15 Special Ganesha Mantras: Sacred Chants for Blessings

Introduction

These fifteen Ganesha mantras, with what each one is for, come from Sadguru Sant Keshavadas’ book Lord Ganesha, as given in the chapter Mantra Recitation of the book Loving Ganesha. Each is given here in Sanskrit, in English transliteration, and with its meaning.

Ganesha mantras are siddhi mantras: each holds a particular power of Lord Ganesha. Bathe or wash before sitting, and take three or more slow breaths, pranayama, before beginning. Chant at least one full mala, 108 times. Done at a fixed hour and place for 48 days, the practice becomes an upasana, an intense meditation, that can bestow siddhis, spiritual powers, which are to be used only for selfless ends, such as healing the sick.

Mantras 5 to 15 call Ganesha by his names Sumukha, Ekadanta, Kapila and the rest: eleven of the twelve names of Ganesha in the well-known verse that begins sumukhashcha ekadantashcha, the twelfth being Gajanana, the elephant-faced.

1. Om Gam Ganapataye Namah

ॐ गं गणपतये नमः

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah

In English: “Om, Gam, salutations to Ganapati, Lord of the hosts.”

This is a mantra from Ganapati Upanishad. One may always use it before beginning a journey, a new course in school, a new career or job, or before entering into any new contract or business so that impediments are removed and your endeavor may be crowned with success.

2. Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah

ॐ श्री गणेशाय नमः

Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the revered Lord Ganesha.”

This mantra is usually taught to children for their good education. It increases their memory power, and they become successful in their examinations. Of course, people of any age may use this mantra when taking courses in a school or university, and for success in attaining their degree.

3. Om Shri Vakratundaya Hum

ॐ श्री वक्रतुण्डाय हुं

Om Shri Vakratundaya Hum

In English: “Om, to the revered one with the curved trunk, hum.”

This is a very powerful mantra, as discussed in the Ganesha Purana. When something is not working properly, individually or universally, nationally or internationally, or when the minds of the people turn crooked, negative, depressed or discouraged, the attention of Ganesha may be drawn by this mantra to straighten their ways. The HUM symbolizes “Delay no more, my Lord, in straightening the paths of the crooked-minded ones.” This mantra is used many times in the Ganesha Purana to curb the atrocities of cruel demons. In addition, this mantra could also be used for healing any spinal deficiency, such as curvature of the spine or curved limbs. Dedicate 1,008 repetitions of this holy word to straighten and heal such deficiencies.

4. Om Kshipraprasadaya Namah

ॐ क्षिप्रप्रसादाय नमः

Om Kshipraprasadaya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the one who gives his grace quickly.”

Kshipra means instantaneous. If some danger or negative energy is coming your way and you don’t know how to get rid of that trouble, with true devotion, practice this mantra for quick blessing and purification of one’s aura.

5. Om Sumukhaya Namah

ॐ सुमुखाय नमः

Om Sumukhaya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the one with the beautiful face.”

This mantra has a lot of meaning, but to make it simple, it means you will be always very beautiful in soul, in spirit, in face, everything. By meditating on this mantra, very pleasing manners and a beauty comes on you. Along with that comes peace, which constantly dances in your eyes; and the words you speak are all filled with that power of love.

6. Om Ekadantaya Namah

ॐ एकदन्ताय नमः

Om Ekadantaya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the one-tusked Lord.”

Ekadanta refers to one tusk in the elephant face, which means God broke the duality and made you to have a one-pointed mind. Whoever has that oneness of mind and single-minded devotion will achieve everything.

7. Om Kapilaya Namah

ॐ कपिलाय नमः

Om Kapilaya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the tawny-red one.”

Kapila (red) means that you are able to give color therapy. You are able to create colors around yourself and around others, bathe them in that color and heal them. As per the mantra you create, so will you create the colors. Another meaning is “wish cow,” the “cow of plenty.” It means that whatever you wish, that comes true. There is a wish-cow inside you. Whatever you wish, especially for healing others, comes true immediately.

8. Om Gajakarnikaya Namah

ॐ गजकर्णिकाय नमः

Om Gajakarnikaya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the one with an elephant’s ears.”

The ears of Ganesha, the elephant, are constant fanning, which means people may talk a lot, but you are not receiving inside anything other than that which is important. It also means that you can sit anywhere and tune this cosmic television (the body) with seven channels (chakras) and all 72,000 nadis, to any loka and be able to hear ancestors, angels, the voice of God or the voice of prophets. That kind of inner ear you will develop through this mantra.

9. Om Lambodaraya Namah

ॐ लम्बोदराय नमः

Om Lambodaraya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the big-bellied Lord.”

This means you feel that you are this universe. It means that all the universes are within you. Like an entire tree is in the seed, the whole universe is in the sound of creation, which is Aum, and that Aum consciousness in you makes you feel that you are the universe. Therefore, if you say, realizing the oneness with the universe, “shanti to the world” every day, then the grace of God will come and there will be world peace, universal peace. It is the universes within Aum and Aum within you.

10. Om Vikataya Namah

ॐ विकटाय नमः

Om Vikataya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the one of formidable form.”

This means realizing this world as a dream or a drama. When you are in that high consciousness, this whole world looks like a dream. All of us have taken a role. We have to play our role in life as wife or husband or children or citizens, all consistent with the role we have taken. When an actor bitten by a sponge cobra that is brought on the stage falls, the entire audience cries; but that boy who has fallen knows it was not a real cobra and he is not dead. Life is a drama — definitely life in this material world, this physical world of ego, is a drama. But inside, like the boy on the stage who is quite happy knowing that he didn’t die by the bite of the sponge cobra, like that, the truth never dies in us; it is immortal. So everything else you consider as drama. That consciousness comes to you by knowing this mantra.

11. Om Vighnanashanaya Namah

ॐ विघ्ननाशनाय नमः

Om Vighnanashanaya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the destroyer of obstacles.”

This mantra invokes the Lord Ganesha to remove every impediment in your life and in your works. By constant meditation on this mantra, all obstacles and blocked energy in your physical and astral bodies are released.

12. Om Vinayakaya Namah

ॐ विनायकाय नमः

Om Vinayakaya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to Vinayaka, the supreme leader.”

Vinayaka is the name of Ganesha in the golden age. So by realizing this mantra, your life will have a golden age. In your office, in your work, you’ll be the boss. Vinayaka means something under control. Vinayaka means the Lord of problems.

13. Om Dhumraketave Namah

ॐ धूम्रकेतवे नमः

Om Dhumraketave Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the one whose banner is smoke-coloured.”

Halley’s Comet is called Dhumraketu in the Vedas. Whenever Halley’s Comet appears, on the whole planet Earth, and in other places also, there will be fear and terror. The guiding masters and those who have the wisdom to face it will all withdraw to the higher worlds. Important people die during that time, and bloodshed and various other problems come. To overcome that, it’s important for us to remember this mantra for world peace.

14. Om Ganadhyakshaya Namah

ॐ गणाध्यक्षाय नमः

Om Ganadhyakshaya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the leader of the ganas.”

This mantra is so important. Suppose you have a group, a country, neighbors, or any kind of group therapy, group healing or a whole country needing healing, then you have to bring that entire group to your mind’s arena and say this mantra. A group healing takes place by this mantra.

15. Om Bhalachandraya Namah

ॐ भालचन्द्राय नमः

Om Bhalachandraya Namah

In English: “Om, salutations to the one who wears the moon on his forehead.”

In Sanskrit, bhala means the forehead center. Chandra means the crescent moon. Bhalachandra means that chakra from where the nectar drips. That is the secret of all healing. It is to feel yourself as Siva, identifying yourself with the Truth and feeling constantly that you are carrying the crescent moon, the symbol of growth and nectar and peace.

Conclusion

Each of these fifteen mantras calls on one power of Lord Ganesha, from removing obstacles to granting a one-pointed mind. Choose one, chant it 108 times at the same hour each day, and keep to it. For the best-known of them, see Om Gam Ganapataye Namah and Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah, or pray to Ganesha online.