Sri Ganga Stotram

 Author: Adi Sankaracarya

(1)

devi sureśvari bhagavati gańge

tribhuvana-tāriṇi tarala tarańge

śańkara-mauli-vihāriṇi vimale

mama matir āstāḿ tava pada-kamale 

O Goddess Ganga! You are the divine river from heaven, you are the saviour of all the three worlds, you are pure and restless, you adorn Lord Shiva’s head. O Mother! may my mind always rest at your lotus feet.

(2)

bhāgirathi sukha-dāyini mātas

tava jala-mahimā nigame khyātaḥ

nāhaḿ jāne tava mahimānaḿ

pāhi kṛpāmayi mām ajnānam

 O Mother Bhagirathi! You give happiness to everyone. The significance of your holy waters is sung in the Vedas. I am ignorant and am not capable to comprehend your importance. O Devi! you are full of mercy. Please protect me.

(3)

hari-pada-pādya-tarańgiṇi gańge

hima-vidhu-muktā-dhavala-tarańge

dūrīkuru mama duṣkṛti-bhāraḿ

kuru kṛpayā bhava-sāgara-pāram

 O Devi! Your waters are as sacred as “Charanamriti” of Sri Hari. Your waves are white like snow, moon and pearls. Please wash away all my sins and help me cross this ocean of Samsara.

(4)

tava jalam amalaḿ yena nipītaḿ

parama-padaḿ khalu tena gṛhītam

mātar gańge tvayi yo bhaktaḥ

kila taḿ draṣṭuḿ na yamaḥ śaktaḥ

 O Mother! those who partake of your pure waters, definitely attain the highest state. O Mother Ganga! Yama, the Lord of death cannot harm your devotees.

(5)

patitoddhāriṇi jāhnavi gańge

khaṇḍita-giri-vara-maṇḍita-bhańge

bhīṣma janani he muni-vara-kanye

patita-nivāriṇi tribhuvana-dhanye

O Jahnavi! your waters flowing through the Himalayas make you even more beautiful. You are Bhishma’s mother and sage Jahnu’s daughter. You are saviour of the people fallen from their path, and so you are revered in all three worlds.

(6)

kalpa-latām iva phaladām loke

praṇamati yas tvāḿ na patati śoke

pārāvāra-vihāriṇi gańge

vimukha-vanitā-kṛta-taralāpāńge

 O Mother! You fulfill all the desires of the ones devoted to you. Those who bow down to you do not have to grieve. O Ganga! You are restless to merge with the ocean, just like a young lady anxious to meet her beloved.

(7)

tava cen mātaḥ srotaḥ-snātaḥ

punar api jaṭhare so’pi na jātaḥ

naraka-nivāriṇi jāhnavi gańge

kaluṣa-vināśini mahimottuńge

O Mother! those who bathe in your waters do not have to take birth again. O Jahnavi! You are held in the highest esteem. You destroy your devotee’s sins and save them from hell.

(8)

punar asad-ańge puṇya-tarańge

jaya jaya jāhnavi karuṇāpāńge

indra-mukuṭa-maṇi-rājita-caraṇe

sukhade śubhade bhṛtya-śaraṇye

O Jahnavi! You are full of compassion. You purify your devotees with your holy waters. Your feet are adorned with the gems of Indra’s crown. Those who seek refuge in you are blessed with happiness.

(9)

rogaḿ śokaḿ tāpaḿ pāpaḿ

hara me bhagavati kumati-kalāpam

tribhuvana-sāre vasudhāhāre

tvam asi gatir mama khalu saḿsāre

 O Bhagavati! Take away my diseases, sorrows, difficulties, sins and wrong attitudes. You are the essence of the three worlds and you are like a necklace around the Earth. O Devi! You alone are my refuge in this Samsara.

(10)

alakānande paramānande

kuru karuṇāmayi kātara-vandye

tava taṭa-nikaṭe yasya nivāsaḥ

khalu vaikuṇṭhe tasya nivāsaḥ

O Ganga! those who seek happiness worship you. You are the source of happiness for Alkapuri and source of eternal bliss. Those who reside on your banks are as privileged as those living in Vaikunta.

(11)

varam iha nīre kamaṭho mīnaḥ

kiḿ vā tīre śaraṭaḥ kṣīṇaḥ

athavā śvapaco malino dīnaḥt

ava na hi dūre nṛpatiḥ kulīnaḥ

O Devi ! It is better to live in your waters as turtle or fish, or live on your banks as poor “candal” rather than to live away from you as a wealthy king.

(12)

bho bhuvaneśvari puṇye dhanye

devi dravamayi muni-vara-kanye

gańgā-stavam imam amalaḿ nityaḿ

paṭhati naro yaḥ sa jayati satyam

O Godess of Universe! You purify us. O daughter of muni Jahnu! one who recites this Ganga Stotram everyday, definitely achieves success.

(13)

yeṣāḿ hṛdaye gańgā bhaktis

teṣāḿ bhavati sadā sukha-muktiḥ

madhura-manohara-pajjhaṭikābhiḥ

paramānanda-kalita-lalitābhiḥ

Those who have devotion for Mother Ganga, always get happiness and they attain liberation. This beautiful and lyrical Gangastuti is a source of Supreme bliss.

(14)

gańgā-stotram idaḿ bhava-sāraḿ

vāñchitaphaladam vimalaḿ sāram

śańkara-sevaka-śańkara-racitaḿ

paṭhati ca vinayīdam iti samāptam

This Ganga Stotram, written by Sri Adi Sankaracharya, devotee of Lord Siva, purifies us and fulfills all our desires

Remarks / Extra Information: This song was featured in the 1996 Abhay Charan serial. This song is not sung in traditional Gaudiya Vaisnava settings, however Ganga is a devotee of the Lord. Adi Sankaracarya is also a devotee of Lord Krsna, even though his philosophy preached impersonalism, by the behest of Lord Krsna. Thus, this prayer is only there for the sake of posting lyrics as a reference for the serial.