Lyrics · Meaning · Audio
The best-known prayer in Hinduism for a new beginning — “O Ganesha of the curved trunk and mighty body, shining like a million suns, make all my work free of obstacles, always” — with two companion shlokas.
Traditional Ganesha shlokas
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Vakratunda Mahakaya
Son of Kali · Power of Ganesha
Each line shows an easy way to say it, with its English meaning. Turn on the Sanskrit, the exact pronunciation or the word-by-word meaning whenever you want to go deeper.
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ ।
Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭi samaprabha
O Lord with the curved trunk and mighty body, shining like ten million suns,
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada
nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā
O God, make all my undertakings free of obstacles, always.
शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।
Shuklambaradharam Vishnum Shashivarnam Chaturbhujam
śuklāmbaradharaṃ viṣṇuṃ śaśivarṇaṃ caturbhujam
Dressed in white, all-pervading, bright as the moon, four-armed,
प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥
Prasanna Vadanam Dhyayet Sarva Vighnopashantaye
prasannavadanaṃ dhyāyet sarvavighnopaśāntaye
with a smiling face — meditate on him to calm every obstacle.
अगजानन पद्मार्कं गजाननमहर्निशम् ।
Agajanana Padmarkam Gajananam Aharnisham
agajānana padmārkaṃ gajānanamaharniśam
The elephant-faced one, the sun that makes the lotus face of Parvati bloom — day and night
अनेकदं तं भक्तानामेकदन्तमुपास्महे ॥
Anekadam Tam Bhaktanam Ekadantam Upasmahe
anekadaṃ taṃ bhaktānāmekadantamupāsmahe
we worship him, the one-tusked, who gives so much to his devotees.
Before almost anything begins in a Hindu home — a puja, a journey, an exam, a wedding, a new business — someone says “Vakratunda Mahakaya.” It is the shortest and most universal prayer to Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and lord of beginnings.
Vakratuṇḍa means “curved trunk” and mahākāya “mighty body.” The verse asks for one thing only: nirvighnaṃ kuru — “make it free of obstacles” — in every task, at every time.
This page also gives two other short shlokas traditionally chanted at the start of worship: “Shuklambaradharam,” a meditation for removing all obstacles, and “Agajanana Padmarkam,” which honours Ganesha as the son of Parvati.
Once the gods held a contest: whoever circled the universe first would be honoured first in every worship. Kartikeya set off on his peacock. Ganesha simply walked around his parents, Shiva and Parvati, saying that they were his whole universe.
He won — and since then, every prayer begins with Ganesha.
When to chant
How many times
Once, three times, or 11 times.
Join your palms, and if you like, gently tap your temples with crossed hands, as is traditional before Ganesha.
Chant Vakratunda Mahakaya, picturing the task ahead going smoothly.
Add the companion shlokas if you are beginning a puja.
Then begin your work.
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
vakratuṇḍa
vuk-ra-toon-da.
nirvighnaṃ
nir-vigh-num — “without obstacles.”
śuklāmbaradharaṃ
shook-laam-ba-ra-dha-rum.
What is the meaning of Vakratunda Mahakaya?
“O Lord with the curved trunk and mighty body, shining like ten million suns, please make all my work free of obstacles, always.”
When should I chant Vakratunda Mahakaya?
Before beginning anything — a puja, a journey, study, work or a celebration.
Is Shuklambaradharam a Ganesha mantra?
It is chanted for Ganesha at the start of worship, though its words (“wearing white, all-pervading, moon-coloured, four-armed”) are also read as describing Vishnu. Both readings are traditional.