Ganga Stotram — Adi Shankara's Hymn to Holy Mother Ganga
Composed on the ghats of Varanasi by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya, this tender and reverent prayer praises Goddess Ganga as the cleanser of three worlds, the destroyer of hellish rebirth, and the direct current of divine liberation.
गंगा स्तोत्रम् — Ganga Stotram
Composed by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya
The Sacred Flow of Kashi
In Kashi, the Ganga does not merely flow southwards; she turns northward (Uttara-vahini), bending back toward her divine source in the Himalayas as if yearning to pay homage to Lord Shiva. Bathing in her waters at Kashi or merely chanting her name is proclaimed by the scriptures to bestow instantaneous purification. Shankara’s stotra captures the sweet, protective embrace of Mother Ganga.
Verse 1
देवि सुरेश्वरि भगवति गङ्गे
त्रिभुवनतारिणि तरलतरङ्गे ।
शङ्करमौलिविहारिणि विमले
मम मतिरास्तां तव पदकमले ॥ १ ॥Transliteration:
Devi sureśvari bhagavati gaṅge
Tribhuvana-tāriṇi tarala-taraṅge |
Śaṅkara-mauli-vihāriṇi vimale
Mama matir-āstāṁ tava pada-kamale || 1 ||
Meaning:
O Goddess! Ruler of the celestials, divine Mother Ganga! You who deliver all the three worlds from ignorance, sporting playful shimmering waves! You who frolic gently in the matted locks of Lord Shankara, ever-spotless and pure — may my mind forever dwell fixed upon your sacred lotus feet!
Verse 2
भागीरथि सुखदायिनि मातस्-
तव जलमहिमा निगमे ख्यातः ।
नाहं जाने तव महिमानं
पाहि कृपामयि मामज्ञानम् ॥ २ ॥Transliteration:
Bhāgīrathi sukha-dāyini mātas-
Tava jala-mahimā nigame khyātaḥ |
Nāhaṁ jāne tava mahimānaṁ
Pāhi kṛpāmayi mām-ajñānam || 2 ||
Meaning:
O Bhagirathi, mother who bestows delight! The transcendental glory of your waters is renowned in all the Vedic scriptures. I am humble and do not comprehend the full expanse of your greatness; O embodiment of mercy, protect this ignorant soul!
Verse 3
हरिपादपद्मतरङ्गिणि गङ्गे
हिमवच्छैलशिलाविचरङ्गे ।
शङ्करचामरचामरकेशे
नित्यं ध्यायेद्देवि महेशे ॥ ३ ॥Meaning:
You who originated as ripples from the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu (Hari-pada-padma); who descended dancing joyfully over the rocky crags of the Himalayas; who resemble a white fly-whisk adorning the head of Shiva — O great sovereign Goddess, I meditate upon you every day!
Verse 4
तव चेन्मातः स्रोतःस्नातः
पुनरपि जठरे सोऽपि न जातः ।
नरकनिवारिणि जाह्नवि गङ्गे
कलुषविनाशिनि महिमोत्तुङ्गे ॥ ४ ॥Meaning:
O Mother! If a seeker bathes even once in your sanctifying stream, they are never again forced to take birth within a mortal womb (Jathare punarapi na jatah). O Jahnavi Ganga, extinguisher of hellish agonies, destroyer of all sins, supreme in cosmic stature!
Key Verses (5 through 10)
- Verse 6: “Whoever recites the name Gange! Gange! from hundreds of yojanas away becomes cleansed of accumulated karma and attains the realm of Vishnu.”
- Verse 8: Adi Shankara describes how the breeze blowing across the surface of the Ganga cools the fever of mortal delusion and awakens serenity in the seeker’s heart.
- Verse 10: Mother Ganga is envisioned as the celestial ladder (Svarga-sopana-sarani) leading departed souls directly into higher spiritual realms.
Phala Shruti (Confection of Grace)
गङ्गास्तोत्रमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि ।
तस्य सर्वपापं नश्यति स मुक्तो भवति ध्रुवम् ॥Meaning:
Whoever recites or listens to this sacred hymn to Mother Ganga with reverence will find their afflictions and negative karmas dissolved, arriving at eternal freedom and peace.