Ganesh Atharvashirsha
Composed by Atharva Veda tradition
The Upanishad of Ganesha, revealing him as the supreme Brahman and the remover of all obstacles.
About Ganesh Atharvashirsha
The Ganesh Atharvashirsha, also known as the Ganapati Upanishad, is the most sacred text dedicated to Lord Ganesha in the Vedic tradition. It opens with a statement of Ganesha's identity with the ultimate reality: 'Tvam eva pratyaksham tattvam asi' — 'You alone are the perceivable truth.' The text presents Ganesha not merely as a deity of beginnings but as the very Brahman (absolute reality) underlying all existence.
The Upanishad describes Ganesha's form — his single tusk, his elephant head, his colour (bright as the dawn, or dark as a rain cloud), his four arms holding the noose, the goad, the broken tusk, and bestowing blessings — and equates each element with cosmic principles. He is identified with Om, with Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva, and with the five elements.
Reciting the Atharvashirsha twenty-one times at the consecration of a Ganesha image is said to infuse the idol with divine presence. Recitation on Ganesha Chaturthi is especially auspicious. The text concludes with a series of benefits: freedom from obstacles, protection from the eight directions, and ultimate liberation.
Source: Atharva Veda, Ganapati Upanishad
Verses
Sanskrit
ॐ नमस्ते गणपतये । त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं तत्त्वमसि । त्वमेव केवलं कर्तासि । त्वमेव केवलं धर्तासि । त्वमेव केवलं हर्तासि । त्वमेव सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्मासि । त्वं साक्षादात्मासि नित्यम् ॥
Transliteration
Om Namaste Gaṇapataye | Tvam Eva Pratyakṣaṃ Tattvam Asi | Tvam Eva Kevalaṃ Kartāsi | Tvam Eva Kevalaṃ Dhartāsi | Tvam Eva Kevalaṃ Hartāsi | Tvam Eva Sarvaṃ Khalvidam Brahmāsi | Tvaṃ Sākṣād Ātmāsi Nityam ||
Meaning
Om, salutations to Ganapati! You alone are the perceivable truth. You alone are the only Creator. You alone are the only Sustainer. You alone are the only Destroyer. You alone are verily all this — you are Brahman. You are the Self, directly and eternally.
Sanskrit
ऋतं वच्मि । सत्यं वच्मि । अव त्वं मां । अव वक्तारम् । अव श्रोतारम् । अव दातारम् । अव धातारम् ।
Transliteration
Ṛtaṃ Vacmi | Satyaṃ Vacmi | Ava Tvaṃ Mām | Ava Vaktāram | Ava Śrotāram | Ava Dātāram | Ava Dhātāram |
Meaning
I speak what is right (ritam). I speak what is true (satyam). Protect me, O Ganesha. Protect the speaker. Protect the listener. Protect the giver. Protect the supporter.
Sanskrit
त्वं गुणत्रयातीतः । त्वं देहत्रयातीतः । त्वं कालत्रयातीतः । त्वं मूलाधारस्थितोऽसि नित्यम् । त्वं शक्तित्रयात्मकः ।
Transliteration
Tvaṃ Guṇatrayātītaḥ | Tvaṃ Dehatrayātītaḥ | Tvaṃ Kālatrayātītaḥ | Tvaṃ Mūlādhāra Sthito'si Nityam | Tvaṃ Śaktitrayātmakaḥ |
Meaning
You transcend the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas). You transcend the three bodies (gross, subtle, causal). You transcend the three times (past, present, future). You eternally reside in the Muladhara chakra. You are the embodiment of the three shaktis (iccha, jnana, kriya).
Sanskrit
एकदन्तं चतुर्हस्तं पाशमङ्कुशधारिणम् । रदं च वरदं हस्तैर्बिभ्राणं मूषकध्वजम् । रक्तं लम्बोदरं शूर्पकर्णकं रक्तवाससम् । रक्तगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गं रक्तपुष्पैः सुपूजितम् ॥
Transliteration
Ekadantaṃ Caturhastaṃ Pāśa Aṅkuśa Dhāriṇam | Radaṃ Ca Varadaṃ Hastair Bibhrāṇaṃ Mūṣaka Dhvajam | Raktaṃ Lambodaram Śūrpa Karṇakaṃ Rakta Vāsasam | Rakta Gandhānuliptāṅgaṃ Rakta Puṣpaiḥ Supūjitam ||
Meaning
He has one tusk and four arms, bearing the noose and the goad; in his other hands he holds his broken tusk and bestows blessings; his banner bears the mouse. He is red-complexioned, pot-bellied, with fan-like ears, clad in red garments, anointed with red sandalwood paste, and well-worshipped with red flowers.
Benefits of Reciting Ganesh Atharvashirsha
- ✓Removes all obstacles from one's path — material, mental, and spiritual
- ✓Bestows wisdom, intellect, and mastery of learning and arts
- ✓Invocation at the beginning of any new endeavour ensures success
- ✓Chanting 21 times on Ganesha Chaturthi is said to grant all desires
- ✓Protects from the eight directions and from all evil influences
- ✓Leads to liberation (moksha) for those who meditate on Ganesha as the supreme Brahman