Ganesh Shlokas for Kids

Simple 5 Ganesha slokas we all can teach our kids and we can also learn.

1. Who is Ganesha? – an introduction from the Amarakosha

Vinayako Vighnaraja Dvaimatura Ganaadhipaaha
Apyeka danta Herambha Lambodara Gajaanana

What it means:
Ganesha is the destroyer and controller of all obstacles, known to have two mothers and is the commander of all the attendants of Shiva (or ‘Ganas’). He is the one with a single tusk, a pot-belly and with the face of an elephant.

2. A chant to request Him to see us through our work without obstacles

Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kurume Deva Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvada

What it means:
O Lord Ganesha, you having a Curved Trunk, Large Body,
possessing the Brilliance of a Million Suns,
Please remove all obstacles to my work, at all times.

3. The joy of being Ganesha’s devotees

Agajaanana Padmarkam Gajaananam Aharisham

Anekadamtam bhaktaanaam Ekadantam upaasmaye

What it means:
Just like a lotus opens up seeing the sun, Goddess Parvati’s face lights up whenever she sees the elephant-faced Ganesha. I meditate upon such a Ganesha, the Lord with a single tusk, the one who grants his many blessings to all His devotees.

4. A prayer for Him to be with us and keep us protected

Gaurinandana Gajanana
Girijanandana Niranjana
Paarvati Nandana Shubhaanana
Paahiprabhomaam Pahi Prasanna

What it means:
O Lord Ganesha, son of Mother Gauri (or Parvati), the one born of the Lord of the mountains, thou art pure, spotless and pleasing to look at. Kindly protect us, be pleased with our devotion and bestow us with good fortune.

5. A prayer to Him to return soon to us whenever He leaves us to do His duties elsewhere.

Om Gam Ganapathiye Namo Namah
Shree Siddhivinaayaka namo namah
Ashta Vinaayaka namo namah
Ganapati Bappa Mauriya

What it means:
Wake up to the secret power-packed sound of Ganesh, who is the breaker of obstacles, the one who grants Siddhi (or success) to all and the one who is worshipped in eight exalted forms. Dear father Ganapati, I request you to come back to me.

Story of Monkey God - Hanuman's Birth

This is the story of Pawanputra Hanuman, the mighty monkey-god. Do you know how he was born? The story of his birth is as fascinating as his mighty deeds. 

But to know about Hanuman, we have to go back sometime before his birth. Let us go to the palace of Lord Brahma where it all started.

Do you know who Lord Brahma is? He is the Hindu god of creation. He is believed to live in a beautiful divine palace in his heavenly abode. Such was the beauty of the palace that it was a constant source of amazement for even the deities. 

There were a number of attendants in the celestial palace-courts of Lord Brahma. Among them was a beautiful attendant named Anjana. Once, happy with her service, Lord Brahma decided to reward her. He called her and asked what she wanted.

Anjana hesitated at first. Then she replied "Lord, I wish you could remove a curse pronounced on me by a sage,"

"Tell me about it. Maybe I can help you" said Lord Brahma.

Hopeful that her curse may be removed, Anjana continued "When I was playing as a child on earth, once I saw a monkey meditating with its legs folded in a lotus pose, like a human sage. It was a funny sight; so I threw some fruits at it."

"But here I made a mistake. For it was no ordinary monkey. A powerful sage had taken the form of a monkey to do his tapasya (spiritual practice). My fruits disturbed his penance and he opened his eyes in great indignation."

"As soon as he saw me, he cursed me that I would become a monkey when I fall in love with anyone. I begged him to forgive me."

"The sage said that as he had already uttered it, he couldn't change the curse. But he assured me that the man I fall in love with will love me in spite of my monkey face."

"Lord Brahma, I was born and brought up here. How can I live with a monkey face among my beautiful sisters? If you kindly grant me a boon to become my usual self, I will be very much obliged," she said anxiously.

Brahma felt sorry for the unfortunate apsara. He thought for a moment. Then he lifted his eyes towards the anxious Anjana.

"I see a way for removing your curse, Anjana," he said kindly. "Go to earth and live there for a while. You will meet your husband on earth and your curse will be removed if you - give birth to an incarnation of Lord Shiva," said Lord Brahma.

Anjana accepted Brahma's advice. She was born in the earth shortly afterward. She lived in a forest as a young huntress.

One day she saw a strong man fighting with a lion. "What a brave man!" she thought in wonder. "How I wish he will look at me!"

As Anjana looked at the warrior in admiration, the man turned and saw her. As soon as his eyes fell on her, she turned into a monkey!

With a pathetic cry, Anjana sank to the ground and covered her face with her hands. Seeing her fall to the ground, the man came running towards her.

"Who are you fair maiden? Why do you cry? Uncover your face. Let me see you," he asked her.

"I cannot, brave man," Anjana answered gloomily. "I am Anjana, an apsara cursed to become a monkey when I fall in love. I request you to please leave me alone in my sorrow," she wailed and peeked at the handsome man through her fingers.

To her great astonishment she found a big monkey-faced man standing before her! If she didn't see his face at first, it was because she couldn't and because till now she saw him from a distance. 

The monkey-faced man understood her surprise. He spoke. "I am not human, though I can take the human form if I want. I am Kesari, the king of Monkeys, blessed by Lord Shiva with magical powers. If you become my wife, I will be honored. Would you honor me by becoming my wife, dear Anjana?".

Anjana became very happy. She accepted his proposal.

"Then the sage's word was indeed true," thought Anjana, "Kesari didn't mind my appearance because he himself is a monkey!"

Anjana and Kesari were married in the forests. Being a pious devotee, Anjana performed intense tapasya, worshipping Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva was pleased with her. He appeared infron of her and asked her what she wanted.

"Lord Shiva, I wish you to be born as my son so that I can be freed from the sage's curse," requested Anjana.

"So be it!". Lord Shiva gave his consent and disappeared.

Soon after this, one day, as Anjana was worshipping Lord Shiva, in another part of the country, Dasaratha, the king of Ayodhya, was performing a yagna (religious rite) to have children. It was the Putrakama Yagna. As a result, Agni, the Fire-God gave him some sacred payasa (pudding) and asked him to share the payasa among his wives so that they may have divine children.

Here, Lord Shiva's boon to Anjana started to work. While Dasaratha gave payasa to his elder wife Kausalya, by divine ordinance a kite snatched a portion of that pudding.

Holding the pudding in its tails, the kite-bird flew away from Ayodhya towards the forests Anjana lived. It flew over the dense trees and dropped the payasa where Anjana was engaged in tapasya.

Vayu, the ever-present Wind-God, saw this event. "Go, Vayu!" he heard a silent command in his mind from Lord Shiva. Vayu immediately caught that portion of pudding and placed onto the outstretched hands of Anjana.

Anjana felt something drop in her hand. She opened her eyes and looked at the payasa in her hand. "Is this offering from Lord Shiva?" she wondered and swallowed it.

As the divine pudding went inside her throat, Anjana immediately felt the blessings of Lord Shiva. In due course, she gave birth to a little monkey-faced boy. Kesari was very happy to see his son. The child was called as Anjaneya or the son of Anjana.

Having given birth to Lord Shiva's incarnation, Anjana was released from the curse of the sage.


The Monkey God ie Hanuman is also known as Pawan Putra Hanuman and a journey of a devotee who was dedicated to Lord Rama came into existence.

The Creator: Who takes care of everything

Samartha Ramdas Swami was a great Saint from Maharashtra, India. He was the Guru of Shivaji Maharaj, a great and pious king of 17th century Maharashtra. One day, as the king and His Guru, were inspecting some construction in the royal palace, the king thought, "Indeed I am a great king, how well I take care of all my subjects!" The Guru, in His Omniscience, read His disciple's thoughts and decided to correct his thinking immediately.

There was a huge boulder nearby. Ramdas Swami asked some of Shivaji's soldiers to break it into two. When His request was carried out, everyone present witnessed an incredible sight. They saw that the rock had a small water-filled cavity with a little frog in it! As soon as the boulder was split into two, the encaged frog jumped out, breaking free.

Samartha Ramdas Swami now turned to Shivaji and asked, "If you feel that you are taking care of everybody in this kingdom, then tell me who was taking care of the frog trapped in the rock?" The king realized his mistake and felt remorse for his egotistical thinking. He realized that it was God who had created everything and took care of all His creation.

Moral: One should do everything, including spiritual practice, with humility. Spiritual practice done with an attitude of surrender would eventually give the experience of the truth that God alone is Almighty and the Creator of all.

Hanuman - Story of Birth & His Swollen Cheek.

The ideal devotee of Shri Rama and the God of Strength from Ramayana; one of the few Chiranjeevi's (who do not die).

There is no village or town in Bharat without a temple dedicated to Hanuman. An unforgettable character in the great epic, the Ramayana, he has become a symbol of courage, loyalty and mature wisdom.

Men and women, the young and the old, people of all ages and of all professions worship Hanuman.

Students pray to him for intelligence and soldiers for strength. In olden days there used to be temples of Hanuman at the gates of forts. The gymnasiums of wrestlers invariably have his picture.

Every human being has good qualities and bad qualities. Our ancestors have taught that everyone should develop his/her good qualities and go nearer God. Divinity is only being full of noble qualities. In our country some men and women have later come to be honored as divine beings, winning the reverence, the devotion and the love of the common people. Hanuman is one such great soul.

According to legend, Hanuman is the son of the Wind God. Air sustains all living beings. One can exist without food, spend days without water; but it is impossible to exist even for a short time without air. Air is life. Therefore, Hanuman is also called 'Pranadeva' or the God of Life.

Hanuman was a master of music. He was also an expert in dance and drama. So, he is worshipped with love and devotion by musicians and actors. He was also a great yogi or mystic.

Hanuman was born to Anjana Devi and Vayu, the wind God. Hanuman is also called 'Anjaneya', son of Anjana. Hanuman was extraordinary from the very moment of his birth. There are many very interesting stories about his childhood.

When he was small, Hanuman felt very hungry. Looking up he saw in the east something red. Hanuman thought that the red sun was a fruit and flew up to snatch it. What was a child's whim becoming something serious? Though the sun's heat burnt his face, Hanuman was determined and continued to fly towards the sun. Indra, the Lord of Heaven, feared that the sun might be caught. So he hit at Hanuman with his terrible weapon Vajrayudha. Hanuman fell down and was hurt. His cheeks became swollen.

(This is why he came to be called Hanuman. 'Hanu' in Sanskrit means the cheek.)