गणेश गायत्री मंत्र — Word-by-Word Meaning
गणेश गायत्री मंत्र
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
ॐ
Om
the primordial sound
विद्महे
Vidmahe
may we know / we seek to know — the single-tusked one (Ekadanta)
धीमहि
Dhimahi
we meditate upon — the curved-trunked one (Vakratunda)
तन्नः … प्रचोदयात्
Tannah … Prachodayat
may the tusked Lord (Ganesha) inspire and illumine our intellect
Complete Translation
ॐ। हम Lord Ganesha को जानें, उनका ध्यान करें; वे Lord Ganesha हमारी बुद्धि को प्रेरित व प्रकाशित करें।
Origin & History
Source: The Gayatri mantra of Lord Ganesha
Author: Traditional (Vedic)
Beyond the universal Gayatri Mantra, the Vedic tradition gives each great deity its own Gayatri — a prayer in the sacred Gayatri meter calling upon that deity to illumine the intellect. The Ganesh Gayatri Mantra invokes Lord Ganesha, the giver of wisdom, success and the removal of obstacles, in the timeless pattern "Vidmahe… Dhimahi… Prachodayat" — "may we know, may we meditate, may the Lord inspire our minds." Chanted at the sandhya hours, it is a complete and gentle daily sadhana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ganesh Gayatri Mantra?▼
It is the Gayatri mantra of Lord Ganesha: "Om Ekadantaya Vidmahe Vakratundaya Dhimahi. Tanno Dantih Prachodayat". Set in the sacred Gayatri meter, it invokes Lord Ganesha to inspire and illumine the intellect, in the pattern "Vidmahe… Dhimahi… Prachodayat".
What are the benefits of the Ganesh Gayatri Mantra?▼
It is chanted for wisdom, success and the removal of obstacles, and to awaken clarity and wisdom of mind. As a Gayatri mantra it is held to be especially purifying and steadying, bringing the blessings of Lord Ganesha into daily life.
When and how many times should it be chanted?▼
Chant it 108 times on a mala, ideally at dawn and the other sandhya times, facing east. Wednesday is its special day. It can be made part of a daily Gayatri sadhana.
What does "Vidmahe Dhimahi Prachodayat" mean?▼
Every Gayatri follows this pattern: "Vidmahe" — may we know; "Dhimahi" — may we meditate upon; "Prachodayat" — may that deity inspire and illumine our intellect. So the mantra is a prayer for the deity to awaken wisdom within us.
Can anyone chant the Ganesh Gayatri Mantra?▼
Yes — deity Gayatri mantras may be chanted by anyone with devotion. They are recited at dawn after a bath, with a clean mind, ideally on Wednesday, and are a gentle, complete daily practice.
Ready to start chanting?
See Benefits & How to Chant →