The Chant of Ganesh with vedic Mantras

LORD GANESH & MAA PARVATHI

Lord Ganesh

Lord Ganesh (sometimes spelled Ganesha, but usually pronounced "gah-nesh") is also known as Ganapati. Being the son of Parvati and Shiva, he is definitely a Tantric deity. One myth is that Shiva (who is the highest teacher or adiguru of Tantra) wouldn't reveal any of the secrets of Tantra to his beloved wife, Parvati. But she discovered a time when he would be weak enough to reveal the secrets...during sex! So as they made love, she would ask him about the spiritual secrets of Tantra and he would reveal them. Ganesh, hidden in the shadows, would write it all down. This is the metaphoric source of the supposed 108 classic books known as "The Tantras".

In this sense, then, Ganesh has similarities to the gods Mercury or Thoth. He brings writing and knowledge. But he is most often known as the "Breaker of Obstacles". This does not mean that if something blocks your way to success that appealing to Ganesh will result in your thundering through your opposition like some great juggernaut (a word derived from the name of a Hindu deity Jaganath). Rather, Ganesh breaks obstacles by working around them. He may not help you fix a relationship, but He might help you find a new one. He might not get you a raise at work, but you might get a job offer from another company for more money. Ganesh is a warrior, but is not into fighting for fighting's sake. Indeed, that is why he lost his head and it had to be replaced with the head of a elephant. Rather, He helps you find other ways of overcoming obstacles. The real obstacles He breaks are those which prevent you from recognizing alternative solutions.

Ganesh is very popular, even among mainstream Hindus. Most worship rituals, no matter the deity they are focused toward, usually begin with a call to Ganesh. Most shops will have a statue or painting of the fat, elephant-headed, one-tusked deity near the door. He is one kewl dude.


Meaning Of Mantra

All sound has an effect on the things around it. This is known as resonance. One of the most famous examples of this consists of playing certain notes on a violin near a piano, resulting in some of the piano strings beginning to vibrate and make a sound.

Most words and sounds are simply random. But certain ones, mantras, have great power. They can cause surpirsingly powerful changes in your physical body, the environment around you, your non-physical bodies (or koshas) and the spiritual planes that interpenetrate our world.

The most famous mantra is probably om or aum. It is considered so important that there is a special additional Sanskrit letter, the omkara, to indicate the sound. When repeating longer mantras, you will frequently begin and end with the om.

The most popular mantra in India is probably the Gayatri (pronounced "guy-a-tree") mantra. There are many varations of it, but it is little known in the West. Here in the U.S., thanks to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, the "Hare Krishna" mantra is better known. In this article, however, I would like to introduce you to a short mantra you can use, the mantra of Ganesh.

The Ganesh Mantra

There are many chants to Ganesh, but a simple and powerful one is this:

Om gam ganapataye namaha!

A very loose translation might be:Om = Salutations! Everyone wake up!
Gam = The secret power sound of Ganesh. It is his "seed syllable" or bija mantra.
Ganapataye = Another name of Ganesh, the breaker of obstacles.
Namaha = Yo! Ganesh! You da God!

The pronunciation is also pretty easy:Om = ohm or aum
Gam = Somewhere between "gahm" and "gum". In some dialects it is "guhng".
Ganapataye = gah-nah-paht-ah-yeh
Namaha - nah-mah-hah

Traditionally, Tantrics would use a mala when chanting a mantra. A mala consists of 108 beads with an extra larger one, the "guru bead", to mark the beginning and end of the necklace. You would hold the mala in one hand moving from bead to bead with each repetition of the mantra. One cycle of the beads is called a "round".

When beginning, take your time. The mantra is meant to be chanted. There is an African saying, "If you can talk, you can sing", so don't be afraid to chant. Simply pick a note and sound the mantra on that note.

Om gam ganapataye namaha!

As you do your first round of 108 repetitions, you should slowly speed up.

Om gam ganapataye namaha!
Om gam ganapataye namaha!
Om gam ganapataye namaha!

As you do, chances are your voice will get quieter and quieter. Indeed, Tantrics are known to "mumble" their mantras. Very soon you should be able to go very quickly.

Om gam ganapataye namaha!
Om gam ganapataye namaha!
Om gam ganapataye namaha!

Traditionally, you might do 10 rounds or 108 rounds. Or maybe you'll do 10,000 rounds, 108,000 rounds or more! You could also simply do it continuously (whenever you are not consciously doing some activity) and not need to keep count.


Doing Japa

The term japa refers to repeating a mantra. You can begin by using a statue of Ganesh, a drawing of Him, or just your imagination. Treat it well. As Apu of The Simpsons says "Please do not offer my God a peanut." Instead, you can offer Ganesh rounds of His mantra.

Om gam ganapataye namaha!
Om gam ganapataye namaha!
Om gam ganapataye namaha!

At one time or another we are all faced with obstacles in life. Perhaps it is passing a test or getting along with someone. Maybe it is a relationship with problems or financial difficulties. Go to the real or imagined image of Ganesh and share your problem. Ask for help. Then offer something in return: rounds of the Ganesh mantra. The more serious difficulties the more rounds you should offer.

Om gam ganapataye namaha!
Om gam ganapataye namaha!
Om gam ganapataye namaha!

You don't have to do a million rounds all at the same time. You could do just 10 minutes worth a day. Perhaps you could do 30 minutes a day. Or you could just do it continuously - any time you are not consciously doing something else - for a given period of time.

Om gam ganapataye namaha!
Om gam ganapataye namaha!
Om gam ganapataye namaha!

And then simply be open to ways of resolving the conflicts and obstacles in your life. remember to complete the number of rounds or time period vowed, even if you overcome the obstacle before you finish the promised number of repetitions.

Namaste!
(That which is of the gods in me recognized and acknowledges that which is of the gods in you.)

Posted By: Donald Michael Kraig
Southern California

About My Old Friend:
Donald Michael Kraig was given the name Shambhalanath when he was initiated into a Tantric tradition over 20 years ago. He has taught Tantra all over the U.S. and contributed a chapter to the book, Ecstasy Through Tantra by Dr. John Mumford. he has also written other books, including his famous Modern Magick, Modern Sex Magick, and Tarot and Magick. He lectures all over the U.S. and in Europe, and has worked in sleight-of-hand magic shops, occult stores, costume shops, as a rock musician, a writer of erotica, a courier, a radio talk show host, and as an editor. He is currently working on obtaining a doctorate in clinical hypnotherapy.

All About Lord Ganesh

Lord ganesh

Ganesha — the elephant-deity riding a mouse — has become one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. This not only suggests the importance of Ganesha, but also shows how popular and pervasive this deity is in the minds of the masses.

The Lord of Success

Lord Ganesh And Shiav Parvati 

The son of Shiva and Parvati, 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 Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.

Significance of the Ganesha Form
Ganesha's head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality. In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesha's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.

The broken tusk that Ganesha holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata. The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.

How Ganesha Got His Head
The story of the birth of this zoomorphic deity, as depicted in the Shiva Purana, goes like this: Once goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his squad (gana) to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader (pati) of his troops. Hence his name 'Ganapati'. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.

However, there's another less popular story of his origin, found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana: Shiva asked Parvati to observe the punyaka vrata for a year to appease Vishnu in order to have a son. When a son was born to her, all the gods and goddesses assembled to rejoice on its birth. Lord Shani, the son of Surya (Sun-God), was also present but he refused to look at the infant. Perturbed at this behaviour, Parvati asked him the reason, and Shani replied that his looking at baby would harm the newborn. However, on Parvati's insistence when Shani eyed the baby, the child's head was severed instantly. All the gods started to bemoan, whereupon Vishnu hurried to the bank of river Pushpabhadra and brought back the head of a young elephant, and joined it to the baby's body, thus reviving it.

Ganesha, the Destroyer of Pride
Ganesha is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. "All Hindus worship Ganesha regardless of their sectarian belief," says D N Singh in A Study of Hinduism. "He is both the beginning of the religion and the meeting ground for all Hindus."

Ganesh Chaturthi
The devotees of Ganesha are known as 'Ganapatyas', and the festival to celebrate and glorify him is called Ganesh Chaturthi.

MORE ABOUT LORD GANESH:

Ganesh Chaturdi

Ganesh Mantras

Organic Ganesh