Ganesh Chalisa In English: Lord Ganesha, also known as Ganapati or Vinayaka, is one of the most widely worshipped deities in Hinduism. He is easily recognizable with his elephant head and a portly human body. Lord Ganesha is revered as the remover of obstacles, the god of wisdom, knowledge, and new beginnings. His blessings are sought before starting any new venture or auspicious occasion.
The story of Lord Ganesha's birth is well-known in Hindu mythology. According to the legend, Ganesha was created by Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. Parvati sculpted Ganesha from the turmeric paste she used for her bath and brought him to life. She appointed Ganesha as the guardian of her chamber and instructed him not to let anyone enter while she bathed.
When Lord Shiva returned and tried to enter the chamber, Ganesha, following his mother's orders, stopped him. Enraged by the refusal, Shiva engaged in a fierce battle with Ganesha, during which he beheaded the young boy. Upon realizing the mistake, Shiva promised to revive Ganesha and replace his head with the first living being he encountered, which happened to be an elephant. This is how Ganesha came to have an elephant head.
Ganesh Chalisa in English
॥ Doha ॥
jaya ganapati sadhguna sadan
kavi vara badana kripaala ॥
vighna harana mangala karana
jaya jaya girijaa laala ॥
॥ Chaupai ॥
jaya jaya ganapati gan raju |
mangala bharana karana shubha kaaju ॥ 1 ॥
jaya gajabadana sadana sukhadaataa |
vishva vinaayaka buddhi vidhaata ॥ 2 ॥
vakra tunda shuchi shunda suhaavana |
tilaka tripunda bhaala mana bhaavana ॥ 3 ॥
raajata mani muktana ura maala |
svarna mukuta shira nayana vishaala ॥ 4 ॥
pustaka paani kuthaara trishoolam |
modaka bhoga sugandhita phoolam ॥ 5 ॥
sundara pitaambara tana saajita |
charana paaduka muni mana raajita ॥ 6 ॥
dhani shiva suvana shadaanana bhraata |
gauri lalana vishva-vidhaata ॥ 7 ॥
riddhi siddhi tava chanvara sudhaare |
mushaka vaahana sohata dvaare ॥ 8 ॥
kahaun janma shubha kathaa tumhaari |
ati shuchi paavana mangala kaari ॥ 9 ॥
eka samaya giriraaj kumaari |
putra hetu tapa kinha bhaari ॥ 10 ॥
bhayo yagya jaba poorna anoopa |
taba pahunchyo tuma dhari dvija roopa ॥ 11 ॥
atithi jaani kai gauri sukhaari |
bahuvidhi sevaa kari tumhaari ॥ 12 ॥
ati prasanna hvai tuma vara dinha |
maatu putra hita jo tapa kinha ॥ 13 ॥
milahi putra tuhi buddhi vishaala |
binaa garbha dhaarana yahi kaala ॥ 14 ॥
gananaayaka, guna gyaana nidhaana |
poojita prathama roopa bhagavana ॥ 15॥
asa kahi antardhyaana roopa hvai |
palana para baalaka svaroopa hvai ॥ 16 ॥
bani shishu rudana jabahi tuma thaana |
lakhi mukha sukha nahin gauri samaan ॥ 17 ॥
sakala magana, sukha mangala gaavahin |
nabha te surana sumana varshaavahin ॥ 18 ॥
shambhu uma, bahu dana lutavahin |
sura munijana, suta dekhana aavahin ॥ 19॥
lakhi ati aananda mangala saaja |
dekhana bhi aaye shani raaja ॥ 20 ॥
nija avaguna guni shani mana maahin |
baalaka, dekhan chaahata naahin ॥ 21 ॥
giraja kachhu mana bheda badhaayo |
utsava mora na shani tuhi bhaayo ॥ 22 ॥
kahana lage shani, mana sakuchaai |
kaa karihau, shishu mohi dikhaai ॥ 23 ॥
nahin vishvaasa, uma ur bhayau |
shani so baalaka dekhana kahyau ॥ 24 ॥
padatahin, shani driga kona prakaasha |
baalaka shira udi gayo aakaasha ॥ 25 ॥
giraja girin vikala hvai dharani |
so dukha dasha gayo nahin varani ॥ 26 ॥
haahaakaara machyo kailaasha |
shani kinhyon lakhi suta ka naasha ॥ 27 ॥
turata garuda chadhi vishnu sidhaaye |
kaati chakra so gaja shira laaye ॥ 28 ॥
baalaka ke dhada upara dhaarayo |
praana, mantra padha shankara darayo ॥ 29 ॥
naama ‘ganesha’ shambhu taba kinhe |
prathama poojya buddhi nidhi, vara dinhe ॥ 30 ॥
buddhi pariksha jaba shiva kinha |
prithvi kar pradakshina linha ॥ 31 ॥
chale shadaanana, bharami bhulaii |
rachi baitha tuma buddhi upaai ॥ 32 ॥
charana maatu-pitu ke dhara linhen |
tinake saata pradakshina kinhen ॥ 33 ॥
dhani ganesha, kahi shiva hiya harashe |
nabha te surana sumana bahu barase ॥ 34 ॥
tumhari mahima buddhi badaye |
shesha sahasa mukha sakai na gaai ॥ 35 ॥
mein mati hina malina dukhaari |
karahun kauna vidhi vinaya tumhaari ॥ 36 ॥
bhajata ‘raamasundara’ prabhudaasa |
lakha prayaga, kakara, durvasa ॥ 37 ॥
aba prabhu daya dina para kijai |
apani bhakti shakti kuchhu dijai ॥ 38 ॥
॥ Doha ॥
shri ganesh yah chalisa path karai dhari dhyan |
nit nav mangal gruha bashe lahi jagat sanman ॥
sambandh apne sahstra dash rushi panchami dinesh |
puran chalisa bhayo mangal murti ganesha ॥
Importance and Role:
Remover of Obstacles: Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the remover of obstacles and challenges. His blessings are sought before beginning any new venture, such as starting a business, moving into a new home, or embarking on a journey. Devotees believe that Ganesha clears the path and ensures success in endeavors.
God of Wisdom: Ganesha is also revered as the god of wisdom, intellect, and learning. He is worshipped by students, scholars, and academics seeking knowledge and success in their studies.
Symbol of New Beginnings: Due to his association with new beginnings and auspiciousness, Lord Ganesha is worshipped at the start of any ceremony or ritual. His presence is believed to bring good fortune and blessings.
Ganesha Chalisa: The Ganesha Chalisa is a devotional hymn composed in praise of Lord Ganesha. It consists of forty verses (chalisa) dedicated to extolling Ganesha's virtues, powers, and blessings. The Chalisa is recited by devotees to seek Ganesha's blessings for success, wisdom, and the removal of obstacles.
Ganesh Chalisa and Authorship:
The Ganesh Chalisa was composed by the legendary poet and saint Tulsidas, who is also known for composing the famous Ramcharitmanas and other devotional works. Tulsidas, a devotee of Lord Ganesha, wrote the Ganesh Chalisa to invoke the blessings of the elephant-headed deity.
The Ganesh Chalisa is a powerful prayer that praises Lord Ganesha's attributes, such as his wisdom, strength, compassion, and ability to remove obstacles. It is believed that sincere recitation of the Ganesh Chalisa with devotion and faith can bring Ganesha's blessings into one's life, helping to overcome difficulties and attain success in endeavors.
Devotees often recite the Ganesh Chalisa on Tuesdays and during auspicious occasions dedicated to Lord Ganesha, such as Ganesh Chaturthi. The Chalisa serves as a means to connect with Ganesha's divine energy, seek his guidance, and receive his blessings for a prosperous and obstacle-free life.
