The shloka
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭisamaprabha |
nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā ||
Vakratunda mahakaya suryakoti samaprabha
Nirvighnam kuru me deva sarvakaryeshu sarvada
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे टेढ़ी सूँड वाले, विशाल शरीर वाले, करोड़ों सूर्यों के समान तेज वाले भगवान गणेश! हे देव, मेरे सभी कार्यों को सदा बिना किसी विघ्न के पूरा करें।
Meaning in English
O Lord with the curved trunk and mighty body, whose brilliance equals that of millions of suns, O God, please make all my undertakings free of obstacles, always.
Recited Vakratunda Mahakaya?
Mark it, light a diya, or keep it for tomorrow.
Word-by-word meaning
- vakratuṇḍa
- O one with the curved trunk
- mahākāya
- O one with a mighty body
- sūryakoṭi
- millions (crores) of suns
- samaprabha
- O one of equal brilliance
- nirvighnam
- free of obstacles
- kuru
- make, do
- me
- my, for me
- deva
- O God
- sarvakāryeṣu
- in all undertakings
- sarvadā
- always
When and how to recite
- Before starting any work, puja, study or journey, pause for a moment.
- Join your palms and picture Lord Ganesha in your mind or face his image.
- Recite the shloka once or three times, slowly and clearly.
- Begin your work with a calm and confident mind.
Significance
Vakratunda Mahakaya is the most popular Ganesha shloka. Because Ganesha is honoured first in every Hindu undertaking, this verse is recited before starting any task: a puja, a journey, an exam, a new business or simply the day's work. It praises the Lord with the curved trunk and mighty form, shining like millions of suns, and asks him to keep all our efforts free of obstacles. It is often the first shloka a child learns.
Ganesha is Vighnaharta, the remover of obstacles, and also the lord of wisdom and auspicious beginnings. Remembering him before any task is a way of starting with humility and focus, acknowledging that success depends on more than our own effort. The 'curved trunk' is often read as a symbol of a mind able to work around difficulties. Some recite the first line as 'koṭisūryasamaprabha'; the meaning is the same, and 'sūryakoṭisamaprabha' is the more common form.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Vakratunda Mahakaya?
It addresses Ganesha as the one with a curved trunk and huge body, shining like millions of suns, and prays: 'O Lord, remove obstacles from all my work, always.'
When should Vakratunda Mahakaya be chanted?
Before beginning any new activity, such as puja, study, an exam, travel, a business or a ceremony, since Ganesha is worshipped first.
Is it 'Suryakoti Samaprabha' or 'Koti Surya Samaprabha'?
Both are heard and both mean 'with the brilliance of millions of suns'. 'Suryakoti samaprabha' is the more widely recited form.
