Shri Ganapati Atharvashirsha (श्री गणपति अथर्वशीर्षम्)

ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः। भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः। स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवांसस्तनूभिः। व्यशेम देवहितं यदायूः॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Om Bhadraṁ Karṇebhiḥ Śṛṇuyāma Devāḥ | Bhadraṁ Paśyemākṣabhir-Yajatrāḥ | Sthirair-Aṅgais-Tuṣṭuvāṁsas-Tanūbhiḥ | Vyaśema Devahitaṁ Yadāyūḥ || Om Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ ||

Meaning: Shanti Mantra: Om! O Gods, may we hear what is auspicious with our ears; may we see what is holy with our eyes! May we live our allotted lifespan in strong bodies praising You! Om Peace, Peace, Peace!

ॐ नमस्ते गणपतये। त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं तत्त्वमसि। त्वमेव केवलं कर्ताऽसि। त्वमेव केवलं धर्ताऽसि। त्वमेव केवलं हर्ताऽसि। त्वमेव सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्मासि। त्वं साक्षादात्माऽसि नित्यम्॥१॥

Om Namaste Gaṇapataye | Tvameva Pratyakṣaṁ Tattvamasi | Tvameva Kevalaṁ Kartā'si | Tvameva Kevalaṁ Dhartā'si | Tvameva Kevalaṁ Hartā'si | Tvameva Sarvaṁ Khalvidaṁ Brahmāsi | Tvaṁ Sākṣād-Ātmā'si Nityam || 1 ||

Meaning: Salutations to You, O Ganapati! You alone are the visible Supreme Reality (Tattva). You alone are Creator, Sustainer, and Dissolver of the cosmos. Verily You are all this Brahman. You are the eternal Self (Atman) manifest!

ऋतं वच्मि। सत्यं वच्मि॥ अव त्वं मां। अव वक्तारं। अव श्रोतारं। अव दातारं। अव धातारं। अवानूचानमव शिष्यम्। अव पश्चात्तात्। अव पुरस्तात्। अवोत्तरात्तात्। अव दक्षिणात्तात्। अव चोर्ध्वात्तात्। अवाधरात्तात्। सर्वतो मां पाहि पाहि समन्तात्॥२॥

Ṛtaṁ Vacmi | Satyaṁ Vacmi || Ava Tvaṁ Mām | Ava Vaktāraṁ | Ava Śrotāraṁ | Ava Dātāraṁ | Ava Dhātāraṁ | Avānūcānam-Ava Śiṣyam | Ava Paścāttāt | Ava Purastāt | Avottarāttāt | Ava Dakṣiṇāttāt | Ava Cordhvāttāt | Avādharāttāt | Sarvato Māṁ Pāhi Pāhi Samantāt || 2 ||

Meaning: I speak cosmic order (Ritam); I speak eternal truth (Satyam). Protect me! Protect the speaker, listener, giver, bearer, teacher, and student! Protect from behind, front, north, south, above, and below—protect me from all sides everywhere!

त्वं वाङ्मयस्त्वं चिन्मयः। त्वमानन्दमयस्त्वं ब्रह्ममयः। त्वं सच्चिदानन्दाऽद्वितीयोऽसि। त्वं प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि। त्वं ज्ञानमयो विज्ञानमयोऽसि॥३॥

Tvaṁ Vāṅmayas-Tvaṁ Cinmayaḥ | Tvam-Ānandamayas-Tvaṁ Brahmamayaḥ | Tvaṁ Saccidānandā'dvitīyo'si | Tvaṁ Pratyakṣaṁ Brahmāsi | Tvaṁ Jñānamayo Vijñānamayo'si || 3 ||

Meaning: You are Speech, You are pure Consciousness! You are Bliss, You are Brahman! You are non-dual Existence-Consciousness-Bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda)! You are directly perceived Brahman. You are knowledge and transcendent wisdom!

सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तो जायते। सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तस्तिष्ठति। सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि लयमेष्यति। सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि प्रत्येति। त्वं भूमिरापोऽनलोऽनिलो नभः। त्वं चत्वारि वाक्पदानि॥४॥

Sarvaṁ Jagad-Idaṁ Tvatto Jāyate | Sarvaṁ Jagad-Idaṁ Tvattas-Tiṣṭhati | Sarvaṁ Jagad-Idaṁ Tvayi Layam-Eṣyati | Sarvaṁ Jagad-Idaṁ Tvayi Pratyeti | Tvaṁ Bhūmir-Āpo'nalo'nilo Nabhaḥ | Tvaṁ Catvāri Vāk-Padāni || 4 ||

Meaning: This entire cosmos is born from You, sustained by You, dissolves into You, and returns into You. You are Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. You are the four levels of divine Speech (Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama, Vaikhari)!

त्वं गुणातीतः। त्वं कालत्रयातीतः। त्वं देहत्रयातीतः। त्वं मूलाधारस्थितोऽसि नित्यम्। त्वं शक्तित्रयात्मकः। त्वां योगिनो ध्यायन्ति नित्यम्। त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं विष्णुस्त्वं रुद्रस्त्वमिन्द्रस्त्वमग्निस्त्वं वायुस्त्वं सूर्यस्त्वं चन्द्रमास्त्वं ब्रह्म भूर्भुवः स्वरोम्॥५॥

Tvaṁ Guṇātītaḥ | Tvaṁ Kālatrayātītaḥ | Tvaṁ Dehatrayātītaḥ | Tvaṁ Mūlādhāra-Sthito'si Nityam | Tvaṁ Śakti-Trayātmakaḥ | Tvāṁ Yogino Dhyāyanti Nityam | Tvaṁ Brahmā Tvaṁ Viṣṇus-Tvaṁ Rudras-Tvam-Indras-Tvam-Agnis-Tvaṁ Vāyus-Tvaṁ Sūryas-Tvaṁ Candramās-Tvaṁ Brahma Bhūr-Bhuvaḥ Svar-Om || 5 ||

Meaning: You transcend the three Gunas, the three states of time, and the three bodies. You reside eternally in the Muladhara chakra! You embody the three divine energies (Iccha, Kriya, Jnana). Yogis meditate constantly on You! You are Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Indra, Agni, Vayu, Surya, Chandra, and the cosmic realms Bhur, Bhuvah, Swaha, and OM!

गणादिं पूर्वमुच्चार्य वर्णादिं तदनन्तरम्। अनुस्वारः परतरः। अर्धेन्दुलसितम्। तारेण ऋद्धम्। एतत्तव मनुस्वरूपम्। गकारः पूर्वरूपम्। अकारो मध्यमरूपम्। अनुस्वारश्चान्त्यरूपम्। बिन्दुरुत्तररूपम्। नादः सन्धानम्। संहिता सन्धिः। सैषा गणेशविद्या। गणक ऋषिः। निचृद्गायत्रीच्छन्दः। गणपतिर्देवता। ॐ गं गणपतये नमः॥६॥

Gaṇādiṁ Pūrvam-Uccārya Varṇādiṁ Tadanantaram | Anusvāraḥ Parataraḥ | Ardhendu-Lasitam | Tāreṇa Ṛddham | Etat-Tava Manu-Svarūpam | Gakāraḥ Pūrvarūpam | Akāro Madhyamarūpam | Anusvāraś-Cāntyarūpam | Bindur-Uttararūpam | Nādaḥ Sandhānam | Saṁhitā Sandhiḥ | Saiṣā Gaṇeśa-Vidyā | Gaṇaka Ṛṣiḥ | Nicṛd-Gāyatrīc-Chandaḥ | Gaṇapatir-Devatā | Om Gaṁ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ || 6 ||

Meaning: Pronouncing 'G' first, followed by 'A', crowned by nasal Anusvara and crescent Bindu, unified by OM—this is Your sacred mantra 'GAM'! The sage is Ganaka, meter is Gayatri, presiding Deity is Ganapati: OM GAM GANAPATAYE NAMAHA!

एकदन्ताय विद्महे वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि। तन्नो दन्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥७॥

Ekadantāya Vidmahe Vakratuṇḍāya Dhīmahi | Tanno Dantiḥ Pracodayāt || 7 ||

Meaning: Ganesha Gayatri: We contemplate the Single-Tusked Lord, we meditate upon the Deity with curved trunk; may that Elephant-Faced Lord inspire and illuminate our intellect!

एकदन्तं चतुर्हस्तं पाशमङ्कुशधारिणम्। रदं च वरदं हस्तैर्बिभ्राणं मूषकध्वजम्। रक्तं लम्बोदरं शूर्पकर्णकं रक्तवाससम्। रक्तगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गं रक्तपुष्पैः सुपूजितम्॥ भक्तानुकम्पिनं देवं जगत्कारणमच्युतम्। आविर्भूतं च सृष्ट्यादौ प्रकृतेः पुरुषात्परम्। एवं ध्यायति यो नित्यं स योगी योगिनां वरः॥८॥

Ekadantaṁ Caturhastaṁ Pāśam-Aṅkuśa-Dhāriṇam | Radaṁ Ca Varadaṁ Hastair-Bibhrāṇaṁ Mūṣakadhvajam | Raktaṁ Lambodaraṁ Śūrpakarṇakaṁ Raktavāsasam | Rakta-Gandhānuliptāṅgaṁ Raktapuṣpaiḥ Supūjitam || Bhaktānukampinaṁ Devaṁ Jagat-Kāraṇam-Acyutam | Āvirbhūtaṁ Ca Sṛṣṭyādau Prakṛteḥ Puruṣāt-Param | Evaṁ Dhyāyati Yo Nityaṁ Sa Yogī Yogināṁ Varaḥ || 8 ||

Meaning: Dhyana Mantra: Having one tusk, four arms, wielding noose and goad, offering boons and wisdom, bearing the mouse banner! Red in hue, pot-bellied, winnow-eared, clad in crimson silk, fragrant with red sandalwood! Manifest before creation, beyond Prakriti and Purusha—whoever meditates thus daily is supreme among all yogis!

एतदथर्वशीर्षं योऽधीते स ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते। स सर्वविघ्नैर्न बाध्यते। स सर्वतः सुखमेधते। स पञ्चमहापापात्प्रमुच्यते। सायमधीयानो दिवसकृतं पापं नाशयति। प्रातरधीयानो रात्रिकृतं पापं नाशयति। सर्वत्राधीयानोऽपपापो भवति। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षं च विन्दति॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Etad-Atharvaśīrṣaṁ Yo'dhīte Sa Brahmabhūyāya Kalpate | Sa Sarvavighnair-Na Bādhyate | Sa Sarvataḥ Sukham-Edhate | Sa Pañcamahāpāpāt-Pramucyate | Sāyam-Adhīyāno Divasakṛtaṁ Pāpaṁ Nāśayati | Prātar-Adhīyāno Rātrikṛtaṁ Pāpaṁ Nāśayati | Sarvatrādhīyāno'papāpo Bhavati | Dharmārtha-Kāma-Mokṣaṁ Ca Vindati || Om Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ ||

Meaning: Phalasruti: Whoever recites this Atharvashirsha qualifies for oneness with Supreme Brahman! He is never obstructed by hurdles. Reciting at evening dissolves day's faults; reciting at dawn purifies the night. It secures Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha! Om Peace, Peace, Peace!