"Atharvashirsha" refers to the Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad, a sacred Sanskrit text dedicated to Lord Ganesha that describes him as the supreme reality and the source of the universe. The name can be broken down to mean "the head [Shirsha] of the Atharava (knowledge," "sacred wisdom," or the "knower of the Atharvaveda".]," signifying its revelation in the Atharva Veda.
Shri
Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad
Shanti Patha
(Peace Invocation)
Om Bhadram
Karnebhih Shrinuyama Devah ।
Bhadram
Pashyemakshabhiryajatrah ॥
Sthirairangais
Tushtuvamsastanubhih ।
Vyashema
Devahitam Yadayuh ॥
Om Swasti Na Indro Vriddhashravah ।
Swasti Nah
Pusha Vishwavedah।
Swasti Nas
Tarksyo Arishtanemih ॥
Swasti No
Brihaspatirdadhatu ॥
Om Shantih
Shantih Shantih ॥
May we hear
auspicious things with our ears, O gods. May we see auspicious things with our
eyes, O worshipful ones. With firm limbs and bodies, may we praise and enjoy
the lifespan allotted by the gods for their service. May Indra of great fame,
Pushan the knower of all worlds, Tarksya (Garuda) of unharmed wheels, and
Brihaspati grant us well-being. Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
(This
invocation seeks divine blessings for physical, mental, and spiritual
well-being, invoking protection from cosmic forces.)
Main
Upanishad Text
Verse
1:
Om Namaste
Ganapataye।
Tvameva
Pratyaksham Tatvamasi॥
Tvameva
Kevalam Kartasi ।
Tvameva
Kevalam Dhartasi॥
Tvameva
Kevalam Hartasi।
Tvameva
Sarvam Khalvidam Brahmasi॥
Tvam
Sakshadatmasi Nityam॥
Translation and Meaning:
Om,
salutations to you, O Ganapati. You alone are the manifest Tattva (ultimate
essence). You alone are the sole Creator. You alone are the sole Sustainer. You
alone are the sole Destroyer. You alone are all this—verily, this is Brahman.
You are the direct, eternal Atman.
(Affirms
Ganesha as the supreme Brahman, embodying creation, preservation, and
dissolution.)
Ritam Vachmi। Satyam Vachmi ॥
I speak the
Rta (cosmic order). I speak the Satya (truth).
(The seer
declares the eternal truths of the universe.) (A seer is a person who is
believed to have supernatural perception, enabling them to see things that
others cannot, including the future or spiritual realities).
Verse
3:
Ava Tvam Mam। Ava Vaktaram ॥
Ava
Shrotaram। Avadataram ॥
Ava Dhataram
Avanuchanamavashishyam ॥
Ava Paschatat। Avam Purastat ॥
Avottaratat। Ava Dakshinatat ॥
Avachordhvatat। Avadharatat ॥
Sarvato Mam
Pahi Pahi Samantat ॥
Protect me,
protect the speaker, the hearer, the giver, the retainer, the teacher, and the
disciple. Protect from behind, from the front, from the north, from the south,
from above, from below. Protect me from all sides.
(A prayer
for comprehensive protection in teaching and learning the truth.)
Tvam
Vangmayastvam Chinmaya।
Tvam
Vangmayastvam Brahmamayah॥
Tvam
Sachchidananda Dvitiyosi।
Tvam
Pratyaksham Brahmasi।
Tvam
Gyanmayo Vignyanmayosi॥
You are the
essence of speech and mind. You are bliss and Brahman. You are
Existence-Consciousness-Bliss, the non-dual one. You are the manifest Brahman.
You are knowledge and supreme wisdom.
(Describes
Ganesha's all-encompassing nature as pure consciousness and bliss.)
Verse
5:
Sarva
Jagadidam Tvatto Jayate।
Sarva
Jagadidam Tvattastishthati।
Sarva
Jagadidam Tvayi Layameshyati॥
Sarva
Jagadidam Tvayi Pratyeti॥
Tvam
Bhumiraponalo'nilo Nabha॥
Tvam
Chatvarivakpadani।।
All this
universe emerges from you, exists in you, dissolves into you, and returns to
you. You are earth, water, fire, air, and space. You are the four levels of
speech.
(Ganesha as
the origin and elements of creation.)
Verse
6:
Tvam
Gunatrayatitah।
Tvamavasthatrayatitah।
Tvam
Dehatrayatitah।
Tvam
Kalatrayatitah।
Tvam
Muladhara Sthito'si Nityam।
Tvam Shakti
Trayatmakah।।
Tvam Yogino
Dhyayanti Nityam।
Tvam
Shaktitrayatmakah।।
Tvam Yogino
Dhyayanti Nityam।
Tvam Brahma
Tvam Vishnustvam Rudrastvam Indrastvam Agnistvam।
Vayustvam
Suryastvam Chandramastvam Brahmabhurbhuvah Swarom।।
You
transcend the three gunas, states of consciousness, bodies, and times. You
eternally reside in the Muladhara. You embody the three shaktis. Yogis meditate
on you always. You are Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Indra, Agni, Vayu, Surya,
Chandra, and the three worlds.
(Ganesha
beyond limitations, identical to all deities and realms.)
Verse 7
(Ganapati Vidya - Beeja Mantra Description):
Ganadim
Purvamuchcharya Varnadim Tadanantaram।।
Anusvarah
Paratarah।। Ardhaendulasitam।।
Tarena
Riddham।। Etattava Manusvarupam।।
Gakarah
Purva Rupam Akaro Madhyarupam।
Anusvarashchantya
Rupam।। Binduruttara Rupam।।
Nadah
Sandhanam।। Samhita Sandhih Saisha Ganesh Vidya।।
Ganaka Rishi
Nichrudgayatri Chhandah।। Ganapati Devata।।
Om Gam
Ganapataye Namah।।
Uttering
"ga" first, then the rest of the letters, followed by anusvara;
beyond that, half-moon adorned; enriched by the nasal sound—this is your
mantric form. "Ga" is the beginning, "a" the middle,
anusvara the end, bindu the supreme. Nada is the union, saktis the connection.
This is Ganesh Vidya: Rishi Ganaka, meter Nicrid Gayatri, deity Ganapati. Om
Gam Ganapataye Namah.
(Details the
beeja mantra "Gam" as Ganesha's essence.)
Verse 8
(Dhyana Mantra):
Ekadantaya
Vidmahe। Vakratundaya Dhimahi।
Tanno Danti
Prachodayat।।
We know the
single-tusked one; we meditate on the curved-trunked one. May that tusker
inspire us.
(A dhyana
sloka for meditation on Ganesha.)
Verse 9
(Detailed Dhyana):
Ekadant
Chaturhastam Paramankushadharinam।।
Radam Cha
Varadam Cha Hastair Vibhranam Mushakadhvajam।।
Raktam
Lambodaram Shoorpakarnakam Raktavasasam।।
Rakta
Gandhanuliptangam Rakta Pushpaihi Supujitam।।
Bhaktanukampin
Devam Jagatkaranam Achyutam।।
Avirbhutam
Cha Srishtyadau Prakriteh Purushat Param।।
Evam
Dhyayati Yo Nityam Sa Yogi Yoginam Varah।।
Meditate on
the one-tusked, four-armed, holding noose and goad, carrying tusk and
boon-granting hand, with mouse banner; red-hued, pot-bellied, with fan-like
ears, clad in red, body smeared with red sandal, worshipped with red flowers;
compassionate to devotees, imperishable cause of the world, manifest at
creation's dawn, beyond Prakriti and Purusha. One who meditates thus daily is
the foremost yogi.
(Vivid
visualization for worship.)
Verse
10:
Namo
Vratapataye Namo Ganapataye।। Namo Prathamapataye।।
Namaste’stu
Lambodaraya Ekadantaya Vighnanashine Shiva Sutaya।
Shri
Varadamurtaye Namonamah।।
Translation and Meaning:
Salutations
to the lord of hosts, lord of Ganas, lord of Pramathas. Salutations to the
pot-bellied, single-tusked obstacle-remover, son of Shiva, boon-giving form.
(Prostrations
to Ganesha's aspects.)
Phalashruti
(Benefits of Recitation)
Verses
11-14:
Etadatharvashirsha
Yo'dhite।।
Sa
Brahmabhuyaya Kalpate।।
Sa
Sarvavighnair Na Badhyate ।।
Sa Sarvatah
Sukha Medhate।।
Sayamadhiyano Divasakritam Papam Nashayati।।
Prataradhiyano
Ratikritam Papam Nashayati।।
Sayam Pratah
Prayunjano Papodbhavati।
Sarvatradhiyano'pavighno
Bhavati।।
Dharmartha
Kamamoksham Cha Vidanti।।
Idam
Atharvashirsham Shishyayan Deyam।।
Yo Yadi
Mohad Dasyati Sa Papiyan Bhavati।।
Sahasravartanat
Yam Yam Kamamadhite Tam Tanena Sadhayet।।
Anena
Ganapatimabhisinchati Sa Vagmi Bhavati।।
Chaturthyam
Manashnan Japati Sa Vidyavan Bhavati।।
Ityartha
Vakyam।।
Brahmadhyavarannam
Vidyat Na Vibheti Kadachaneti।।
Yo
Durvankuraish Yajati Sa Vaishravanopamo Bhavati।।
Yo Lajair
Yajati Sa Yashovan Bhavati। Sa Medhavan Bhavati।।
Yo Modaka
Sahasrena Yajati।
Sa Vanchita
Phalam Avapnoti।।
Yah Sajya
Samidhvarbhayajati, Sa Sarvam Labhate Sa Sarvam Labhate।।
Ashto
Brahmananam Samyakgrahayitva Suryavarchasvi Bhavati।।
Surya Grihe
Mahanadyam Pratimhasannidhau Va Japatva Siddha Mantron Bhavati।।
Mahavighnat
Pramuchyate।।
Mahadoshat
Pramuchyate।।
Mahapapat
Pramuchyate।
Sa Sarva Vid
Bhavati Sa Sarvavid Bhavati।
Ya Evam Veda
Ityupanishad।।
One who
recites this Atharvashirsha becomes fit for Brahman-realization, free from
obstacles, enjoys happiness and intelligence everywhere, liberated from five
great sins. Evening recitation destroys daytime sins; morning recitation
destroys nighttime sins; both remove all sins. Constant recitation removes
hurdles; attains dharma, artha, kama, moksha. Do not give to unworthy; giving
in folly brings sin. Chanting 1,000 times fulfills desires. Abhisheka with this
makes one eloquent; japa while eating makes learned. One who knows the Vedas
fears nothing from Brahma onwards. Offering durva sprouts yields Kubera-like
wealth; puffed rice yields fame and intellect; 1,000 modakas fulfills wishes;
ghee and samidha yields everything. Teaching eight Brahmins makes one radiant
as the sun; japa during eclipse or near rivers makes the mantra siddha. Freed
from great obstacles, defects, and sins; becomes all-knowing. Thus ends the
Upanishad.
(Outlines
spiritual, material, and protective benefits of recitation and rituals.)
Concluding
Shanti Patha
Om Shantih
Shantih Shantih।।।
(Om Peace,
Peace, Peace—invoking final harmony.)
This text is
chanted for obstacle removal, wisdom, and self-realization.
ஓம் பத்ரம் கர்ணேபி: ச்ருணுயாம தேவா: பத்ரம் பச்யேமாக்ஷபிர் யஜத்ரா: | ஸ்திரைரங்கைஸ்துஷ்டுவாக்ம் ஸஸ்தனூபி: வ்யசேம தேவஹிதம் யதாயு: ||ஸ்வஸ்தி ந இந்த்ரோ வ்ருத்தச்ரவா: ஸ்வஸ்தி ந: பூஷா விச்வவேதா: | ஸ்வஸ்தி நஸ்தார்க்ஷ்யோ அரிஷ்டநேமி: ஸ்வஸ்தி நோ ப்ருஹஸ்பதிர்ததாது ||ஓம் சாந்தி: சாந்தி: சாந்தி: || ஓம் நமஸ்தே கணபதயே | த்வமேவ ப்ரத்யக்ஷம் தத்வமஸி | த்வமேவ கேவலம் கர்தாஸி | த்வமேவ கேவலம் தர்தாஸி | த்வமேவ கேவலம் ஹர்தாஸி | த்வமேவ ஸர்வம் கல்விதம் ப்ரஹ்மாஸி | த்வம் சாக்ஷாத் ஆத்மாஸி நித்யம் ||Atharvashirsha" refers to the Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad, a sacred Sanskrit text dedicated to Lord Ganesha that describes him as the supreme reality and the source of the universe. The name can be broken down to mean "the head [Shirsha] of the Atharava (knowledge," "sacred… pic.twitter.com/pztygHurDN
— Selvaraj Venkatesan (@sindoorwaves) October 15, 2025
ஸஹஸ்ராவர்தநாத் யம் யம் காமமதீதே தம் தமனேன ஸாதயேத் ||இதி ஸ்ரீ கணபத்யதர்வசீர்ஷம் ஸமாப்தம் ||ஓம் சாந்தி: சாந்தி: சாந்தி: |
