Ganesha
Pranamya Shirasa — Sankata Nashana opening
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं गौरीपुत्रं विनायकम् । भक्तावासं स्मरेन्नित्यमायुष्कामार्थसिद्धये ॥
Praṇamya śirasā devaṁ gaurīputraṁ vināyakam, bhaktāvāsaṁ smaren nityam āyuṣ-kāmārtha-siddhaye
Simple reading: Pra-nam-ya shi-ra-saa de-vam, gau-ree-pu-tram vi-naa-ya-kam, bhak-taa-vaa-sam sma-ren nit-yam, aa-yush-kaa-maar-tha sid-dha-ye
About this mantra
The opening verse of the Sankata-Nashana Ganesha Stotra — recited to remove distress and for the fulfilment of life's rightful aims.
Meaning
Bowing my head to the god Vinayaka, son of Gauri, dwelling-place of his devotees — one should remember him daily, for long life and the fulfilment of wish and means. The verse is practical about devotion: ayuh, kama, artha — life-span, desire, prosperity — are named without embarrassment, because the tradition holds that the remover of obstacles may be asked for worldly ground as well as inner light.
When to recite it
A verse for daily remembrance — recited each morning for the household's long life and provision, and before ventures where both means and blessings are being asked.
Word by word
- प्रणम्य शिरसाpraṇamya śirasā
- bowing with the head
- गौरीपुत्रंgaurīputraṁ
- son of Gauri (Parvati)
- विनायकम्vināyakam
- Vinayaka, the supreme guide
- भक्तावासंbhaktāvāsaṁ
- who dwells with his devotees
- स्मरेन्नित्यम्smaren nityam
- one should remember daily
- आयुष्कामार्थसिद्धयेāyuṣ-kāmārtha-siddhaye
- for long life and the fulfilment of aims
Source: Saṅkaṭa-nāśana Gaṇeśa Stotra 1 (Nārada Purāṇa)