tapestry of the universe with your divine will. You alone are the sustainer, holding all creation in your loving embrace. You alone are the dissolver, guiding all things back to their source. You are the all-pervading Brahman, the cosmic spirit that dances in every atom of existence. You are the eternal Self, forever radiant, forever present, guiding us to the truth of our own divine nature.

ऋतं वच्मि। सत्यं वच्मि।।

I speak the cosmic order; I proclaim the eternal truth. These words resonate with the purity of divine law, affirming the unshakeable reality of Ganeshji’s presence in all that is true and sacred.

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

Protect me, O Ganeshji, with your boundless compassion! Guard the speaker, the listener, the giver, the sustainer, the teacher, and the disciple. Surround me from behind, before me, above, below, to the north, and to the south. Encircle me with your divine presence, shielding me from all directions. Like a loving guardian, your grace wraps the devotee in a cocoon of safety, ensuring no obstacle can dim the light of the soul’s journey.

त्वं वाङ्‍मयस्त्वं चिन्मय:। त्वमानंदमयस्त्वं ब्रह्ममय:।
त्वं सच्चिदानंदा द्वितीयोऽसि। त्वं प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि। त्वं ज्ञानमयो विज्ञानमयोऽसि ॥

You are the essence of speech, the radiance of consciousness, the ocean of bliss, and the embodiment of Brahman. You are Sat-Chit-Ananda—existence, consciousness, and bliss—without a second, the one and only reality. You are the visible Brahman, standing before us in your majestic form, yet you are the formless wisdom and supreme knowledge. In you, O Ganeshji, the devotee finds the spark of divine understanding, a beacon that illuminates the path to enlightenment.

सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तो जायते॥ सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तस्तिष्ठति॥ सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि लयमेष्यति॥
सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि प्रत्येति॥ त्वं भूमिरापोऽनलोऽनिलो नभः॥ त्वं चत्वारि वाक्पदानि ॥

The entire universe springs forth from you, O Ganeshji. It is sustained by your divine will and merges back into you at the end of time. All that exists returns to you, its eternal source. You are the earth, water, fire, air, and ether—the five elements that weave the fabric of creation. You are the four levels of speech, from the subtlest whisper of the divine to the spoken word. In your vastness, the cosmos finds its rhythm, and in your presence, every heart feels the pulse of creation.

त्वं गुणत्रयातीतः त्वमवस्थात्रयातीतः॥ त्वं देहत्रयातीतः ॥ त्वं कालत्रयातीतः॥
त्वं मूलाधारस्थितोऽसि नित्यम्॥ त्वं शक्तित्रयात्मकः॥ त्वां योगिनो ध्यायंति नित्यं॥
त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं विष्णुस्त्वं रुद्रस्त्वं इन्द्रस्त्वं अग्निस्त्वं वायुस्त्वं सूर्यस्त्वं चंद्रमास्त्वं
ब्रह्मभूर्भुवःस्वरोम्॥

You transcend the three gunas—sattva, rajas, and tamas—beyond the qualities that bind the world. You are beyond the three states of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, and beyond the three bodies—physical, subtle, and causal. You transcend the three times—past, present, and future. Residing eternally at the Muladhara, the root of existence, you embody the three divine energies. Yogis meditate upon you ceaselessly, their hearts alight with your presence. You are Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; Rudra, the transformer; Indra, Agni, Vayu, Surya, and Chandra—the divine forces of the cosmos. You are the sacred syllable OM, resonating through the three worlds—Bhu, Bhuvah, and Svah. In you, O Ganeshji, all divinities unite, and the devotee finds the eternal song of the universe.

णादि पूर्वमुच्चार्य वर्णादि तदनंतरम्॥ अनुस्वारः परतरः ॥ अर्धेन्दुलसितम् ॥ तारेण ऋद्धम्॥
एतत्तव मनुस्वरूपम् ॥ गकारः पूर्वरूपम्॥ अकारो मध्यमरूपम् ॥ अनुस्वारश्चान्त्यरूपम्॥
बिन्दुरुत्तररूपम् ॥ नादः संधानम्॥ संहितासंधिः ॥ सैषा गणेशविद्या॥ गणकऋषिः ॥
निचृद्गायत्रीच्छंदः॥ गणपतिर्देवता ॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः॥

Your sacred mantra, O Ganeshji, is a celestial melody that awakens the soul. It begins with the primal sound, followed by the letter “Ga,” adorned with the crescent moon of the anusvara and empowered by the divine “OM.” The mantra’s form is revealed: “Ga” as the beginning, “A” as the middle, the anusvara as the end, and the bindu as the supreme culmination. The mystic sound (nada) binds these together in perfect harmony. This is the sacred Ganesh Vidya, revealed by the sage Ganaka, composed in the Nichrid Gayatri meter, with Ganeshji as its deity. Chanting “OM Gam Ganapataye Namah,” the devotee merges with your divine vibration, a sacred key that unlocks the gates of wisdom and liberation.

एकदंताय विद्महे । वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि। तन्नो दन्तिः प्रचोदयात् ॥

We know you, O One-Tusked Ganeshji; we meditate upon you, O Curved-Trunked One. May you, the divine Danti, inspire and guide us. This Gayatri mantra, luminous and powerful, invokes your wisdom to illuminate our minds, urging us toward the path of truth and divine realization.

एकदंतं चतुर्हस्तं पाशमंकुशधारिणम्। रदं च वरदं हस्तैर्ब्रिभ्राणं मूषकध्वजम्।
रक्तं लंबोदरं शूर्पकर्णकं रक्तवाससम्। रक्तगंधानुलिप्तांगं रक्तपुष्पै: सुपुजितम्।
भक्तानुकंपिनं देवं जगत्कारणमच्युतम्। आविर्भूतं च सृष्टयादौ प्रकृतेः पुरुषात्परम्।
एवं ध्यायति यो नित्यं स योगी योगिनां वर:॥

O Ganeshji, your form is a vision of divine splendor! With one tusk and four arms, you wield the noose and goad, guiding souls toward liberation. In your other hands, you hold the boon of fearlessness and the gift of blessings, your mouse-banner fluttering as a symbol of humility. Clad in radiant red, with a generous belly and fan-like ears, you are anointed with crimson sandalpaste and adorned with scarlet flowers, worshipped with love by your devotees. Compassionate and eternal, you are the cause of the universe, beyond Prakriti and Purusha, manifesting at the dawn of creation. The yogi who meditates on this divine form becomes the greatest among yogis, their soul forever entwined with your boundless grace.

नमो व्रातपतये। नमो गणपतये। नम: प्रमथपतये। नमस्तेऽस्तु लंबोदरायैकदंताय।
विघ्ननाशिने शिवसुताय। श्री वरदमूर्तये नमो नमः॥

Salutations to you, O Leader of the Ganas, Master of all beings, and Lord of Shiva’s attendants! I bow to you, O Large-Bellied, One-Tusked Ganeshji, the destroyer of obstacles, the divine son of Shiva, and the bestower of boons. With every prostration, the heart sings your praises, and the soul finds refuge in your radiant presence.

एतदथर्वशीर्षं योऽधीते। स ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते। स सर्वतः सुखमेधते। स सर्वविघ्नैर्नबाध्यते।
स पञ्चमहापापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥

Whoever recites this Atharvashirsha merges with Brahman, attaining supreme bliss. They are blessed with joy from all directions, untouched by obstacles, and liberated from the five great sins. This sacred hymn is a divine ladder, lifting the devotee to the heights of spiritual fulfillment.

सायमधीयानो दिवसकृतं पापं नाशयति। प्रातरधीयानो रात्रिकृतं पापं नाशयति।
सायंप्रातः प्रयुञ्जानो अपापो भवति। सर्वत्राधीयानोऽपविघ्नो भवति।
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षं च विन्दति ॥

Chanting this hymn in the evening dissolves the sins of the day; chanting it in the morning erases the sins of the night. Reciting it both morning and evening, one becomes free from all impurities. Chanting it everywhere, obstacles vanish, and the four aims of life—dharma, artha, kama, and moksha—are attained. Like a river of grace, this Upanishad washes away all impurities, guiding the devotee to the ultimate goal of liberation.

इदम् अथर्वशीर्षमऽशिष्याय न देयम्। यो यदि मोहाद्दास्यति स पापीयान् भवति।
सहस्रावर्तनात् यं यं काममधीते। तं तमनेन साधयेत्॥

This sacred Atharvashirsha must not be given to the unworthy, for sharing it out of delusion brings sin. Yet, chanting it a thousand times fulfills all desires, granting the devotee their heartfelt wishes through your divine grace, O Ganeshji.

अनेन गणपतिमभिषिञ्चति स वाग्मी भवति। चतुर्थ्यामनश्नञ्जपति स विद्यावान् भवति।
इत्यथर्वण वाक्यं। ब्रह्माद्यावरणं विद्यात्। न बिभेति कदाचनेति ॥

One who anoints Ganeshji with this hymn becomes eloquent in speech. Chanting it on the fourth day of the lunar month without eating brings profound knowledge. The words of the Atharva Veda proclaim: “Know the divine enclosure of Brahman and fear nothing ever.” This hymn is a shield of wisdom, empowering the devotee with courage and clarity.

यो दूर्वाङ्कुरैर्यजति स वैश्रवणोपमो भवति। यो लाजैर्यजति स यशोवान् भवति। स मेधावान् भवति।
यो मोदकसहस्रेण यजति। स वाञ्छितफलमवाप्नोति। यः साज्यसमिद्भिर्यजति। स सर्वं लभते स सर्वं लभते ॥

Offering tender durva grass to Ganeshji grants wealth like Kubera. Offering puffed rice brings fame and wisdom. Worshipping with a thousand modakas fulfills all desires. Offering ghee-soaked wood in a fire sacrifice bestows everything—truly, everything! Each act of devotion is a flower laid at Ganeshji’s feet, blooming into divine blessings.

अष्टौ ब्राह्मणान् सम्यग्ग्राहयित्वा सूर्यवर्चस्वी भवति। सूर्यग्रहे महानद्यां प्रतिमासंनिधौ वा जप्त्वा
सिद्धमंत्रो भवति। महाविघ्नात्प्रमुच्यते। महादोषात्प्रमुच्यते। महापापात् प्रमुच्यते।
स सर्वविद्भवति स सर्वविद्भवति। य एवं वेद इत्युपनिषत् ॥

Teaching this hymn to eight learned Brahmins brings the radiance of the sun. Chanting it during a solar eclipse, near a great river, or by Ganeshji’s idol perfects the mantra. It liberates from great obstacles, faults, and sins. The one who knows this becomes the knower of all. Thus declares the Upanishad, a sacred whisper of eternal truth.

अथर्ववेदीय गणपतिउपनिषद समाप्त।।

The Ganapati Atharvashirsha concludes, leaving the heart brimming with devotion, the mind illuminated with wisdom, and the soul forever entwined with the divine essence of Bhagwan Ganesh.

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