Four Names to Recite at Srikalahasti’s Pathala Ganapati Temple

Only the Srikalahasti shrine has one special feature.

Here, pleased with Agastya's worship, Vighneswara declared a special boon.

Enter this shrine, which is one-fourth of sixteen, and simply tell it to Pathala Ganapati.

You need to recite just four names here.

Go to Ganapati, or go, stand there, say them, and as you come out, if you think, “Many people will be left behind,” before descending the steps, stop and say just four names.

What should you say? Gajananari. That is, the enemy of the demon, the ogre with an elephant's face.

Gajanana means one with an elephant's face, and ari means enemy.

Gajananari means the enemy of demons with elephant faces, and also the one praised by Agastya.

The third— at least, it needn't be a name, just say it like this and that's enough.

Third, whoever those supreme devotees may be, their...

O one with the quality of fulfilling wishes.

While reciting these three names, when describing His form and the place He came from, Salutations to the one who dwells in the depths of the netherworld.

Salutations to the one in the deep recesses of the netherworld, or of the earth, Salutations to the one who resides in the deep recesses of the earth.

The deep recesses of the earth are places found when you go underground.

Those going there should recite these four names.

At least near the temple, these four names should be posted on a board, for those who don't know.

If there is one, visitors can recite those four names then descend the steps and praise Vighneswara.