Ganga Stotra - Complete meaning and benefits of chanting
The Ganga Stotra is a hymn dedicated to Goddess Ganga, the sacred river personified as a deity in Hindu mythology. It praises Ganga's purifying and liberating qualities, highlighting her role in bestowing spiritual purification and blessings upon devotees. This stotra glorifies Ganga's divine attributes, such as her purity, compassion, and ability to absolve sins. Devotees recite the Ganga Stotra with devotion to seek her blessings, especially during Ganga Dussehra, Kartik Purnima, and other holy occasions associated with the river Ganges.
Mantra
Māa gangā stotram॥
Devi sureshvari bhagavati gange
Tribhuvanatāriṇi taralatarange ।
Shankaramaulivihāriṇi vimale
Mam matirāstāan tav padakamale ॥1॥
Bhāgīrathi sukhadāyini mātastava
Jalamahimā nigame khyātah ।
Nāhan jāne tav mahimānan
Pāhi kṛupāmayi māmajnyānam ॥ 2॥
Haripadapādyatarangiṇi gange
Himavidhumuktādhavalatarange ।
Dūrīkuru mam duṣhkṛutibhāran
Kuru kṛupayā bhavasāgarapāram ॥ 3॥
Tav jalamamalan yen nipītan,
Paramapadan khalu ten gṛuhītam ।
Mātargange tvayi yo bhaktah
Kil tan draṣhṭuan n yamah shaktah ॥ 4॥
Patitoddhāriṇi jāhnavi gange
Khaṇḍitagirivaramaṇḍitabhange ।
Bhīṣhmajanani he munivarakanye,
Patitanivāriṇi tribhuvanadhanye ॥ 5॥
Kalpalatāmiv faladāan loke,
Praṇamati yastvāan n patati shoke ।
Pārāvāravihāriṇi gange
Vimukhayuvatikṛutataralāpānge ॥ 6॥
Tav chenmātah srotahsnātah
Punarapi jaṭhare so’pi n jātah ।
Narakanivāriṇi jāhnavi gange
Kaluṣhavināshini mahimottunge ॥ 7॥
Punarasadange puṇyatarange
Jaya jaya jāhnavi karuṇāpānge ।
Indramukuṭamaṇirājitacharaṇe
Sukhade shubhade bhṛutyasharaṇye ॥ 8॥
Rogan shokan tāpan pāpan
Har me bhagavati kumatikalāpam।
Tribhuvanasāre vasudhāhāre
Tvamasi gatirmam khalu sansāre॥ 9॥
Alakānande paramānande
Kuru karuṇāmayi kātaravandye ।
Tav taṭanikaṭe yasya nivāsah
Khalu vaikuṇṭhe tasya nivāsah ॥ 10॥
Varamih nīre kamaṭho mīnah
Kian vā tīre sharaṭah kṣhīṇah ।
Athavā shvapacho malino dīnastava
N hi dūre nṛupatikulīnah॥ 11॥
Bho bhuvaneshvari puṇye dhanye
Devi dravamayi munivarakanye ।
Gangāstavamimamamalan nityan
Paṭhati naro yah s jayati satyam ॥ 12॥
Yeṣhāan hṛudaye gangābhaktisteṣhāan
Bhavati sadā sukhamuktiah ।
Madhurākāntāpajjhaṭikābhiah
Paramānandakalitalalitābhiah ॥ 13॥
Gangāstotramidan bhavasāran
Vānychhitafaladan vimalan sāram ।
Shankarasevakashankararachitan paṭhati
Sukhī stav iti ch samāptah ॥ 14॥
Devi sureshvari bhagavati gange
Tribhuvanatāriṇi taralatarange ।
Shankaramaulivihāriṇi vimale
Mam matirāstāan tav padakamale ॥
- shrī shankarāchārya kṛutan
Mantra With Meaning
Devi Sureshvari Bhagavati Gangge Tribhuvana-Taarinni Tarala-Tarangge |
Shangkara-Mauli-Vihaarinni Vimale Mama Matir-Aastaam Tava Pada-Kamale ||1||
Meaning - Salutations to Devi Ganga) O Devi Bhagavati Ganga, the Goddess of the Devas, You liberate the Three Worlds with the (merciful) waves of Your Liquid Form, O the Stainless Pure One Who resides in the Head of Shankara, May my Devotion remain firmly established on Your Lotus Feet.
Bhaagiirathi Sukha-Daayini Maatas-Tava Jala-Mahimaa Nigame Khyaatah |
Naaham Jaane Tava Mahimaanam Paahi Krpaamayi Maam-Ajnyaanam ||2||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) O Mother Bhagirathi, You give Joy to All, and the Glory of Your Water is praised in the Scriptures, I do not know Your Glory fully, but inspite of my Ignorance, please protect me, O Compassionate Mother.
Hari-Pada-Paadya-Tarangginni Gangge Hima-Vidhu-Muktaa-Dhavala-Tarangge |
Duurii-Kuru Mama Dusskrti-Bhaaram Kuru Krpayaa Bhava-Saagara-Paaram ||3||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) O Mother Ganga, You originate from the Feet of Hari, and flow down with Pure White Waves resembling the Whiteness of Frost, the Whiteness of Moon, as well as the Whiteness of Pearl, O Mother, Please remove the burden in my Mind created due to Evil deeds, and by Your Grace finally make me cross the ocean of Samsara (Worldly Existence).
Tava Jalam-Amalam Yena Nipiitam Parama-Padam Khalu Tena Grhiitam |
Maatar-Gangge Tvayi Yo Bhaktah Kila Tam Drassttum Na Yamah Shaktah ||4||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) He who has drunk Your Pure Water, Indeed he will obtain the Highest Abode, Yama is not able to cast his glance on him (i.e. he goes to Your Abode and not Yamaloka).
Patitoddhaarinni Jaahnavi Gangge Khannddita-Giri-Vara-Mannddita-Bhangge |
Bhiissma-Janani He Muni-Vara-Kanye Patita-Nivaarinni Tri-Bhuvana-Dhanye ||5||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) O Jahnavi Ganga, You are the uplifter of the fallen, and You flow meandering through the Great Mountains (of Himalayas), cutting through them and adorning them, O the Mother of Bhisma and the daughter of the great Jahnu Muni, You save the fallen and bring prosperity to the three Worlds.
Kalpa-Lataam-Iva Phala-Daam Loke Prannamati Yastvaam Na Patati Shoke |
Paaraavaara-Vihaarinni Gangge Vimukha-Yuvati-Krta-Tarala-Apaangge ||6||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) You bestow Fruits to the Worlds like the Kalpalata (Wish-Fulfilling creeper); He who reverentially bows down to You does not fall into Grief, O Mother Ganga, You flow into the ocean with the sportiveness of a young Maiden turning away with side glances.
Tava Cen-Maatah Srotah-Snaatah Punar-Api Jatthare Sopi Na Jaatah |
Naraka-Nivaarinni Jaahnavi Gangge Kalussa-Vinaashini Mahimottungge ||7||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) O Mother, he who has bathed in the flow of Your Pure Water, he will not again take birth from the womb of a mother (i.e. have rebirth), O Jahnavi Ganga, You save people from falling in the Naraka (Hell) and destroy their Impurities; O Mother Ganga, Your Greatness stands High.
Punar-Asad-Angge Punnya-Tarangge Jaya Jaya Jaahnavi Karunna-Apaangge |
Indra-Mukutta-Manni-Raajita-Caranne Sukha-De Shubha-De Bhrtya-Sharannye ||8||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) O Jahnavi Ganga, Victory to You, You make the Impure Body Pure again by Your Holy Waves and Compassionate Glance, O Mother Ganga, Your Feet is adorned with the Crown-Jewel of Indra; You give Joy and bestow Auspiciousness to the servant who takes Your Refuge.
Rogam Shokam Taapam Paapam Hara Me Bhagavati Kumati-Kalaapam |
Tri-Bhuvana-Saare Vasudhaa-Haare Tvam-Asi Gatir-Mama Khalu Samsaare ||9||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) O Bhagavati Ganga, Please take away my Diseases, Sorrows, Afflictions and Sins & Evil-Tendencies from my Mind, O Mother Ganga, You are the Prosperity of the Three Worlds and the Garland of the Earth, You verily are my Refuge in the Samsara.
Alakaanande Parama-[A]anande Kuru Karunnaamayi Kaatara-Vandye |
Tava Tatta-Nikatte Yasya Nivaasah Khalu Vaikunntthe Tasya Nivaasah ||10||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) O Alakananda, O the giver of Great Joy, Please listen to my Prayers and be Gracious to me, O the Merciful One Who is adored by the Helpless, He, who resides near Your River Bank, is indeed residing in Vaikuntha.
Varam-Iha Niire Kamattho Miinah Kim Vaa Tiire Sharattah Kssiinnah |
Athavaa Shvapaco Malino Diinas-Tava Na Hi Duure Nrpati-Kuliinah ||11||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) O Mother, It is better to live in Your Waters like a Tortoise or Fish, or in Your River Bank like a feeble Chameleon,or be an unclean and miserable Low born (but living near You), rather than be a King or High Born but being far away from you.
Bho Bhuvaneshvari Punnye Dhanye Devi Dravamayi Muni-Vara-Kanye |
Ganggaa-Stavam-Imam-Amalam Nityam Patthati Naro Yah Sa Jayati Satyam ||12||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) O Bhuvaneswari (Goddess of the World), You are the bestower of Holiness and Prosperity; O Devi, You are the daughter of the great Jahnu Muni in Liquid Form, He who regularly recites this Pure Ganga Stava (Hymn), he truly becomes successful.
Yessaam Hrdaye Ganggaa-Bhaktis-Tessaam Bhavati Sadaa Sukha-Muktih |
Madhuraa-Kaantaa-Pajjhattikaabhih Parama-[A]ananda-Kalita-Lalitaabhih ||13||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) He who fills his Heart with Devotion to Devi Ganga, he always feels the Joy of Freedom (within his Heart), This Ganga Stotram which is Sweet and Pleasing is composed in Pajjhatika meter; It is like a Great Joy formed with Artless Innocence (of Devotion).
Ganggaa-Stotram-Idam Bhava-Saaram Vaan.chita-Phala-Dam Vimalam Saaram |
Shangkara-Sevaka-Shangkara-Racitam Patthati Sukhii Stava Iti Ca Samaaptah ||14||
Meaning - (Salutations to Devi Ganga) This Ganga Stotram is the true substance in this Samsara, giving desired Fruits, and is the essence of Purity. This hymn is composed by Shankara (Adi Shankaracharya), the servant of Shankara (Shiva); those who read it will be filled with Joy; thus ends this Stava (Hymn) (with good wishes for all).
Benefits of Ganga Stotram
Reciting or chanting the Ganga Stotram is believed to have several benefits, both spiritual and psychological, for the devotee's are as follows:
1. Purification
2. Blessings
3. Removal of sins
4. Protection
5. Stress relief and mental well-being.
How to chant the stotra?
Before chanting the Shri Ganga Strotam, here are some traditional practices that devotees may follow to prepare for a more focused and meaningful experience:
Inner Cleanliness: Take a bath or wash your hands and face to feel physically clean. This can symbolise inner purification as well.
Peaceful Environment: Find a quiet, clean space free from distractions where you can focus on the chanting.
Simple Attire: Wear comfortable and clean clothes that allow you to sit comfortably.
Devotional Mindset: Approach the chanting with reverence and devotion to Maa Ganga. Set an intention for your chanting, whether it's seeking protection, peace, or spiritual growth.
Prayer (Optional): You can offer a short prayer to Maa Ganga before chanting, expressing your gratitude and seeking his blessings.
Who can chant Ganga Strotam (श्री गंगा स्तोत्रम् ) & When to chant?
The Ganga Stotram can be chanted by anyone who has devotion and reverence towards Goddess Ganga, irrespective of their age, gender, or caste. There are no specific restrictions on who can chant it. However, it is important to approach the chanting with sincerity, respect, and purity of heart.
As for when to chant the Ganga Stotram, there are no rigid rules regarding timing. Devotees can chant it at any time of the day, depending on their convenience and personal spiritual practice. Some people prefer to chant it during their morning prayers or as part of their daily worship routine.