Gangadhara Stotram or Gangadhara Ashtakam is an eight verse prayer addressing Lord Shiva who carries the river Ganga in his matted hair. Gangadhara means “bearer of the river Ganga”. Get Sri Gangadhara Stotram in English Lyrics Pdf here and chant it with devotion for the grace of Lord Shiva.
Gangadhara Stotram in English
kṣīrāṁbhōnidhimanthanōdbhavaviṣā-tsandahyamānān surān
brahmādīnavalōkya yaḥ karuṇayā hālāhalākhyaṁ viṣam |
niśśaṅkaṁ nijalīlayā kabalayanlōkānrarakṣādarā-
dārtatrāṇaparāyaṇaḥ sa bhagavān gaṅgādharō mē gatiḥ || 1 ||
kṣīraṁ svādu nipīya mātulagr̥hē bhuktvā svakīyaṁ gr̥haṁ
kṣīrālābhavaśēna khinnamanasē ghōraṁ tapaḥ kurvatē |
kāruṇyādupamanyavē niravadhiṁ kṣīrāṁbudhiṁ dattavā-
nārtatrāṇaparāyaṇaḥ sa bhagavān gaṅgādharō mē gatiḥ || 2 ||
mr̥tyuṁ vakṣasi tāḍayannijapadadhyānaikabhaktaṁ muniṁ
mārkaṇḍēyamapālayatkaruṇayā liṅgādvinirgatya yaḥ |
nētrāṁbhōjasamarpaṇēna harayē:’bhīṣṭaṁ rathāṅgaṁ dadau
ārtatrāṇaparāyaṇaḥ sa bhagavān gaṅgādharō mē gatiḥ || 3 ||
ōḍhuṁ drōṇajayadrathādirathikaissainyaṁ mahatkauravaṁ
dr̥ṣṭvā kr̥ṣṇasahāyavantamapi taṁ bhītaṁ prapannārtihā |
pārthaṁ rakṣitavānamōghaviṣayaṁ divyāstramudbōdhaya-
nnārtatrāṇaparāyaṇaḥ sa bhagavān gaṅgādharō mē gatiḥ || 4 ||
bālaṁ śaivakulōdbhavaṁ parihasatsvajñātipakṣākulaṁ
khidyantaṁ tava mūrdhni puṣpanicayaṁ dātuṁ samudyatkaram |
dr̥ṣṭvānamya viriñci ramyanagarē pūjāṁ tvadīyāṁ bhaja-
nnārtatrāṇaparāyaṇaḥ sa bhagavān gaṅgādharō mē gatiḥ || 5 ||
santrastēṣu purā surāsurabhayādindrādibr̥ndārakē-
ṣvārūḍhō dharaṇīrathaṁ śrutihayaṁ kr̥tvā murāriṁ śaram |
rakṣanyaḥ kr̥payā samastavibudhān jītvā purārīn kṣaṇā-
dārtatrāṇaparāyaṇaḥ sa bhagavān gaṅgādharō mē gatiḥ || 6 ||
śrautasmārtapathō parāṅmukhamapi prōdyanmahāpātakaṁ
viśvādhīśamapatyamēva gatirityālāpavantaṁ sakr̥t |
rakṣanyaḥ karuṇāpayōnidhiriti prāptaprasiddhiḥ purā-
hyārtatrāṇaparāyaṇaḥ sa bhagavān gaṅgādharō mē gatiḥ || 7 ||
gāṅgaṁ vēgamavāpya mānyavibudhaissōḍhuṁ purā yācitō
dr̥ṣṭvā bhaktabhagīrathēna vinatō rudrō jaṭāmaṇḍalē |
kāruṇyādavanītalē suranadīmāpūrayanpāvanī-
mārtatrāṇaparāyaṇaḥ sa bhagavān gaṅgādharō mē gatiḥ || 8 ||
iti śrīmadappayadīkṣitaviracitaṁ śrī gaṅgādharāṣṭakam |
