Shri Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad

 "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

 The Shri Ganapati Atharvashirsha (also known as Ganapati Atharvashirsha) is a revered Upanishad from the Atharva Veda, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It describes Ganesha as the ultimate reality (Brahman), the source, sustainer, and dissolver of the universe, and provides profound insights into his nature, mantras, and worship. Below is the complete text in English transliteration (The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Indic scripts ), structured with verse numbers for clarity. This is followed by a brief English translation and meaning for each section to aid understanding.

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 ॥

 Translation and Meaning:

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.)

 Verse 2: 

Ritam Vachmi। Satyam Vachmi ॥

 Translation and Meaning:

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 ॥

 Translation and Meaning:

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.)

 Verse 4: 

Tvam Vangmayastvam Chinmaya।

Tvam Vangmayastvam Brahmamayah॥

Tvam Sachchidananda Dvitiyosi।

Tvam Pratyaksham Brahmasi।

Tvam Gyanmayo Vignyanmayosi॥

 Translation and Meaning:

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।।

 Translation and Meaning:

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।।

 Translation and Meaning:

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।।

 Translation and Meaning:

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।।

 Translation and Meaning:

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।।

 Translation and Meaning:

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।।

 Translation and Meaning:

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.

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