संकटनाशनगणेशस्तोत्रम्
Saṅkatͅnāsͅanaganͅēs̒astotram
Lord Ganesh is the God of beginnings, worshipped at the beginning of any new project undertaken and on other auspicious occasions and ceremonies such as marriage. He is the remover of obstacles, and is worshipped before all other gods. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. His large forehead represents wisdom, long nose represents the ability to ‘smell’ trouble from a distance, large ears show that he listens to everyone’s prayers, the huge belly represents abundance. He is depicted riding a mouse.
This hymn comprises of twelve names of Lord Ganesh, chanting which invokes the wisdom, intellect, patience and other qualities associated with him in the devotee. Saṅkatͅanāsͅana means destroyer (nāsͅana) of obstacles (saṅkatͅa). Singing or simply reading this stotra aids in smooth conduct of new beginnings, new ventures, etc. More importantly, this hymn is one of the ancient texts of the Indian tradition, created by the immortal Sage Narada (and is from the Naradapurana) to meditate upon that form of the Ultimate which helps the seeker in removing the barriers one faces on the path of sadhna.
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं गौरीपुत्रं विनायकम् ।। भक्तावासं स्मरेन्नित्यमायुः कामार्थसिद्धये ।।1।। .
pranͅamya s̒irasā dēvam gaurīputram vināyakam । bhaktāvāsam smarēnnityamāyuhͅ kāmārthasiddhayē ।।1।। Bow your head to Lord Vināyak (the leader), the son of Gaurī The shelter of devotees (bhaktāvāsam), continuously remember his name for wish fulfillment
प्रथमं वक्रतुंडं च एकदन्तं द्वितीयकम् । तृतीयं कृष्णपिंगाक्षम् गजवक्त्रं चत्थकम ।।2।।
prathamam vakratunͅdͅam ca ēkadantam dwitīyakam । tritīyam kris̒nͅapiṅgāksͅam gajvaktram caturthakam ।।2।। First the one with tilted face (Vakratundͅ) and second the one with a tooth(Ekdant) Third the one with black and brown eyes (kris̒nͅapingāksͅam), fourth the elephant-faced (Gajvaktram).
लम्बोदरं पंचमं च षष्ठं विकटमेव च । सप्तमं विघ्नराजं च धूम्रवर्णं तथाष्टमम् ।।3।।
Lambodaram pañcamam ca sͅasͅtͅham vikatͅamev ca । saptam vighnarājam ca dhūmravarnͅam tathāsͅtͅamam ।।3।।। Fifth the large bellied one (lambodaram) and sixth ferocious (vikatͅ) Seventh the controller of obstacles (vighnarāj) and eight smoky colored (dhūmravarnͅ)
नवमं भालचन्द्रं च दशमं तु विनायकम् । एकादशं गणपतिम् द्वादशं तु गजाननम् ।।4।।
navamam bhālcandram ca das̒amam tu vināyakam । ekādas̒am ganͅapatim dwādas̒am tu gajānanam ।।4।। Ninth the one with moon on his forehead (bhālcandram) and tenth the leader(vināyakam) Eleventh lord of the ganas (ganͅapati) tweleveth the elephant faced(gajānanam)
द्वादशैतानि नामानि त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः । न च विघ्नभयं तस्य सर्वसिद्धिकरं प्रभो ।।5।।
dwādas̒aitāni nāmāni trisandhyam yahͅ patͅhennarahͅ । na ca vighnabhayam tasya sarvasiddhikarama prabhō ।।5।। The person who chants these twelve names thrice (morning, afternoon, evening) O God, (s)he does not fear obstructions and attains all goals.m)