Ganesh Chaturthi puja is performed all over India andespecially with great pomp and vigour in the states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in the Bhadrapada month (mid-August-mid September). Various Ganesh mantra and slokas are chanted while performing the innumerable rituals of this puja of Lord Ganesh. Mantra is a sacred phrase repeated several times while offering prayer to the deity and slokas are Sanskrit verses comprising of sixteen lines.

Ganesh Mantra and Slokas

• Vakratunda Ganesha Mantra

श्रीवक्रतुण्डमहाकायसूर्यकोटीसमप्रभा
निर्विघ्नंकुरुमेदेवसर्व-कार्येशुसर्वदा॥

Shree Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥

Core Meaning of This Mantra: Give me (Kurume) the blessings of Lord (Deva) Ganeshawho has a curved trunk (Vakratunda),colossal body (Mahakaya), whose magnificence (Prabha), equals (Sama) to billions (Koti) of Suns (Surya),so that all (Sarva) obstacles (Nirbhignam) are removed from my path. Give me (Kurume) so that I do not face obstacles (Nirbhignam) in all (Sarva) my endeavours (Kaaryeshu).

• Ganesha Shubh Labh Mantra

ॐश्रीमगमसौभाग्यगणपतये
वर्वर्दसर्वजन्ममेंवषमान्यनमः॥

Om Shreem Gam Saubhagya Ganpataye
Varvarda Sarvajanma Mein Vashamanya Namah॥

Core Meaning of This Mantra: Ganesh Shubh Labh is the prayer for prosperity based on Beej i.e. the seed mantra (Gam) of Lord Ganesha. We ask for good fortune (Saubhagya), blessings and wishes (Varvarda) for our current and future lives (Sarvajanma Mein). We bow in homage (Namah) in front of the breaker of obstacles (Ganpataye), one who protects us with long lives of health and happiness (Vashamanya).

• Ganpati Gayatri Mantra

ॐएकदन्तायविद्धमहे, वक्रतुण्डायधीमहि,
तन्नोदन्तिप्रचोदयात्॥

Aum Ekadantaya Viddhamahe, Vakratundaya Dhimahi,
Tanno Danti Prachodayat॥

Core Meaning of This Mantra:We pray for the blessings from the single-tusked Lord (Ekadantaya),who is omnipresent(Viddhamahe). We contemplate upon and pray for greater intelligence (Dhimahi)to the Lord with the curved, elephant-shaped trunk. We pay obeisance before the elephant toothed Lord (Tanno Danti) to brighten our minds with sagacity (Prachodayat).

Slokas on Ganesh

• Shuklam Bara Dharam Vishnum
  Shashi Varnam Chatur Bhujam
  Prasanna Vadanam Dhyaayet
  Sarva Vighna Upashaanthaye

Meaning: We pray for the blessings of Lord Ganesh who is dressed in white (symbolizing purity), is omnipresent and is of grey complexion like ash (beaming with spiritual resplendence). He carries four arms,has a dazzling demeanour (portraying inner peace and joy) and can abolish obstacles (in the divine and mundane path of life).

• Srikantho Mathulo Yasya, Jananee Sarva Mangalaa
  Janakaha Sankaro Devaha, Tam Vande’ Kunjaraananam

Meaning: The Lord, whose uncle is Lord Vishnu, whose mother is the sacred and auspicious Parvati and father is Lord Shiva. I offer homage to Lord Ganesh, the Omkara.

• Prasanna Vinaayakam Devam, Perivana Pura Samsthitham
  Sarva Vigna Haram Nithyam, Vandhe Sri Kunjaraananam

Meaning: The Lord Sri Prasanna Vinaayaka, who resides in Pearland Temple; one who abolishes all hindrances of his disciples always; onewho possesses Omkara face of the elephant. I worship the celestial Ganesha.

• Agajaanana Padmaarkam, Gajaananam Aharnisham
  Anekadantham Bhaktaanaam, Ekadantam Upaasmahey

Meaning: Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed, is like the sun to the lotus face of Mother Parvati. The single-tusked Ganesha is the deliverer of blessings. I pay my obeisance to the great Lord who grants us blessings.

Various Ganesh mantra and slokas are chanted while performing the rituals of this festival and they form an integral part of Ganesh worship.