Ganapati Atharvashirsha
गणपति अथर्वशीर्ष • Ganapati Atharvashirsham
About
Ganapati Atharvashirsha is a Sanskrit text and a minor Upanishad dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It is a late Upanishad that celebrates Ganesha as the embodiment of the ultimate reality, Brahman. It is one of the most popular prayers to Ganesha.
गणपति अथर्वशीर्ष एक संस्कृत ग्रंथ और गणेश जी को समर्पित एक लघु उपनिषद है। यह गणेश जी को परम ब्रह्म के रूप में मनाता है। यह गणेश जी की सबसे लोकप्रिय प्रार्थनाओं में से एक है।
Quick Reference
Benefits
- Removes all obstacles (Vighna Nashak)
- Grants wisdom and intelligence
- Brings success in all endeavors
- Bestows spiritual enlightenment
- Protects from negative energies
- Fulfills all desires
- Grants liberation (Moksha)
When to Recite
| Days | Wednesday, Chaturthi (4th day of lunar fortnight), Ganesh Chaturthi |
| Times | Morning after bath, Before starting any new work |
| Occasions | Before any auspicious beginning, During Ganesh Puja, Daily practice for devotees |
| Recommended Count | Once, 11 times, or 21 times |
Verses
ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः। भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः। स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवांसस्तनूभिः। व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः। स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः। स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः। स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः। स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु। ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Om bhadram karnebhih shrunuyama devah | Bhadram pashyemakshabhir yajatraah | Sthirair angais tushtuvamsas tanubhih | Vyashema devahitam yadayuh | Svasti na Indro vriddhashravaah | Svasti nah Pusha vishvavedaah | Svasti nas Tarkshyo arishtanemih | Svasti no Brihaspatir dadhaatu | Om Shantih Shantih Shantih ||
ॐ नमस्ते गणपतये। त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं तत्त्वमसि। त्वमेव केवलं कर्तासि। त्वमेव केवलं धर्तासि। त्वमेव केवलं हर्तासि। त्वमेव सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्मासि। त्वं साक्षादात्मासि नित्यम्॥१॥
Om Namaste Ganapataye | Tvameva pratyaksham tattvamasi | Tvameva kevalam kartasi | Tvameva kevalam dhartasi | Tvameva kevalam hartasi | Tvameva sarvam khalvidam Brahmasi | Tvam sakshadatmasi nityam ||1||
ऋतं वच्मि। सत्यं वच्मि॥२॥
Ritam vachmi | Satyam vachmi ||2||
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॥३॥
Ava tvam mam | Ava vaktaram | Ava shrotaram | Ava dataram | Ava dhataram | Avanuchanam ava shishyam | Ava pashchattat | Ava purastat | Avottarattat | Ava dakshinattat | Ava chordhvattat | Avadharattat | Sarvato mam pahi pahi samantat ||3||
त्वं वाङ्मयस्त्वं चिन्मयः। त्वमानन्दमयस्त्वं ब्रह्ममयः। त्वं सच्चिदानन्दाद्वितीयोऽसि। त्वं प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि। त्वं ज्ञानमयो विज्ञानमयोऽसि॥४॥
Tvam vangmayas tvam chinmayah | Tvam anandamayas tvam brahmamayah | Tvam sachchidanandadvitiyosi | Tvam pratyaksham Brahmasi | Tvam jnanamayo vijnanamayosi ||4||
सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तो जायते। सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तस्तिष्ठति। सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि लयमेष्यति। सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि प्रत्येति। त्वं भूमिरापोऽनलोऽनिलो नभः। त्वं चत्वारि वाक्पदानि॥५॥
Sarvam jagadidam tvatto jayate | Sarvam jagadidam tvattastishthati | Sarvam jagadidam tvayi layameshyati | Sarvam jagadidam tvayi pratyeti | Tvam bhumiraponalonilo nabhah | Tvam chatvari vakpadani ||5||
त्वं गुणत्रयातीतः। त्वं देहत्रयातीतः। त्वं कालत्रयातीतः। त्वं मूलाधारस्थितोऽसि नित्यम्। त्वं शक्तित्रयात्मकः। त्वां योगिनो ध्यायन्ति नित्यम्। त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं विष्णुस्त्वं रुद्रस्त्वमिन्द्रस्त्वमग्निस्त्वं वायुस्त्वं सूर्यस्त्वं चन्द्रमास्त्वं ब्रह्मभूर्भुवः स्वरोम्॥६॥
Tvam gunatrayatitah | Tvam dehatrayatitah | Tvam kalatrayatitah | Tvam muladharasthitosi nityam | Tvam shaktitrayatmakah | Tvam yogino dhyayanti nityam | Tvam Brahma tvam Vishnus tvam Rudras tvam Indras tvam Agnis tvam Vayus tvam Suryas tvam Chandramas tvam Brahma Bhur Bhuvah Svarom ||6||
गणादिं पूर्वमुच्चार्य वर्णादिं तदनन्तरम्। अनुस्वारः परतरः। अर्धेन्दुलसितम्। तारेण ऋद्धम्। एतत्तव मनुस्वरूपम्। गकारः पूर्वरूपम्। अकारो मध्यमरूपम्। अनुस्वारश्चान्त्यरूपम्। बिन्दुरुत्तररूपम्। नादः सन्धानम्। संहिता सन्धिः। सैषा गणेशविद्या। गणक ऋषिः। निचृद्गायत्री छन्दः। गणपतिर्देवता। ॐ गं गणपतये नमः॥७॥
Ganadim purvam uchcharya varnadim tadanantaram | Anusvarah paratarah | Ardhendu-lasitam | Tarena riddham | Etat tava manu-svarupam | Gakarah purvarupam | Akaro madhyamarupam | Anusvarash chantya-rupam | Bindur uttararupam | Nadah sandhanam | Samhita sandhih | Saisha Ganesha-vidya | Ganaka rishih | Nichrit Gayatri chhandah | Ganapatir devata | Om Gam Ganapataye Namah ||7||
एकदन्तं चतुर्हस्तं पाशमङ्कुशधारिणम्। रदं च वरदं हस्तैर्बिभ्राणं मूषकध्वजम्। रक्तं लम्बोदरं शूर्पकर्णकं रक्तवाससम्। रक्तगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गं रक्तपुष्पैः सुपूजितम्॥८॥
Ekadantam chaturhastam pasham ankusha-dharinam | Radam cha varadam hastair bibhranam mushaka-dhvajam | Raktam lambodaram shurpa-karnakam rakta-vasasam | Rakta-gandhanuliptangam rakta-pushpaih supujitam ||8||
भक्तानुकम्पिनं देवं जगत्कारणमच्युतम्। आविर्भूतं च सृष्ट्यादौ प्रकृतेः पुरुषात्परम्। एवं ध्यायति यो नित्यं स योगी योगिनां वरः॥९॥
Bhaktanukampinam devam jagat-karanam achyutam | Avirbhutam cha srishtyādau prakriteh purushat param | Evam dhyayati yo nityam sa yogi yoginam varah ||9||
ॐ एकदन्ताय विद्महे वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि। तन्नो दन्ती प्रचोदयात्॥१०॥
Om Ekadantaya vidmahe Vakratundaya dhimahi | Tanno Danti prachodayat ||10||
ॐ एकदन्ताय नमः। ॐ वक्रतुण्डाय नमः। ॐ गजवक्त्राय नमः। ॐ लम्बोदराय नमः। ॐ विकटाय नमः। ॐ विघ्नराजाय नमः। ॐ गणाधिपाय नमः। ॐ धूम्रकेतवे नमः। ॐ गणाध्यक्षाय नमः। ॐ भालचन्द्राय नमः। ॐ गजाननाय नमः। ॐ विघ्ननाशाय नमः॥११॥
Om Ekadantaya Namah | Om Vakratundaya Namah | Om Gajavaktraya Namah | Om Lambodaraya Namah | Om Vikataya Namah | Om Vighnarajaya Namah | Om Ganadhipaya Namah | Om Dhumraketave Namah | Om Ganadhyakshaya Namah | Om Bhalachandraya Namah | Om Gajananaya Namah | Om Vighnanashaya Namah ||11||
एतदथर्वशीर्षं योऽधीते। स ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते। स सर्वविघ्नैर्न बाध्यते। स सर्वतः सुखमेधते। स पञ्चमहापापात् प्रमुच्यते। सायमधीयानो दिवसकृतं पापं नाशयति। प्रातरधीयानो रात्रिकृतं पापं नाशयति। सायं प्रातः प्रयुञ्जानो अपापो भवति। सर्वत्राधीयानोऽपविघ्नो भवति। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षं च विन्दति। इदमथर्वशीर्षमशिष्याय न देयम्। यो यदि मोहाद्दास्यति स पापीयान् भवति। सहस्रावर्तनाद्यं यं काममधीते तं तमनेन साधयेत्॥
Etad Atharvashirsham yo'dhite | Sa Brahmabhuyaya kalpate | Sa sarva-vighnair na badhyate | Sa sarvatah sukham edhate | Sa pancha-maha-papat pramuchyate | Sayam adhiyano divasa-kritam papam nashayati | Pratar adhiyano ratri-kritam papam nashayati | Sayam pratah prayunjano apapo bhavati | Sarvatrad hiyano'pavighno bhavati | Dharmartha-kama-moksham cha vindati | Idam Atharvashirsham ashishyaya na deyam | Yo yadi mohad dasyati sa papiyan bhavati | Sahasravartanad yam yam kamam adhite tam tam anena sadhayet ||
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih ||
About Ganpati Atharvashirsha — The Ganesha Upanishad
Ganpati Atharvashirsha (गणपति अथर्वशीर्ष) — also called Ganapati Upanishad — is a Sanskrit text classified as a minor Upanishad, belonging to the Atharva Veda tradition. Unlike devotional hymns like the Ganesh Chalisa which praise Ganesha through stories and attributes, the Atharvashirsha makes a far bolder philosophical claim: it declares Ganesha to be Brahman itself — the ultimate, formless, all-pervading reality from which the entire universe emerges.
The text opens with the Vedic declaration: "Om Namaste Ganapataye" — and proceeds to identify Ganesha with every fundamental principle of existence. "Tvameva Pratyaksham Tatvamasi" (You are the visible supreme truth), "Tvameva Kevalam Kartasi" (You alone are the creator), "Tvameva Kevalam Dhartasi" (You alone are the sustainer), "Tvameva Kevalam Hartasi" (You alone are the destroyer). In these verses, Ganesha is not merely a god among gods — he is the Adi Deva (primordial deity) from whom Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and all other deities emerge. This is the highest philosophical position possible in Hindu theology.
The Ganpati Atharvashirsha also contains one of the most important Ganesha mantras in Hinduism: "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah" — the Ganesha Beej Mantra using the seed syllable "Gam." The text prescribes this mantra for specific spiritual practices and explains its esoteric meaning. It also includes the Ganapati Gayatri Mantra: "Om Ekadantaya Vidmahe, Vakratundaya Dhimahi, Tanno Danti Prachodayat" — invoking Ganesha's single tusk (Ekadanta) and curved trunk (Vakratunda) as objects of meditation.
The Atharvashirsha is the most sacred text in the Ganapatya sect — the Hindu tradition that worships Ganesha as the supreme deity. It is recited most fervently in Maharashtra, where Ganesh worship has the deepest cultural roots — the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage circuit (eight sacred Ganesha temples), and the tradition of public Ganesh pandals all center on this text. It is traditionally recited 21 times for a specific wish, or daily as part of morning worship. The complete text with Shanti Path (peace invocation) takes approximately 10-12 minutes to recite.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ganpati Atharvashirsha
What is Ganpati Atharvashirsha and why is it so important?
Ganpati Atharvashirsha is a minor Upanishad from the Atharva Veda tradition that declares Lord Ganesha as Brahman — the supreme, formless reality behind all creation. Its importance lies in its philosophical authority: while devotional prayers praise a deity, the Atharvashirsha equates Ganesha with the absolute truth itself. It is considered the highest Ganesha scripture, carrying Vedic authority. In Maharashtra, it is the single most recited Ganesha text, chanted daily by millions and especially during the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
What are the benefits of reciting Ganpati Atharvashirsha?
The text's own Phala Shruti states its benefits: one who studies this Atharvashirsha gains Brahma Vidya (knowledge of the supreme), becomes free from all obstacles (sarva vighna-vinirmukto bhavati), is freed from the five great sins, attains all four goals of life (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha), and achieves whatever purpose they recite it for. Reciting it in the morning destroys sins committed at night; reciting in the evening destroys sins of the day. Reciting 21 times fulfills a specific wish. Regular practice sharpens intellect, removes obstacles in education and career, and grants deep spiritual insight.
When and how should I recite Ganpati Atharvashirsha?
Recite daily in the morning after bath, facing east, before a Ganesha image. The most auspicious days are Chaturthi (4th tithi), Sankashti Chaturthi (monthly Ganesha fast), and during Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Begin with the Shanti Path (Om Bhadram Karnebhih...), recite the full text, and close with the Shanti Path again. For a specific wish, recite 21 times in one sitting. A single recitation takes 10-12 minutes. Check the daily panchang for today's Chaturthi status.
What is the difference between Ganpati Atharvashirsha and Ganesh Chalisa?
Ganpati Atharvashirsha is a Sanskrit Upanishad — a philosophical text with Vedic authority that declares Ganesha as the supreme Brahman. It is scholarly, mantric, and deeply meditative. Ganesh Chalisa is a Hindi devotional prayer — 40 narrative verses praising Ganesha's stories, qualities, and blessings. It is accessible, story-driven, and emotionally engaging. The Atharvashirsha answers "Who is Ganesha in the cosmic order?" while the Chalisa answers "Why should I love and worship Ganesha?" Devoted practitioners recite both.
What is the Ganesha Beej Mantra from the Atharvashirsha?
The Atharvashirsha prescribes the Beej (seed) Mantra: "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah" — where "Gam" is Ganesha's seed syllable containing his entire divine energy in compressed form. The text also gives the Ganapati Gayatri: "Om Ekadantaya Vidmahe, Vakratundaya Dhimahi, Tanno Danti Prachodayat" — a Gayatri-format meditation mantra invoking Ganesha through his forms as Ekadanta (single-tusked) and Vakratunda (curved-trunk). These mantras are chanted 108 times with a mala for focused Ganesha sadhana.
What is the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage and its connection to the Atharvashirsha?
The Ashtavinayak is a circuit of eight ancient Ganesha temples in Maharashtra — Morgaon (Moreshwar), Siddhatek (Siddhivinayak), Pali (Ballaleshwar), Mahad (Varadvinayak), Theur (Chintamani), Lenyadri (Girijatmaj), Ozar (Vigneshwar), and Ranjangaon (Mahaganapati). The Ganpati Atharvashirsha is recited at each temple during the pilgrimage. In Maharashtra's Ganapatya tradition, completing the Ashtavinayak yatra while reciting the Atharvashirsha at each temple is considered one of the most spiritually meritorious acts. Find the best muhurat to begin this pilgrimage.
Related Ganesha Prayers & Scriptures
40 devotional Hindi verses to Lord Ganesha
Jai Ganesh Deva — the beloved Ganesha aarti
1000 names of Ganesha from the Ganesha Purana
40 verses to Lord Shiva — Ganesha's father
40 verses to Goddess Durga — Ganesha's mother Parvati
Find auspicious times — always begin with Ganesha