Ganesh Mool Mantra: Om Shreem Hreem Kleem Glaum Gam

Introduction

The Shree Ganesh Mool Mantra (श्री गणेश मूल मंत्र), also called the Ganapati Mool Mantra (श्री गणपति मूल मंत्र) or the Ganesh Beej Mantra, is one of the most powerful mantras of Lord Ganesha. It is chanted in pujas and yajnas to seek his favour, and is held to bring peace, good fortune and success and to remove obstacles.

It is given here, as it is traditionally chanted, with the Ganesh Gayatri and a prayer for peace.

The Mantras

The Mool Mantra

ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं ग्लौं गं गणपतये वर वरद सर्वजनं मे वशमानय स्वाहा॥

Om Shreem Hreem Kleem Glaum Gam Ganapataye Vara Varada Sarvajanam Me Vashamanaya Swaha

In English: “Om Shreem Hreem Kleem Glaum Gam: O Ganapati, giver of boons, bring all people to me. Swaha.” The book Loving Ganesha, which gives the same mantra in its chapter Mantra Recitation, says it holds several seed mantras and, among other things, signals: “Shower Your blessings, O Lord. I offer my ego as an oblation.”

With the Ganesh Gayatri

एकदन्ताय विद्‌महे ।
वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि ।
तन्नो दन्ती प्रचोदयात् ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Ekadantaya Vidmahe
Vakratundaya Dhimahi
Tanno Danti Prachodayat
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih

In English: “We devote our thought to the one-tusked Lord. We meditate upon him who has a curved trunk. May the tusked One guide us on the right path. Om, peace, peace, peace.” See the Ganesh Gayatri Mantra for its full meaning.

What the Words Mean

The mantra is built on bijas, seed syllables, each holding a power of the Divine:

• Shreem (श्रीं), the seed syllable of Lakshmi, of abundance and grace
• Hreem (ह्रीं), the seed syllable of Shakti, the Goddess’s power
• Kleem (क्लीं), the seed syllable of attraction
• Glaum (ग्लौं), a seed syllable of Ganesha
• Gam (गं), Ganesha’s own seed syllable, as in Om Gam Ganapataye Namah

Its other words:

• Ganapataye, to Ganapati, Lord of the hosts
• Vara varada, O giver of boons
• Sarvajanam, all people
• Swaha, the word of offering that closes a mantra
• Shantih, peace, said three times

How to Chant It

Chant the mool mantra during puja, followed by the Gayatri and the prayer for peace. The minimum, as Loving Ganesha advises for Ganesha mantras, is one full mala of 108 repetitions; bathe or wash first, take three or more slow breaths, and chant at the same time each day.

Conclusion

The Ganesh Mool Mantra gathers Ganesha’s seed syllables into one prayer for his blessing, and the Gayatri that follows asks him to guide the mind. Its overall prayer is that this world, and all the people in it, may be good and have a good life. For Ganesha’s simpler root mantra, see Om Gam Ganapataye Namah.