Ganesha Mantras for Sankashti Chaturthi: Which to Chant, How Many Times and What They Mean

Sankashti Chaturthi will be observed on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Since the Chaturthi falls on Tuesday, it is also known as Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi, Angarika Sankashti Chaturthi or Angarak Sankashti Chaturthi. The September observance is also called Vighnaraja Sankashti Chaturthi. The Chaturthi Tithi begins around 5:09 PM on September 29 and ends around 2:55 PM on September 30.

For devotees searching for Sankashti Chaturthi 2026, Sankashti Chaturthi September 2026 or Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi, the main focus of the vrat is Lord Ganesha. Mantra chanting can be included during the puja, after the sankalp, or while performing japa.

Which Ganesha Mantra Should You Chant on Sankashti Chaturthi?

There is no single mantra that every devotee must chant on Sankashti Chaturthi. The choice depends on whether you want a short daily Ganesha mantra, a prayer for obstacles, a longer stotra or a traditional Ganesha prayer.

Ganesha Mantra	Suggested Count	Main Focus
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah	11, 21 or 108	Ganesha invocation and obstacle removal
Om Gan Ganapataye Namah	11, 21 or 108	Salutation to Lord Ganesha
Vakratunda Mahakaya	11 or 21	Prayer before difficult tasks
Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah	11, 21 or 108	Simple Ganesha worship
Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotra	1 or as traditionally prescribed	Prayer through Ganesha's 12 names

The numbers 11, 21 and 108 are common devotional counts, not a universal compulsory rule. A recent Ganesh mantra guide also notes that there is no requirement for every mantra to be repeated exactly 108 times.

1. Om Gam Ganapataye Namah

Mantra

ॐ गं गणपतये नमः

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah

Meaning

This is a widely used Ganesha Beej Mantra. Gam is traditionally associated with Ganesha, Ganapataye means an offering or salutation to Ganapati, and Namah expresses reverence or bowing.

In simple words, it means:

“I bow to Lord Ganapati.”

The mantra is commonly used at the beginning of worship and before new undertakings. (JaapDaily)

How many times should you chant it?

• 11 times: For a short Sankashti puja
• 21 times: For a longer focused prayer
• 108 times: For a complete japa round

If you want one Ganesha mantra to chant on Sankashti Chaturthi, this is the simplest choice.

2. Om Gan Ganapataye Namah

Mantra

ॐ गण गणपतये नमः

Om Gan Ganapataye Namah

Meaning

This is a widely used devotional form of the Ganapati salutation. It expresses reverence to Ganapati, the Lord of the ganas.

It is frequently heard as a Ganesh mantra for removing obstacles and beginning important work.

How many times?

Devotees may chant it:

11, 21 or 108 times.

There is no need to force a higher count if the prayer is being performed as part of a longer Sankashti puja.

3. Vakratunda Mahakaya

Mantra

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

Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha,Nirvighnam Kurume Deva Shubha-Kaaryeshu Sarvada.

Meaning

The prayer addresses Ganesha as Vakratunda, the one with the curved trunk, and Mahakaya, the one with a great form. The devotee asks Ganesha to make auspicious undertakings free from obstacles.

How many times?

11 or 21 repetitions are practical for a Sankashti Chaturthi puja.

This mantra is particularly suitable if your Sankashti prayer is connected with a specific task, new beginning or obstacle.

4. Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah

Mantra

ॐ श्री गणेशाय नमः

Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah

Meaning

This is a simple salutation to Shri Ganesha. It does not contain a long request or elaborate invocation. Its purpose is straightforward devotional remembrance and reverence to Ganesha.

How many times?

You can chant it:

• 11 times for a short prayer
• 21 times during puja
• 108 times for japa

This is one of the easier mantras for devotees who are new to mantra chanting.

5. Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotra

For devotees specifically looking for a Sankashti Chaturthi mantra for removing obstacles, the Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotra is another traditional option.

The stotra invokes 12 names of Ganesha, including Sumukha, Ekadanta, Kapila, Gajakarnaka, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnaraja, Vinayaka, Dhumraketu, Ganadhyaksha, Bhalachandra and Gajanana.

Rather than reducing this prayer to one short mantra, devotees can recite the complete stotra once during Sankashti puja.

Its traditional phalashruti describes recitation at different times of the day and associates it with relief from obstacles. These are religious beliefs and traditional claims, rather than scientifically established effects.

Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi 2026: Which Mantra Is Best?

Since September 29, 2026 is Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi, devotees may prefer a Ganesha mantra that focuses on obstacles and the completion of auspicious work.

A simple combination is:

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah — 21 times

followed by:

Vakratunda Mahakaya — 11 times

and then the Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat Katha.

There is no scriptural requirement that all three must be recited. Devotees following a family or guru-prescribed mantra should continue with that practice.

What Do Ganesha Mantras Mean?

At their simplest, these prayers express different forms of devotion to Ganesha:

• Om Gam Ganapataye Namah: Reverence to Ganapati through his traditional seed syllable.
• Om Gan Ganapataye Namah: Salutation to Ganapati, the Lord of the ganas.
• Vakratunda Mahakaya: Prayer to Ganesha to remove obstacles from auspicious work.
• Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah: Simple salutation to Shri Ganesha.
• Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotra: A hymn invoking Ganesha through 12 names and traditionally associated with overcoming difficulties.

The common thread is remembrance of Ganesha and prayer for an unobstructed path, rather than a requirement to perform a specific number of repetitions.

Sankashti Chaturthi 2026 FAQs

1. Which mantra is best for Sankashti Chaturthi?
   Om Gam Ganapataye Namah is a simple choice for Sankashti Chaturthi. Devotees may also recite the Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotra or Vakratunda Mahakaya according to their family tradition.
2. How many times should I chant Om Gam Ganapataye Namah?
   You can chant it 11, 21 or 108 times. There is no universal rule requiring exactly 108 repetitions.
3. Which mantra is for removing obstacles?
   Om Gam Ganapataye Namah and Vakratunda Mahakaya are commonly used in Ganesha worship for prayers concerning obstacles. The Sankata Nashana Ganesha Stotra is another traditional option.