Ganga stotram is a devotional hymn composed on Goddess Ganga by Guru Adi Shankaracharya.
The Ganga stotram lyrics are beautifully composed in such a way explaining the divine nature of Goddess Ganga and the qualities of the river Ganges.
The overall hymn praises the Goddess nature on how she blesses her devotees, protects and purifies them, finally leading to the path of moksha.
Coming to the Ganga stotram meaning, each stanza of the stotram has an indepth meaning explaining the divine names of the goddess and her divinity.
The sanctity and the sacredness of the river Ganga is described in several holy texts and is also praised in several hymns.
It is believed that once in a lifetime one must take a holy bath in this river to attain the spiritual essence. At the same time, people strongly believe that immersing the ashes of their kin in the River Ganga helps the spirits to attain moksha.
Ganga Stotram Lyrics with Meaning
Devi Sureshwari Bhagavati Gange tribhuvana taarini tarala tarange
Shankara mouli viharini vimale mama mathi raasthaam tava pada kamale (1)
I bow to you goddess Ganga, the supreme deity of the devas (Sureshwari), the ultimate goddess (Bhagavati), saviour of the three worlds (Tribhuvanas), who is pure and restless with her waves
O the one, who resides and flows from Lord Shiva’s head, the pure one, let my mind always remain on your lotus like feet.
Bhagirathi sukha-dhayini maataha tava jalamahima Nigame kyathaha
Naham jane tava mahimanam pahi krupamayi mamajnanam (2)
O Bhagirathi, the mother who bestows happiness (sukhadhayini) to everyone, whose water’s significance is praised by Vedas (Nigamas)
I am ignorant, who is not capable of knowing your importance. O the merciful one, despite of this please protect me.
Hari pada padya tarangini Gange hima vidhu mukthaa dhavala taramgee
Dhureekuru mama dhushkruti bharam kuru krupaya bhava-sagara-paaram (3)
The one, whose waves touch the feet of Lord Hari, whose waves resemble that of white snow, moon, and pearl.
Please lift my burden caused due to evil deeds and with your mercy please help me cross the ocean of the samsara
Tava jala mamalam Yena nipitham parama padam khalu tena gruhitham
Maatar Gange tvay yo bhakthaha kila tham dhrashtum na Yamah shakthaha (4)
Those who take your holy water, will indeed attain the supreme adobe.
O Goddess Ganga, even the Yama’s power of glance will not affect that devotee.
Patithod dharini Jahnavi Gange khanditha girivara manditha bhangey
Bhisma-janani hey munivara kanye patita nivarini tribhuvana dhanye (5)
O the one who uplifts her devotees to the path of righteousness, daughter of sage Jahnu, Goddess Ganga, who meander through the mountains and circles them
The mother of Bhishma, the boon from the sage (Durvasa), one who removes sins from the people who have fallen out of their path, the one revered in the three worlds.
Kalpa lathaamiva phaladhaam lokey pranamati yasthvam na patati shoke
Para vaara viharini Gange vimukha yuvathi krutha taralaapange (6)
Who rewards the worlds like a Kalpalatha (wish fulfilling creeper), who bow to you with true devotion will never fall into grief
The one who flows great, the beautiful smiling women who remain restless and flowing with side glances like a young maiden
Tava chen-mataha srothaha snataha punarapi jatharey sopi na jataha
Naraka nivarini Jahnavi Gange kalusha vinasini mahimot thunge (7)
Those who praise and bathe in your holy waters do not have to take birth again
The one who eliminates the misery of hell, daughter of Muni Jahnu, Goddess Gange, you are the destroyer of sins and the best among the glorious ones.
Punarasa dange punya tarange jaya jaya Jahnavi karunaapange
Indra mukuta mani raajitha charane sukhade shubhade bhrtya sharanye (8)
The one who makes the impure ones pure again by your holy waves, Victory to you O Jahnavi, the compassionate one
The ones whose feet are lustering with the reflections of the gems present on Indras crown, the bestower of joy and auspiciousness to the one who seeks refuge.
Roogam sokam thapam papam hara mey Bhagavati kumati kalapam
Tribhuvana-sare vasudha-haare tvamasi gatirmama kalu samsare (9)
Please remove my illness, sorrows, afflictions, and sins. O Devi Bhagavathi, also please remove my wrong thoughts from my mind
The one who is the essence of the three worlds, who is like a jewel to the earth, who is indeed my refuge in the worldly existence (Samsara)
Alakaanande paramaanande kuru karunamayi katara vandye
Tava tata nikate yasya nivasaha khalu vaikunthey tasya nivasaha (10)
O the Alakananda, the embodied form of great joy, I bow to you, be pleased on me the merciful one
Those who live near the adobe of you (on the banks of river Ganga) It is equivalent to living in Vaikuntha.
Vara mihanirey kamatho minaha kim va teere sarataha kshinaha
Athavaa swapacho malino dinaha tava na hi dhure nrupati kuleenaha (11)
It is better to live as a turtle or as a fish in your waters, or even as a withered lizard living on your riverbank
Or even to be a low living, unclean person living near to you on your banks, But let me not live far away from you, even as a king
Bho Bhuvaneshwari punye dhanye devi dravamayi muni vara kanye
Gangastavam imam amalam nithyam pathathi naro yaha sa jayathi sathyam (12)
O the goddess of the world (Bhuvaneshwari), virtuous and blissful, the goddess who is in the form of water, the boon of sages. (I bow to you)
The one who recites this Gangastavam will understand the truth of salvation and will become the truth.
Yessaam hrudhaye Ganga bhaktis tesham bhavathi sada sukha muktihi
Madhura manohara pajjhatikabhih paramananda kara lalitaabhih (13)
One who fills his heart with the devotion to Goddess Ganga will be bestowed always with the joy of salvation
This sweet and enchanting stotram in Pajjhatika sabdha (meter of music) is an embodiment of great joy
Ganga stotramidam bhava saram vanchitha phaladam vimalam saaram
Shankara sevaka shankara rachitham pathathi sukhii stave iti ca smaaptaha (14)
This Ganga stotram is the pure essence of existence and bestows all your wishful desires
This blissful stavam composed by Shankara, the servant of Lord Shankara, brings joy to the receiver and this hymn ends here.
Jaya Jaya Gange Jaya Hara Gange
Jaya Jaya Gange Jaya Hara Gange
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