The shloka
गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति ।
नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु ॥
gaṅge ca yamune caiva godāvari sarasvati |
narmade sindhu kāveri jale'smin sannidhiṃ kuru ||
Gange cha Yamune chaiva Godavari Saraswati
Narmade Sindhu Kaveri jale'smin sannidhim kuru
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे गंगा, यमुना, गोदावरी, सरस्वती, नर्मदा, सिन्धु और कावेरी! आप सब इस जल में उपस्थित हों। इस प्रार्थना से साधारण जल भी पवित्र नदियों के जल के समान पावन माना जाता है।
Meaning in English
O Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri, please be present in this water. With this prayer, ordinary water is regarded as holy as the waters of the sacred rivers.
Recited Gange cha Yamune Chaiva?
Mark it, light a diya, or keep it for tomorrow.
Word-by-word meaning
- gaṅge
- O Ganga
- ca … caiva
- and … and also
- yamune
- O Yamuna
- godāvari
- O Godavari
- sarasvati
- O Saraswati
- narmade
- O Narmada
- sindhu
- O Sindhu (Indus)
- kāveri
- O Kaveri
- jale'smin
- in this water
- sannidhiṃ kuru
- make your presence, be present
When and how to recite
- Before bathing, take a little water in your cupped right palm or look at the bucket of water.
- Recite the mantra once, imagining the holy rivers flowing into the water.
- Sprinkle a few drops on your head, then begin your bath.
- In puja, recite it while touching the kalasha or water vessel to sanctify the water.
Significance
Gange cha Yamune chaiva is the snana (bathing) mantra recited before pouring water over oneself. It invokes seven holy rivers of India, Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri, and asks them to be present in the water at hand. The same verse is used to sanctify water in the kalasha during puja. It lets every devotee, wherever they live, take a sacred bath at home each day.
Bathing in a holy river is a cherished act in Hindu life, but not everyone can do it every day. This mantra brings the sacredness of the great rivers into any water, turning a daily routine into a moment of purification for body and mind. The seven rivers named span the north, west, centre and south of India, so the verse also expresses reverence for the whole land. It reminds us to treat water, a gift of life, as sacred.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Gange cha Yamune chaiva?
It calls upon the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri to be present in the water being used, making it sacred.
When should the Gange cha Yamune mantra be chanted?
It is chanted just before bathing, and also during puja while sanctifying the water in the kalasha or achamana vessel.
Which seven rivers are mentioned in the snan mantra?
Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri.
