Meaning & Translation
Sanskrit
गणेश शरणम् शरणम् गणेश
Transliteration
Ga-ne-sha Sha-ra-nam, Sha-ra-nam Ga-ne-sha
Pronunciation
guh-NEH-shah SHAH-rah-num
Deity / Quality Invoked
Ganesha
Full Translation
Ganesha Sharanam means "I take refuge in Ganesha." Sharanam — refuge or shelter — is one of the oldest devotional gestures in Indian spirituality: the practice of placing oneself under the protection of the divine. Sung to Ganesha, the elephant-headed remover of obstacles, it is a chant of trust at the threshold of any new beginning.
Spiritual Significance
Ganesha is invoked at the start of every undertaking, and this chant carries that energy of auspicious beginnings into kirtan — it is very often the opening chant of a kirtan evening. Taking refuge in Ganesha means releasing anxiety about the obstacles ahead and trusting that the way will open.
Cultural Context & History
The sharanam formula echoes South Indian bhajan traditions, where refuge chants to Ganesha, Murugan, and Ayyappa are sung on pilgrimage. Jai Uttal's recording on his Grammy-nominated album "Kirtan! The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant" made it one of the best-known call-and-response chants in Western yoga studios.
For Leaders
Chords and structure for leading this chant on harmonium or guitar — transcribed from the linked recording. New to leading? Read our guide to leading kirtan →
Original key
B
Tempo & feel
Easy swaying feel (~62 bpm); classic unhurried opening-chant energy
Chord Chart
Strumming & rhythm (4/4)
D = downstrum, U = upstrum, · = let it ring. easy sway: down on 1, gentle down-up on 3; unhurried opening-chant energy.
Call
Response
Call & Response Structure
Essentially a one-chord chant: B is home almost throughout, with the E arriving only on "Sharanam" as a brief opening of the sky. Call and response are identical, which is why it works so well as the first chant of an evening. A touch of C#m under a late round adds shade without breaking the trance.
Terms in the Glossary
Words from this page, explained in our A–Z reference.