Gananayakaya - Ganapati Vandanam

Background :

 This song, on Lord Ganesha, is from the movie Viruddh. A soul-stirring rendering by Shankar Mahadevan.


Sanskrit Text :

गणनायकाय गणदेवताय गणाध्यक्षाय  धीमहि 

गुण शरीराय गुण मण्डिताय गुणेशानाय धीमहि 

गुणातीताय गुणाधीशाय गुण प्रविष्टाय धीमहि 

एकदन्ताय वक्रतुण्डाय गौरी तनयाय धीमहि 

गजेशानाय भालचन्द्राय श्री गणेशाय धीमहि 

गानचातुराय गानप्राणाय गानान्तरात्मने 

गनौत्सुकाय गानमत्ताय गनौत्सुकमनसे 

गुरु पूजिताय गुरु दैवताय गुरु कुलस्तायिने 

गुरु विक्रमाय गुह्य प्रवराय गुरवे गुणगुरवे 

गुरु दैत्य कालक्च्छेत्रे गुरु धर्म सदाराध्याय 

गुरु पुत्र परित्रात्रे गुरु पाखाण्ड खण्डकाय 

गीत साराय गीत तत्वाय गीत गोत्राय धीमहि

गूढ गुल्फाय गन्ध मत्ताय गोजय प्रदाय धीमहि

गुणातीताय गुणाधीशाय गुण प्रविष्टाय धीमहि

सर्व राजाय गन्धाय, सर्व गान श्रवण प्रणयिमे 

गाढाय राजाय ग्रन्थाय गीताय ग्रन्थार्थ तन्मयिये 

ग्रन्थ गीताय ग्रन्थ गेयाय ग्रन्थात्मरात्मने 

गीत लीनाय गीताश्रयाय गीत वाद्य पातवे 

धेय चारिताय गाय गवराय गन्धर्व प्रीकृपे 

गायकाधीन विग्रहाय गङ्गाजल प्रणयवते 

गौरी स्थनन्दनाय गौरी हृदय नन्दनाय 

गौर भानु सुताय गौरी गणेश्वराय 

गौरी प्रणयाय गौरी प्रवणाय गौरभावाय धीमहि 

गोसहस्राय गोवर्धनाय गोपगोपाय धीमहि 

गुणातीताय गुणाधीशाय गुण प्रविष्टाय धीमहि 

Transliteration :


Gananayaka Ganadaivataya Ganadakshaya Dhimahi
Guna Shariraya Guna Manditaya Guneshanaya Dhimahi
Gunatitaya Gunadhishaya Guna Pravishtaya Dhimahai
Ekadantaya Vakratundaya Gauri Tanayaya Dhimahi
Gajeshanaya Bhalchandraya Shree Ganeshaya Dhimahi

Gaanachaturaya Ganaapranaya Gaanantaratmane
Gaanotsukhaya Gaanamattaya Gaanotsukhamanase
Guru Pujitaya, Guru Daivataya, Guru Kulasthaine
Guru Vikramaya, Guhya Pravaraya Gurave Guna Gurave

Gurudaitya Kalakchetre, Guru Dharma Sadaradhyaya
Guru Putra Paritratre Guru Pakhanda Khandakhaya

Geeta Saraya, Geeta Tatvaya Geeta Gotraya Dhimahi
Goodha Gulfaya, Gandha Mattaya Gojaya Pradaya Dhimahi
Gunatitaya Gunadhishaya Guna Pravishtaya Dhimahai

Gandharva Rajaya Gandhaya Sarva Gana Shravana Pranaime 
Gaadhaya  Rajaya Granthaya Geetaya Grantatartha Tanmaiye 

Granta Geetaya Granta Geyaya Grantantaratamane
Geeta Leenaya Geetaashrayaya Geeta Vadya Padave,
Dheya Charitaya Gaya Gavaraya Gandharva Prikrupe
Gayakadhina Vighrahaya Gangajala Pranayavate

Gauri Sthanandanaya Gauri Hrudaya Nandanaya
Gaura Bhanu Sutaaya Gauri Ganeshwaraya
Gauri Pranyaya Gauri Pravanaya Gaura Bhavaya Dhimahi
Gohasasraya Govardanaya Gopa Gopaya Dhimahi
Gunaditaya Gunadhishaya Guna Pravishtaya Dhimahai

Meaning :

The Leader of the [Bhoota]-Gana, the Lord of the people, the representative of the people, I meditate on you.

The embodiment of Guna (the three qualities of Sattva, Raja and Tamas) , the one adorned with Guna, the lord of Gunas, I meditate on you.

The one beyone beyond Guna, the controller of Guna, the one in whom Guna pervades, I meditate on you.

The one with one tusk, the curved-trunked one, the son of Gauri, I meditate on you.

The lord of the elephants, the one with moon on his forehead, Shree Ganesha, I meditate on you.


The one who - 
is clever at music (and singing), is the life of music, is the inner soul of music, is eager for music, is intoxicated by music, is eager-minded for music.

The one who -
is chief among those worshipped, is a primal god, is an integral part of the family, is most brave, is the key to liberation,  is knowledgeable, is worthy by virtue of his Guna .

The one who is -
chief among the demon-slayers, the final destination of virtue (a very complicated concept to capture in few lines), the protector of children, the destroyer of hypocrisy.


The gist of music, the essence of music, the enricher of music, I meditate on you.

The one with wide ankles, the one with intoxicating fragrance, the giver of victory over senses, I meditate on you.


The one -
whose praises are sung of in the scriptures, who is worthy of being sung of in the scriptures, the soul of the scriptures.

The one who is -
immersed in music, The patron of music, an expert in singing and playing music.

The one -
whose legends are sung of,  an ideal subject for singers,  the benefactor of the musicians.

The one who -
is the embodiment of the perfect musician, loves water of Ganga (the heavenly river).

The one one who -
was breastfed by Gauri, the darling of Gauri's heart (akin to apple of her eye)

The brilliant son of Parvati, The lord in the form of Gauri-Ganesha.


The one who is dear to Gauri, The one leaning towards Gauri (or one who leads to Shakti), The essence of Gauri, I meditate on you.

The one who has the equivalent of having a thousand senses (or having the knowledge of a thousand vedas),  The enhancer of senses, The protector of protectors, I meditate on you





Vocal Rendering  :