Hymn-Shri Ganesha Bhujangam of Adi Sankara (M. Venkataraman)

Glimpses from Indian spirituality, mythology and way of life.

This is a hymn of Praise on Lord Ganesha composed by Adi Sankaracharya.

Sankara says ‘I praise Lord Ganesha, the leader of Shivaganas and the son of Lord Shiva’.

What type of a deity is Ganesha? Sankara says that with the snake garland shining over his belly, He appears pleasing with the sounds of the small bells across His body. His lotus-feet is reverberating to the dance of shiva tandava in rebellious ways. His face is resplendent hearing the sounds coming out from the strings of the veena. He has a resplendent trunk stem and a temple. There is a shiny flow of juice from the trunk temple. He wears a trickling garland of fragrant flowers with bumblebees hovering around.

He is shining like the blood-red inner new shoots of the rose flower during the morning red light. He has a large belly and an elephant tusk. He is adorned by a colorful shining garland of diamonds and jewels and is adorned at the forehead by streaks of the diamond-like moon. Ganesha is an incarnation for providing mercy, comfort, and benevolence to the people.

Sankara says ‘I praise that Ganesha, Who is the beginning of the universe, pure, and free from differences. He is beyond the qualities, pure bliss, formless, and is beyond everything. He is the Omkara, is the creator of illusions, and whom eminent Puranas glorify with songs of praise.

Sankara offers salutations to that great Ganesha, Who provides happiness and bliss, Who is peaceful, Who creates and destroys the world, and Who has immeasurable sportivity.

Sankara says ‘O Ganesha, Who is the root of the world, Who is the son of Lord Shiva! Accept my salutations and bless me.

In the phalasruti Sankara says that those who wake up early in the morning and recite with devotion this hymn of praise will get all their desires fulfilled. They will also attain Vaak-Siddhi namely the power in which spoken wishes get fulfilled. With an optimistic tone, Sankara asks, what can be difficult when Ganesha is happy?

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