Ganesh Pancharatnam Stotram: Meaning, Verses & Benefits

Verse 1 (Devanagari): मुदाकरात्तमोदकं सदा विमुक्तिसाधकं कलाधरावतंसकं विलासिलोकरक्षकम्। अनायकैकनायकं विनाशितेभदैत्यकं नताशुभाशुनाशकं नमामि तं विनायकम्॥

Transliteration: Mudakaratha Modakam Sada Vimukti Sadhakam Kaladharavatamsakam Vilasiloka Rakshakam Anayakaika Nayakam Vinashitebha Daityakam Natashubhashu Nashakam Namami Tam Vinayakam

Meaning: I bow to that Vinayaka who holds a sweet modaka in his hand and ever grants liberation, who wears the crescent moon as an ornament and protects the shining worlds, who is the one leader of those without a leader, who destroyed the elephant-demon, and who swiftly removes the misfortunes of those who bow to him.

The word modaka (the sweet) is also a pun on moda (joy) - Ganesha holds the very source of bliss in his hand.

Each of the five verses praises Ganesha from a different angle and ends with Namami Tam Vinayakam - 'I bow to that Vinayaka':

• Verse 1 - Mudakaratha Modakam: Ganesha as the giver of liberation and remover of misfortune, holder of the modaka.
• Verse 2 - Natetaratitabhayam: He removes the fear of his devotees and grants the lotus-feet of grace; the destroyer of the demon's pride.
• Verse 3 - Samasta Loka Shankaram: He is the cause of well-being of all worlds, with a single tusk, worshipped to remove the bondage of birth.
• Verse 4 - Akinchana Artimarjanam: He wipes away the suffering of the destitute, the one who ate (defeated) sorrow, lord of Uma (Parvati).
• Verse 5 - Nita Antakanta Kantakam: He removes the thorn of fear and the cycle of death for his devotees, the most beautiful, eternal one.

The phalashruti (closing benefit verse) says that one who recites these five jewels at dawn, with a pure heart, attains health, learning, fame and a noble life.

• Removes obstacles (vighna): Ganesha is Vighnaharta; reciting his praise before any task is believed to clear the path to success.
• Sharpens the intellect: As the lord of buddhi (wisdom), his stotram is loved by students before study and exams.
• Brings peace and removes fear: The verses repeatedly speak of removing the devotee's fear and misfortune.
• Easy and joyful to chant: The fast, musical metre makes it simple to memorise and pleasant to recite daily.
• Auspicious beginnings: Recited at the start of puja, a new venture, a journey or any important work.

For best practice, recite all five verses at dawn after a bath, ideally on a Tuesday or during Ganesh Chaturthi, with a ghee lamp and a modaka or laddu offered to Ganesha.