Ganga Stotram
गंगा स्तोत्र
Origin & Story
Composed by Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · c. 8th century CE
Adi Shankaracharya, the great teacher of Advaita Vedanta, composed this luminous hymn of fourteen verses to Maa Ganga — the river that descends from the feet of Vishnu through Shiva's matted locks to purify the earth. He calls upon her by her many names — Bhagirathi, Jahnavi, Alakananda — and prays for refuge at her lotus feet, declaring that she washes away every sin and carries the soul across the ocean of birth and death to the supreme abode.
Complete Text with Meaning
देवि सुरेश्वरि भगवति गङ्गे त्रिभुवनतारिणि तरलतरङ्गे। शङ्करमौलिविहारिणि विमले मम मतिरास्तां तव पदकमले॥
Devi Sureshwari Bhagavati Gange Tribhuvana-tarini Tarala-tarange. Shankara-mauli-viharini Vimale Mama matir-astam tava pada-kamale.
Meaning:O Goddess, queen of the gods, divine Ganga, who carries the three worlds across with your trembling waves; you who play in Shiva's matted locks, O pure one — may my mind rest at your lotus feet.
भागीरथि सुखदायिनि मातस्तव जलमहिमा निगमे ख्यातः। नाऽहं जाने तव महिमानं पाहि कृपामयि मामज्ञानम्॥
Bhagirathi Sukhadayini Matas-tava jala-mahima nigame khyatah. Naham jane tava mahimanam Pahi kripamayi mam-ajnanam.
Meaning:O Bhagirathi, giver of joy, O Mother — the glory of your waters is sung in the Vedas. I do not know your greatness; protect me, O compassionate one, in my ignorance.
हरिपदपाद्यतरङ्गिणि गङ्गे हिमविधुमुक्ताधवलतरङ्गे। दूरीकुरु मम दुष्कृतिभारं कुरु कृपया भवसागरपारम्॥
Hari-pada-padya-tarangini Gange Hima-vidhu-mukta-dhavala-tarange. Duri-kuru mama dushkriti-bharam Kuru kripaya bhava-sagara-param.
Meaning:O Ganga, stream that washed the feet of Hari (Vishnu), with waves white as snow, moon and pearl — take away the burden of my misdeeds, and by your grace carry me across the ocean of worldly existence.
तव जलममलं येन निपीतं परमपदं खलु तेन गृहीतम्। मातर्गङ्गे त्वयि यो भक्तः किल तं द्रष्टुं न यमः शक्तः॥
Tava jalam-amalam yena nipitam Parama-padam khalu tena grihitam. Matar-Gange tvayi yo bhaktah Kila tam drashtum na Yamah shaktah.
Meaning:Whoever has drunk your pure water has surely attained the supreme state. O Mother Ganga, upon your devotee — verily, even Yama, the lord of death, has no power to look.
पतितोद्धारिणि जाह्नवि गङ्गे खण्डितगिरिवरमण्डितभङ्गे। भीष्मजननि हे मुनिवरकन्ये पतितनिवारिणि त्रिभुवनधन्ये॥
Patitod-dharini Jahnavi Gange Khandita-girivara-mandita-bhange. Bhishma-janani he muni-vara-kanye Patita-nivarini tribhuvana-dhanye.
Meaning:O uplifter of the fallen, Jahnavi Ganga, adorned with waves breaking upon the rent mountains; O mother of Bhishma, O daughter of the great sage, remover of the fallen's sins, blessed in the three worlds.
कल्पलतामिव फलदाम् लोके प्रणमति यस्त्वां न पतति शोके। पारावारविहारिणि गङ्गे विमुखयुवतिकृततरलापाङ्गे॥
Kalpa-latam-iva phaladam loke Pranamati yas-tvam na patati shoke. Paravara-viharini Gange Vimukha-yuvati-krita-tarala-pange.
Meaning:Like a wish-granting creeper bearing fruit in this world — whoever bows to you does not fall into sorrow. O Ganga who sport upon both shores, whose tremulous side-glance turns even the indifferent toward you.
तव चेन्मातः स्रोतः स्नातः पुनरपि जठरे सोऽपि न जातः। नरकनिवारिणि जाह्नवि गङ्गे कलुषविनाशिनि महिमोत्तुङ्गे॥
Tava chen-matah srotah snatah Punar-api jathare so'pi na jatah. Naraka-nivarini Jahnavi Gange Kalusha-vinashini mahimottunge.
Meaning:O Mother, one who has bathed in your stream is not born again in the womb. O Jahnavi Ganga, averter of hell, destroyer of impurity, lofty in glory.
पुनरसदङ्गे पुण्यतरङ्गे जय जय जाह्नवि करुणापाङ्गे। इन्द्रमुकुटमणिराजितचरणे सुखदे शुभदे भृत्यशरण्ये॥
Punar-asad-ange punya-tarange Jaya jaya Jahnavi karuna-pange. Indra-mukuta-mani-rajita-charane Sukhade shubhade bhritya-sharanye.
Meaning:Upon even the impure body you bestow purity, O holy-waved one — victory, victory to you, Jahnavi, of the compassionate glance; whose feet shine with the jewels of Indra's crown; giver of joy and good, refuge of your servants.
रोगं शोकं तापं पापं हर मे भगवति कुमतिकलापम्। त्रिभुवनसारे वसुधाहारे त्वमसि गतिर्मम खलु संसारे॥
Rogam shokam tapam papam Hara me bhagavati kumati-kalapam. Tribhuvana-sare Vasudha-hare Tvam-asi gatir-mama khalu samsare.
Meaning:O Bhagavati, take from me disease, grief, suffering, sin and the whole tangle of my evil thoughts. O essence of the three worlds, garland of the earth — you alone are truly my refuge in this samsara.
अलकानन्दे परमानन्दे कुरु करुणामयि कातरवन्द्ये। तव तटनिकटे यस्य निवासः खलु वैकुण्ठे तस्य निवासः॥
Alakanande Paramanande Kuru karunamayi katara-vandye. Tava tata-nikate yasya nivasah Khalu Vaikunthe tasya nivasah.
Meaning:O Alakananda, O supreme bliss, be merciful, O compassionate one, worthy of the prayers of the distressed. One who dwells upon your bank verily dwells in Vaikuntha.
वरमिह नीरे कमठो मीनः किं वा तीरे शरटः क्षीणः। अथवा श्वपचो मलिनो दीनस्तव न हि दूरे नृपतिकुलीनः॥
Varam-iha nire kamatho minah Kim va tire sharatah kshinah. Athava shvapacho malino dinas-tava na hi dure nripati-kulinah.
Meaning:Better to be a tortoise or a fish here in your water, or a frail lizard upon your bank, or even a lowly, wretched outcaste near you — than a high-born king far from you.
भो भुवनेश्वरि पुण्ये धन्ये देवि द्रवमयि मुनिवरकन्ये। गङ्गास्तवमिमममलं नित्यं पठति नरो यः स जयति सत्यम्॥
Bho Bhuvaneshwari Punye Dhanye Devi dravamayi muni-vara-kanye. Ganga-stavam-imam-amalam nityam Pathati naro yah sa jayati satyam.
Meaning:O Bhuvaneshwari (queen of the worlds), holy and blessed, O Goddess of flowing water, daughter of the great sage — the man who daily recites this pure hymn to Ganga truly triumphs.
येषां हृदये गङ्गाभक्तिस्तेषां भवति सदा सुखमुक्तिः। मधुराकान्तापञ्झटिकाभिः परमानन्दकलितललिताभिः॥
Yesham hridaye Ganga-bhaktis-tesham bhavati sada sukha-muktih. Madhura-kanta-panjhatikabhih Paramananda-kalita-lalitabhih.
Meaning:In whose hearts there is devotion to Ganga, theirs is ever joy and liberation — through these sweet, lovely verses, full of supreme bliss.
गङ्गास्तोत्रमिदं भवसारं वाञ्छितफलदम् विमलं सारम्। शङ्करसेवकशङ्कररचितं पठति सुखीस्तव इति च समाप्तः॥
Ganga-stotram-idam bhava-saram Vanchhita-phaladam vimalam saram. Shankara-sevaka-Shankara-rachitam Pathati sukhi bhava tava iti cha samaptah.
Meaning:This Ganga Stotram is the essence of worldly life, granting the desired fruit, pure and excellent, composed by Shankara, the servant of Shankara. One who recites it becomes happy. Thus it is complete.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Click any word to hear its pronunciation
Benefits of Chanting Ganga Stotram
The most beloved hymn to Maa Ganga, composed by Adi Shankaracharya in fourteen verses
Said to wash away the sins and misdeeds of lifetimes and carry the devotee across the ocean of samsara
Promises that the true devotee of Ganga has no fear of Yama (death) and attains the supreme state
Recited at the river ghats, during Ganga Snan (the holy bath) and at the evening Ganga Aarti
Bestows purity, peace and liberation (moksha); removes disease, grief and evil thoughts
Especially powerful on Ganga Dussehra, Ganga Saptami and Kartik Purnima
How to Chant Ganga Stotram
Recite facing the Ganga, or visualising her, ideally after a bath, offering a lamp and flowers to the river. Read the fourteen verses slowly and with devotion — many recite it while taking the holy dip (Ganga Snan) or at the evening Ganga Aarti. It may be read daily for purity and peace of mind.