Shri Ganga Ashtakam
Introduction to Shri Ganga Ashtakam
The Shri Ganga Ashtakam beginning with "Bhagavati Tava Tire" is a sublime eight-verse hymn that celebrates the sacred river Ganga, the holiest river in Hinduism that purifies all sins and grants moksha. "Ganga" is revered as the divine mother who descended from heaven to earth, carrying the power to wash away the accumulated sins of countless lifetimes with her sacred waters.
This ashtakam extols the purifying glory of Mother Ganga — Bhagirathi, Jahnavi, Mandakini, and Vishnupadi — each name reflecting her celestial origin and boundless compassion. Born from the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu and flowing through the matted locks of Lord Shiva, the Ganga represents the ultimate stream of divine grace that connects heaven and earth.
Reciting this ashtakam with devotion invokes the purifying power of the sacred Ganga, washes away all sins and impurities, and fills the devotee with spiritual purity and divine merit. It is especially powerful during Ganga Dussehra, Kartik Purnima, and while performing sacred bathing rituals along the holy river.
Shri Ganga Ashtakam: Sanskrit, English & Tamil Verses
॥ श्रीगङ्गाष्टकम् ॥
भगवति तव तीरे नीरमात्राशनोऽहं
विगतविषयतृष्णः कृष्णमाराधयामि।
सकलकलुषभङ्गे स्वर्गसोपानसङ्गे
तरलतरतरङ्गे देवि गङ्गे प्रसीद॥1॥
भगवति भवलीलामौलिमाले तवाम्भः
कणमणुपरिमाणं प्राणिनो ये स्पृशन्ति।
अमरनगरनारीचामरग्राहिणीनां
विगतकलिकलङ्कातङ्कमङ्के लुठन्ति॥2॥
ब्रह्माण्डं खण्डयन्ती हरशिरसि जटावल्लिमुल्लासयन्ती
स्वर्लोकादापतन्ती कनकगिरिगुहागण्डशैलात्स्खलन्ती।
क्षोणीपृष्ठे लुठन्ती दुरितचयचमूनिर्भरं भर्त्सयन्ती
पाथोधिं पुरयन्ती सुरनगरसरित्पावनी नः पुनातु॥3॥
मज्जन्मातङ्गकुम्भच्युतमदमदिरामोदमत्तालिजालं
स्नानैः सिद्धाङ्गनानां कुचयुगविगलत्कुङ्कुमासङ्गपिङ्गम्।
सायंप्रातर्मुनीनां कुशकुसुमचयैश्छन्नतीरस्थनीरं
पायान्नो गाङ्गमम्भः करिकलभकराक्रान्तरंहस्तरङ्गम्॥4॥
आदावादिपितामहस्य नियमव्यापारपात्रे जलं
पश्चात्पन्नगशायिनो भगवतः पादोदकं पावनम्।
भूयः शम्भुजटाविभूषणमणिर्जह्नोर्महर्षेरियं
कन्या कल्मषनाशिनी भगवती भागीरथी दृश्यते॥5॥
शैलेन्द्रादवतारिणी निजजले मज्जज्जनोत्तारिणी
पारावारविहारिणी भवभयश्रेणीसमुत्सारिणी।
शेषाहेरनुकारिणी हरशिरोवल्लीदलाकारिणी
काशीप्रान्तविहारिणी विजयते गङ्गा मनोहारिणी॥6॥
कुतो वीचिर्वीचिस्तव यदि गता लोचनपथं
त्वमापीता पीताम्बरपुरनिवासं वितरसि।
त्वदुत्सङ्गे गङ्गे पतति यदि कायस्तनुभृतां
तदा मातः शातक्रतवपदलाभोऽप्यतिलघुः॥7॥
गङ्गे त्रैलोक्यसारे सकलसुरवधूधौतविस्तीर्णतोये
पूर्णब्रह्मस्वरूपे हरिचरणरजोहारिणि स्वर्गमार्गे।
प्रायश्चित्तं यदि स्यात्तव जलकणिका ब्रह्महत्यादिपापे
कस्त्वां स्तोतुं समर्थस्त्रिजगदघहरे देवि गङ्गे प्रसीद॥8॥
मातर्जाह्नवि शम्भुसङ्गवलिते मौलौ निधायाञ्जलिं
त्वत्तीरे वपुषोऽवसानसमये नारायणाङ्घ्रिद्वयम्।
सानन्दं स्मरतो भविष्यति मम प्राणप्रयाणोत्सवे
भूयाद्भक्तिरविच्युताहरिहराद्वैतात्मिका शाश्वती॥9॥
गङ्गाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत्प्रयतो नरः।
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति॥10॥
॥ इति श्रीशङ्कराचार्यविरचितं श्रीगङ्गाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
॥ Shri Gangashtakam ॥
Bhagavati Tava Tire Neeramatrashanoham
Vigatavishayatrushna Krishnamaradhayami।
Sakalakalushabhange Swargasopanasange
Taralataratrange Devi Gange Praseeda॥1॥
Bhagavati Bhavaleela-Maulimale Tavambhah
Kanamanuparimaanam Praaninno Ye Sprushanti।
Amaranagranaaree-Chamaraagrahineenaam
Vigatakaliklankatankamankge Luthanti॥2॥
Brahmaadam Khandayanti Harashirasi Jatavallimullasayanti
Swarlokadapatanti Kanakagiraguha-Gandashailatskalanti।
Kshoneeprushthe Luthanti Duritachayachamoo-Nirbharam Bhartsayanti
Pathdhim Purayanti Surnagarasaritpavani Nah Punatu॥3॥
Majjanmatangkumbha-Chyutamadamadira-Modamattaalijalam
Snanaihi Siddhanganam Kuchayugavigalat-Kunkumasangapingam।
Sayampratar-Muneenam Kushakusumachayai-Chchhannateerasthaneeram
Payanno Gangamambhah Karikalbhakarakranta-Ramhastarangam॥4॥
Adavadipitamahasya Niyamavyaparapatre Jalam
Paschhatpannagashaayino Bhagavatah Padodkam Pavanam।
Bhuyah Shambhujatavibhushanamani-Jahnohrmaharshheriyam
Kanya Kalmashanashini Bhagavati Bhagirathi Drushyate॥5॥
Shailendradavatarini Nijjale Majjajjanotaarini
Paravaaravihaarini Bhavabhayashrenee-Samutsaarini।
Sheshaheranukaarini Harashirovalleedalaakarini
Kashiprantavihaarini Vijayate Ganga Manohaarini॥6॥
Kuto Veechirveechistava Yadi Gata Lochanapattham
Twamapeeta Peetambarapuranivasam Vitarasi।
Twadutsange Gange Patati Yadi Kayastanubhrutam
Tada Mataha Shaatakratavapdalaabhopyatilghuh॥7॥
Gange Trailokyasare Sakalasurawadhoo-Dhautavisteerntoye
Poornabrahmaswaroope Haricharanarajohaarini Swargamarge।
Prayashchittam Yadi Syat-Tava Jalakanika Brahmahatyadipape
Kastvaam Stotum Samarthah-Trijagadagahare Devi Gange Praseeda॥8॥
Matarjaahnavi Shambhusangavalite Maulau Nidhayaanjalim
Twattire Vapushho-Vasanasamaye Narayanangghridwayam।
Sanandam Smarato Bhavishyati Mama Pranaprayanotsave
Bhuyaad-Bhaktiravichyutaa-Hariharadwaitatmika Shashwati॥9॥
Gangashtakmidam Punyam Yah Pathetprayato Narah।
Sarvapapavinirmukto Vishnulokam Sa Gachchhati॥10॥
॥ Iti Shrishankara-Charyavirachitam Shrigangashtakam Sampoornam ॥
॥ ஶ்ரீகங்காஷ்டகம் ॥
பகவதி தவ தீரே நீரமாத்ராஶனோ(அ)ஹம்
விகதவிஷயத்ருஷ்ணः க்ருஷ்ணமாராதயாமி।
ஸகலகலுஷபங்கே ஸ்வர்கஸோபானஸங்கே
தரலதரதரங்கே தேவி கங்கே ப்ரஸீத॥1॥
பகவதி பவலீலாமௌலிமாலே தவாம்பः
கணமணுபரிமாணம் ப்ராணினோ யே ஸ்ப்ருஶந்தி।
அமரநகரநாரீசாமரக்ராஹிணீனாம்
விகதகலிகலங்காதங்கமங்கே லுடந்தி॥2॥
ப்ரஹ்மாண்டம் கண்டயந்தீ ஹரஶிரஸி ஜடாவல்லிமுல்லாஸயந்தீ
ஸ்வர்லோகாதாபதந்தீ கனககிரிகுஹாகண்டஶைலாத்ஸ்கலந்தீ।
க்ஷோணீப்ருஷ்டே லுடந்தீ துரிதசயசமூநிர்பரம் பர்த்ஸயந்தீ
பாதோதிம் புரயந்தீ ஸுரநகரஸரித்பாவனீ நः புனாது॥3॥
மஜ்ஜன்மாதங்ககும்பச்யுதமதமதிராமோதமத்தாலிஜாலம்
ஸ்னானைः ஸித்தாங்கனானாம் குசயுகவிகலத்குங்குமாஸங்கபிங்கம்।
ஸாயம்ப்ராதர்முனீனாம் குஶகுஸுமசயைஶ்சன்னதீரஸ்தநீரம்
பாயான்னோ காங்கமம்பः கரிகலபகராக்ராந்தரம்ஹஸ்தரங்கம்॥4॥
ஆதாவாதிபிதாமஹஸ்ய நியமவ்யாபாரபாத்ரே ஜலம்
பஶ்சாத்பன்னகஶாயினோ பகவதः பாதோதகம் பாவனம்।
பூயः ஶம்புஜடாவிபூஷணமணிர்ஜஹ்னோர்மஹர்ஷேரியம்
கன்யா கல்மஷநாஶினீ பகவதீ பாகீரதீ த்ருஶ்யதே॥5॥
ஶைலேந்த்ராதவதாரிணீ நிஜஜலே மஜ்ஜஜ்ஜனோத்தாரிணீ
பாராவாரவிஹாரிணீ பவபயஶ்ரேணீஸமுத்ஸாரிணீ।
ஶேஷாஹேரனுகாரிணீ ஹரஶிரோவல்லீதலாகாரிணீ
காஶீப்ராந்தவிஹாரிணீ விஜயதே கங்கா மனோஹாரிணீ॥6॥
குதோ வீசிர்வீசிஸ்தவ யதி கதா லோசனபதம்
த்வமாபீதா பீதாம்பரபுரநிவாஸம் விதரஸி।
த்வதுத்ஸங்கே கங்கே பததி யதி காயஸ்தனுப்ருதாம்
ததா மாதः ஶாதக்ரதவபதலாபோ(அ)ப்யதிலகுः॥7॥
கங்கே த்ரைலோக்யஸாரே ஸகலஸுரவதூதௌதவிஸ்தீர்ணதோயே
பூர்ணப்ரஹ்மஸ்வரூபே ஹரிசரணரஜோஹாரிணி ஸ்வர்கமார்கே।
ப்ராயஶ்சித்தம் யதி ஸ்யாத்தவ ஜலகணிகா ப்ரஹ்மஹத்யாதிபாபே
கஸ்த்வாம் ஸ்தோதும் ஸமர்தஸ்த்ரிஜகதகஹரே தேவி கங்கே ப்ரஸீத॥8॥
மாதர்ஜாஹ்னவி ஶம்புஸங்கவலிதே மௌலௌ நிதாயாஞ்ஜலிம்
த்வத்தீரே வபுஷோ(அ)வஸானஸமயே நாராயணாங்க்ரித்வயம்।
ஸானந்தம் ஸ்மரதோ பவிஷ்யதி மம ப்ராணப்ரயாணோத்ஸவே
பூயாத்பக்திரவிச்யுதாஹரிஹராத்வைதாத்மிகா ஶாஶ்வதீ॥9॥
கங்காஷ்டகமிதம் புண்யம் யः படேத்ப்ரயதோ நரः।
ஸர்வபாபவிநிர்முக்தோ விஷ்ணுலோகம் ஸ கச்சதி॥10॥
॥ இதி ஶ்ரீஶங்கராசார்யவிரசிதம் ஶ்ரீகங்காஷ்டகம் ஸம்பூர்ணம் ॥
॥ శ్రీగంగాష్టకం ॥
భగవతి తవ తీరే నీరమాత్రాశనోఽహం
విగతవిషయతృష్ణః కృష్ణమారాధయామి।
సకలకలుషభంగే స్వర్గసోపానసంగే
తరలతరతరంగే దేవి గంగే ప్రసీద॥1॥
భగవతి భవలీలామౌలిమాలే తవాంభః
కణమణుపరిమాణం ప్రాణినో యే స్పృశంతి।
అమరనగరనారీచామరగ్రాహిణీనాం
విగతకలికలంకాతంకమంకే లుఠంతి॥2॥
బ్రహ్మాండం ఖండయంతీ హరశిరసి జటావల్లిముల్లాసయంతీ
స్వర్లోకాదాపతంతీ కనకగిరిగుహాగండశైలాత్స్ఖలంతీ।
క్షోణీపృష్ఠే లుఠంతీ దురితచయచమూనిర్భరం భర్త్సయంతీ
పాథోధిం పురయంతీ సురనగరసరిత్పావనీ నః పునాతు॥3॥
మజ్జన్మాతంగకుంభచ్యుతమదమదిరామోదమత్తాలిజాలం
స్నానైః సిద్ధాంగనానాం కుచయుగవిగలత్కుంకుమాసంగపింగం।
సాయంప్రాతర్మునీనాం కుశకుసుమచయైశ్ఛన్నతీరస్థనీరం
పాయాన్నో గాంగమంభః కరికలభకరాక్రాంతరంహస్తరంగం॥4॥
ఆదావాదిపితామహస్య నియమవ్యాపారపాత్రే జలం
పశ్చాత్పన్నగశాయినో భగవతః పాదోదకం పావనం।
భూయః శంభుజటావిభూషణమణిర్జహ్నోర్మహర్షేరియం
కన్యా కల్మషనాశినీ భగవతీ భాగీరథీ దృశ్యతే॥5॥
శైలేంద్రాదవతారిణీ నిజజలే మజ్జజ్జనోత్తారిణీ
పారావారవిహారిణీ భవభయశ్రేణీసముత్సారిణీ।
శేషాహేరనుకారిణీ హరశిరోవల్లీదలాకారిణీ
కాశీప్రాంతవిహారిణీ విజయతే గంగా మనోహారిణీ॥6॥
కుతో వీచిర్వీచిస్తవ యది గతా లోచనపథం
త్వమాపీతా పీతాంబరపురనివాసం వితరసి।
త్వదుత్సంగే గంగే పతతి యది కాయస్తనుభృతాం
తదా మాతః శాతక్రతవపదలాభోఽప్యతిలఘుః॥7॥
గంగే త్రైలోక్యసారే సకలసురవధూధౌతవిస్తీర్ణతోయే
పూర్ణబ్రహ్మస్వరూపే హరిచరణరజోహారిణి స్వర్గమార్గే।
ప్రాయశ్చిత్తం యది స్యాత్తవ జలకణికా బ్రహ్మహత్యాదిపాపే
కస్త్వాం స్తోతుం సమర్థస్త్రిజగదఘహరే దేవి గంగే ప్రసీద॥8॥
మాతర్జాహ్నవి శంభుసంగవలితే మౌలౌ నిధాయాంజలిం
త్వత్తీరే వపుషోఽవసానసమయే నారాయణాంఘ్రిద్వయం।
సానందం స్మరతో భవిష్యతి మమ ప్రాణప్రయాణోత్సవే
భూయాద్భక్తిరవిచ్యుతాహరిహరాద్వైతాత్మికా శాశ్వతీ॥9॥
గంగాష్టకమిదం పుణ్యం యః పఠేత్ప్రయతో నరః।
సర్వపాపవినిర్ముక్తో విష్ణులోకం స గచ్ఛతి॥10॥
॥ ఇతి శ్రీశంకరాచార్యవిరచితం శ్రీగంగాష్టకం సంపూర్ణం ॥
Verse-by-Verse Meaning of Shri Ganga Ashtakam
1 First Verse
भगवति तव तीरे नीरमात्राशनोऽहं विगतविषयतृष्णः कृष्णमाराधयामि। सकलकलुषभङ्गे स्वर्गसोपानसङ्गे तरलतरतरङ्गे देवि गङ्गे प्रसीद॥
Word Meanings: भगवति = O Divine One; तव = your; तीरे = on the bank; नीरमात्राशनः = subsisting on water alone (नीर = water, मात्र = only, अशन = food); अहम् = I; विगतविषयतृष्णः = free from thirst for sense objects; कृष्णम् = Lord Krishna; आराधयामि = I worship; सकलकलुषभङ्गे = O destroyer of all sins; स्वर्गसोपानसङ्गे = O stairway to heaven; तरलतरतरङ्गे = O one with swiftly trembling waves; देवि गङ्गे = O Goddess Ganga; प्रसीद = be gracious
Translation: O Divine Goddess, on your banks, sustaining myself on water alone and free from all desire for worldly objects, I worship Lord Krishna. O destroyer of all sins, O stairway to heaven, O one with swiftly trembling waves, O Goddess Ganga, be gracious to me!
2 Second Verse
भगवति भवलीलामौलिमाले तवाम्भः कणमणुपरिमाणं प्राणिनो ये स्पृशन्ति। अमरनगरनारीचामरग्राहिणीनां विगतकलिकलङ्कातङ्कमङ्के लुठन्ति॥
Word Meanings: भगवति = O Divine One; भवलीला = play of worldly existence; मौलिमाले = O garland on the crown; तव = your; अम्भः = water; कण = drop; अणुपरिमाणम् = of atomic measure; प्राणिनः = living beings; ये = who; स्पृशन्ति = touch; अमरनगरनारी = celestial women; चामरग्राहिणीनाम् = of those holding royal fans; विगतकलिकलङ्कातङ्कम् = freed from the stain and terror of Kali age; अङ्के = in the lap; लुठन्ति = they roll/sport
Translation: O Divine One, O garland adorning the crown of worldly existence! Those living beings who touch even an atom-sized drop of your waters — freed from the stain and terror of the Kali age — they sport in the laps of the celestial maidens who hold royal fans in the city of the gods.
3 Third Verse
ब्रह्माण्डं खण्डयन्ती हरशिरसि जटावल्लिमुल्लासयन्ती स्वर्लोकादापतन्ती कनकगिरिगुहागण्डशैलात्स्खलन्ती। क्षोणीपृष्ठे लुठन्ती दुरितचयचमूनिर्भरं भर्त्सयन्ती पाथोधिं पूरयन्ती सुरनगरसरित्पावनी नः पुनातु॥
Word Meanings: ब्रह्माण्डम् = the universe; खण्डयन्ती = breaking through; हरशिरसि = on Shiva's head; जटावल्लि = creeper of matted locks; उल्लासयन्ती = adorning joyfully; स्वर्लोकात् = from the heavenly world; आपतन्ती = descending; कनकगिरि = golden mountain (Meru); गुहागण्डशैलात् = from the boulders of its caves; स्खलन्ती = cascading; क्षोणीपृष्ठे = on earth's surface; लुठन्ती = rolling/flowing; दुरितचयचमू = army of accumulated sins; निर्भरम् = completely; भर्त्सयन्ती = rebuking; पाथोधिम् = ocean; पूरयन्ती = filling; सुरनगरसरित् = river of the city of gods; पावनी = purifier; नः = us; पुनातु = may she purify
Translation: Breaking through the universe, adorning the creeper-like matted locks on Lord Shiva's head, descending from the heavenly world, cascading from the boulders and caves of the golden mountain Meru, flowing upon the earth's surface, thoroughly rebuking the army of accumulated sins, filling the ocean — may this purifying river of the city of the gods purify us!
4 Fourth Verse
मज्जन्मातङ्गकुम्भच्युतमदमदिरामोदमत्तालिजालं स्नानैः सिद्धाङ्गनानां कुचयुगविगलत्कुङ्कुमासङ्गपिङ्गम्। सायंप्रातर्मुनीनां कुशकुसुमचयैश्छन्नतीरस्थनीरं पायान्नो गाङ्गमम्भः करिकलभकराक्रान्तरंहस्तरङ्गम्॥
Word Meanings: मज्जत् = bathing; मातङ्ग = elephant; कुम्भ = frontal globe; च्युत = dripping; मद = ichor; मदिरा = intoxicating; आमोद = fragrance; मत्त = intoxicated; अलिजालम् = swarm of bees; स्नानैः = by baths; सिद्धाङ्गनानाम् = of celestial women; कुचयुग = pair of breasts; विगलत् = flowing; कुङ्कुम = saffron; आसङ्गपिङ्गम् = tinted tawny by contact; सायंप्रातः = evening and morning; मुनीनाम् = of sages; कुशकुसुमचयैः = with heaps of kusha grass and flowers; छन्नतीरस्थनीरम् = water on covered banks; पायात् = may it protect; नः = us; गाङ्गम् अम्भः = Ganga's water; करिकलभ = young elephant; कर = trunk; आक्रान्तरंहः = rivaling in speed; तरङ्गम् = waves
Translation: May the waters of the Ganga protect us — waters around which swarms of bees are intoxicated by the fragrance of ichor dripping from the frontal globes of bathing elephants, waters tinted tawny by saffron flowing from the breasts of bathing celestial women, waters on the banks covered with heaps of kusha grass and flowers offered by sages at morning and evening — waters whose waves rival the speed of a young elephant's trunk!
5 Fifth Verse
आदावादिपितामहस्य नियमव्यापारपात्रे जलं पश्चात्पन्नगशायिनो भगवतः पादोदकं पावनम्। भूयः शम्भुजटाविभूषणमणिर्जह्नोर्महर्षेरियं कन्या कल्मषनाशिनी भगवती भागीरथी दृश्यते॥
Word Meanings: आदौ = in the beginning; आदिपितामहस्य = of the primordial grandfather (Brahma); नियमव्यापारपात्रे = in the vessel of ritual observance; जलम् = water; पश्चात् = afterwards; पन्नगशायिनः = of the one reclining on the serpent (Vishnu); भगवतः = of the Lord; पादोदकम् = foot-wash water; पावनम् = purifying; भूयः = then again; शम्भुजटाविभूषणमणिः = the crest-jewel ornament of Shiva's matted locks; जह्नोः = of Jahnu; महर्षेः = of the great sage; इयम् कन्या = this daughter; कल्मषनाशिनी = destroyer of sins; भगवती = divine; भागीरथी = daughter of Bhagiratha; दृश्यते = is beheld
Translation: In the beginning she was the water used in the ritual vessel of grandfather Brahma; then she became the sacred purifying foot-wash of Lord Vishnu who reclines on the serpent Shesha; then she became the crest-jewel adorning Lord Shiva's matted locks — this divine Bhagirathi, daughter of sage Jahnu and destroyer of sins, is beheld!
6 Sixth Verse
शैलेन्द्रादवतारिणी निजजले मज्जज्जनोत्तारिणी पारावारविहारिणी भवभयश्रेणीसमुत्सारिणी। शेषाहेरनुकारिणी हरशिरोवल्लीदलाकारिणी काशीप्रान्तविहारिणी विजयते गङ्गा मनोहारिणी॥
Word Meanings: शैलेन्द्रात् = from the king of mountains (Himalayas); अवतारिणी = descending; निजजले = in her own waters; मज्जज्जनोत्तारिणी = uplifting those who bathe; पारावारविहारिणी = sporting in the ocean; भवभयश्रेणीसमुत्सारिणी = dispelling the chain of worldly fears; शेषाहेः अनुकारिणी = imitating the serpent Shesha in sinuous flow; हरशिरोवल्लीदलाकारिणी = taking the form of a creeping vine on Shiva's head; काशीप्रान्तविहारिणी = dwelling in the region of Kashi; विजयते = is victorious; गङ्गा = Ganga; मनोहारिणी = enchanting the mind
Translation: Descending from the king of mountains, uplifting those who bathe in her waters, sporting in the ocean, dispelling the chain of fears of worldly existence, imitating the serpent Shesha in her sinuous flow, adorning Shiva's head like a creeping vine, dwelling in the region of Kashi — victorious is the mind-enchanting Ganga!
7 Seventh Verse
कुतो वीचिर्वीचिस्तव यदि गता लोचनपथं त्वमापीता पीताम्बरपुरनिवासं वितरसि। त्वदुत्सङ्गे गङ्गे पतति यदि कायस्तनुभृतां तदा मातः शातक्रतवपदलाभोऽप्यतिलघुः॥
Word Meanings: कुतः = whence; वीचिः वीचिः = wave upon wave; तव = your; यदि = if; गता = gone; लोचनपथम् = the path of the eyes (sight); त्वम् = you; आपीता = drunk/imbibed; पीताम्बरपुरनिवासम् = residence in Vaikuntha (city of the yellow-robed Vishnu); वितरसि = you bestow; त्वदुत्सङ्गे = on your lap/bank; गङ्गे = O Ganga; पतति = falls; यदि = if; कायः = body; तनुभृताम् = of embodied beings; तदा = then; मातः = O Mother; शातक्रतवपदलाभः = attainment of Indra's position; अपि = even; अतिलघुः = very trivial
Translation: Where do these endless waves come from! If even a glimpse of your waves falls upon the eyes, you bestow residence in Vaikuntha. O Ganga, if the body of an embodied being falls upon your banks at the time of death, then O Mother, even the attainment of Indra's position becomes trivial!
8 Eighth Verse
गङ्गे त्रैलोक्यसारे सकलसुरवधूधौतविस्तीर्णतोये पूर्णब्रह्मस्वरूपे हरिचरणरजोहारिणि स्वर्गमार्गे। प्रायश्चित्तं यदि स्यात्तव जलकणिका ब्रह्महत्यादिपापे कस्त्वां स्तोतुं समर्थस्त्रिजगदघहरे देवि गङ्गे प्रसीद॥
Word Meanings: गङ्गे = O Ganga; त्रैलोक्यसारे = O essence of the three worlds; सकलसुरवधू = all celestial consorts; धौत = washed; विस्तीर्णतोये = whose waters are vast; पूर्णब्रह्मस्वरूपे = O embodiment of the Supreme Brahman; हरिचरणरजोहारिणि = O carrier of the dust from Lord Hari's feet; स्वर्गमार्गे = O pathway to heaven; प्रायश्चित्तम् = atonement; यदि स्यात् = if there be; तव जलकणिका = a drop of your water; ब्रह्महत्यादिपापे = for the sin of killing a Brahmin etc.; कः = who; त्वाम् = you; स्तोतुम् = to praise; समर्थः = capable; त्रिजगदघहरे = O remover of sins of three worlds; देवि गङ्गे = O Goddess Ganga; प्रसीद = be gracious
Translation: O Ganga, essence of the three worlds, whose vast waters are bathed in by all celestial consorts, O embodiment of Supreme Brahman, O carrier of the dust from Lord Hari's feet, O pathway to heaven — if a single drop of your water can atone for even the sin of Brahma-hatya (killing a Brahmin), who is capable of praising you? O remover of sins of the three worlds, O Goddess Ganga, be gracious!
9 Ninth Verse (Concluding Prayer)
मातर्जाह्नवि शम्भुसङ्गवलिते मौलौ निधायाञ्जलिं त्वत्तीरे वपुषोऽवसानसमये नारायणाङ्घ्रिद्वयम्। सानन्दं स्मरतो भविष्यति मम प्राणप्रयाणोत्सवे भूयाद्भक्तिरविच्युताहरिहराद्वैतात्मिका शाश्वती॥
Word Meanings: मातः = O Mother; जाह्नवि = daughter of Jahnu; शम्भुसङ्गवलिते = adorned with Shiva's company; मौलौ = on the head; निधाय = placing; अञ्जलिम् = folded hands in prayer; त्वत्तीरे = on your bank; वपुषः = of the body; अवसानसमये = at the time of end; नारायणाङ्घ्रिद्वयम् = the two feet of Lord Narayana; सानन्दम् = joyfully; स्मरतः = remembering; भविष्यति = it shall be; मम = my; प्राणप्रयाणोत्सवे = at the festival of the departure of life; भूयात् = may there arise; भक्तिः = devotion; अविच्युता = unwavering; हरिहराद्वैतात्मिका = centered in the non-dual reality of Hari and Hara; शाश्वती = eternal
Translation: O Mother Jahnavi, adorned with the company of Lord Shiva! Placing my folded hands upon my head on your bank, at the time of my body's end, joyfully remembering the two feet of Lord Narayana — at the festival of my life's departure, may there arise in me eternal, unwavering devotion rooted in the non-dual reality of Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva)!
✦ Phala Shruti (Verse 10)
गङ्गाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत्प्रयतो नरः। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति॥
Word Meanings: गङ्गाष्टकम् = Ganga Ashtakam; इदम् = this; पुण्यम् = meritorious; यः = who; पठेत् = recites; प्रयतः = with devotion/effort; नरः = person; सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः = freed from all sins; विष्णुलोकम् = the abode of Lord Vishnu; सः = he; गच्छति = goes/attains
Translation: That person who recites this meritorious Ganga Ashtakam with devotion becomes freed from all sins and attains the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu.
Spiritual Benefits of Reciting Shri Ganga Ashtakam
- Purifies All Sins: Washes away accumulated karmic debts of countless lifetimes
- Grants Moksha: Opens the path to ultimate liberation and eternal bliss
- Removes Impurities: Cleanses the mind, body, and soul of all taints
- Bestows Purity: Fills the devotee with divine sanctity and holiness
- Heals Diseases: Grants relief from physical and mental ailments
- Removes Ancestral Karma: Liberates ancestors and resolves ancestral debts
- Grants Spiritual Merit: Accumulates immense punya for the devotee
- Leads to Divine Abode: Guides the soul to the supreme abode of the Lord
Chanting Instructions
- Sit in a clean, quiet place facing east or north
- Light a lamp and incense before an image of Ganga Mata or sacred water
- Offer Ganga jal, flowers, or bilva leaves
- Chant with devotion, meditating on the purifying flow of Mother Ganga
- Ideal times: Ganga Dussehra, Kartik Purnima, during river bathing, Ekadashi
- Recite 1, 3, or 11 times for maximum spiritual benefit
- Conclude with surrender to the sacred lotus feet of Ganga Mata
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Shri Ganga Ashtakam
Who composed the Shri Ganga Ashtakam?
The Shri Ganga Ashtakam beginning with "Bhagavati Tava Tire" was composed by Adi Shankaracharya, the great 8th-century Advaita Vedanta philosopher and spiritual master. It is one of his many stotra compositions glorifying sacred deities and rivers of India.
What are the benefits of reciting Ganga Ashtakam?
Reciting the Ganga Ashtakam purifies the devotee of all accumulated sins, grants immense spiritual merit (punya), opens the path to moksha (liberation), removes impurities of mind and body, heals ailments, and ultimately leads the soul to the divine abode of Lord Vishnu (Vishnuloka), as stated in its phala shruti.
When is the best time to recite Ganga Ashtakam?
The best times to recite Ganga Ashtakam are during Ganga Dussehra, Kartik Purnima, Ekadashi, and while performing sacred bathing rituals along the river Ganga. It can also be recited daily during morning or evening prayers for continuous spiritual purification.
How many verses are in the Ganga Ashtakam?
The Ganga Ashtakam contains 8 main verses (ashtakam means "eight verses") praising the sacred river Ganga, followed by a concluding prayer verse (verse 9) and a phala shruti verse (verse 10) describing the fruit of recitation, totaling 10 verses.
What is the meaning of "Bhagavati Tava Tire"?
"Bhagavati Tava Tire" translates to "O Divine Goddess, on your banks." It is the opening phrase of the Ganga Ashtakam where the devotee declares that sitting on the banks of Mother Ganga, sustaining on water alone and free from material desires, they worship Lord Krishna.
Can Ganga Ashtakam be recited without being near the river Ganga?
Yes, the Ganga Ashtakam can be recited anywhere with devotion and faith. While chanting on the banks of the Ganga is considered especially meritorious, the hymn invokes the spiritual presence of Mother Ganga wherever it is recited with sincere devotion, purifying the devotee regardless of physical location.
Is Shri Ganga Ashtakam available in Tamil lyrics?
Yes. This page includes Shri Ganga Ashtakam in Tamil (தமிழ்) script along with Sanskrit and English transliteration for easier recitation.