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Vakratunda Mahakaya

Edited by the SanatanBodh editorial teamLast updated: 2 sourcesDrafted with AI, checked against sourcesReport a mistake
Evening aarti in a temple: a priest holds a five-wick brass lamp before the decorated deities, with devotees’ hands folded
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  1. Shloka

    वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ। निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥

    Vakratunda mahaakaaya sooryakoti samaprabha | Nirvighnam kuru me deva sarvakaaryeshu sarvadaa ||

    Word by word: vakratunda, with a curved trunk; mahakaya, of mighty body; suryakoti samaprabha, shining like ten million suns; nirvighnam kuru, make free of obstacles; me, my; deva, O Lord; sarvakaryeshu, in all tasks; sarvada, always. Meaning: O Lord with the curved trunk and mighty body, radiant as ten million suns, make all my work free of obstacles, always.

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Meaning, sources and more prayers: sanatanbodh.in/en/prayers/vakratunda-mahakaya/

In short

“Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha” is a Sanskrit verse in praise of Lord Ganesha, asking him to keep all one’s work free of obstacles. By tradition it is said at the start of any puja, recitation, study or new task, since Ganesha is honoured as the remover of obstacles and the first to be worshipped. It is in the anushtubh metre; its original source is not reliably known.

On the text: some write ‘suryakoti samaprabha’ as one compound, ‘suryakotisamaprabha’, and some add ‘Shri’ at the start; the meaning stays the same. The original source and author of this verse are not reliably known; it is a verse handed down by tradition. ‘Koti’ means ten million; ‘ten million suns’ is a poetic way of describing boundless radiance.

Frequently asked questions

Which scripture is this verse from?

Its original source is not reliably known. It is a verse in praise of Ganesha handed down by tradition, in the anushtubh metre.

When is this verse recited?

By tradition at the start of any puja, recitation, study, journey or new task, since Ganesha is honoured as the remover of obstacles and the first to be worshipped. Also on Ganesh Chaturthi and on Wednesdays.

What does ‘suryakoti samaprabha’ mean?

‘Radiant as ten million suns’. ‘Koti’ means ten million; it is a poetic way of describing boundless radiance.

Sources

  1. Traditional text
  2. Text compared on greenmesg.org, shlokam.org and drikpanchang.com

Something wrong? Report a mistake

Text checked against: greenmesg.org, shlokam.org, drikpanchang.com