Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Shri Ganesha: Saguna and Nirguna BrahmanNo other religion offers such insight into the intricate workings of our universe than Hinduism. More importantly, no other religion offers the grace of a God that is within us as well as within all things outside of ourselves, that is both within form as Saguna Brahman and beyond form as Nirguna Brahman and that may be known my the devout seeker even in this life. Little wonder that the Sanatana Dharma, the Eternal Path, has withstood the ravages of time and stands today as the most advanced system of philosophy and devotion on the earth. It is fully in accord with, and in fact its sages clearly anticipated, the advances of 20th Century science. Hinduism today stands as the religion of the village community as well as the urban family - an enlightened faith for all men in all times. The single most unifying force within Hinduism is Lord Ganesha, son of Siva/Sakti, beloved Deity of over 600 million Hindus.It is an incontrovertible fact that Lord Ganesha is real, not a mere symbol. He is a potent force in the universe, not a representation of potent universal forces. Of course, Ganesha belongs to all mankind, not to Hindus alone, though not all men on the planet call Him by our name, Ganesha. ... To some Chinese He is Kuan-shi t'ien or Ho Tei, the large-bellied God of Happiness. To the Polynesians He is God Lono. The Tamils call him by the affectionate term Pilliar, Noble Child. The Tibetians know Him as ts' ogs-bdag, and the Burmese worship Maha-Pienne. In Mongolia His name is Totkhar-our Khaghan. Cambodians offer worship to Prah Kenes, and the Japanese supplicate Vinayaksa or Sho-ten. By some He is envisioned as the feminine Mother Nature, and even non-believers seek to understand Him through personifying His great powers as Fate, Destiny or Numen, The Greeks called Him Janus and sought His blessings at the outset of any new venture. ... In one form or another, Lord Ganesha is honored throughout the world. Hindus worship Him at countless pujas performed daily on every continent. In temples and home shrines Ganesha is worshipped today in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Malaysia, Java, Bali, Borneo, Tibet, Burma, Siam, China, Indo-China, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, Africa, Europe and North America.Abundantly built. Lord Ganesha is said to contain within Himself all matter, all mind. He is the very personification of material existence. We look upon this physical world as the body of Lord Ganesha. Hindus do not believe that God is in heaven, aloof from His creation. We believe in the divine immanence of God, that He is non-different from the world that He has created. In seeing and understanding the varied forces at work in the physical universe, we are seeing and understanding the powers and the being of Lord Ganesha. God is everywhere. Lord Ganesha is everywhere in this physical universe. In looking upon the world and all that happens in it and in our daily lives, we are learning to see God everywhere. There is nothing that exists apart from God. If we know that, then life becomes a joy, for we know that all that happens, whether it brings sorrow or happiness, whether we personally wanted it to happen or not, still we know that all that happens is right and good. This is a wonderful spirit for all Hindus to carry into our daily lives - a complete trust that all that happens is for the best, a full knowing that God's Will prevails everywhere.Symbols of Lord GaneshaSWASTIKAThe swastika is a sign of auspiciousness, a lucky cross associated with the good fortunes given by Lord Ganesha. It is said that the swastika has the crooked arms due to the fact that the path toward our objectives is not always straight, but filled with change and indirection.NOOSEThe noose, usually held in Ganesha's left hand, is unlike the more warring weapons of the other Deities. It is a gentle implement, used to capture and then hold obstacles or difficulties, to direct us along the right path much as a rider guides his steed by the use of the bridle and reins.MODAKAThe modaka is a sweet, round cake made of rice and sugar, and offered in Ganesha worship, The modaka is looked upon as the sweetest of all things sweet: as Siddhi, the gladdening fulfillment or joy hidden within everything.TUSKThe single broken tusk held in Ganesha's fourth hand is considered the symbol of sacrifice. For the elephant the tusks are beauty and pride and strength. But, in order to save the Mahabharata, Ganesha broke His own tusk. Thus He teaches us the noble principle of personal sacrifice.Shri Ganesha: Saguna and Nirguna Brahmanwww.hinduismtoday.com The Sadguru is BrahmanThe Guru is God Himself manifesting in a personal form to guide the aspirant. Grace of God takes the form of the Guru. To see the Guru is to see God. The Guru is united with God. He inspires devotion in others. His presence purifies all.The Guru is verily a link between the individual and the immortal. He is a being who has raised himself from this into That, and thus has free and unhampered access into both the realms. He stands, as it were, upon the threshold of immortality; and, bending down he raises the struggling individuals with his one hand, and with the other lifts them up into the empyrean of everlasting joy and infinite Truth-Consciousness.
* Ganesha Mantra
Ganesha Mantras are known as Siddhi Mantra
(the one with perfection).
Each and every mantra is full of energy and power of Lord Ganesha.
It is believed that mantras of Ganesha,
when chanted with genuine devotion, give positive results.
These mantras ward off all trials and troubles
gracing the devotee with every success.
All mantras are disclosed by the Almighty,
through the Intelligence, Vision and Experience
of the divinely illuminated and perfected sages
and men of integral God-Experience.
Ganesha is the power of knowledge, success and fulfillment.
It is believed that people get benefit out of these mantras
when chanted with utmost devotion and faith.
Success is not far when you have
love and respect, faith and understanding, kindness and willpower
in your heart and when you are in touch with that power
which breaks up all restrictions, obstacles, problems, difficulties
and makes available to you the rays of success,
prosperity and abundance.
Some such Mantras are given below for the
spiritual benefit of the readers -
*Special Ganesha Mantras*
*Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah* "Praise to Lord Ganesha".
This is the mantra of prayer, love and adoration.
It is chanted to get Ganesha's blessings
for the positive starting of a project,
work or simply to offer
him the praise.
*Aum Gan Ganapatye Namah* This is Lord Ganesha's mula ("root") mantra.
It is also known as his ''beej'' Mantra.
This mantra is used for Yoga Sadhana in which
we pray to Lord Ganesha and merge ourself with the
supreme knowledge and peace.
This is a mantra from Ganapati Upanishad.
One can always use it before starting any new venture
so that success comes without any hassle.
*Aum Vakratundaya Hum* This is a powerful mantra from Ganesha Purana.
When things are not in your favour,
or when the minds of the people turn negative,
depressed or discouraged, the attention of Ganesha
may be drawn by this mantra to straighten their ways.
The HUM symbolizes
"Delay no more, my Lord, in straightening the paths
of the crooked-minded ones."
This mantra is used many a times in the
Ganesha Purana to reduce the violence of cruel demons.
In addition, this mantra could also be used for healing
any spinal problem,
such as curvature of the spine or curved limbs.
Dedicate 1,008 repetitions of this holy word
to straighten and heal such deficiencies.
*Aum Kshipra Prasadaya Namah* Kshipra means immediate.
If some danger or negative energy is coming
your way and you don't know how to get rid of that danger,
with true devotion, practice this mantra
for quick blessing and purification of one's aura.
*Aum Shrim Hrim Klim Glaum Gam Ganapataye vara varada sarva janamme vashamanaya svaha * There are several beej (seed) mantras in this mantra.
Among other things, it says,
"Shower Your blessings,
O Lord. I offer my ego as an oblation."
*Aum Sumukhaya Namah* This mantra has a lot of meaning, in simple terms,
it means you will be always very beautiful in soul,
in spirit, in face,
everything. By meditating on this mantra,
very pleasing manners and a beauty comes on you.
Along with that comes peace,
which constantly works in your eyes;
and the words you speak are all filled with that power of love.
*Aum Ekadantaya Namah* Ekadanta refers to one tusk in the elephant face,
which means God broke the duality and made you
to have a complete one-pointed mind.
Whoever has that oneness of mind and single-minded
devotion will achieve everything.
*Aum Kapilaya Namah* Kapila (red) means that you are able to give colour therapy.
You are able to create colours around
yourself and around others, soak them in that colour and heal them.
As per the mantra you create,
so will you create the colors. Another meaning is
"wish cow," the "cow of plenty."
It means that whatever you wish, that comes true.
There is a wish-cow inside you.
Whatever you wish, especially for curing others,
comes true instantly.
*Aum Gajakarnikaya Namah* The ears of Ganesha, the elephant - god, are constant fanning,
which means people can talk a lot,
but you are not receiving inside anything other than what is important.
It also means that you can sit anywhere and tune
this celestial tube (the body) with seven channels
(chakras) and all 72,000 nadis, to any loka and be able
to hear ancestors, angels, the voice of God
or the voice of prophets.
That kind of inner ear you will develop through this mantra.
*Aum Lambodaraya Namah* This means you feel that you are this universe.
It means that all the celestial bodies are within you.
Like an entire tree is in the seed,
the whole universe is in the sound of creation, which is Aum,
and that Aum consciousness in you makes you feel
that you are the universe.
Therefore, if you say, realizing the oneness with the universe,
"shanti to the world"
every day, then the grace of God will come
and there will be world peace, universal peace.
It is the universe within Aum and Aum within you.
*Aum Vikataya Namah* This means realizing this world as a dream or a drama.
When you are in that high consciousness,
this whole world looks like a dream.
All of us have taken a role. We have to play our role in life
as wife or husband or children or citizens,
all consistent with the role we have taken.
When an actor bitten by a sponge cobra that is brought
on the stage falls, the entire audience cries;
but that boy who has fallen knows it was not a real cobra
and he is not dead.
Life is a drama --definitely life in this material world,
this physical world of ego, is a drama.
But inside, like the boy on the stage
who is quite happy knowing that he didn't die by the bite
of the sponge cobra,
like that, the truth never dies in us; it is immortal.
So everything else you consider as drama.
That consciousness comes to you by knowing this mantra.
*Aum Vighna Nashanaya Namah* This mantra invokes the Lord Ganesha
to remove every hindrance in your life and in your works.
By constant meditation on this mantra,
all obstacles and blocked energy in your physical
and cosmological bodies are released.
*Aum Vinayakaya Namah* Vinayaka is the name of Ganesha in the golden age.
So by realizing this mantra, your life will have a golden age.
In your office, in your work, you'll be the boss.
Vinayaka means something under control.
Vinayaka means the Lord of resolving problems.
*Aum Ganadhyakshaya Namah* This mantra is very important.
Suppose you have a group,
a country, neighbours, or any kind of group therapy,
group healing or a whole country requiring healing,
then you have to bring that entire group to your mind's
arena and say this mantra.
A group healing takes place by this mantra.
*Aum Bhalachandraya Namah* In Sanskrit, bhala means the forehead center.
Chandra means the crescent moon.
Bhalachandra means that chakra from where the nectar drips.
That is the secret of all healing.
It is to feel yourself as Shiva, identifying yourself with the
Truth and feeling constantly that you are carrying
the crescent moon, the symbol of growth and nectar of peace.
-- Sriram Savarkar Hinduism is more a way of life than a method of worship. *Dharmo Rakshati Rakshithaha *If you protect Dharma, Dharma will in turn protect you
Thursday, September 13, 2007
GANESHA the pillar
Loving Ganesha
Chapter 1: The Nature of Lord Ganesha
Shri GaneshasyaSvabhavah
The Natureof Lord Ganesha
TRIAD OF THREE GREAT PILLARS HAVE HELD Hinduism high, century after century: the satgurus, the temples and the scriptures. Together they echo the greatness of the loving God Ganesha, the Lord of Dharma, son of Siva. For untold millennia our rishis and sages have proclaimed the profound depths of the mind, assuring us that we, too, can and must come to know God and the Gods. It is the living presence of these satgurus and their spoken teachings which has brought to life the traditional practices and philosophy of the Sanatana Dharma. Now we shall delve into the nature of Lord Ganesha, what He is like, what functions this great God performs and find out how each seeker can make Him a vital part of daily life's path of experience.
Once a psychic connection is made with Lord Ganesha -- the Deity who manifests in several forms, including the elephant-headed Lord of Categories and Remover of Obstacles -- one is brought slowly into the mysteries of the Sanatana Dharma. Such an inner connection, which can be as subtle as a feeling, as tenuous as a dream or as bold as a personal visit, is also an entering into one's own muladhara chakra, governed by the planet Mercury, for every opening into a new chakra is also an introduction to the Deity who governs that state of consciousness and the planet to which that chakra is connected.The Sanatana Dharma, known today as Hinduism, is the only living religion on the planet that does not look to a human founder for its source of inspiration, scripture or historical beginning. It is timeless and ageless. Sanatana Dharma, the root religion of humankind, looks inward for its origins, into the subtle, superconscious realms within the microcosm, which it calls the Karanaloka, Sivaloka or Third World. This great religion has no single organized headquarters on the material plane. Nor does it have a one hierarchy. Who then is in charge of Hinduism? Why, it is none other than our loving Ganesha! He doesn't live in Rome, nor in Salt Lake City. Lord Ganesha lives simultaneously everywhere Hindus worship and pray within themselves. He doesn't have to be reappointed from time to time, because yugas and yugas ago He was permanently and irrevocably appointed when He was created for this work.
Ganesha, the Great Gatekeeper
Yes, it is the Great Ganesha who is the gateway for seekers into the world's most ancient faith. He is the inner authority, the guardian, the one who grants access to the spiritual mysteries of the Sanatana Dharma. All Hindus worship Him, regardless of their sectarian or philosophical positions. He truly binds them together in His love. This great God is both the beginning of the Hindu religion and the meeting ground for all its devotees. And that is only proper, inasmuch as Ganesha is the personification of the material universe. The universe in all of its varied and various magnificent manifestations is nothing but the body of this cheerfully portly God.
Ganesha sits on the psychic lotus of the muladhara chakra, the ganglia of nerves at the base of the spine within everyone. This chakra governs time, matter and memory. As the spiritual aspirant is lifted up from fear and confusion into conscious awareness of right thought, right speech and right action, the muladhara chakra becomes activated. It is then that the seeker, with heart filled with love, encounters the holy feet of Lord Ganesha. As the spiritual seeker worships the loving elephant-faced God, clearness of mind comes more and more as he automatically and very slowly enters the Hindu path to enlightenment. Once the connection is firmly established between the devotee and Ganesha, all of the currents of the devotee's mind and body become harmonized. After that strong connection is made, should he falter on the spiritual path, he has gained divine protection.B ut the seeker loses one thing. He loses his free, instinctive willfulness. It is lost forever. Yet it is not a great loss. Man's own personal willfulness, his animalistic free will, is a feeble and insignificant force when compared to Lord Ganesha's divine will. When beholden to God Ganesha and inwardly awakened enough to be attuned to His will, it is then quite natural that the instinctive will bows down. Personal likes and dislikes vanish. Limited faculties of reason and analysis are overpowered and subdued by a greater will, a cosmic will, the will of dharma. When sufficient humility has been awakened, it is easy to surrender personal, instinctive willfulness to the greater subsuperconscious will of dharma. It happens most naturally, but very slowly, because Lord Ganesha, of all the many Gods, proceeds with methodic deliberation. He is the careful, loving guide on the inner path of all seekers.
Among all the wonderful Hindu Deities, Lord Ganesha is the closest to the material plane of consciousness, most easily contacted and most able to assist us in our day-to-day life and concerns. In His hands Ganesha wields a noose and a goad. With the noose He can hold you close or hold obstacles close. Ganesha can capture and confine both blessings and obstacles. With the goad, Ganesha can strike and repel obstacles. This Lord is called the Remover of Obstacles; but He also places obstacles in our way, for sometimes his devotees are proceeding in the wrong direction, and His obstacles block their progress and guide them slowly back onto the straight path of dharma. When instinctive willfulness causes the seeker to decide to step out of the boundaries of dharma, the Lord of Obstacles is there to block the way. His emblem is the swastika, symbolizing His circuitous course in guiding the seeker through life's perplexing experiences.
Adopted by the Elephant God
Seekers of Truth come from many backgrounds, many religions, and have trod many paths. Having become acquainted with Lord Ganesha, they may wonder how their past can participate in their present aspirations. "What am I doing worshiping an elephant-faced God and loving it?" they may wonder. "What do I do now to harmonize this unfoldment with my previous upbringing?"
There is a way to reconcile this subconscious dilemma. Let's not "pack it away in denial," as they say; let's face up to the spiritual awakening. Truth is, you have a loving friend in Ganesha, who, if we may use the word, is the pope of the Hindu religion. And you are by no means alone. One fourth of the human race is acquainted with Ganesha -- twenty-five percent of the people on this planet -- 1.25 billion, and that number is growing year by year.O ur loving Ganesha leads his devotees deep into the oldest religion on planet Earth. There are two ways to come into Hinduism. One is to be born into the Hindu religion and be carried in your mother's arms to the temple, there to be inwardly and psychically connected to our loving God, Ganesha. So strong are those early impressions and samskaras that they carry you through life. Another way is to unfold naturally to the point of being ready to formally enter Hinduism, to supplicate, to sincerely entreat the guardians of that religion to allow you to be a part of that immense and ancient tradition. You have to want to be a Hindu so strongly, so sincerely, that Lord Ganesha lifts you out of the fog of the materialistic conscious mind, establishing a connection and a relationship with you. This is a personal relationship with the Deity. There is nobody in-between -- just you and the God, Lord Ganesha. It's like being adopted, in a way. If you were an orphan or abandoned on the streets of Sao Paulo or Madras or on the streets of wherever there are little kids running around, you would be "free." You could go through life listening to no one and exercising unrestricted free will, free instinctive will. If you had a developed intellect, then you could exercise an intellectual will. You could do anything that you wanted to do, absolutely anything. Of course, you would find that as you attempted to fulfill your desires, you were limited, sometimes prevented, by the natural forces within and without. But you could attempt anything. If you were fortunate enough, foster parents might come along to help you. They would adopt you and take you into their home. Your new mother would begin to lovingly guide and direct your life. She would tell you, "You can play as you like in this room, but not in the others." She is a wise mother and knows that you are accustomed to having your own way, so she lets you play freely within the confines of your own room. But if she catches you playing in another room, she might say firmly, "You may play in your room, not here in this room." You have lost your "free will" in being adopted by a mother and father, you are a part of their family now, and your well-being, your education, your training all now come under their will, to which you must adjust yourself and obey. They will watch over you and discipline you morning and night. They will protect you from getting into trouble with your "free will." The modern concept of freedom leads to the darker chakras below the muladhara chakra. Anguish is there.
Developing a Personal Relationship
It is the same when you evolve a relationship, a personal relationship, with the Deity Lord Ganesha. He will not allow you to use your free will to get into difficulties. Guiding you carefully and protecting you along your way in your natural karma through life is His concern. Someone once said, "I worship Lord Siva, I worship Lord Murugan, but I have never really gotten acquainted with Lord Ganesha." I responded, "You worship Siva and Lord Murugan, and that is wonderful. But unless you have established a personal relationship with Lord Ganesha, your worship of any of the Gods is probably more according to your own thoughts and fancy than true worship. Until you have established a rapport with Lord Ganesha, you cannot establish a relationship with Krishna, Ayyappan, Amman, Vishnu, Rama, Hanuman, Lakshmi, Sita, Radharani, Siva or Murugan, outside of your own limited concepts. It is Ganesha who introduces you to the millions of Gods of the Hindu pantheon, no one else. That is the way it works."
Yes, little by little, slowly, imperceptibly, a relationship evolves, a very personal, loving relationship, between the devotee and the elephant-faced God. Psychic protection is granted, physical protection, mental and emotional protection are all granted as boons by Him. He will not allow His devotees to use their free, instinctive willfulness to make more kukarma by getting into difficulties. Rather, He will guide them carefully, protecting them every moment along the way so that their natural birth karmas may be worked through and sukarma created by right living. This is His main concern. Lord Ganesha loves and cares for His devotees. Once the devotee is connected to Him through the awakening of the muladhara chakra, loneliness is never experienced.G anesha is a truly wonderful, loving God. He has an extraordinary knack for unweaving complicated situations and making them simple. He can unweave his devotees from their karma, simplifying and purifying their lives. But this only happens after they have established a personal relationship with Him. Soon thereafter, changes begin to happen in their lives; and when they go through difficult times, they no longer become angry or live in fear or worry. When difficult times come, they know it is because they are being unwound from accumulated and congested, difficult karmas or being turned in a new direction altogether. They know that at such a time they have to consciously surrender their free, instinctive willfulness and not fight the divine happenings, but allow the God's divine will to guide their life. Such is the spiritual path of total surrender, known as prapatti.
The Meaning of Grace
"What about the grace of the Deity?" seekers ask. Grace is received from the God when you are consistent in your worship, consistent in your discipline, consistent in your bhakti, your devotion. With such a foundation in your life, a great shakti, a force or power, will come from Lord Ganesha. This is grace. It is uplifting. It comes unexpectedly. When grace comes, your mind may change and your heart may melt. Your sight will become clear and penetrating. You may say, "I have been graced to see everything differently." New doors will begin to open for you, and as you go through them, your life will become more full, more wonderful. And the grace of it is that it would not have ordinarily happened to you.
Seekers also inquire, "What is the difference between grace and a boon from the Gods?" Grace is not exactly a boon. A boon comes as the result of something that you ask for and receive. A boon is quite specific. Grace comes because of the state of the soul in conjunction with its particular karma. It comes because we have done everything right up to a certain point in time according to the laws of dharma. It is then that the grace of the God comes. Grace is not for a specific need or event in our life, as a boon would be. Grace is more of a complete transformation -- a metamorphosis. After receiving grace of a God, the devotee can never be the same again, never look at life again in the old way.B y grace we are directed deeper into spiritual life, pointed in the right direction, carefully guided on the San Marga, the straight path to our supreme God. After grace has been received, our thoughts are enlivened, our life is inspired with enthusiasm and energy, and we live daily in the joyous knowledge that everything is all right, everything is happening around us in accord with our karma, our dharma and God's gracious will.
The Gods Are Real Beings, Not Mere Symbols
Many people look at the Gods as mere symbols, representations of forces or mind areas. Actually, the Gods are beings, and down through the ages ordinary men and women, great saints and sages, prophets and mystics in all cultures have inwardly seen, heard and been profoundly influenced by these superconscious, inner-plane, inner-galactic beings. Lord Ganesha is just such a being. He can think just as we can think. He can see and understand and make decisions -- decisions so vast in their implications and complexity that we could never comprehend them with our human faculties of limited understanding.
In recent history, missionaries and others from the Western religions have told the Indian people over and over again that their Gods are not real beings, but merely symbols of spiritual matters -- and unfortunately many have begun to believe this and look at their Gods in this way. Even among Hindus there are quite a few who don't believe in inner-world beings. Their belief is restricted to the people they see in the physical world, and that is all. You dare not tell them differently. It is very difficult, but not impossible, to introduce them to the grand philosophy which is based solely on worship, meditation, inner discipline and the search for Absolute Truth. But this is too high-minded for those living in the everyday materialistic consciousness. For the knowledge of inner worlds to become accepted, a personal realization has to occur. This is a slow process for the materialist, a very slow process, and only Lord Ganesha can help it along. To contact Lord Ganesha, it is imperative that the materialist visit one of His temples or shrines, to make initial contact. It only takes one meeting.
How to Approach the Deity
When you approach the Deity, you should believe that Ganesha feels your presence, that He sees you just as you see Him. In thus seeing Him in very human terms, you will get to know Him better. You will develop a very human relationship with Him. It is especially important that you develop this relationship with Lord Ganesha. It will not be difficult to nurture a friendly feeling for Him, because Ganesha is the Deity who governs our instinctive-intellectual state of mind. He governs the instinctive mind of all the animals, the insects, the birds and the fish, and governs, as well, all the forces of prakriti, nature. Lord Ganesha is also the Deity who governs the higher intellectual mind, of science and profound knowledge. This is why they call Him Lord of Categories. As Lord of Categories, He organizes and clears the intellectual mind so that individual awareness can flow unhindered in the many areas of developing thought. As Lord of Obstacles, He creates and removes obstacles so that karma becomes more and more perfect as the refinement process of living through the experiences of life continues.
In the temples of India, even the offerings that come in through the day from pilgrims, who bring silver, gold and gifts of all kinds to be placed into the hundi, are counted at nightfall before the Deity. He sees this and is told of all that was given to Him, and He knows. At night, the Deity is ceremoniously put to bed. They treat Him in very human terms. In the morning He is symbolically awakened, then bathed and dressed. The Deity is treated just as if He were a human person. Well, in the Third World that kind of dedication, intense bhakti, is noticed, and it is appreciated.
Connecting the Three Worlds: Hindu Magic
Now you might wonder, "Where are the inner worlds?" It is where you were just before you were conceived. They are in the nonphysical microcosm of this macrocosm. When you were conceived, you began to slowly grow a new physical body inside your mother. At that time you were living in your astral body in the nonphysical microcosm. You existed, to be sure, but not in this physical macrocosm.
The devas and Deities are all in that nonphysical microcosm. They actually exist inside material existence, for there are many worlds, or planes of existence, within the physical world. If you were to go into the physical microcosm, into a cell and into an atom, and into the inside of that and the inside of that, you would come out in the macrocosm of the Gods. This is called the Sivaloka or Third World. Their macrocosm is bigger than our macrocosm.T he concept of this inner space is different than we ordinarily conceive. Even though their macrocosm exists within this macrocosm, it is larger than this macrocosm. Of course, that immensity is in another dimension, another world. And each world is larger than the one before -- the world of departed souls is larger than this physical world, and the world of the Gods is much larger than the heaven worlds. Therefore, in a tiny space in this physical world hundreds of thousands of devas exist -- in a very tiny space.
Establishing the Link Through Puja
When the temple priest invokes the inner worlds and the beings within them, he is consciously trying to establish a channel of communication. When he is successful, this physical microcosm opens into the devonic macrocosm. In other words, through conscious effort, he connects the inner and outer worlds, even to the point that devotees may see the transfiguration of the God, or Mahadeva, superimposed over the stone image of the Deity in the temple. They can actually see the God, as He is in the inner world. Many, many awakened souls have seen such things -- the eyes of the God moving, for instance -- and some gurus can actually hear the God speak to them. The God is still in the inner world when this happens. It is the temple that has tuned into His world. This is much like live TV. Hundreds of sets can be tuned into the same station at the same time and view actual happenings as they occur.
The God, therefore, does not travel from the altar of one temple to the altar of another temple. The procedure is similar to that of dialing a friend on the telephone and bringing his voice across a vast distance into your ear. The friend can be heard quite clearly, but he has not moved to another place. The telephone could be likened to a connection between the gross and the subtle worlds, the world of matter and the worlds of spirit, or akasha.
Where Do We Go When We "Die?"
Where does the soul go when a person dies? It goes into the subtle microcosm and then into a larger macrocosm, or greater world, and ceases for a time to function in this gross macrocosm because it is not living in a physical body. At death, the soul drops off the physical body and travels in and in and in to subtle worlds, inner worlds of existence that have their own expansive space, their own macrocosm.S mall children, four or five years old, who can speak but have not yet become too immersed in the learned reality of the conscious or external mind, often tell their parents that they remember when they were born and even before. I have had children tell me, "I came from a world that was bigger than this world." And they talked about the activities that go on there and described the people living there. Of course, as they grow older and become involved in the external thought processes, these memories fade away. This is the kind of experiential knowledge that makes religion come alive in us, more real and useful. True religion should be the most real and solid and certain thing in our entire life. When we ponder these inner worlds, we learn from within ourselves how they relate and interrelate with each other. Ponder the many visions that prophets have spoken of experiencing, of all the angels or devas that have graced mankind with their presence and their prophecies. Ponder the mystic human events that cannot adequately be explained by the rational intellect. Think of them all in terms of the inner worlds of existence, and all will become clear. Yes, one day it will all become clear, from the inside of you to the external intellect. This is real knowing. This is the building of faith. This is true Hinduism, the bedrock of daily life. When this knowing comes from the depths of your knowing state of consciousness, the temple will be the home of the Gods to you.
Worship and Meditation on Lord Ganesha
Worship, bhakti yoga, is a definite discipline and practice to be perfected according to the aptitude of the devotee. After bathing and preparing the mind, approach Lord Ganesha in the shrine or temple, bringing a small gift or flower to be placed at His holy feet. Consider that you are approaching and about to meet the most important person in the world. Make your offering and prostrate. As you prostrate, feel the energies of love and devotion flow along your spine and out through the top of the head and into the home shrine altar or sanctum sanctorum, garbhagriha, of the temple, and offer those pure actinic energies to Lord Ganesha. Rise and walk slowly three times around the sanctum, always clockwise.M editation, dhyana yoga, is a discipline you can perform after worshiping that will, when diligently and consistently practiced, brings its own rewards. Sit before the Deity and bring up the images of your own father and mother, then the family guru and finally the darshana of the elephant Lord. Now meditate upon His form, His eyes, His ears, His trunk, His two tusks, His belly, in which rests the whole world. The first time your mind wanders into the thought patterns of daily life, bring it back to your parents, your guru and the first Lord to be worshiped before proceeding on to any other of the 330 million Gods of our ancient Sanatana Dharma.
The objective is to maintain an unbroken continuity of thought and to not allow the mind to wander away from the darshana of the God. You can begin this meditation by pondering the obvious physical properties of the worshipful image. If it is made of stone, think of the stone. How large is it? Where was it quarried and how was it carved? What are the various parts of the Deity and what do they mean? What are his symbols and what do they mean? Recall them to memory. If it is a picture of Ganesha, ponder how that picture was produced. Continue to explore the Lord Ganesha with your mind. Later you can move on to less physical points of concentration. You will find that your awareness or mind will wander to unrelated areas, to concerns of the past or worries of the future. When it does, bring awareness back to your point of concentration -- the Deity, Lord Ganesha. Begin again your stream of thoughts toward Him, and when the mind once again wanders, use your willpower to bring it back to His darshana.This may be difficult at first, but constant practice will unfold new knowledge from within you, knowledge that you never knew existed and did not learn from the outside. When that happens, concentration is strong and meditation is not far away. You should be able to have twenty, thirty or even fifty thoughts on loving Ganesha in sequence without awareness being distracted into areas of the external mind. It will help if you learn to breathe diaphragmatically during these exercises. Breathe deeply but naturally, without strain or effort. As we control the pranas of the breath, we simultaneously control awareness so that it remains steady and does not move here and there. You also have to teach the body to sit still, to remain poised and not restless. All of this will come in time, not immediately. Be patient. Never become upset with yourself when distractions arise, for that is a greater distraction still. Simply accept each departure from your concentration as an opportunity to become stronger and more one-pointed, and then quietly and firmly bring awareness back to its subject, Lord Ganesha.
You must teach this simple meditation to your children, and together the entire family will learn much about the Gods of our religion. It will inspire one and all to read more about Them, to study Their stories and memorize Their sacred chants. The Gods will come to life within your own mind and every member of the family as you penetrate behind the symbols and the stories and discover the true nature of Divinities. It is not necessary to practice this meditation for extended periods. A few minutes each day is enough. Once your brief meditation is finished, sit quietly in His darshana and enjoy His energies merging with your own pranic radiations. Take that darshana and that love out of the temple when you leave, spreading it among all the peoples of the world that they, too, may come to know and love the endearing God of Hinduism.
Chapter 1: The Nature of Lord Ganesha
Shri GaneshasyaSvabhavah
The Natureof Lord Ganesha
TRIAD OF THREE GREAT PILLARS HAVE HELD Hinduism high, century after century: the satgurus, the temples and the scriptures. Together they echo the greatness of the loving God Ganesha, the Lord of Dharma, son of Siva. For untold millennia our rishis and sages have proclaimed the profound depths of the mind, assuring us that we, too, can and must come to know God and the Gods. It is the living presence of these satgurus and their spoken teachings which has brought to life the traditional practices and philosophy of the Sanatana Dharma. Now we shall delve into the nature of Lord Ganesha, what He is like, what functions this great God performs and find out how each seeker can make Him a vital part of daily life's path of experience.
Once a psychic connection is made with Lord Ganesha -- the Deity who manifests in several forms, including the elephant-headed Lord of Categories and Remover of Obstacles -- one is brought slowly into the mysteries of the Sanatana Dharma. Such an inner connection, which can be as subtle as a feeling, as tenuous as a dream or as bold as a personal visit, is also an entering into one's own muladhara chakra, governed by the planet Mercury, for every opening into a new chakra is also an introduction to the Deity who governs that state of consciousness and the planet to which that chakra is connected.The Sanatana Dharma, known today as Hinduism, is the only living religion on the planet that does not look to a human founder for its source of inspiration, scripture or historical beginning. It is timeless and ageless. Sanatana Dharma, the root religion of humankind, looks inward for its origins, into the subtle, superconscious realms within the microcosm, which it calls the Karanaloka, Sivaloka or Third World. This great religion has no single organized headquarters on the material plane. Nor does it have a one hierarchy. Who then is in charge of Hinduism? Why, it is none other than our loving Ganesha! He doesn't live in Rome, nor in Salt Lake City. Lord Ganesha lives simultaneously everywhere Hindus worship and pray within themselves. He doesn't have to be reappointed from time to time, because yugas and yugas ago He was permanently and irrevocably appointed when He was created for this work.
Ganesha, the Great Gatekeeper
Yes, it is the Great Ganesha who is the gateway for seekers into the world's most ancient faith. He is the inner authority, the guardian, the one who grants access to the spiritual mysteries of the Sanatana Dharma. All Hindus worship Him, regardless of their sectarian or philosophical positions. He truly binds them together in His love. This great God is both the beginning of the Hindu religion and the meeting ground for all its devotees. And that is only proper, inasmuch as Ganesha is the personification of the material universe. The universe in all of its varied and various magnificent manifestations is nothing but the body of this cheerfully portly God.
Ganesha sits on the psychic lotus of the muladhara chakra, the ganglia of nerves at the base of the spine within everyone. This chakra governs time, matter and memory. As the spiritual aspirant is lifted up from fear and confusion into conscious awareness of right thought, right speech and right action, the muladhara chakra becomes activated. It is then that the seeker, with heart filled with love, encounters the holy feet of Lord Ganesha. As the spiritual seeker worships the loving elephant-faced God, clearness of mind comes more and more as he automatically and very slowly enters the Hindu path to enlightenment. Once the connection is firmly established between the devotee and Ganesha, all of the currents of the devotee's mind and body become harmonized. After that strong connection is made, should he falter on the spiritual path, he has gained divine protection.B ut the seeker loses one thing. He loses his free, instinctive willfulness. It is lost forever. Yet it is not a great loss. Man's own personal willfulness, his animalistic free will, is a feeble and insignificant force when compared to Lord Ganesha's divine will. When beholden to God Ganesha and inwardly awakened enough to be attuned to His will, it is then quite natural that the instinctive will bows down. Personal likes and dislikes vanish. Limited faculties of reason and analysis are overpowered and subdued by a greater will, a cosmic will, the will of dharma. When sufficient humility has been awakened, it is easy to surrender personal, instinctive willfulness to the greater subsuperconscious will of dharma. It happens most naturally, but very slowly, because Lord Ganesha, of all the many Gods, proceeds with methodic deliberation. He is the careful, loving guide on the inner path of all seekers.
Among all the wonderful Hindu Deities, Lord Ganesha is the closest to the material plane of consciousness, most easily contacted and most able to assist us in our day-to-day life and concerns. In His hands Ganesha wields a noose and a goad. With the noose He can hold you close or hold obstacles close. Ganesha can capture and confine both blessings and obstacles. With the goad, Ganesha can strike and repel obstacles. This Lord is called the Remover of Obstacles; but He also places obstacles in our way, for sometimes his devotees are proceeding in the wrong direction, and His obstacles block their progress and guide them slowly back onto the straight path of dharma. When instinctive willfulness causes the seeker to decide to step out of the boundaries of dharma, the Lord of Obstacles is there to block the way. His emblem is the swastika, symbolizing His circuitous course in guiding the seeker through life's perplexing experiences.
Adopted by the Elephant God
Seekers of Truth come from many backgrounds, many religions, and have trod many paths. Having become acquainted with Lord Ganesha, they may wonder how their past can participate in their present aspirations. "What am I doing worshiping an elephant-faced God and loving it?" they may wonder. "What do I do now to harmonize this unfoldment with my previous upbringing?"
There is a way to reconcile this subconscious dilemma. Let's not "pack it away in denial," as they say; let's face up to the spiritual awakening. Truth is, you have a loving friend in Ganesha, who, if we may use the word, is the pope of the Hindu religion. And you are by no means alone. One fourth of the human race is acquainted with Ganesha -- twenty-five percent of the people on this planet -- 1.25 billion, and that number is growing year by year.O ur loving Ganesha leads his devotees deep into the oldest religion on planet Earth. There are two ways to come into Hinduism. One is to be born into the Hindu religion and be carried in your mother's arms to the temple, there to be inwardly and psychically connected to our loving God, Ganesha. So strong are those early impressions and samskaras that they carry you through life. Another way is to unfold naturally to the point of being ready to formally enter Hinduism, to supplicate, to sincerely entreat the guardians of that religion to allow you to be a part of that immense and ancient tradition. You have to want to be a Hindu so strongly, so sincerely, that Lord Ganesha lifts you out of the fog of the materialistic conscious mind, establishing a connection and a relationship with you. This is a personal relationship with the Deity. There is nobody in-between -- just you and the God, Lord Ganesha. It's like being adopted, in a way. If you were an orphan or abandoned on the streets of Sao Paulo or Madras or on the streets of wherever there are little kids running around, you would be "free." You could go through life listening to no one and exercising unrestricted free will, free instinctive will. If you had a developed intellect, then you could exercise an intellectual will. You could do anything that you wanted to do, absolutely anything. Of course, you would find that as you attempted to fulfill your desires, you were limited, sometimes prevented, by the natural forces within and without. But you could attempt anything. If you were fortunate enough, foster parents might come along to help you. They would adopt you and take you into their home. Your new mother would begin to lovingly guide and direct your life. She would tell you, "You can play as you like in this room, but not in the others." She is a wise mother and knows that you are accustomed to having your own way, so she lets you play freely within the confines of your own room. But if she catches you playing in another room, she might say firmly, "You may play in your room, not here in this room." You have lost your "free will" in being adopted by a mother and father, you are a part of their family now, and your well-being, your education, your training all now come under their will, to which you must adjust yourself and obey. They will watch over you and discipline you morning and night. They will protect you from getting into trouble with your "free will." The modern concept of freedom leads to the darker chakras below the muladhara chakra. Anguish is there.
Developing a Personal Relationship
It is the same when you evolve a relationship, a personal relationship, with the Deity Lord Ganesha. He will not allow you to use your free will to get into difficulties. Guiding you carefully and protecting you along your way in your natural karma through life is His concern. Someone once said, "I worship Lord Siva, I worship Lord Murugan, but I have never really gotten acquainted with Lord Ganesha." I responded, "You worship Siva and Lord Murugan, and that is wonderful. But unless you have established a personal relationship with Lord Ganesha, your worship of any of the Gods is probably more according to your own thoughts and fancy than true worship. Until you have established a rapport with Lord Ganesha, you cannot establish a relationship with Krishna, Ayyappan, Amman, Vishnu, Rama, Hanuman, Lakshmi, Sita, Radharani, Siva or Murugan, outside of your own limited concepts. It is Ganesha who introduces you to the millions of Gods of the Hindu pantheon, no one else. That is the way it works."
Yes, little by little, slowly, imperceptibly, a relationship evolves, a very personal, loving relationship, between the devotee and the elephant-faced God. Psychic protection is granted, physical protection, mental and emotional protection are all granted as boons by Him. He will not allow His devotees to use their free, instinctive willfulness to make more kukarma by getting into difficulties. Rather, He will guide them carefully, protecting them every moment along the way so that their natural birth karmas may be worked through and sukarma created by right living. This is His main concern. Lord Ganesha loves and cares for His devotees. Once the devotee is connected to Him through the awakening of the muladhara chakra, loneliness is never experienced.G anesha is a truly wonderful, loving God. He has an extraordinary knack for unweaving complicated situations and making them simple. He can unweave his devotees from their karma, simplifying and purifying their lives. But this only happens after they have established a personal relationship with Him. Soon thereafter, changes begin to happen in their lives; and when they go through difficult times, they no longer become angry or live in fear or worry. When difficult times come, they know it is because they are being unwound from accumulated and congested, difficult karmas or being turned in a new direction altogether. They know that at such a time they have to consciously surrender their free, instinctive willfulness and not fight the divine happenings, but allow the God's divine will to guide their life. Such is the spiritual path of total surrender, known as prapatti.
The Meaning of Grace
"What about the grace of the Deity?" seekers ask. Grace is received from the God when you are consistent in your worship, consistent in your discipline, consistent in your bhakti, your devotion. With such a foundation in your life, a great shakti, a force or power, will come from Lord Ganesha. This is grace. It is uplifting. It comes unexpectedly. When grace comes, your mind may change and your heart may melt. Your sight will become clear and penetrating. You may say, "I have been graced to see everything differently." New doors will begin to open for you, and as you go through them, your life will become more full, more wonderful. And the grace of it is that it would not have ordinarily happened to you.
Seekers also inquire, "What is the difference between grace and a boon from the Gods?" Grace is not exactly a boon. A boon comes as the result of something that you ask for and receive. A boon is quite specific. Grace comes because of the state of the soul in conjunction with its particular karma. It comes because we have done everything right up to a certain point in time according to the laws of dharma. It is then that the grace of the God comes. Grace is not for a specific need or event in our life, as a boon would be. Grace is more of a complete transformation -- a metamorphosis. After receiving grace of a God, the devotee can never be the same again, never look at life again in the old way.B y grace we are directed deeper into spiritual life, pointed in the right direction, carefully guided on the San Marga, the straight path to our supreme God. After grace has been received, our thoughts are enlivened, our life is inspired with enthusiasm and energy, and we live daily in the joyous knowledge that everything is all right, everything is happening around us in accord with our karma, our dharma and God's gracious will.
The Gods Are Real Beings, Not Mere Symbols
Many people look at the Gods as mere symbols, representations of forces or mind areas. Actually, the Gods are beings, and down through the ages ordinary men and women, great saints and sages, prophets and mystics in all cultures have inwardly seen, heard and been profoundly influenced by these superconscious, inner-plane, inner-galactic beings. Lord Ganesha is just such a being. He can think just as we can think. He can see and understand and make decisions -- decisions so vast in their implications and complexity that we could never comprehend them with our human faculties of limited understanding.
In recent history, missionaries and others from the Western religions have told the Indian people over and over again that their Gods are not real beings, but merely symbols of spiritual matters -- and unfortunately many have begun to believe this and look at their Gods in this way. Even among Hindus there are quite a few who don't believe in inner-world beings. Their belief is restricted to the people they see in the physical world, and that is all. You dare not tell them differently. It is very difficult, but not impossible, to introduce them to the grand philosophy which is based solely on worship, meditation, inner discipline and the search for Absolute Truth. But this is too high-minded for those living in the everyday materialistic consciousness. For the knowledge of inner worlds to become accepted, a personal realization has to occur. This is a slow process for the materialist, a very slow process, and only Lord Ganesha can help it along. To contact Lord Ganesha, it is imperative that the materialist visit one of His temples or shrines, to make initial contact. It only takes one meeting.
How to Approach the Deity
When you approach the Deity, you should believe that Ganesha feels your presence, that He sees you just as you see Him. In thus seeing Him in very human terms, you will get to know Him better. You will develop a very human relationship with Him. It is especially important that you develop this relationship with Lord Ganesha. It will not be difficult to nurture a friendly feeling for Him, because Ganesha is the Deity who governs our instinctive-intellectual state of mind. He governs the instinctive mind of all the animals, the insects, the birds and the fish, and governs, as well, all the forces of prakriti, nature. Lord Ganesha is also the Deity who governs the higher intellectual mind, of science and profound knowledge. This is why they call Him Lord of Categories. As Lord of Categories, He organizes and clears the intellectual mind so that individual awareness can flow unhindered in the many areas of developing thought. As Lord of Obstacles, He creates and removes obstacles so that karma becomes more and more perfect as the refinement process of living through the experiences of life continues.
In the temples of India, even the offerings that come in through the day from pilgrims, who bring silver, gold and gifts of all kinds to be placed into the hundi, are counted at nightfall before the Deity. He sees this and is told of all that was given to Him, and He knows. At night, the Deity is ceremoniously put to bed. They treat Him in very human terms. In the morning He is symbolically awakened, then bathed and dressed. The Deity is treated just as if He were a human person. Well, in the Third World that kind of dedication, intense bhakti, is noticed, and it is appreciated.
Connecting the Three Worlds: Hindu Magic
Now you might wonder, "Where are the inner worlds?" It is where you were just before you were conceived. They are in the nonphysical microcosm of this macrocosm. When you were conceived, you began to slowly grow a new physical body inside your mother. At that time you were living in your astral body in the nonphysical microcosm. You existed, to be sure, but not in this physical macrocosm.
The devas and Deities are all in that nonphysical microcosm. They actually exist inside material existence, for there are many worlds, or planes of existence, within the physical world. If you were to go into the physical microcosm, into a cell and into an atom, and into the inside of that and the inside of that, you would come out in the macrocosm of the Gods. This is called the Sivaloka or Third World. Their macrocosm is bigger than our macrocosm.T he concept of this inner space is different than we ordinarily conceive. Even though their macrocosm exists within this macrocosm, it is larger than this macrocosm. Of course, that immensity is in another dimension, another world. And each world is larger than the one before -- the world of departed souls is larger than this physical world, and the world of the Gods is much larger than the heaven worlds. Therefore, in a tiny space in this physical world hundreds of thousands of devas exist -- in a very tiny space.
Establishing the Link Through Puja
When the temple priest invokes the inner worlds and the beings within them, he is consciously trying to establish a channel of communication. When he is successful, this physical microcosm opens into the devonic macrocosm. In other words, through conscious effort, he connects the inner and outer worlds, even to the point that devotees may see the transfiguration of the God, or Mahadeva, superimposed over the stone image of the Deity in the temple. They can actually see the God, as He is in the inner world. Many, many awakened souls have seen such things -- the eyes of the God moving, for instance -- and some gurus can actually hear the God speak to them. The God is still in the inner world when this happens. It is the temple that has tuned into His world. This is much like live TV. Hundreds of sets can be tuned into the same station at the same time and view actual happenings as they occur.
The God, therefore, does not travel from the altar of one temple to the altar of another temple. The procedure is similar to that of dialing a friend on the telephone and bringing his voice across a vast distance into your ear. The friend can be heard quite clearly, but he has not moved to another place. The telephone could be likened to a connection between the gross and the subtle worlds, the world of matter and the worlds of spirit, or akasha.
Where Do We Go When We "Die?"
Where does the soul go when a person dies? It goes into the subtle microcosm and then into a larger macrocosm, or greater world, and ceases for a time to function in this gross macrocosm because it is not living in a physical body. At death, the soul drops off the physical body and travels in and in and in to subtle worlds, inner worlds of existence that have their own expansive space, their own macrocosm.S mall children, four or five years old, who can speak but have not yet become too immersed in the learned reality of the conscious or external mind, often tell their parents that they remember when they were born and even before. I have had children tell me, "I came from a world that was bigger than this world." And they talked about the activities that go on there and described the people living there. Of course, as they grow older and become involved in the external thought processes, these memories fade away. This is the kind of experiential knowledge that makes religion come alive in us, more real and useful. True religion should be the most real and solid and certain thing in our entire life. When we ponder these inner worlds, we learn from within ourselves how they relate and interrelate with each other. Ponder the many visions that prophets have spoken of experiencing, of all the angels or devas that have graced mankind with their presence and their prophecies. Ponder the mystic human events that cannot adequately be explained by the rational intellect. Think of them all in terms of the inner worlds of existence, and all will become clear. Yes, one day it will all become clear, from the inside of you to the external intellect. This is real knowing. This is the building of faith. This is true Hinduism, the bedrock of daily life. When this knowing comes from the depths of your knowing state of consciousness, the temple will be the home of the Gods to you.
Worship and Meditation on Lord Ganesha
Worship, bhakti yoga, is a definite discipline and practice to be perfected according to the aptitude of the devotee. After bathing and preparing the mind, approach Lord Ganesha in the shrine or temple, bringing a small gift or flower to be placed at His holy feet. Consider that you are approaching and about to meet the most important person in the world. Make your offering and prostrate. As you prostrate, feel the energies of love and devotion flow along your spine and out through the top of the head and into the home shrine altar or sanctum sanctorum, garbhagriha, of the temple, and offer those pure actinic energies to Lord Ganesha. Rise and walk slowly three times around the sanctum, always clockwise.M editation, dhyana yoga, is a discipline you can perform after worshiping that will, when diligently and consistently practiced, brings its own rewards. Sit before the Deity and bring up the images of your own father and mother, then the family guru and finally the darshana of the elephant Lord. Now meditate upon His form, His eyes, His ears, His trunk, His two tusks, His belly, in which rests the whole world. The first time your mind wanders into the thought patterns of daily life, bring it back to your parents, your guru and the first Lord to be worshiped before proceeding on to any other of the 330 million Gods of our ancient Sanatana Dharma.
The objective is to maintain an unbroken continuity of thought and to not allow the mind to wander away from the darshana of the God. You can begin this meditation by pondering the obvious physical properties of the worshipful image. If it is made of stone, think of the stone. How large is it? Where was it quarried and how was it carved? What are the various parts of the Deity and what do they mean? What are his symbols and what do they mean? Recall them to memory. If it is a picture of Ganesha, ponder how that picture was produced. Continue to explore the Lord Ganesha with your mind. Later you can move on to less physical points of concentration. You will find that your awareness or mind will wander to unrelated areas, to concerns of the past or worries of the future. When it does, bring awareness back to your point of concentration -- the Deity, Lord Ganesha. Begin again your stream of thoughts toward Him, and when the mind once again wanders, use your willpower to bring it back to His darshana.This may be difficult at first, but constant practice will unfold new knowledge from within you, knowledge that you never knew existed and did not learn from the outside. When that happens, concentration is strong and meditation is not far away. You should be able to have twenty, thirty or even fifty thoughts on loving Ganesha in sequence without awareness being distracted into areas of the external mind. It will help if you learn to breathe diaphragmatically during these exercises. Breathe deeply but naturally, without strain or effort. As we control the pranas of the breath, we simultaneously control awareness so that it remains steady and does not move here and there. You also have to teach the body to sit still, to remain poised and not restless. All of this will come in time, not immediately. Be patient. Never become upset with yourself when distractions arise, for that is a greater distraction still. Simply accept each departure from your concentration as an opportunity to become stronger and more one-pointed, and then quietly and firmly bring awareness back to its subject, Lord Ganesha.
You must teach this simple meditation to your children, and together the entire family will learn much about the Gods of our religion. It will inspire one and all to read more about Them, to study Their stories and memorize Their sacred chants. The Gods will come to life within your own mind and every member of the family as you penetrate behind the symbols and the stories and discover the true nature of Divinities. It is not necessary to practice this meditation for extended periods. A few minutes each day is enough. Once your brief meditation is finished, sit quietly in His darshana and enjoy His energies merging with your own pranic radiations. Take that darshana and that love out of the temple when you leave, spreading it among all the peoples of the world that they, too, may come to know and love the endearing God of Hinduism.
GANESHA GOD OF WISDOM
Ganesha
God of wisdom and good beginnings. (elephant face) Mercury / Moon (Asian: Hindu)
Ganesha rules kundalini energy, the first chakra, psychic energy, and the training of the mind. He is the patron of scribes, poets, and merchants. His name may also be spelled Ganesh or Ganesa. Ganeshaís many names and titles include Bhoovanpati, Lord Of The Lord; Devadeva: Lord of All Lords; Dharmik (one who favours righteousness); Dhoomraketu; Durja, the Invincible; Ekadantha or Ekdanta (one-tusked); Gajakarnaka; Gajanana; Gajani; Ganapati or Ganapathi; Maha-Ganapathi; Ganadhyaksha; Gunina, Lord of All Virtues; Heramba; Kapila; Kaveesha, Lord of Poets; Lambodara (the pot-bellied one); Lord Ganesha; Lord of Hosts; Lord of Beginnings; Lord of Categories; Lord of Obstacles; Lord of Wisdom; Lord of Power and Wisdom; Manomay (conqueror of oneís heart); Phalachandra; Pillaiyaar; Remover of Obstacles; Shakti Ganapati; Shambhavi (son of Parvati); Shubhan (auspicious); Siddhivinayaka; Skandapurvaja; Sri Ganesha; Sumukha; Surpakarna; Vakratunda; Vignaharta; Vignaraja; Vigneshwara or Vigneswara, Lord of All Obstacles; Vikat (of the monstrous figure); Vinayaka (the one who has no overlord); Lord Vinayaka; and Yashvasin, The Popular.
The rat, mouse, bandicoot, and elephant are Ganeshaís sacred animals. Red is his color. Sesame, arugampul grass (Cynodon dactylon pers., also called couch grass and dogís tooth grass), erukkam flowers (Calotropis gigantea), shankupushpa flowers, and water lily or lotus are his sacred plants. The peepul (Arasa maram) is his sacred tree. Ganesha has more than fifty symbols, which include a shell, disc, mace, swastika, noose, elephant goad, and water lily. Om gung Ganapathare namah is his mantra.
Ganesha is honored on January 16. The feast of Ganesh Chaturthi, held on the Full Moon in August or September, celebrates his nativity. Honor Ganesha at that time by making donations to a charities, giving blood, feeding the poor, or making a clay figure of him, putting it on the altar for two days, and then throwing it into water. It is said that he will grant your wish if you honor him during his festival.
Invoke Ganesha for wisdom, prosperity, wealth, happiness, writing, literature, learning, intelligence, energy, bliss, power, travel, business, success, art, protection, forgiveness, wishes, prudence, discernment, thoughtfulness, good luck, money spells, new enterprises, self-knowledge, integration with nature, success in an undertaking or enterprise, removing obstacles, welcoming prosperity, averting negativity, fulfilling desires, preventing impediments, protecting the home, protecting the world, protecting privacy, overcoming difficulties, learning not to hold grudges, and blessing your son with virtue and character.
Ganesha can be invoked by chanting or reciting his names and titles. He is usually invoked before moving, traveling, getting married, opening a new business, starting in a new school, beginning a course of study, and so on. An offering of 108 different kinds of leaves is considered a perfect offering to Ganesha. Other appropriate offerings include plantains, his sacred plants, and small umbrellas, especially those made from his favorite grass and flowers.
The thoppikkaranam is also performed in his honor. This involves squatting and rising again, repeatedly, while holding each ear in the opposite hand. Performing 108 repetitions is a perfect offering, but fewer will suffice. Placing Ganeshaís image near the door of a home draws all of his blessings to the household.
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Friday, August 24, 2007
Samkatahara Chaturthi
Vishalakshi Amman Kovil(K.Puduppatti)
WELCOME TO KASI VISHVANATHAR AND VISHALAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE
Sadhurthi is a day of importance for Lord Ganesh(Vinayaga), and is considered auspicious to initiate with any new endeavour, job or project. This occurs twice every month once during the growing moon period and once during the waning moon period. The Sadhurthi which falls during the growing moon period is considered as Sankadahara Sadhurthi and is considered more auspicious than the other occurance. The main Sadhurthi called Sri Ganesh Sadhurthi (Sri Vinayaga Sadhurthi) occurs during the month of September in the growing moon period and is celebrated in K.Puduppatti. During this festival large and decorated idols of Sri Vinayaga are drowned in the rivers and lakes marking the occasion.
SALUTATIONS to Lord Ganesha who is Brahman Himself, who is the Supreme Lord, who is the energy of Lord Shiva, who is the source of all bliss, and who is the bestower of all virtuous qualities and success in all undertakings.
Mushikavaahana modaka hastha,Chaamara karna vilambitha sutra, Vaamana rupa maheshwara putra,Vighna vinaayaka paada namaste.
MEANING: "O Lord Vinayaka! the remover of all obstacles, the son of Lord Shiva, with a form which is very short, with mouse as Thy vehicle, with sweet pudding in hand, with wide ears and long hanging trunk, I prostrate at Thy lotus-like Feet!"
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is the day most sacred to Lord Ganesha. It falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (August-September). It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all parts of the world.
Clay figures of the Deity are made and after being worshipped for two days, or in some cases ten days, they are thrown into Water.
Lord Ganesha is the elephant-headed God. He is worshipped first in any prayers. His Names are repeated first before any auspicious work is begun, before any kind of worship is begun.
He is the Lord of power and wisdom. He is the eldest son of Lord Shiva and the elder brother of Skanda or Kartikeya. He is the energy of Lord Shiva and so He is called the son of Shankar and Umadevi. By worshipping Lord Ganesha mothers hope to earn for their sons the sterling virtues of Ganesha.
The following story is narrated about His birth and how He came to have the head of an elephant:
Once upon a time, the Goddess Gauri (consort of Lord Shiva), while bathing, created Ganesha as a pure white being out of the mud of Her Body and placed Him at the entrance of the house. She told Him not to allow anyone to enter while she went inside for a bath. Lord Shiva Himself was returning home quite thirsty and was stopped by Ganesha at the gate. Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesha's head as He thought Ganesha was an outsider.
When Gauri came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console her grief, Shiva ordered His servants to cut off and bring to Him the head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. The servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant's head was brought before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant's head onto the body of Ganesha.
Lord Shiva made His son worthy of worship at the beginning of all undertakings, marriages, expeditions, studies, etc. He ordained that the annual worship of Ganesha should take place on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada.
Without the Grace of Sri Ganesha and His help nothing whatsoever can be achieved. No action can be undertaken without His support, Grace or blessing.
In his first lesson in the alphabet a Maharashtrian child is initiated into the Mantra of Lord Ganesha, Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah. Only then is the alphabet taught.
The following are some of the common Names of Lord Ganesha: Dhoomraketu, Sumukha, Ekadantha, Gajakarnaka, Lambodara, Vignaraja, Ganadhyaksha, Phalachandra, Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vakratunda, Siddhivinayaka, Surpakarna, Heramba, Skandapurvaja, Kapila and Vigneshwara. He is also known by many as Maha-Ganapathi.
His Mantra is Om Gung Ganapathaye Namah. Spiritual aspirants who worship Ganesha as their tutelary Deity repeat this Mantra or Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah.
The devotees of Ganesha also do Japa of the Ganesha Gayatri Mantra. This is as follows.
Tat purushaaya vidmahe Vakratundaaya dheemahi Tanno dhanti prachodayaat.
Lord Ganesha is an embodiment of wisdom and bliss. He is the Lord of Brahmacharins. He is foremost amongst the celibates.
He has as his vehicle a small mouse. He is the presiding Deity of the Muladhara Chakra, the psychic centre in the body in which the Kundalini Shakti resides.
He is the Lord who removes all obstacles on the path of the spiritual aspirant, and bestows upon him worldly as well as spiritual success. Hence He is called Vigna Vinayaka. His Bija Akshara (root syllable) is Gung, pronounced to rhyme with the English word "sung". He is the Lord of harmony and peace.
Lord Ganesha represents Om or the Pranava, which is the chief Mantra among the Hindus. Nothing can be done without uttering it. This explains the practice of invoking Ganesha before beginning any rite or undertaking any project. His two feet represent the power of knowledge and the power of action. The elephant head is significant in that it is the only figure in nature that has the form of the symbol for Om.
The significance of riding on a mouse is the complete conquest over egoism. The holding of the ankusha represents His rulership of the world. It is the emblem of divine Royalty.
Ganesha is the first god. Riding on a mouse, one of nature's smallest creatures and having the head of an elephant, the biggest of all animals, denotes that Ganesha is the creator of all creatures. Elephants are very wise animals; this indicates that Lord Ganesha is an embodiment of wisdom. It also denotes the process of evolution--the mouse gradually evolves into an elephant and finally becomes a man. This is why Ganesha has a human body, an elephant's head and a mouse as His vehicle. This is the symbolic philosophy of His form.
He is the Lord of Ganas or groups, for instance groups of elements, groups of senses, etc. He is the head of the followers of Shiva or the celestial servants of Lord Shiva.
The Vaishnavas also worship Lord Ganesha. They have given Him the name of Tumbikkai Alwar which means the divinity with the proboscis (the elephant's trunk).
Lord Ganesha's two powers are the Kundalini and the Vallabha or power of love.
He is very fond of sweet pudding or balls of rice flour with a sweet core. On one of His birthdays He was going around house to house accepting the offerings of sweet puddings. Having eaten a good number of these, He set out moving on His mouse at night. Suddenly the mouse stumbled--it had seen a snake and became frightened--with the result that Ganesha fell down. His stomach burst open and all the sweet puddings came out. But Ganesha stuffed them back into His stomach and, catching hold of the snake, tied it around His belly.
Seeing all this, the moon in the sky had a hearty laugh. This unseemly behaviour of the moon annoyed Him immensely and so he pulled out one of His tusks and hurled it against the moon, and cursed that no one should look at the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi day. If anyone does, he will surely earn a bad name, censure or ill-repute. However, if by mistake someone does happen to look at the moon on this day, then the only way he can be freed from the curse is by repeating or listening to the story of how Lord Krishna cleared His character regarding the Syamantaka jewel. This story is quoted in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Lord Ganesha was pleased to ordain thus. Glory to Lord Ganesha! How kind and merciful He is unto His devotees!
Ganesha and His brother Lord Subramanya once had a dispute as to who was the elder of the two. The matter was referred to Lord Shiva for final decision. Shiva decided that whoever would make a tour of the whole world and come back first to the starting point had the right to be the elder. Subramanya flew off at once on his vehicle, the peacock, to make a circuit of the world. But the wise Ganesha went, in loving worshipfulness, around His divine parents and asked for the prize of His victory.
Lord Shiva said, "Beloved and wise Ganesha! But how can I give you the prize; you did not go around the world?"
Ganesha replied, "No, but I have gone around my parents. My parents represent the entire manifested universe!"
Thus the dispute was settled in favour of Lord Ganesha, who was thereafter acknowledged as the elder of the two brothers. Mother Parvati also gave Him a fruit as a prize for this victory.
In the Ganapathi Upanishad, Ganesha is identified with the Supreme Self. The legends that are connected with Lord Ganesha are recorded in the Ganesha Khanda of the Brahma Vivartha Purana.
On the Ganesh Chaturthi day, meditate on the stories connected with Lord Ganesha early in the morning, during the Brahmamuhurta period. Then, after taking a bath, go to the temple and do the prayers of Lord Ganesha. Offer Him some coconut and sweet pudding. Pray with faith and devotion that He may remove all the obstacles that you experience on the spiritual path. Worship Him at home, too. You can get the assistance of a pundit. Have an image of Lord Ganesha in your house. Feel His Presence in it.
Don't forget not to look at the moon on that day; remember that it behaved unbecomingly towards the Lord. This really means avoid the company of all those who have no faith in God, and who deride God, your Guru and religion, from this very day.
Take fresh spiritual resolves and pray to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual strength to attain success in all your undertakings.
May the blessings of Sri Ganesha be upon you all! May He remove all the obstacles that stand in your spiritual path! May He bestow on you all material prosperity as well as liberation!
Posted by Kasi Vishvanathar and VishalakshiAmman at 6:30 AM 0 comments
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About Me
Kasi Vishvanathar and VishalakshiAmman
K.Puduppatti, TamilNadu(India)
I am Soniya Gandhi.P.I.This Website is Dedicated to Lord Siva.
View my complete profile
Vishalakshi Amman Kovil(K.Puduppatti)
WELCOME TO KASI VISHVANATHAR AND VISHALAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE
Sadhurthi is a day of importance for Lord Ganesh(Vinayaga), and is considered auspicious to initiate with any new endeavour, job or project. This occurs twice every month once during the growing moon period and once during the waning moon period. The Sadhurthi which falls during the growing moon period is considered as Sankadahara Sadhurthi and is considered more auspicious than the other occurance. The main Sadhurthi called Sri Ganesh Sadhurthi (Sri Vinayaga Sadhurthi) occurs during the month of September in the growing moon period and is celebrated in K.Puduppatti. During this festival large and decorated idols of Sri Vinayaga are drowned in the rivers and lakes marking the occasion.
SALUTATIONS to Lord Ganesha who is Brahman Himself, who is the Supreme Lord, who is the energy of Lord Shiva, who is the source of all bliss, and who is the bestower of all virtuous qualities and success in all undertakings.
Mushikavaahana modaka hastha,Chaamara karna vilambitha sutra, Vaamana rupa maheshwara putra,Vighna vinaayaka paada namaste.
MEANING: "O Lord Vinayaka! the remover of all obstacles, the son of Lord Shiva, with a form which is very short, with mouse as Thy vehicle, with sweet pudding in hand, with wide ears and long hanging trunk, I prostrate at Thy lotus-like Feet!"
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is the day most sacred to Lord Ganesha. It falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (August-September). It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all parts of the world.
Clay figures of the Deity are made and after being worshipped for two days, or in some cases ten days, they are thrown into Water.
Lord Ganesha is the elephant-headed God. He is worshipped first in any prayers. His Names are repeated first before any auspicious work is begun, before any kind of worship is begun.
He is the Lord of power and wisdom. He is the eldest son of Lord Shiva and the elder brother of Skanda or Kartikeya. He is the energy of Lord Shiva and so He is called the son of Shankar and Umadevi. By worshipping Lord Ganesha mothers hope to earn for their sons the sterling virtues of Ganesha.
The following story is narrated about His birth and how He came to have the head of an elephant:
Once upon a time, the Goddess Gauri (consort of Lord Shiva), while bathing, created Ganesha as a pure white being out of the mud of Her Body and placed Him at the entrance of the house. She told Him not to allow anyone to enter while she went inside for a bath. Lord Shiva Himself was returning home quite thirsty and was stopped by Ganesha at the gate. Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesha's head as He thought Ganesha was an outsider.
When Gauri came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console her grief, Shiva ordered His servants to cut off and bring to Him the head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. The servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant's head was brought before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant's head onto the body of Ganesha.
Lord Shiva made His son worthy of worship at the beginning of all undertakings, marriages, expeditions, studies, etc. He ordained that the annual worship of Ganesha should take place on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada.
Without the Grace of Sri Ganesha and His help nothing whatsoever can be achieved. No action can be undertaken without His support, Grace or blessing.
In his first lesson in the alphabet a Maharashtrian child is initiated into the Mantra of Lord Ganesha, Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah. Only then is the alphabet taught.
The following are some of the common Names of Lord Ganesha: Dhoomraketu, Sumukha, Ekadantha, Gajakarnaka, Lambodara, Vignaraja, Ganadhyaksha, Phalachandra, Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vakratunda, Siddhivinayaka, Surpakarna, Heramba, Skandapurvaja, Kapila and Vigneshwara. He is also known by many as Maha-Ganapathi.
His Mantra is Om Gung Ganapathaye Namah. Spiritual aspirants who worship Ganesha as their tutelary Deity repeat this Mantra or Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah.
The devotees of Ganesha also do Japa of the Ganesha Gayatri Mantra. This is as follows.
Tat purushaaya vidmahe Vakratundaaya dheemahi Tanno dhanti prachodayaat.
Lord Ganesha is an embodiment of wisdom and bliss. He is the Lord of Brahmacharins. He is foremost amongst the celibates.
He has as his vehicle a small mouse. He is the presiding Deity of the Muladhara Chakra, the psychic centre in the body in which the Kundalini Shakti resides.
He is the Lord who removes all obstacles on the path of the spiritual aspirant, and bestows upon him worldly as well as spiritual success. Hence He is called Vigna Vinayaka. His Bija Akshara (root syllable) is Gung, pronounced to rhyme with the English word "sung". He is the Lord of harmony and peace.
Lord Ganesha represents Om or the Pranava, which is the chief Mantra among the Hindus. Nothing can be done without uttering it. This explains the practice of invoking Ganesha before beginning any rite or undertaking any project. His two feet represent the power of knowledge and the power of action. The elephant head is significant in that it is the only figure in nature that has the form of the symbol for Om.
The significance of riding on a mouse is the complete conquest over egoism. The holding of the ankusha represents His rulership of the world. It is the emblem of divine Royalty.
Ganesha is the first god. Riding on a mouse, one of nature's smallest creatures and having the head of an elephant, the biggest of all animals, denotes that Ganesha is the creator of all creatures. Elephants are very wise animals; this indicates that Lord Ganesha is an embodiment of wisdom. It also denotes the process of evolution--the mouse gradually evolves into an elephant and finally becomes a man. This is why Ganesha has a human body, an elephant's head and a mouse as His vehicle. This is the symbolic philosophy of His form.
He is the Lord of Ganas or groups, for instance groups of elements, groups of senses, etc. He is the head of the followers of Shiva or the celestial servants of Lord Shiva.
The Vaishnavas also worship Lord Ganesha. They have given Him the name of Tumbikkai Alwar which means the divinity with the proboscis (the elephant's trunk).
Lord Ganesha's two powers are the Kundalini and the Vallabha or power of love.
He is very fond of sweet pudding or balls of rice flour with a sweet core. On one of His birthdays He was going around house to house accepting the offerings of sweet puddings. Having eaten a good number of these, He set out moving on His mouse at night. Suddenly the mouse stumbled--it had seen a snake and became frightened--with the result that Ganesha fell down. His stomach burst open and all the sweet puddings came out. But Ganesha stuffed them back into His stomach and, catching hold of the snake, tied it around His belly.
Seeing all this, the moon in the sky had a hearty laugh. This unseemly behaviour of the moon annoyed Him immensely and so he pulled out one of His tusks and hurled it against the moon, and cursed that no one should look at the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi day. If anyone does, he will surely earn a bad name, censure or ill-repute. However, if by mistake someone does happen to look at the moon on this day, then the only way he can be freed from the curse is by repeating or listening to the story of how Lord Krishna cleared His character regarding the Syamantaka jewel. This story is quoted in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Lord Ganesha was pleased to ordain thus. Glory to Lord Ganesha! How kind and merciful He is unto His devotees!
Ganesha and His brother Lord Subramanya once had a dispute as to who was the elder of the two. The matter was referred to Lord Shiva for final decision. Shiva decided that whoever would make a tour of the whole world and come back first to the starting point had the right to be the elder. Subramanya flew off at once on his vehicle, the peacock, to make a circuit of the world. But the wise Ganesha went, in loving worshipfulness, around His divine parents and asked for the prize of His victory.
Lord Shiva said, "Beloved and wise Ganesha! But how can I give you the prize; you did not go around the world?"
Ganesha replied, "No, but I have gone around my parents. My parents represent the entire manifested universe!"
Thus the dispute was settled in favour of Lord Ganesha, who was thereafter acknowledged as the elder of the two brothers. Mother Parvati also gave Him a fruit as a prize for this victory.
In the Ganapathi Upanishad, Ganesha is identified with the Supreme Self. The legends that are connected with Lord Ganesha are recorded in the Ganesha Khanda of the Brahma Vivartha Purana.
On the Ganesh Chaturthi day, meditate on the stories connected with Lord Ganesha early in the morning, during the Brahmamuhurta period. Then, after taking a bath, go to the temple and do the prayers of Lord Ganesha. Offer Him some coconut and sweet pudding. Pray with faith and devotion that He may remove all the obstacles that you experience on the spiritual path. Worship Him at home, too. You can get the assistance of a pundit. Have an image of Lord Ganesha in your house. Feel His Presence in it.
Don't forget not to look at the moon on that day; remember that it behaved unbecomingly towards the Lord. This really means avoid the company of all those who have no faith in God, and who deride God, your Guru and religion, from this very day.
Take fresh spiritual resolves and pray to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual strength to attain success in all your undertakings.
May the blessings of Sri Ganesha be upon you all! May He remove all the obstacles that stand in your spiritual path! May He bestow on you all material prosperity as well as liberation!
Posted by Kasi Vishvanathar and VishalakshiAmman at 6:30 AM 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) Vinayaha
Vinayaha
Home Page
About Me
Kasi Vishvanathar and VishalakshiAmman
K.Puduppatti, TamilNadu(India)
I am Soniya Gandhi.P.I.This Website is Dedicated to Lord Siva.
View my complete profile
LORD GANESHAS NAMES AND MEANINGS
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Lord Ganesha names & meanings
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
1. Akhurath: One who has mouse as his charioteer 2. Alampata : Ever eternal lord 3. Amit : Incomparable lord 4. Anantachidrupamayam : Infinite and consciousness personified 5. Avaneesh: Lord of the whole world6. Avighna: Remover of obstacles
7. Balaganapati: Beloved and lovable child
8. Bhalchandra: Moon-crested lord
9. Bheema: Huge and Gigantic
10. Bhupati: Lord of the gods
11. Bhuvanpati: God of the gods
12. Buddhinath: God of wisdom
13. Budhipriya: Knowledge bestower
14. Bhudhividhata: God of knowledge
15. Chaturbhuj: One who has four arms
16. Devadeva: Lord of all lords
17. Devantakanashakarin : Destroyer of evils and asuras
18. Devarata: One who accepts all gods
19. Devendrashika: Protector of all gods
20. Dharmik: One who gives charity
21. Dhoomravarna: Smoke-Hued lord
22. Durja: Invincible lord
23. Dvaimatura: One who has two mothers
24. Ekaakshara: He of the single syllable
25. Ekadanta: Single-Tusked lord
26. Ekadrishta: Single-Tusked lord
27. Eshanputra: Lord Shiva?s son
28. Gadadhara: One who has the mace as his weapon
29. Gajakarna: One who has eyes like an elephant
30. Gajanana: Elephant-Faced lord
31. Gajananeti: Elephant-Faced lord
32. Gajavakra: Trunk of the elephant
33. Gajavaktra: One who has mouth like an elephant
34. Ganadhakshya: Lord of all Ganas (Gods)
35. Ganadhyakshina: Leader of all the celestial bodies
36. Ganapati: Lord of all Ganas (Gods)
37. Gaurisuta: The son of Gauri (Parvati)
38. Gunina: One who is the master of all virtues
39. Haridra: One who is golden colored
40. Heramba: Mother?s Beloved son
41. Kapila: Yellowish-Brown coloured
42. Kaveesha: Master of poets
43. Krti: Lord of music
44. Kripalu: Merciful lord
45. Krishapingaksha: Yellowish-Brown eyed
46. Kshamakaram: The place of forgiveness
47. Kshipra: One who is easy to appease
48. Lambakarna: Large-Eared lords
49. Lambodara: The huge bellied lord
50. Mahabala: Enormously strong lord
51. Mahaganpati: Omnipotent and supreme lord
52. Maheshwaram: Lord of the universe
53. Mangalamurti: All auspicious lord
54. Manomay: Winner of hearts
55. Mrityunjaya: Conqueror of death
56. Mundakarama: Abode of happiness
57. Muktidaya: Bestower of eternal bliss
58. Mushikvahana: One who has mouse as charioteer
59. Nadapratithishta: One who appreciates and loves music
60. Namasthetu: Vanquisher of all evils and vices and sins
61. Nandana: Lord Shiva?s son
62. Nideeshwaram: Giver of wealth and treasures
63. Omkara: One who has the form of OM
64. Pitambara: One who has yellow-colored body
65. Pramoda: Lord of all abodes
66. Prathameshwara: First among all
67. Purush: The omnipotent personality
68. Rakta: One who has red-colored body
69. Rudrapriya: Beloved of lord Shiva
70. Sarvadevatman: Acceptor of all celestial offerings
71. Sarvasiddanta: Bestower of skills and wisdom
72. Sarvatman: Protector of the universe
73. Shambhavi: The son of Parvati
74. Shashivarnam: One who has a moon like complexion
75. Shoorpakarna: Large-eared Lord
76. Shuban: All auspicious lord
77. Shubhagunakanan: One who is the master of all virtues
78. Shweta: One who is as pure as the white colour
79. Siddhidhata: Bestower of success and accomplishments
80. Siddhipriya: Bestower of wishes and boons
81. Siddhivinayak: Bestower of success
82. Skandapurvaja: Elder brother of Skanda (Lord Kartik)
83. Sumukha: Auspicious face
84. Sureshwaram: Lord of all lords
85. Swaroop: Lover of beauty
86. Tarun: Ageless
87. Uddanda: Nemesis of evils and vices
88. Umaputra: The son of goddess Uma (Parvati)
89. Vakratunda: Curved trunk lord
90. Varaganapati: Bestower of boons
91. Varaprada: Granter of wishes and boons
92. Varadavinayaka: Bestower of Success
93. Veeraganapati: Heroic lord
94. Vidyavaridhi: God of wisdom
95. Vighnahara: Remover of obstacles
96. Vignaharta: Demolisher of obstacles
97. Vighnaraja: Lord of all hindrances
98. Vighnarajendra: Lord of all obstacles
99. Vighnavinashanaya: Destroyer of all obstacles and impediments
100. Vigneshwara: Lord of all obstacles
101. Vikat: Huge and gigantic
102. Vinayaka: Lord of all
103. Vishwamukha: Master of the universe
104. Vishwaraja: King of the world
105. Yagnakaya: Acceptor of all sacred and sacrificial offerings
106. Yashaskaram: Bestower of fame and fortune
107. Yashvasin: Beloved and ever popular lord
108. Yogadhipa: The lord of meditation
Posted by Shanker at 11:36 AM
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Lord Ganesha names & meanings
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
1. Akhurath: One who has mouse as his charioteer 2. Alampata : Ever eternal lord 3. Amit : Incomparable lord 4. Anantachidrupamayam : Infinite and consciousness personified 5. Avaneesh: Lord of the whole world6. Avighna: Remover of obstacles
7. Balaganapati: Beloved and lovable child
8. Bhalchandra: Moon-crested lord
9. Bheema: Huge and Gigantic
10. Bhupati: Lord of the gods
11. Bhuvanpati: God of the gods
12. Buddhinath: God of wisdom
13. Budhipriya: Knowledge bestower
14. Bhudhividhata: God of knowledge
15. Chaturbhuj: One who has four arms
16. Devadeva: Lord of all lords
17. Devantakanashakarin : Destroyer of evils and asuras
18. Devarata: One who accepts all gods
19. Devendrashika: Protector of all gods
20. Dharmik: One who gives charity
21. Dhoomravarna: Smoke-Hued lord
22. Durja: Invincible lord
23. Dvaimatura: One who has two mothers
24. Ekaakshara: He of the single syllable
25. Ekadanta: Single-Tusked lord
26. Ekadrishta: Single-Tusked lord
27. Eshanputra: Lord Shiva?s son
28. Gadadhara: One who has the mace as his weapon
29. Gajakarna: One who has eyes like an elephant
30. Gajanana: Elephant-Faced lord
31. Gajananeti: Elephant-Faced lord
32. Gajavakra: Trunk of the elephant
33. Gajavaktra: One who has mouth like an elephant
34. Ganadhakshya: Lord of all Ganas (Gods)
35. Ganadhyakshina: Leader of all the celestial bodies
36. Ganapati: Lord of all Ganas (Gods)
37. Gaurisuta: The son of Gauri (Parvati)
38. Gunina: One who is the master of all virtues
39. Haridra: One who is golden colored
40. Heramba: Mother?s Beloved son
41. Kapila: Yellowish-Brown coloured
42. Kaveesha: Master of poets
43. Krti: Lord of music
44. Kripalu: Merciful lord
45. Krishapingaksha: Yellowish-Brown eyed
46. Kshamakaram: The place of forgiveness
47. Kshipra: One who is easy to appease
48. Lambakarna: Large-Eared lords
49. Lambodara: The huge bellied lord
50. Mahabala: Enormously strong lord
51. Mahaganpati: Omnipotent and supreme lord
52. Maheshwaram: Lord of the universe
53. Mangalamurti: All auspicious lord
54. Manomay: Winner of hearts
55. Mrityunjaya: Conqueror of death
56. Mundakarama: Abode of happiness
57. Muktidaya: Bestower of eternal bliss
58. Mushikvahana: One who has mouse as charioteer
59. Nadapratithishta: One who appreciates and loves music
60. Namasthetu: Vanquisher of all evils and vices and sins
61. Nandana: Lord Shiva?s son
62. Nideeshwaram: Giver of wealth and treasures
63. Omkara: One who has the form of OM
64. Pitambara: One who has yellow-colored body
65. Pramoda: Lord of all abodes
66. Prathameshwara: First among all
67. Purush: The omnipotent personality
68. Rakta: One who has red-colored body
69. Rudrapriya: Beloved of lord Shiva
70. Sarvadevatman: Acceptor of all celestial offerings
71. Sarvasiddanta: Bestower of skills and wisdom
72. Sarvatman: Protector of the universe
73. Shambhavi: The son of Parvati
74. Shashivarnam: One who has a moon like complexion
75. Shoorpakarna: Large-eared Lord
76. Shuban: All auspicious lord
77. Shubhagunakanan: One who is the master of all virtues
78. Shweta: One who is as pure as the white colour
79. Siddhidhata: Bestower of success and accomplishments
80. Siddhipriya: Bestower of wishes and boons
81. Siddhivinayak: Bestower of success
82. Skandapurvaja: Elder brother of Skanda (Lord Kartik)
83. Sumukha: Auspicious face
84. Sureshwaram: Lord of all lords
85. Swaroop: Lover of beauty
86. Tarun: Ageless
87. Uddanda: Nemesis of evils and vices
88. Umaputra: The son of goddess Uma (Parvati)
89. Vakratunda: Curved trunk lord
90. Varaganapati: Bestower of boons
91. Varaprada: Granter of wishes and boons
92. Varadavinayaka: Bestower of Success
93. Veeraganapati: Heroic lord
94. Vidyavaridhi: God of wisdom
95. Vighnahara: Remover of obstacles
96. Vignaharta: Demolisher of obstacles
97. Vighnaraja: Lord of all hindrances
98. Vighnarajendra: Lord of all obstacles
99. Vighnavinashanaya: Destroyer of all obstacles and impediments
100. Vigneshwara: Lord of all obstacles
101. Vikat: Huge and gigantic
102. Vinayaka: Lord of all
103. Vishwamukha: Master of the universe
104. Vishwaraja: King of the world
105. Yagnakaya: Acceptor of all sacred and sacrificial offerings
106. Yashaskaram: Bestower of fame and fortune
107. Yashvasin: Beloved and ever popular lord
108. Yogadhipa: The lord of meditation
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Lord Ganesha and the Tulasi Leaves.
A Puranic Tale. Retold with additional information.
9 Jun 07 09:10:27 AM - 123 Views  comments rss:Â
Tags: Hindu Parables for young children. Hindu Religion Hindu Faith.
                               Â
Â
We are in the naimisharanya and the sages are assembled there. This time Shounaka and several other sages have also arrived there to hear the Puranas. It is noon. After having their lunch, the rishis are taking their rest, when in the afternoon Souti, the illustrious son of Romaharshana arrives there. Both father and son, belong to the suta class meaning they are raconteurs or ballard singers.
Â
 [Suta = the offspring of a brahmana mother and a kshatriya father]
Â
Souti (son of a suta, hence Souti) is requested by Shounaka and the new crop of sages to recite a story from the Puranas so that they can increase their knowledge.
Â
Being well versed in all the Puranas he begins to recite the Brahmavaivarta Purana which contains all the wisdom that one can find in the other Puranas. It has four parts and our present story is from the second part which is in the 'nature of gods and goddesses and the way in which they should be worshipped'.
Â
Parashurama is in Kailas and he is in a hurry to meet Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Unfortunately the Lord and his consort are taking rest and their first born Ganesha is guarding the gate to Kailas.Â
Â
"Satre Nagarum Pillai" (Please move a little)Â "I am in a bit of a hurry;Â let me go in and return quickly so that I can hasten home" so saying Parashurama pushes aside Ganesha.Â
Â
"I do not know who you are"... "But even if you are the representative of the mightiest of the mighty I am sorry you will have to wait."Â "I am standing guard here on their express orders"
Â
"Is that so? Since you are only a child I will tell you who I am. I am Parashurama - the destroyer of all the kshatriyas of this world. I am proceeding and stop me if you can."  Such arrogance!!
Â
There ensued a Dwandha Yudham (wrestling) between Ganesha and Parashurama and unable to withstand the onslaughts of Ganesha with his four hands and the trunk, Parashurama throws the Parashu at his tormentor. Now this axe, is a gift to Parashurama from Lord Shiva himself. So being a weapon from his father, the son could not deflect it completely. Instead of severing Ganesha's head, it broke Ganesha's left tusk.Â
Â
Ganesha's face is covered with blood and just then Parvathi and Parameshwara, disturbed in their sleep come to enquire what the commotion is all about. Seeing her son in distress, she counsels Parashurama "He can take care of countless warriors like you, but because of his self control he is soft and does not even hurt a fly."
Â
Parashurama, a true warrior, the world has ever seen, immediately worships, Ganesha with flowers, incense and other offerings but not tulasi (Basil)
Â
Why? Â Before I proceed further I need to digress here, to show you how the people on earth worship him and the praise they heap on him for the services that he renders to them.
Â
                                 Â
Â
"Vakratunda Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kurumeydeva Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada "
Â
Â
"O Lord Ganesha of Large Body, Curved Trunk, With the Brilliance of a Million Suns, Make All My Work Free Of Obstacles, Always."
"Mooshika Vahana Modhaga Hasta Shyamala Karna Vilambitha Sutra Vamana Rupa Maheshwara Putra Vigna Vinayaka Pada Namaste"
Â
"Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the god that protects his devotees from any obstacles ( vighnam ). Hence the name Vighneswara. He is also described as the Supreme Leader ( Vinayaka). Thus he is the master of knowledge and achievement.As Ekadanta, the Lord has limitless powers. As Heramba, he removes obstacles. As Lambodara, He protects all worlds. As Surpa Karna, He shows compassion by giving the highest knowledge. All these names for Lord Vinayaka, who is the Lord of all Lords."
Â
"Ganesha's Vehicle (Vahana) is the Mouse, symbolic of gnawing its way through everything, thus depicting the God's ability to cut through all obstacles".
Â
Swami Chinmayananda, describes his Pranavaswaroopam in the following words: The term omkÄrasvarÅ«pa ("Aum is his form") refers to this belief that he is the personification of the primal sound "AUM".
Â
"(O Lord Ganapati!) You are (the Trinity) Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesa. You are Indra. You are fire and air. You are the sun and the moon. You are Brahman. You are (the three worlds) Bhuloka, Antariksha-loka, and Swargaloka. You are Om. (that is to say, You are all this)."
Â
"Remover of all obstacles,Pranava Swaroopi,Embodiment of wisdom,Devata of Muladhara Chakra!O Lord Vinayaka,The bestower of happinessWho has Modaka in hand!O Elephant-headed Lord!Salutations unto Thee.Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha."
Â
In the meantime Narada, has also joined the crowd at naimisharanya and his curisoty is kindled. "Why, One should not offer the Tulasi leaves to Ganapathi as an offering?"
Â
Souti continues....
Â
One evening when the clime is pleasant, a most beautiful damsel, with all the 32 Samudrika Lakshanams, presents herself before Ganesha, on the banks of the river Ganges where HE is meditating. Prodding him, with the stem of a lotus flower, she utters: "I am Tulasi. I am the daughter of King Dharmadhvaja and I am also meditating to get a good husband. I am attracted by your strange appearance and I have chosen you as my husband." Â
Â
"Who Me?" is the immediate retort from Ganesha. "Listen woman, I cannot marry you. I am holding you in an equal position to that of my mother. Besides, I have no intention to get married. I think, it is foolish, to get married, as it brings a lot of unhappiness in one's life."
Â
Rebuffed, she curses Ganesha. "Whoever you are, since you did not accept me in marriage, I curse you that you will never remain a bachelor in your life."Â
Â
Ganesha loses his cool, and returns that curse with another curse. "For the affront that you showed me, I curse you that you will marry a Rakshasa, and then become a shrub."
Â
Whether it is puranic days or the present times, when a woman is outwitted, by a man, God or Mortal she immediately supplicates to him.
Â
When humbly, Tulasi approaches Ganesha for redemption from the curse, HE blesses her that she will be the most important ingredient in the offerings to Gods by mortals, and would be favoured by Narayana, in due course of time.  "But I will not accept either you,  your flowers or leaves."
Â
The Purana ends here. My story continues for a couple of more paragraphs.
Â
Tulsi ( Ocimum Sanctum)
Â
Â
"Leaves, flowers, fruits, root, branches and the main stem and everything about Tulsi is sacred; even the soil under the Tulsi plant is holy. In Sanskrit Tulsi is known by many names, including Surasah, Ajaka, Parnasa, Manjari, Haripriya (the beloved of Lord Vishnu) and Bhutagni (the dstroyer of demon). Hindu denominations defer in how they regard the Tulsi plants as the Goddess. Generally worshipers of Lord Vishnu revere Tulsi as Lakshmi or Vrinda, devotees of Lord Rama honor Tulsi as Sita , while followers of Lord Krishna vernerate Tulsi as Vrinda, Radha and Rukmani ."
Â
Commonly called sacred or holy basil, it is a principal herb of Ayurveda, the ancient traditional holistic health system of India.
Â
"Tulsi has, for thousands of years, remained one of the most cherished of India's sacred healing plants. Furthermore, in addition to being a pillar of the traditional Ayurvedic holistic health system, Tulsi continues to be spiritually honored daily by millions. So, it really can't be much of a surprise to discover that modern science is accumulating evidence in support of many of the traditional health promotion and disease treatment uses of Tulsi."
Â
from the Introduction to Tulsi Mother Medicine of Nature by Dr.Narendra Singh and Dr. Yamuna Hoette. by Dr. Miller, who is a former Director of Research for the Canadian National Department of Health and Welfare.
Â
In South India, Lord Ganesha, is credited with two wives, Anima and Mahima, the personification of the Ashta Sidhis. In the North, it is Riddhi and Siddhi, the consorts of Ganesha or Buddhi (intellect) and Siddhi(achievement).
Â
The Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai is very famous among aspiring intellectuals, because here Lord Ganapathi, bestows intellect on whosoever prays to him.
Â
GANPATI BAPPA MORIYA
Â
Â
Ekadanthaaya VidhmaheeVaakrathundaaya DheemahiThanno Dhantihih Prachodayaat
Â
I am personally indebted to those unnamed contributors whose works has made this blog meaningful.
Â
Rajaputhran.Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
 Leave a comment Comments (10) Perma link Email this post
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{
if(istopadv != 0)
{
document.getElementById('mptopdiv').innerHTML=document.getElementById('hidmptopdiv').innerHTML;
document.getElementById('hidmptopdiv').innerHTML="";
}
}
catch(err){}
Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Advertise with Us
You Your Network Advertise Sulekha
© 1998-2007 Copyright Sulekha.com., All Rights Reserved.
A Puranic Tale. Retold with additional information.
9 Jun 07 09:10:27 AM - 123 Views  comments rss:Â
Tags: Hindu Parables for young children. Hindu Religion Hindu Faith.
                               Â
Â
We are in the naimisharanya and the sages are assembled there. This time Shounaka and several other sages have also arrived there to hear the Puranas. It is noon. After having their lunch, the rishis are taking their rest, when in the afternoon Souti, the illustrious son of Romaharshana arrives there. Both father and son, belong to the suta class meaning they are raconteurs or ballard singers.
Â
 [Suta = the offspring of a brahmana mother and a kshatriya father]
Â
Souti (son of a suta, hence Souti) is requested by Shounaka and the new crop of sages to recite a story from the Puranas so that they can increase their knowledge.
Â
Being well versed in all the Puranas he begins to recite the Brahmavaivarta Purana which contains all the wisdom that one can find in the other Puranas. It has four parts and our present story is from the second part which is in the 'nature of gods and goddesses and the way in which they should be worshipped'.
Â
Parashurama is in Kailas and he is in a hurry to meet Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Unfortunately the Lord and his consort are taking rest and their first born Ganesha is guarding the gate to Kailas.Â
Â
"Satre Nagarum Pillai" (Please move a little)Â "I am in a bit of a hurry;Â let me go in and return quickly so that I can hasten home" so saying Parashurama pushes aside Ganesha.Â
Â
"I do not know who you are"... "But even if you are the representative of the mightiest of the mighty I am sorry you will have to wait."Â "I am standing guard here on their express orders"
Â
"Is that so? Since you are only a child I will tell you who I am. I am Parashurama - the destroyer of all the kshatriyas of this world. I am proceeding and stop me if you can."  Such arrogance!!
Â
There ensued a Dwandha Yudham (wrestling) between Ganesha and Parashurama and unable to withstand the onslaughts of Ganesha with his four hands and the trunk, Parashurama throws the Parashu at his tormentor. Now this axe, is a gift to Parashurama from Lord Shiva himself. So being a weapon from his father, the son could not deflect it completely. Instead of severing Ganesha's head, it broke Ganesha's left tusk.Â
Â
Ganesha's face is covered with blood and just then Parvathi and Parameshwara, disturbed in their sleep come to enquire what the commotion is all about. Seeing her son in distress, she counsels Parashurama "He can take care of countless warriors like you, but because of his self control he is soft and does not even hurt a fly."
Â
Parashurama, a true warrior, the world has ever seen, immediately worships, Ganesha with flowers, incense and other offerings but not tulasi (Basil)
Â
Why? Â Before I proceed further I need to digress here, to show you how the people on earth worship him and the praise they heap on him for the services that he renders to them.
Â
                                 Â
Â
"Vakratunda Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kurumeydeva Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada "
Â
Â
"O Lord Ganesha of Large Body, Curved Trunk, With the Brilliance of a Million Suns, Make All My Work Free Of Obstacles, Always."
"Mooshika Vahana Modhaga Hasta Shyamala Karna Vilambitha Sutra Vamana Rupa Maheshwara Putra Vigna Vinayaka Pada Namaste"
Â
"Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the god that protects his devotees from any obstacles ( vighnam ). Hence the name Vighneswara. He is also described as the Supreme Leader ( Vinayaka). Thus he is the master of knowledge and achievement.As Ekadanta, the Lord has limitless powers. As Heramba, he removes obstacles. As Lambodara, He protects all worlds. As Surpa Karna, He shows compassion by giving the highest knowledge. All these names for Lord Vinayaka, who is the Lord of all Lords."
Â
"Ganesha's Vehicle (Vahana) is the Mouse, symbolic of gnawing its way through everything, thus depicting the God's ability to cut through all obstacles".
Â
Swami Chinmayananda, describes his Pranavaswaroopam in the following words: The term omkÄrasvarÅ«pa ("Aum is his form") refers to this belief that he is the personification of the primal sound "AUM".
Â
"(O Lord Ganapati!) You are (the Trinity) Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesa. You are Indra. You are fire and air. You are the sun and the moon. You are Brahman. You are (the three worlds) Bhuloka, Antariksha-loka, and Swargaloka. You are Om. (that is to say, You are all this)."
Â
"Remover of all obstacles,Pranava Swaroopi,Embodiment of wisdom,Devata of Muladhara Chakra!O Lord Vinayaka,The bestower of happinessWho has Modaka in hand!O Elephant-headed Lord!Salutations unto Thee.Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha."
Â
In the meantime Narada, has also joined the crowd at naimisharanya and his curisoty is kindled. "Why, One should not offer the Tulasi leaves to Ganapathi as an offering?"
Â
Souti continues....
Â
One evening when the clime is pleasant, a most beautiful damsel, with all the 32 Samudrika Lakshanams, presents herself before Ganesha, on the banks of the river Ganges where HE is meditating. Prodding him, with the stem of a lotus flower, she utters: "I am Tulasi. I am the daughter of King Dharmadhvaja and I am also meditating to get a good husband. I am attracted by your strange appearance and I have chosen you as my husband." Â
Â
"Who Me?" is the immediate retort from Ganesha. "Listen woman, I cannot marry you. I am holding you in an equal position to that of my mother. Besides, I have no intention to get married. I think, it is foolish, to get married, as it brings a lot of unhappiness in one's life."
Â
Rebuffed, she curses Ganesha. "Whoever you are, since you did not accept me in marriage, I curse you that you will never remain a bachelor in your life."Â
Â
Ganesha loses his cool, and returns that curse with another curse. "For the affront that you showed me, I curse you that you will marry a Rakshasa, and then become a shrub."
Â
Whether it is puranic days or the present times, when a woman is outwitted, by a man, God or Mortal she immediately supplicates to him.
Â
When humbly, Tulasi approaches Ganesha for redemption from the curse, HE blesses her that she will be the most important ingredient in the offerings to Gods by mortals, and would be favoured by Narayana, in due course of time.  "But I will not accept either you,  your flowers or leaves."
Â
The Purana ends here. My story continues for a couple of more paragraphs.
Â
Tulsi ( Ocimum Sanctum)
Â
Â
"Leaves, flowers, fruits, root, branches and the main stem and everything about Tulsi is sacred; even the soil under the Tulsi plant is holy. In Sanskrit Tulsi is known by many names, including Surasah, Ajaka, Parnasa, Manjari, Haripriya (the beloved of Lord Vishnu) and Bhutagni (the dstroyer of demon). Hindu denominations defer in how they regard the Tulsi plants as the Goddess. Generally worshipers of Lord Vishnu revere Tulsi as Lakshmi or Vrinda, devotees of Lord Rama honor Tulsi as Sita , while followers of Lord Krishna vernerate Tulsi as Vrinda, Radha and Rukmani ."
Â
Commonly called sacred or holy basil, it is a principal herb of Ayurveda, the ancient traditional holistic health system of India.
Â
"Tulsi has, for thousands of years, remained one of the most cherished of India's sacred healing plants. Furthermore, in addition to being a pillar of the traditional Ayurvedic holistic health system, Tulsi continues to be spiritually honored daily by millions. So, it really can't be much of a surprise to discover that modern science is accumulating evidence in support of many of the traditional health promotion and disease treatment uses of Tulsi."
Â
from the Introduction to Tulsi Mother Medicine of Nature by Dr.Narendra Singh and Dr. Yamuna Hoette. by Dr. Miller, who is a former Director of Research for the Canadian National Department of Health and Welfare.
Â
In South India, Lord Ganesha, is credited with two wives, Anima and Mahima, the personification of the Ashta Sidhis. In the North, it is Riddhi and Siddhi, the consorts of Ganesha or Buddhi (intellect) and Siddhi(achievement).
Â
The Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai is very famous among aspiring intellectuals, because here Lord Ganapathi, bestows intellect on whosoever prays to him.
Â
GANPATI BAPPA MORIYA
Â
Â
Ekadanthaaya VidhmaheeVaakrathundaaya DheemahiThanno Dhantihih Prachodayaat
Â
I am personally indebted to those unnamed contributors whose works has made this blog meaningful.
Â
Rajaputhran.Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
 Leave a comment Comments (10) Perma link Email this post
try
{
if(istopadv != 0)
{
document.getElementById('mptopdiv').innerHTML=document.getElementById('hidmptopdiv').innerHTML;
document.getElementById('hidmptopdiv').innerHTML="";
}
}
catch(err){}
Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Advertise with Us
You Your Network Advertise Sulekha
© 1998-2007 Copyright Sulekha.com., All Rights Reserved.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
GANESHA, PERHAPS, is the most adorable God in the Hindu pantheon. Ganesha is the Lord who dispels all obstacles, he is worshipped by everyone .
The sages of Hindu lorewere inspired by the symbolic ideals of this elephant-faced god.
The Mandukya Upanishad describes four planes of psychophysical existence - the waking (jagrats), dream (swapna), deep sleep (sushupti), and liberation (moksha) in detail. The third mantra describes the form of `Brahman', which presides over the waking state of the soul as residing in the right eye. Ganesha is also described as the one who makes the outside world known to the soul. This form is called Vaishvanara and Ganesha has seven limbs, four hands, two legs, and 19 faces (the middle one being that of an elephant).
A text called Mahayoga, says that Ganesha, attained his elephant form by meditating in Vaishvanara form. The description of Ganesha in another religious text is particularly interesting. Ganesha, in the form of a child, is depicted as resting on a lotus with a thousand petals, in an ocean of sugarcane juice. Decked in various ornaments, he has a third eye radiating brilliance in all directions. Sama Veda and other sacred texts, sing the glory of Ganesha, symbolising his mastery over all forms of knowledgeThe reference to Ashta Siddhis and the lotus hints in the Tantric texts such as Sharada Tilaka Tanta and Prapancha Sarasangraha. The Ashta Siddhis in female forms are said to be consorts of Ganesha according to the Tantric texts. Though the Tantric texts designate Ganesha to Mooladhara Chakra, sage Mudgala makes him the lord of the highest stage of Kundalini. Sage Valmiki has described Ganesha as "the lord of the intellect and poet of poets".
The belief is that sage Veda Vyasa dictated to Ganesha, the epic- Mahabharata, who used his tusk as a pen. This symbolises a sacrifice of the greatest order.
The 15th Century Jain scholar, Vardhamanasoori, has prescribed a mode to install Ganesha's image in Jain temples. His work, Pratisthavidhi, describes Ganesha as having two, four, six, nine, 18 or 108 arms, with mudras and modakas. Sadhana Mala, a Buddhist work, depicts Ganesha with 12 arms with axe, arrows, sword, and other weapons. Ganesha has always been popular in Southeast Asian countries where Buddhism has held sway. Mahayana Buddhism, popular in Tibet, does not consider Ganesha a deity, but is considered to be a powerful guardian against evil
The sages of Hindu lorewere inspired by the symbolic ideals of this elephant-faced god.
The Mandukya Upanishad describes four planes of psychophysical existence - the waking (jagrats), dream (swapna), deep sleep (sushupti), and liberation (moksha) in detail. The third mantra describes the form of `Brahman', which presides over the waking state of the soul as residing in the right eye. Ganesha is also described as the one who makes the outside world known to the soul. This form is called Vaishvanara and Ganesha has seven limbs, four hands, two legs, and 19 faces (the middle one being that of an elephant).
A text called Mahayoga, says that Ganesha, attained his elephant form by meditating in Vaishvanara form. The description of Ganesha in another religious text is particularly interesting. Ganesha, in the form of a child, is depicted as resting on a lotus with a thousand petals, in an ocean of sugarcane juice. Decked in various ornaments, he has a third eye radiating brilliance in all directions. Sama Veda and other sacred texts, sing the glory of Ganesha, symbolising his mastery over all forms of knowledgeThe reference to Ashta Siddhis and the lotus hints in the Tantric texts such as Sharada Tilaka Tanta and Prapancha Sarasangraha. The Ashta Siddhis in female forms are said to be consorts of Ganesha according to the Tantric texts. Though the Tantric texts designate Ganesha to Mooladhara Chakra, sage Mudgala makes him the lord of the highest stage of Kundalini. Sage Valmiki has described Ganesha as "the lord of the intellect and poet of poets".
The belief is that sage Veda Vyasa dictated to Ganesha, the epic- Mahabharata, who used his tusk as a pen. This symbolises a sacrifice of the greatest order.
The 15th Century Jain scholar, Vardhamanasoori, has prescribed a mode to install Ganesha's image in Jain temples. His work, Pratisthavidhi, describes Ganesha as having two, four, six, nine, 18 or 108 arms, with mudras and modakas. Sadhana Mala, a Buddhist work, depicts Ganesha with 12 arms with axe, arrows, sword, and other weapons. Ganesha has always been popular in Southeast Asian countries where Buddhism has held sway. Mahayana Buddhism, popular in Tibet, does not consider Ganesha a deity, but is considered to be a powerful guardian against evil
GANESHA WORSHIP
"Now there are various ways people worship Shri Ganesha, but there is a simple way to remember him and sit before his photograph and take vibrations from him. That's the best way you can balance yourself. There are so many worries; there are so many struggles you have. All these can be neutralized by Shri Ganesha. Though innocent, He is extremely clever and when he comes to your help, you are amazed. How he works it out and how he removes all the hurdles and all the worries from you. So this is the most important deity we have, though it’s a very simple deity. This Mooladhara chakra is very very complicated. It is one of the most complicated chakras I think, because it has many waves, it has many compartments. We can say which all the time are vibrating and oscillating. So to steady down these you should try to be absolutely dedicated to Shri Ganesha." (25.09.1999, Italy)
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Mooladhara as the abode of Gauri - Why Gauri produced Shri Ganesha The Qualities of Shri Ganesha The Blessings of Shri Ganesha The Ganesha Principle Mooladhara as the abode of Gauri - Why Gauri produced Shri Ganesha Gauri is the mother of Shri Ganesha and She produced Shri Ganesha because She was having a bath and to protect Her chastity She produced Shri Ganesha. In the same way, Kundalini is the Gauri and we have got Ganesha sitting in the Mooladhara chakra. So we have got Mooladhara as the abode of Gauri, of Kundalini, and the protection of the Kundalini is done by Shri Ganesha. As you know, Shri Ganesha is the deity, which is for our innocence. Only Shri Ganesha could be there in that picture because, as you know, the pelvic plexus looks after all the excretory functions and it is Shri Ganesha only who can really stay there without getting dirtied by the surroundings. He's so pure. He's so innocent. While the Kundalini is the virgin, the virgin mother of Shri Ganesha, people have started talking against Mary by saying there was something wrong, "How could a virgin get a child?" Because we do not understand that it is God and in the area of God anything is possible. They're above all these things and they can create anything, and in any way, Ganesha had to be born out of a virgin because He was so pure. So Kundalini has to be supported by Shri Ganesha. If Shri Ganesha is weak, then Kundalini cannot be supported. Shri Ganesha has to support Her in the awakening part, first of all. When the Kundalini is getting awakened Shri Ganesha stops all the functions that it has to work. All the functions are stopped so that, you must have seen, I sit for nine hours, ten hours sometimes;I don't get up because all functions of Shri Ganesha, everything stops when the Kundalini is rising. She's fully supported and looked after by Shri Ganesha. (08.04.1991, New Zealand) The Qualities of Shri Ganesha – to please his Mother There are so many qualities for Shri Ganesha, one of them is that he is a child and he is very humble. He is very playful and very interesting. Despite his size, he is very light weight because he can sit on a small little mouse. He doesn't try to show off. His Vahana (Vehicle) is very simple, the smallest creature, a mouse. With this mouse he expresses his own power that he doesn't need any other vehicle. His vehicle is his simplicity; he penetrates and affects the lives of people through very simple sweet methods. In Sahaja Yoga we have to realize how to impress others. In Sahaja Yoga nobody will be impressed if you have a very great car or if you have a wealthy expression of your life. What impresses people is the simple expression of your love through certain gestures, presents, and behaviours. I have seen people who are very sweet, who express themselves in a very innocent, simple, child like manner that goes into the heart of the people and then other Sahaja Yogis describe to me how they express their appreciation of others. It is very sweet, extremely loving and delicate; all that is like how a child plays around, how he amuses you and tries to do things for you, because they are not wise enough. They misinterpret. They want to say Mother this, that. It is not good. They try to show off themselves by saying that we have understood Mother very well. It’s not easy to understand. The only thing is, try and understand yourself. I am like a mirror for you. When you look into the mirror, you cannot understand the mirror, but you can understand yourself. This is a very simple thing, that's what is the quality of Shri Ganesha, that he knows what this Mother will like. He does everything that is good for him because by that he is pleasing his Mother. His complete dedication is to the Mother. He is not bothered with other Dieties. He fought with all of them. He goes to them through the understanding of Mother and respects them through the understanding of the Mother. But some people still cannot do that. They still stick on to a Diety they have been worshipping. Some sort of an ideology they have been having. They are not fully in connection with me. He is in connection with his Mother. To Him She is everything. She is the source of knowledge, joy and truth. He doesn't have to look to anybody else. It looks very egoistical to say these things in modern times. The other quality of Shri Ganesha is that he always tries to please his Mother. He doesn't want to do anything that will make her unhappy. One has to learn the respect of the Mother of Shri Ganesha. In that I find people are little over-smart. If I say something, immediately they will correct me. This smartness is not very helpful. (21.07.1993, Germany) The Blessings of Shri GaneshaWisdom The first blessing of Shri Ganesha, which is, I think the highest, is wisdom. That we learn what is good and what is bad for us, what is constructive and destructive, what should we do to achieve our self-realization. Those people who have got wisdom are very lucky people. But wisdom comes from no source but your own understanding of life. When a person starts thinking: "Why am I doing such and such a thing? What is the effect of my doing it? What is the result of my behaviour? Is it good or bad for me?" Then wisdom comes. Even if some people know that something is bad for them, still they do not have the power to control themselves. The reason is that the power of wisdom is not there. A person is wise who does not only know what is right and wrong, but also knows very well that his own powers are - not to do something wrong. He just does not do it. Wisdom is a complete power within ourselves by which we try nothing. It just spontaneously works through us and we do things which are proper and right. One may say: "Mother, what is the source of this Wisdom?" The source is Shri Ganesha, who is the giver of Wisdom. Once Shri Ganesha is insulted and he disappears behind the clouds of ignorance, then people start doing things which are unwise. (21.07.1993, Germany) Innocence Another power that Shri Ganesha has is that he generates innocence within you. We respect our innocence and our chastity; we respect a life style which is decent. In every scripture it is written that we should dress up in a way that is decent and decorous and our body should not in any way express an indecent feeling or behaviour on our part. This is the reason why in Sahaja Yoga we have to be very particular how we dress up. Our dress should be decent, dignified and in no way show vulgarity. Innocence is the most important thing a human being should have and it is the complete decoration of a human being one should look after one’s own chastity and morality. In some countries they think that chastity is meant only for women and not for men. It is meant for both. Like men trying to force women to be chaste and they themselves are not chaste, the women will not be chaste. They may try to be out of fear, but if they get a chance they will take to a life style which is wrong. They feel if men can do it, why not us. So the whole society has to take a very decent, decorous and dignified lifestyle. It's not only in dress but in day to day life, otherwise a kind of insecurity starts working among men and women and too much of a complicated life style starts. (21.07.1993, Germany) The Ganesha Principle We have to be wise and see what is destroying us and our inner being. For Sahaja Yogis it is very important. Because if there is a cloth or Sari which is blown off by the wind, even if you can hold it on one corner, then the whole thing can be saved. And this is what has to happen actually to the world when Sahaja Yogis will hold the Sari or Universe with their Wisdom and firm faith in Sahaja Yoga. Otherwise they can be blown off also. If they are not rightly placed or grounded, if they are not fixed to their own enlightened faith of Sahaja Yoga, they can be blown off with this wind which is there to torture and destroy the whole world. The responsibility of Sahaja Yoga is very important that their Ganesha principle should be alright. If it is not alright then the whole of Sahaja Yoga movement can collapse. Both ladies and gents should try to put their Shri Ganesha in a very respectable position in their life style. That should be the highest and the most important thing, everyday we should remember that we are very much blessed by Shri Ganesha to get our self realization. (21.07.1993, Germany)
This month we are showing a painting by a yogini from Montreal named Louise Ruelland. It is a sweet autumn painting called 'Amitié' which means Friendship in English. To see another painting by Louise (which depicts the great Canadian season known as winter) check the archives of the Sahaja Path issue from December 2004.
To see the full painting, click here N
Notes: - All excerpts are taken directly from the Founder of Sahaja Yoga, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. (08.04.1991 - Auckland, New Zealand – Gauri Puja talk, 21.07.1993 - Berlin, Germany – Shri Ganesha Puja, 25.09.1999 - Cabella, Italy – Shri Ganesha Puja)- This month's artwork represents Ganesha Dancing. To see the full images, click here N
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Meditations on Muladhara Chakra
by Kalkinath
Muladhara can be translated as "root-support". This in itself tells us something about the nature of this chakra. It is the "root" as in the root of a tree. Where did this root come from? Who planted it, and in what does it grow?
GENERAL SYMBOLISM OF THE CHAKRA
The following is a list of the symbols which make up the chakra - they are often given, but rarely explained.
4 Petals
8 Arrows
Yellow Square - Tattva of Earth
Presiding Deities: Red Dakini,
Animal: King of Elephants
Triangle, enclosing Lingam & Coiled Kundalini
Bija Mantra: LAM
The following verses from the "Sat-Cakra-Nirupana Tantra" give a great deal more insight into the nature of the chakra.
THE VERSES
1.
Now we come to the Adhara Lotus. It is attached to the mouth of the Susumna, and is placed below the genitals and above the anus. It has four petals of crimson hue. It’s head hangs downwards. On its petals are the four letters from Va to Sa, of the shining colour of gold.
2.
In this is the square region of Prthivi, surrounded by eight shining spears. It is of a shining yellow colour and beautiful like lightning, as is also the Bija of Dhara which is within.
3.
Ornamented with four arms and mounted on the King of Elephants, He carries on His lap the child Creator, resplendent like the young Sun, who has four lustrous arms, and the wealth of whose lotus-face is fourfold.
4.
Here dwells the Devi Dakini by name; her four arms shine with beauty, and her eyes are brilliant red. She is resplendent like the lustre of many Suns rising at one and the same time. She is the carrier of the revelation of the ever-pure Intelligence.
5.
Near the mouth of the Nadi called Vajra, and in the pericarp there constantly shines the beautifully luminous and soft, lightning-like triangle which is Kamarupa, and known as Traipura. There is always and everywhere the Vayu called Kandarpa, who is of a deeper red than the Bandhujiva flower, and is the Lord of Beings and resplendent like ten million suns.
6.
Inside it is Svayambhu in His Linga-form, beautiful like molten gold, with His head downwards. He is revealed by Knowledge and Meditation; and is of the shape and colour of a new leaf. As the cool rays of the lightning and of the full moon charm, so does His beauty. The Deva who resides happily here as in Kasi is in forms like a whirlpool.
7.
Over it shines the sleeping Kundalini, fine as the fibre of the lotus-stalk. She is the world-bewilderer, gently covering the mouth of Brahma-dvara by Her own. Like the spiral of the conch-shell, Her shining snake-like form goes three and a half times round Siva, and Her lustre is as that of a strong flash of young strong lightning. Her sweet murmur is like the indistinct hum of swarms of love-mad bees. She produces melodious poetry and Bhanda and all other compositions in prose or verse in sequence or otherwise in Samskrta, Prakrta and other languages. It is She who maintains all the beings of the world by means of inspiration and expiration, and shines in the cavity of the root Lotus like a chain of brilliant lights.
8.
Within it reigns dominant Para, the Sri-Paramesvari, the Awakener of eternal knowledge. She is the Omnipotent Kala who is wonderfully skilful to create, and is subtler than the subtlest. She is the receptacle of that continuous stream of ambrosia which flows from the Eternal Bliss. By Her radiance it is that the whole of this Universe and this Cauldron is illumined.
9.
By meditating thus on Her who shines within the Mula-Cakra, with the lustre of ten million Suns, a man becomes Lord of Speech and King among men, and an Adept in all kinds of learning. He becomes ever free from all diseases, and his inmost Spirit becomes full of great gladness. Pure of disposition by his deep and musical words, he serves the foremost of the Devas.
SUMMARY
The Muladhara is a Lotus of four red petals. In the pericarp is the square dhara-mandala surrounded by 8 spears and within it and in the lower part is the Dhara-Bija (Lam) who has four arms and is seated upon the Elephant-King, Airavata. He is of yellow colour, and holds the thunderbolt (Vajra) in his hands. Inside the bindu of the Dhara-Bija is the Child-Brahma, who is red in colour and has four hands with which he holds the staff, the gourd, the rudraksa rosary, and makes the gesture which dispells fear. He has four faces. Alternatively, Ganesha may be understood as Lord of the Senses.
In the pericarp there is a Red Lotus on which is the presiding Divinity of the Chakra, Sakti Dakini. In the pericarp is also the lightning-like triangle inside which are Kama-Vayu and Kama-Bija, both of which are red. Above this is the Svayambhu-Linga, and above and around this Linga is Sakti-Kundalini coiled three and a half times.
The Muladhara reflects the principle of Solidity.
BODY ALCHEMY
As we have seen, the symbolism of the Muladhara Chakra alone is extremely complex - I have only touched on some of the basic elements of it.
What I would like now to do is present some ideas for working with the Muladhara Chakra magically.
Firstly, there is the matter of Paying Attention to the Body.
Relaxation Exercises, breathing techniques, calm meditation, simple yoga asanas, T’ai Chi - all are useful for stilling the mind, loosing oneself from external distractions and learning to be aware of our immediate physical presence from one moment to the next.
Secondly, there is the matter of Earthly Wisdom
Ganesha can be understood as the ‘Guardian of the Threshold’ of the Chakra. As such, he can be invoked as the Guru of the Biogram.
Pete Carroll, in an early edition of Liber Null, described the Biogram as:
"....the instruction manual for the human body. Few people
trouble to consult it. It says simply that my body and everyone else's
body needs freedom from danger, food, shelter, warmth, sex and
transcendance. Transcendance, the urge to union with something greater
is variously satisfied by seeking love in a partner or in humanitarian
action or by seeking truth and knowledge in mysticism, magic, science
or the arts.
Our whole culture is shot through with logograms which, by exageration
and perversion, nullify the biogram.
In order to liberate himself the magician must first feel his way back
to the biogram for it is that which is more wise and trustworthy than
all the sages. There is more wisdom in one's body than the average
library."
Thirdly, there is the matter of the Senses
Learning to make effective use of one’s senses is a primary requisite for magical development. The Muladhara Chakra is concerned with Earth - with our immediate physical surroundings. Just as paying attention to body sensations is important, so too is paying attention to our external environment through smell, touch, taste, hearing, sight.
Fourth, there is the matter of the Shakti of the Chakra.
Meditate upon the Red Dakini who is the Shakti of the Muladhara. Visualise her as separate to yourself. Place her within your heart. Seek union with her in whatsoever manner you choose.
The Red Dakini is the Queen, or in another sense, the ‘doorkeeper’ of this chakra - the presiding deity of this region or zone. By meditating on her, as part of Yoga practice, one acquires Knowledge of the chakra.
"Meditate on her, the red, the red-eyed Dakini in the Muladhara, who strikes terror into the hearts of the unillumined, who holds in her two right hands the Spear and Skull-staff, and in her two left hands the sword and a drinking-cup filled with wine. She is fierce in temper and shows her fierce teeth. She crushes the whole host of enemies. She is plump of body and fond of rice pudding. It is thus that she be meditated upon by those who desire immortality."
Fifth, there is the matter of the 3 principles:
To recap, these are Iccha - Will; Jnana - Knowledge; Kriya - Action.
These three are not abstract concepts but shaktis themselves, and in turn, each has their own subsidiary shaktis.
Learn to integrate the action of these shaktis within your own life.
Sixth, there is the matter of Kama - desire.
Work on mastering your desires. This is probably a lifetimes’ work in itself.
Kama is one of the Universal Principles, or Visvadevas. In the Artharva Deva, Lust or Kama is given as the supreme divinity - the impeller of creation. "Lust was born first. Neither gods nor Ancestors nor men can equal him."
Lust is said to be self-born or unborn, springing from the heart of Bramha or from the Primeval Waters. Kama is the presiding deity of the mind. He is pictured as a proud adolescent, riding a parrot. He has two or eight arms. He holds a bow made of sugar-cane, the bowstring being a line of bees; his five arrows are made of five fragrant flowers which inspire lust. On his red banner is the dolphin and he is attended by heavenly dancers, the Asparas (Essences) and celestial musicians, the gandharvas (Fragrances).
Kama is worshipped by Yogis, for he alone, when pleased, can free the mind from desire. It is not pleasure, but desire - attachment that fetters. As the Gopala-uttara-tapini-Upanisad has it: "The sage partakes of sensual pleasures as they occur, with a detached mind, and does not become addicted to desire."
Seventh, there is the Matter of Shiva.
Meditate upon Shiva in his aspect of the Great Yogi or Ascetic - self-contained and untouched by the play of the world.
Eighth, there is the matter of Kundalini-Shakti
Kundalini-Shakti is everywhere. It is not so much a matter of awakening something which lies ‘dormant’, but of becoming aware of her presence in every aspect of creation. Take enjoyment in simple pleasures.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Maha Vallabha Ganapathi Mantras
Šuklãm Baradharam VishnumŠaši Varnam Chaturbhujam Prasanna Vadanam DhyãyetSarva Vighnopa Šãntaye
Dhyãnam
Vande Mahã Ganapatim Madanãri SoonumVãmoru Samstha Vanithã BhujaVeshtitãngam Valleeša Poorvaja MabheeshtadamÚritãnãmVãneepati Pramukha DevaGanãrchiãngrhim Leelabajam Dãdimam Veena ŠãliGunjãkshaSooktrakam Dadhaduchishtha Nãmãyam Ganeša :Pãtumechaka :
WORSHIP OF MAHA VALLABHA GANAPATI
OM GAM GANAPATAYAE NAMAHA
With this prayer, may all your works be attended with victory and success.Lord Ganeša is the most fascinating, widely known aspect of God. Ganeša is the "Son of God," or that which you call Christ in another story. He is the ocean of wisdom (vidya vaaridhi). He blesses us with illumined intellect (buddhi). He is the bestower of supernatural powers (siddhi). He is the embodiment of all sacred blessings (mangala murthi). He is ill-pervading spirit, all-powerful and radiant like millions of suns. Children worship Ganeša for success in their education. People pray to Lord Ganeša for the blessings of creative intelligence, success in their business and in their lives.
In all world religious, the Trinity is represented through A-U-M. AH-OO-MM, or OM. It is the beginning, middle and end of all languages. That OM is Ganeša. He is the son of Shiva, one among the Hindu Trinity of Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva, or the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.
Ganeša Mantrãs
Ganeša mantras are siddhi mantras. Each mantra contains certain specific powers of Lord Ganeša. When chanted with the proper pranayama (rhythmic breathing) and sincere devotion, they will yield good results.
In general, Ganeša mantras will ward off all evil and bless the devotee with abundance, prudence and success. Evil spirits date not enter the home or the mind of the devotee where Ganeša mantras are recited. Some such mantras are given below for the spiritual benefit of the readers.
One more point to remember is that one should bathe or wash the limbs before sitting for repetition of the mantra. Also, one should do three or more pranayama before beginning the mantra. The minimum repetition of the mantra should be one full rosary or 108 times. When this is done at a rigid hour and place regularly for 48 days, it becomes an “upaasana" which means intense meditation which will yield siddhi or spiritual powers.
The warning given is that one should use those powers only for healing the sick and other such selfless actions for the benefit of mankind. These powers should not be misused. Misuse of power may bring the curse of the deity.
1.
OM GAM GANAPATAYAE NAMAHA
This is a mantra from Ganapati Upanishad. One may always use it before beginning a journey, a new course in school, new career or job, or before entering into business so that impediments are removed and your endeavor may be crowned with success.
2.
OM NAMO BHAGAVATE GAJÃNANÃYA NAMAHA
This is a devotional mantra personifying the all-pervading consciousness of Ganesha. This mantra is very efficacious to have the darshan of Ganesha or to feel his immediate presence as a person.
3.
OM ŠRI GANEŠÃYA NAMAHA
This mantra is usually taught to all children for their good education. It increases their memory power and they become successful in their examinations. Of course, people of any age may use this mantra when taking courses in a school or university and for success in attaining their degree.
4.
OM GAM GANAPATAYE VAKRATUNDÃYA HUM
This is a very powerful mantra as discussed in the Ganesha Puraana. When something is not working properly, individually or universally, nationally or internationally, or when the minds of the people get curved and negative, the attention of Ganesha may be drawn by this mantra to straighten their ways.
The HUM symbolizes "Delay no more, my Lord, in straightening the paths of the curve-minded ones." This mantra is used many times in the Ganesha Puraana to curb the atrocities of cruel demons.
In addition, this mantra could also be used for healing any spinal deficiency such a curvature of the spine or curved limbs. Dedicate 1008 repetitions of this holy word to straighten and heal such deficiencies.
5.
OM KSHIPRA PRASÃDÃYA NAMAHA
That kshipra means instantaneous, If some danger or something is coming your way and you don't knew how to get rid of that trouble, with true devotion, practice this mantra for quick blessing.
6.
OM ŠREEM HREEM KLEEM GLAUM GAMGANAPATAYE VARA VARADA SARVAJANAME VAŠAMANÃYA SWÃHÃ
There are several bija (seed) mantras in this mantra. Among other things, it means "Shower Your blessings, I offer my ego as an oblation."
7.
OM SUMUKHÃYA NAMAHA
This mantra has a lot of meaning, but to make it simple, it mews you will be always very beautiful in soul, in spirit, in face, everything. By meditating on that mantra, very pleasing manners and a beauty comes on you. Along with that comes peace which constantly dances in your eyes, and the words which you speak am all filled with that power of love.
8.
OM AEKADANTÃYA NAMAHA
Aekadanta refers to one tusk in the elephant face, which means God broke the duality and made you to have a one-pointed mind. Whoever has that oneness of mind and single-minded devotion will achieve everything.
9.
OM KAPILÃYA NAMAHA
Kapila means; that you are able to give color therapy. You are able to create colors around yourself and around others, bathe them in that color and heal them.
As per the mantra you create, so will you create the colors. Another meaning is "wish cow," the "Cow of plenty." It means that whatever you wish, that comes true. There is a wish-cow inside you. Whatever you wish, especially for healing others, comes true immediately.
10.
OM GAJAKARNAKÃYA NAMAHA
The cars; of Ganesha, the elephant, are constantly fanning, which means people may talk a lot, but you are not receiving inside anything other than that which is important.
It also means that you can sit anywhere and tune this cosmic television (the body) with seven channels (chakras) and all 72,000 nadis, to any loka and be able to hear ancestors, angels, the voice of God, or the voice of prophets. That kind of inner car you will develop through this mantra.
11.
OM LAMBODARÃYA NAMAHA
Which means you feel that you are this universe. It means that all the universes are within you Like an entire tree is in the seed, the whole universe is in the sound of creation which is OM and that OM consciousness in you makes you feel that you are the universe.
Therefore, if you say, realizing the oneness with the universe, “shanti” to the world everyday, then the grace of God will come and there will be world peace, universal peace It is the universes within OM and OM within you.
12.
OM VIKATÃYA NAMAHA
Means realizing this world as a dream or a drama. When you are in that high consciousness, this whole world looks like a dream. All of us have taken a role, We have to play our role in life as wife or husband or kids or citizens as per the role which we taken.
When an actor bitten by a sponge cobra which is brought on the stage falls, the entire audience cries, but that boy who has fallen knows that it was not a real cobra and that he is not dead.
Life is a drama - definitely life in this material world, this physical world of ego is a drama. But inside, like the boy on the stage who is very happy knowing that he didn't die by the bite of the sponge cobra, like that, the truth never dies in us; it is immortal. So everything else you consider as drama. That consciousness comes to you by knowing this mantra.
13.
OM VIGHNA NAŠANÃYA NAMAHA
Invokes the Lord to remove every impediment in your life and in your works. By constantly knowing this mantra, all obstacles and blocked energy in you also is released.
14.
OM VINÃYAKÃYA NAMAHA
Vinayakaya is the name of Ganesha in the golden age, So by realizing this mantra, your life. will have a golden age. In your office, in your work, you'll be the boss. Vinayaka means, something under control.
Vinayaka means the Lord of problems.
15.
OM DHOOMAKETÃVAE NAMAHA
Halley's Comet is called Dhumraketu in the Vedas. Whenever Halley’s Comet appears, on the whole planet earth and in other places also, there will be fear and terror.
The guiding, Masters and those who have the wisdom to face it will all withdraw to the higher worlds. Important people die during that time, and bloodshed and various other problems come.
To overcome that, it's important for us to remember this mantra for world peace.
16.
OM GANÃDHYAKSHÃYA NAMAHA
This mantra is so important. Suppose you have a group, a country, neighbors, or any kind of group therapy, group healing or a whole country needing healing, then you have to bring that entire group to your mind’s arena and say this mantra. A group healing takes place by this Mantra.
17.
OM BHALACHANDRÃYA NAMAHA
In Sanskrit, bhala means the forehead center. Chandra means the crescent moon. Bhalachandra means that chakra from where the nectar drips. That is the secret of all healing.
It is to feel yourself as Shiva. Identifying yourself with the Truth and feeling constantly that you are carrying the crescent moon, the symbol of growth and nectar and peace.
18.
OM GAJÃNANÃYA NAMAHA
This means to have upon your trunk an elephant head. It means the ego is cut off and in its place, OM is kept, This means to have a head filled with infinite consciousness.
Šuklãm Baradharam VishnumŠaši Varnam Chaturbhujam Prasanna Vadanam DhyãyetSarva Vighnopa Šãntaye
Dhyãnam
Vande Mahã Ganapatim Madanãri SoonumVãmoru Samstha Vanithã BhujaVeshtitãngam Valleeša Poorvaja MabheeshtadamÚritãnãmVãneepati Pramukha DevaGanãrchiãngrhim Leelabajam Dãdimam Veena ŠãliGunjãkshaSooktrakam Dadhaduchishtha Nãmãyam Ganeša :Pãtumechaka :
WORSHIP OF MAHA VALLABHA GANAPATI
OM GAM GANAPATAYAE NAMAHA
With this prayer, may all your works be attended with victory and success.Lord Ganeša is the most fascinating, widely known aspect of God. Ganeša is the "Son of God," or that which you call Christ in another story. He is the ocean of wisdom (vidya vaaridhi). He blesses us with illumined intellect (buddhi). He is the bestower of supernatural powers (siddhi). He is the embodiment of all sacred blessings (mangala murthi). He is ill-pervading spirit, all-powerful and radiant like millions of suns. Children worship Ganeša for success in their education. People pray to Lord Ganeša for the blessings of creative intelligence, success in their business and in their lives.
In all world religious, the Trinity is represented through A-U-M. AH-OO-MM, or OM. It is the beginning, middle and end of all languages. That OM is Ganeša. He is the son of Shiva, one among the Hindu Trinity of Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva, or the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.
Ganeša Mantrãs
Ganeša mantras are siddhi mantras. Each mantra contains certain specific powers of Lord Ganeša. When chanted with the proper pranayama (rhythmic breathing) and sincere devotion, they will yield good results.
In general, Ganeša mantras will ward off all evil and bless the devotee with abundance, prudence and success. Evil spirits date not enter the home or the mind of the devotee where Ganeša mantras are recited. Some such mantras are given below for the spiritual benefit of the readers.
One more point to remember is that one should bathe or wash the limbs before sitting for repetition of the mantra. Also, one should do three or more pranayama before beginning the mantra. The minimum repetition of the mantra should be one full rosary or 108 times. When this is done at a rigid hour and place regularly for 48 days, it becomes an “upaasana" which means intense meditation which will yield siddhi or spiritual powers.
The warning given is that one should use those powers only for healing the sick and other such selfless actions for the benefit of mankind. These powers should not be misused. Misuse of power may bring the curse of the deity.
1.
OM GAM GANAPATAYAE NAMAHA
This is a mantra from Ganapati Upanishad. One may always use it before beginning a journey, a new course in school, new career or job, or before entering into business so that impediments are removed and your endeavor may be crowned with success.
2.
OM NAMO BHAGAVATE GAJÃNANÃYA NAMAHA
This is a devotional mantra personifying the all-pervading consciousness of Ganesha. This mantra is very efficacious to have the darshan of Ganesha or to feel his immediate presence as a person.
3.
OM ŠRI GANEŠÃYA NAMAHA
This mantra is usually taught to all children for their good education. It increases their memory power and they become successful in their examinations. Of course, people of any age may use this mantra when taking courses in a school or university and for success in attaining their degree.
4.
OM GAM GANAPATAYE VAKRATUNDÃYA HUM
This is a very powerful mantra as discussed in the Ganesha Puraana. When something is not working properly, individually or universally, nationally or internationally, or when the minds of the people get curved and negative, the attention of Ganesha may be drawn by this mantra to straighten their ways.
The HUM symbolizes "Delay no more, my Lord, in straightening the paths of the curve-minded ones." This mantra is used many times in the Ganesha Puraana to curb the atrocities of cruel demons.
In addition, this mantra could also be used for healing any spinal deficiency such a curvature of the spine or curved limbs. Dedicate 1008 repetitions of this holy word to straighten and heal such deficiencies.
5.
OM KSHIPRA PRASÃDÃYA NAMAHA
That kshipra means instantaneous, If some danger or something is coming your way and you don't knew how to get rid of that trouble, with true devotion, practice this mantra for quick blessing.
6.
OM ŠREEM HREEM KLEEM GLAUM GAMGANAPATAYE VARA VARADA SARVAJANAME VAŠAMANÃYA SWÃHÃ
There are several bija (seed) mantras in this mantra. Among other things, it means "Shower Your blessings, I offer my ego as an oblation."
7.
OM SUMUKHÃYA NAMAHA
This mantra has a lot of meaning, but to make it simple, it mews you will be always very beautiful in soul, in spirit, in face, everything. By meditating on that mantra, very pleasing manners and a beauty comes on you. Along with that comes peace which constantly dances in your eyes, and the words which you speak am all filled with that power of love.
8.
OM AEKADANTÃYA NAMAHA
Aekadanta refers to one tusk in the elephant face, which means God broke the duality and made you to have a one-pointed mind. Whoever has that oneness of mind and single-minded devotion will achieve everything.
9.
OM KAPILÃYA NAMAHA
Kapila means; that you are able to give color therapy. You are able to create colors around yourself and around others, bathe them in that color and heal them.
As per the mantra you create, so will you create the colors. Another meaning is "wish cow," the "Cow of plenty." It means that whatever you wish, that comes true. There is a wish-cow inside you. Whatever you wish, especially for healing others, comes true immediately.
10.
OM GAJAKARNAKÃYA NAMAHA
The cars; of Ganesha, the elephant, are constantly fanning, which means people may talk a lot, but you are not receiving inside anything other than that which is important.
It also means that you can sit anywhere and tune this cosmic television (the body) with seven channels (chakras) and all 72,000 nadis, to any loka and be able to hear ancestors, angels, the voice of God, or the voice of prophets. That kind of inner car you will develop through this mantra.
11.
OM LAMBODARÃYA NAMAHA
Which means you feel that you are this universe. It means that all the universes are within you Like an entire tree is in the seed, the whole universe is in the sound of creation which is OM and that OM consciousness in you makes you feel that you are the universe.
Therefore, if you say, realizing the oneness with the universe, “shanti” to the world everyday, then the grace of God will come and there will be world peace, universal peace It is the universes within OM and OM within you.
12.
OM VIKATÃYA NAMAHA
Means realizing this world as a dream or a drama. When you are in that high consciousness, this whole world looks like a dream. All of us have taken a role, We have to play our role in life as wife or husband or kids or citizens as per the role which we taken.
When an actor bitten by a sponge cobra which is brought on the stage falls, the entire audience cries, but that boy who has fallen knows that it was not a real cobra and that he is not dead.
Life is a drama - definitely life in this material world, this physical world of ego is a drama. But inside, like the boy on the stage who is very happy knowing that he didn't die by the bite of the sponge cobra, like that, the truth never dies in us; it is immortal. So everything else you consider as drama. That consciousness comes to you by knowing this mantra.
13.
OM VIGHNA NAŠANÃYA NAMAHA
Invokes the Lord to remove every impediment in your life and in your works. By constantly knowing this mantra, all obstacles and blocked energy in you also is released.
14.
OM VINÃYAKÃYA NAMAHA
Vinayakaya is the name of Ganesha in the golden age, So by realizing this mantra, your life. will have a golden age. In your office, in your work, you'll be the boss. Vinayaka means, something under control.
Vinayaka means the Lord of problems.
15.
OM DHOOMAKETÃVAE NAMAHA
Halley's Comet is called Dhumraketu in the Vedas. Whenever Halley’s Comet appears, on the whole planet earth and in other places also, there will be fear and terror.
The guiding, Masters and those who have the wisdom to face it will all withdraw to the higher worlds. Important people die during that time, and bloodshed and various other problems come.
To overcome that, it's important for us to remember this mantra for world peace.
16.
OM GANÃDHYAKSHÃYA NAMAHA
This mantra is so important. Suppose you have a group, a country, neighbors, or any kind of group therapy, group healing or a whole country needing healing, then you have to bring that entire group to your mind’s arena and say this mantra. A group healing takes place by this Mantra.
17.
OM BHALACHANDRÃYA NAMAHA
In Sanskrit, bhala means the forehead center. Chandra means the crescent moon. Bhalachandra means that chakra from where the nectar drips. That is the secret of all healing.
It is to feel yourself as Shiva. Identifying yourself with the Truth and feeling constantly that you are carrying the crescent moon, the symbol of growth and nectar and peace.
18.
OM GAJÃNANÃYA NAMAHA
This means to have upon your trunk an elephant head. It means the ego is cut off and in its place, OM is kept, This means to have a head filled with infinite consciousness.
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LORD GANESH
OM GUM GANAPATAYE NAMAH