Lord Ganesha Ji Ganapati Bappa Morya, Mangalmurti Morya.: 2013-08-18

The Lord of Success 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.

>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.

"Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva, Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa" (O Lord Ganesha of Large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns, please make all my work free of obstacles.)

Ganesh and Lord Vishnu One day, Vishnu found out that his Valamburi Shankha had disappeared. He felt himself very annoyed. After some time, he heard the typical sound of a conch far away and recognized immediately that it was his own instrument. The sound came from the Mount Kailash.

He meditated on Lord Shiva who came in front of him and declared that if he wanted to get his conch back, he had first to address a invocation to god Valamburi Ganesh (a Ganesh form with a right-turned trunk). Thus, Vishnu performed the puja and Ganesh sent back the conch to his owner who was very happy to recover it. One can surely find other legends. If you know any new one, please let us know it !

Ganesh and Lord Shiva

One says that neither peace nor war action, nor daily business can succeed unless Ganesh has previously been worshipped. This is not only true for human beings, but also for celestial creatures. When Ganesh appeared, as the son born from Shiva's mind, the later decided that Ganesh should be worshipped by anybody wishing to get success. Even worshipping other gods would be inefficient if prior worship to Ganesh had not been achieved. Thus, when Shiva left to fight the demons of the Tripura city, he forgot his own rule and rushed to the battle. However, when he embarked on his carriage, the wheel peg broke and the car was stopped. Abashed that such an accident could happen to him, Shiva realized that he had forgotten to pray Ganesh before his departure, and this was the cause of the obstacle... Thus, he worshipped his son's name and could proceed to the Tripurâtanka battle which he won successfully

The origin of the total universe is sound. The first basic sound or knowledge is self existent, ever lasting and full of happiness, full of spirit. The pictorial form of this original soundis OM and an idol of Ganapati is a symbolic form of OM. All the matter is created from the original sound. (Matter is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons) atoms which are. It means original soul is present partly in each and everything and it is the ultimate supreme knowledge means it is the Brahma and. The Brahma (Lord Ganesha) controls from birth till death.

(Oh Lord Ganesha) protect me. Protect the speaker, protect the listener, protect the donor, protect the sustainer and protect the learner and the teacher. Protect me from West direction, protect me from East, protect me from North and protect me from South. Protect me from top, protect me from bottom. Protect me from all sides and from surrounding.Lord Ganesha you protect me from all the obstacles when I am praising about your appearance, when I am listening about your merits/qualities. When I am passing the merit of your worshipping to others you protect me. When I am learning your worshipping from the Guru you protect me. The obstacles which will come across in my devotional worshipping you protect them from East, West, North, South and other surrounding/directions.

You are the real speech and you are the real awakening. You are the real spirit of joy. You are the real universal divine knowledge. You are the incomparable everlasting real supreme joy. You are the erceptible/actual divine (substance) or as cause of the universe or an enigma. You are the actual knowledge and actual science and intelligence 2

Twam Chatwari Wak Padani || 5 || The whole world is produced from you. The whole world exists because of you. The whole world merged into you. The whole world again one can experience in only you. You are the Earth, water, air, fire and sky (the panchamahabhutas-the five elements). You are the four states of speeches. Sounded soul which is the origin of the Lord Ganesha is the self existent everlasting unexpressed total universal divine knowledge. The three states creation, maintenance (taking care) and destruction are originated from Lord Ganesha (Matter is originated from sound. The protons, neutrons and electrons are made up of atom. Atom is made from matter.) Proton, the creator (God Brahma), neutron the care-taker (God Vishnu) and electron the destructor (God Shiva). The five elements are originated from Lord Ganesha. From Ether the air is originated, from air the fire is originated, from fire the water is originated, from water the earth is originated. A human being is also originated from these five elements by processing cosmic energy. Lord Ganesha is the self existent original sounded soul. The knowledge of sound is visible or invisible. We can hear it but cannot see or feel it. Lord Ganesha (sound) is soul and the universe is the body. The source of words is from Lord Ganesha-the original sound. The four states of speeches are para, pashyanti, madhyama and vaikhari. The place of para is deep down inside the region of naval. The place of pashyanti is in the heart. The 'Madhyanma' is the throat and 'Vaikhari' is the movement of tongue and lips. It means the presence of Lord Ganesha (sound) is present in all the objects in the world.

You are beyond the three human qualities (Raj, Satva, and Tam). You are beyond the three human states (waking, dreaming and deep sleep). You are beyond the three states of bodies (gross, stable and causal). You constantly exist in the place 'Muladhara' in human body. You are the three powers/Shakti (required for creation, preservation and destruction). The sages always meditate on Lord Ganesha. You are Brahma, you are Vishnu, you are Rudra, you are Indra, you are Agni/God of Fire, you are Vayu/God of Air, you are Surya/Sun, you are Chandra/Moon, you are the Brahma (an organism from all living being) and the Earth, the Sky, the Heaven and the OM.Human being has three types of qualities- Satva, Raj, and Tam. Satva means Satvik means pure, holy or God fearing. A person, who is satvik, has always pure, noble clear thoughts. He is always well behaved well mannered thinking for others. Any type of bad elements could not disturb him. 'Rajogna' means passionate. A person always thinks about what profit he will get if will do anything. He always accepts positive results as per his thinking. If he doesn't achieve it he gets disturb. Could not keep control on his thoughts and mind. 'Tamasi' means hot headed irascible. A person is very hot tempered, selfish, his thoughts and his world are around eating, drinking, sleeping.They hurt to others; never take care for anybodies feelings and duties towards anybody. Lord Ganesha is beyond these three gunas. Lord Ganesha always exists in place of 'Muladhara'. According to the yoga there are seven 'Chakras'(states) in human body. These 'Chakras' are situated in various parts of the body. correct decision power, through the power of kundalini which is in the 'Muladhara'. Lord Ganesha the supreme power is situated in 'Muladhara'.

Having recited the letter 'Ga' the first letter of 'Ganadhim' in the beginning, followed by the first alphabet 'A' and thereafter a dot means a crescent and with the sacred 'Om' up to these. This is the way of complete the pronunciation. 'Gakara' is the first part 'Akara' is the middle part and a dot 'anuswar' is the last part and 'bindu' is the latter form (pronunciation) .This is the 'Ganesh Vidya'(knowledge about Lord Ganesha) of Gananka Rishi (a sage) Niert Gayatri is its meter. 'Ganapati' is the God and symbolic form in words is 'OM Gam Ganapataye Namaha'. The word Gam having the following three parts, 1) ga 2) a 3) a dot above the letter to denote the nasal sound.

Tanoo Danti Prachodayata || 8 || (This Is The 'Ganesh Gayatri' Which Is Introduced After Knowledge Of Ganesha. By Chanting This 'Ganesh Gayatri' God Ganapati Will Take Care Of The Devotees Life, Wealth And Property). We Know Ekadanta. We Meditate vakratunda .May he inspire us for Meditation.

Shrushtyadou Prakrute Purushatparam | Evam Dhyayati Yo Nityam Sa Yogi Yoginam Varah || 9 ||

First Nam mantra, then one letter mantra, then Gayatri mantra. After finishing these three mantras a description of Ganesh idol for meditation is said as follows, Who has one tusk(on right side), who has four hands, in upper right hand who is holding noose, in left upper hand goad. In lower left hand, who is holding elephant's tooth(ekadanta), right lower hand is giving blessings, granting boon, having the mouse as him emblem, red in color, who is having big stomach, whose ears are like a small sift pan, who is wearing red colored cloths, who's body is smeared with red sandalwood paste, who is worshipped with red flowers, who is always does favor and keeps kindness towards his devotees, who created this world, who is everlasting and who is the cause of the universe, who is beyond the primordial energy and individual soul. Whoever meditates on him, always be a yogi and is the best amongst the yogis.

Lambodaraya-Ekadantaya Vighnashine Shivasutaya Shri Varadamurtaye Namo Namaha || 10 ||

Salutation to the Lord of gods. Salutation to Ganapati (the supreme authority of total divine knowledge). Salutation to leader or chief of the soldiers and sages. Salutation to the big bellied (Lambodar), who is having one tusk, Salutation to Ekadanta. Again and again Salutation to God Shiva's son who destroys all obstacles and Varadmurti. A lord who always give blessings to his devotees.

8.18.2013

Iconographical peculiarities(Ganesha)

Ganesha is the most interesting not only on account of his importance, but also because of his iconographical peculiarities Of all the gods and goddesses of the hindu pantheon. He is depicted with an elephant head,a buling belly and in variety of poses. In point of time gods appears to be alate edition to the hierarchy of hindu deities but, are same time,It is noteworthy that he achieves a very excalted postion in the hierarchy of the gods and goddesses within a very short space of time . The general opinion seems to favour the view that his worship began sometime in 6th century A.D.and during the following two or three centuries we witness his rapid rise to prominence, so much so, that by tenth century an indepent sdect-of course within the folds of hindisum –commonly knows as the ganpataya comes into being .

Ganesha was also borred by other religious system such as budhism and Jainism, and his workship spread almost all over asia where Buddhism and other sect of hindusim become living faiths .ganesha is still accorded a very high postion by the hindus and it is one of the most important deties worshipped in india today .

THE Workship of Ganesha the elephant –headed deity, in the late gupta and post gupta periods can be said to be an established fact. This has been conclusively proved by the evidence furnished by an inscription an established fact. This has been conclusively proved by the evidence furnished by an inscription an acient column at Ghatiala near Jodpur (Rajasthan). The inscription is dated 862A.D.and has been taken to be earliest of its kind in the praise of the deity. The column is crowned by four images of ganesha seated back to back and facing the four cordinal points. This shows that by 862 ganesha in the form of the elephant-headed gods,has risen to that exalted postion where he was worshipped independtly and invocated for success. However, earlier images of the god are met within rock cut temple at elephant, ellora and badmi in western india. The images of ganesha ascrible to 6th century a.d. are far and few between.noteworthy among them are those in the gupta temple at bhurma (District panna, Madhya Pradesh) and udagiri hills near vidisa (Madhya Pradesh). Theyhave been adequately noticed by Scholors who agree that the Workship of ganesha wass in vogue in the Gupta period. In this connection it is interesting to note that Varahamihira in his Brhatsamhita prescribed the details regarding the fashioning of the Ganesha images .The work is dated to the beginning of the 6th century b and it can therefore be surmised that the Images of Ganesha must have existed in the still earlier period.

It Appers that the Workship of Ganesha began in the Gupta period around 4th-5th cent. A.D. and spread to other lands quite early .the Buddhist lost no time in borrowing the deity in Their own pantheon and Ganesha travelled to distant lands along with Buddhism .thus in south – east Asia he was worshipeed as a Hindu deity whereas in the far east,he was Adobed as a Buddhist deity . The following account amply shows that the elephant –headed god was Workshipped almost all over asia (Except west Asia ), and as such he is perhaps the only hindu divinity whose worship was widely distributed in terms of space and time.

The lord ganesha appears in Japan It appears thet ganesha was unknow in japan till 9th century. But once his workship was introduced by Kolso daishi,a buddist the god become quite popular and his statues inthe vinayaka from were made and temples were dedicated to him he was often shown standing with two,four or six arms and usally with a smiling countenance. In the Kaku-zen -cho from he was shown with three heads ,each having three eye and his four hands he held a sword , a raddish, a modaka,and sceptre. He supposed to be seated on amountain and was referred to as "king of elephants" In the double from kangi ten ganesha was workshiped not publicly in temples but secretly. It was a secret esoteric cult, based on the doctrine of yoga.

The LORD GANESHA POPULAR IN MONGOLIA The introduction of Buddishm in Mongolia, Ganesha reached that land. Buddishm spread There through tibet and tibetan monk hphags-pa carried Mahayana Buddishm into The Mongolia in The 13 th century and is said to have converted even The emperor kublai khan. To The mongols makala was only The manifestation of shiva and it was Therefore,quite natural that Ganesha should have become popular mongolia . The danceing form of The elephant- headed god (Nrtta-ganpati) is to be found among The "five hundred gods of Northan". He is shown on his mount (vahana) rat which hold The jewels cintamani in its mouth The four hand hold each an axe (parasu), radish (Mula-kanda), bowl of sweet and a trident (Trisula) which normally ia an attribute of shiva. According to legend: The Father of hphas-pa is said to have invoked ganesha who took him up with his trunk ,carried him to The top of mount meru and showing him The country of mongolia said "thy son shall subjugate this whole country",which proved to be true.

Ganesha is the formless Divinity

The Lord of all these groups of atoms and energies is Ganesha. He is the supreme consciousness that pervades all and brings order in this universe. The essence of Ganesha is brought out beautifully by Adi Shankara. Though Ganesha is worshiped as the elephant-headed God, the form (swaroop) is just to bring out the formless (parabrahma roopa) . He is, 'Ajam Nirvikalpam Niraakaaramekam.' This means Ganesha is Ajam (unborn), he is Nirvikalpa(attributeless), he is Niraakaar (formless) and he symbolizes the consciousness which is omnipresent. Ganesha is the same energy which is the reason for this universe. It is the energy from which everything manifests and into which everything will dissolve. We are all familiar with the story of how Ganesha became the elephant-headed God. Parvati became dirty when she was celebrating with Shiva. When she realized this, she removed the dirt from her body and created a boy out of it. She then asked him to keep guard while she bathed. When Shiva returned, the boy did not recognize him and obstructed his passage. So Shiva chopped off the boy's head and entered. Parvati was shocked when she saw this. She explained to Shiva that the boy was their son and pleaded with Shiva to save him at all costs. Shiva then instructed his helpers to go and get the head of someone who was sleeping with their head pointing to the north. The helpers then got the head of an elephant, which Shiva affixed to the boy's torso and Ganesha was born! Does this story sound strange? Why should Parvati have dirt on her body? Didn't the all-knowing Shiva recognize His own son? Was Shiva, the epitome of peace, so short-tempered that he cut off the head of his own son? And why an elephant head on Ganesha? There is a deeper meaning to all this. Parvati is symbolic of festive energy. Her becoming dirty signifies that celebration can easily become Rajasik, or feverish and can take you away from your center. Dirt is symbolic of ignorance, and Shiva is symbolic of the Supreme Innocence, Peace and Knowledge. So when Ganeshaobstructs the path of Shiva, this means that ignorance, which is an attribute of the head, does not recognize knowledge. Then knowledge has to overcome ignorance. This is the symbolism behind Shiva chopping off the boy's head. And why the elephant head? Elephant represents both gyan shakti and karma shakti. The principle qualities of the elephant are wisdom and effortlessness. The enormous head of the elephant signifies Wisdom and Knowledge. Elephants don't walk around obstacles, neither are they stopped by them. They just remove them and walk ahead – signifying effortlessness. So, when we worship Lord Ganesha these elephant qualities within us are kindled and we take on these qualities. Ganesha'sbig belly represents generosity and total acceptance. Ganesha's upraised hand, depicting protection, means, 'Fear not, I am with you', and his lowered hand, palm facing outwards means endless giving as well as an invitation to bow down, this is symbolic of the fact that we will all dissolve into earth one day. Ganesha also has a single tusk which signifies one-pointedness. Even the implements Ganesha wields are symbolic. He carries in his hands, the 'Ankusa' (signifying awakening) and the 'Paasa' (signifying control). With awakening, a lot of energy is released, which without proper control, can go haywire. And why does Ganesha, the elephant-headed God travel on something as small as a mouse? Isn't that so incongruous? Again there is symbolism that runs deep. The mouse snips and nibbles away at ropes that bind. The mouse is like the mantra which can cut through sheaths and sheaths of ignorance, leading to the ultimate knowledge represented by Ganesha! Our ancient Rishis were so deeply intelligent that they chose to express Divinity in terms of symbols rather than words, since words change over time, but symbols remain unchanged. Let us keep the deep symbolism in mind as we experience the omnipresent in the form of the elephant God, yet be fully aware that Ganesha is very much within us. This is the wisdom we should carry as we celebrate Ganesh Chaturti.