Complete · ~5 min chant
Ganesha Bhujangam
गणेश भुजङ्गम्
Gaṇeśa Bhujaṅgam
A flowing bhujanga-prayata hymn from dancing Ganesha to the formless Om, attributed to Shankara.
9 verses · About 5 min · Lord Ganesha
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Ganesha Bhujangam is a beloved hymn attributed to Sri Adi Shankaracharya, composed in the bhujanga-prayata metre whose rhythm sways like a serpent's movement. The first six verses paint Ganesha in his dancing (nritya) form: bells, trunk, modaka, crown, and the tender play of grace. Each closes with praise of Ganadhisha, son of Ishana (Shiva).
More about this stotra
The latter verses ascend from form to the formless: the one-syllable Om beyond gunas, salutations to the peaceful creator and destroyer, and a phala verse promising fulfilment of desires and siddhi of speech for the devoted reciter at dawn.
The traditional Shankara recension contains nine verses. This complete edition presents all nine with Devanagari, IAST, and editorial focus notes. It pairs naturally with Ganesha Pancharatnam Stotram for short daily worship.
At a glance
- Deity
- Lord Ganesha
- Verses
- 9 verses
- Chant time
- About 5 minutes
- Attribution
- Traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
- Sanskrit source
- sanskritdocuments.org · All sources
Verse overview
- 1
Ganesha dancing to bell and drum is the awakened power that sets the rhythm of creation and removal of obstacles. The serpent on the belly reminds the seeker…
- 2
The face bright as a vina and the trunk holding sweet reward show that the remover of obstacles grants both beauty and the fruit of disciplined practice.…
- 3
The single tusk and curved form point to the one reality that survives when duality is broken. Dawn-red radiance on the Lord's form is the first light of…
- 4
He whose only ornament is ornament itself needs nothing added yet appears adorned for the devotee's joy. As destroyer of worldly bondage, Ganesha clears the…
- 5
The captivating brow and celestial service show the Lord honoured in the inner shrine as well as in heaven. When the mind is charmed by his presence, the…
- 6
Fierce glance and tender grace are not opposed but united in the Lord whom yogis praise. The drop of artistic skill is a pointer to the subtle creative power…
- 7
Ganesha as the immaculate Om beyond form is the bridge between devotion and Vedantic truth. To know him as the womb of the Vedas is to see that the…
- 8
Salutation to the peaceful Lord who creates, sustains, and dissolves the world confesses that all three acts belong to one consciousness. The seed of the…
- 9
The fruit of dawn recitation is mastery of true speech, which in Advaita means words aligned with the Self. When Ganesha is pleased, nothing needful remains…
All verses
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Common questions
- When do people recite Ganesha Bhujangam?
- Ganesha hymns are often chanted before study, travel, or any new undertaking, and during Ganesh Chaturthi. This edition presents 9 verses and takes about 5 minutes to chant.
- What is the opening focus of Ganesha Bhujangam?
- Ganesha dancing to bell and drum is the awakened power that sets the rhythm of creation and removal of obstacles. The serpent on the belly reminds the seeker that the Lord who rules the hosts is born of Shiva, the stillness from which all movement springs. Read verse 1 in Study mode for the full editorial note beside the Sanskrit.
- Which hymns pair well with Ganesha Bhujangam?
- On this site, related reading includes Ganesha Pancharatnam Stotram, and Ganapati Stotram. Open those hubs for their own Sanskrit, English meaning, and study notes.