This prayer is composed by Adi Shankaracharya.
composer: Adi shankaracharya
Raaga : Saranga
Ajam Nirvikalpam Niraakaaramekam
Neraanandhamanandham Adhvaitha Poornam
Param Nirgunam Nirvisesham Nireeham
ParaBrahma roopam Ganesham Bhajema.
Gunaatheethamanam Chidhananda roopam
chidha bhasakamsarvagam gnana gamyam
munidhyeyam aakasa roopam paresham
paraBrahma roopam Ganesham bhajema.
Jagath kaaranam kaaran gnana roopam
suraadhim sukhadhim gunesam ganesam
jagathwaapinam viswa vandhyam suresham
para Brahma roopam Ganesham bhaje ma."
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Sri Annapoorna Devi Stotra(Annapoorna Shlokam)
This Shloka is a simple but powerful way of pleasing and praying to Lord Annapoorneshwari aka Goddess Parvathi. Mothers who want good health for their children need to chant this with lot of bhakti, Shradda and Saburi. ( Patience and Perseverance).
Goddess Parvati is mother of Lord Ganesha and Lord Subramanya and the entire universe. She is the Prakruti (the creator) and Vikruti (the destroyer). When she is claimed as mother of Universe, then when we beg something from mother with lot of dedication, how can a mother say no. She will bless us with full heart.
Make sure to chant this everyday........
Annapoorne Sada poorne, Shankara Pranavallabhe
Gyana Vairagya Sidyartham, Bhikshaam Dehi cha Parvati
Mata cha Parvati Devi, Pita Devo Maheswarah
Baandava Shiva Bhaktyascha, Svadeso Bhuvanatrayam
Annapoorne – the wife of Lord Shiva; She who is full of food; Sadapoorne – who is always full of resources; Sankara – of Lord Sankara(Shiva); Prana – the life-force; energy; Vallabhe – the beloved; Jnana – knowledge; Vairagya – attitude of renunciation; Siddhyartham – to fulfill the purpose of; Bhiksham – alms, food; Dehi – giveus; Namostute – we bow down to You
O Annapurna, Who art ever full, the beloved life-force of Lord Sankara (Shive, O’ Parvathi – grant me alms that I be firmly established in Knowledge and Renunciation. Mother is shakti, father is shiva, relatives are the devotees of shiva and own country is all the three worlds
Goddess Parvati is mother of Lord Ganesha and Lord Subramanya and the entire universe. She is the Prakruti (the creator) and Vikruti (the destroyer). When she is claimed as mother of Universe, then when we beg something from mother with lot of dedication, how can a mother say no. She will bless us with full heart.
Make sure to chant this everyday........
Annapoorne Sada poorne, Shankara Pranavallabhe
Gyana Vairagya Sidyartham, Bhikshaam Dehi cha Parvati
Mata cha Parvati Devi, Pita Devo Maheswarah
Baandava Shiva Bhaktyascha, Svadeso Bhuvanatrayam
Annapoorne – the wife of Lord Shiva; She who is full of food; Sadapoorne – who is always full of resources; Sankara – of Lord Sankara(Shiva); Prana – the life-force; energy; Vallabhe – the beloved; Jnana – knowledge; Vairagya – attitude of renunciation; Siddhyartham – to fulfill the purpose of; Bhiksham – alms, food; Dehi – giveus; Namostute – we bow down to You
O Annapurna, Who art ever full, the beloved life-force of Lord Sankara (Shive, O’ Parvathi – grant me alms that I be firmly established in Knowledge and Renunciation. Mother is shakti, father is shiva, relatives are the devotees of shiva and own country is all the three worlds
Sri Saibaba
How can I, not remember you today? Its Thursday.
Baba, give me the strength to face the realities of life. Make me a person with beautiful mind. Give me the faith to believe and you and worship you more. Please do not give me any more difficulties in life. The limitation has currently exceeded.
Baba, give me the strength to face the realities of life. Make me a person with beautiful mind. Give me the faith to believe and you and worship you more. Please do not give me any more difficulties in life. The limitation has currently exceeded.
Shiva Manasa Pooja
This is a composition by great guru Shankaracharya.
Shiva Manasa Pooja by Adi Sankaracharya[The mental worship of Lord Shiva]Translated by P. R. Ramachander
Aaradhayami mani sannibham athma lingam,
Maayapuri hrudaya pankaja sannivishtam,
Sradha nadhi vimala chitha jalabishegai,
Nithyam samadhi kusmaira punarbhavai.
(This stanza does not appear in most of the texts of Shiva Manasa Pooja but appears in Nirguna Manasa Pooja. But the version which I consult includes it here as the first stanza)I worship that Linga,Which is in me as my soul,Residing in the illusory lotus of my heart,Getting bathed by the clear water,Of the river of my devotion,And worshipped daily by the Lotus,Of my meditation for avoiding another birth.
Rathnai Kalpitham asanam,
Himajalai snanam cha divyambaram,
Naana rathna vibhooshitham mruga madha modhanvitham Chandanam,
Jathi champaka bilwa pathra rachitham,
pushpam cha deepam Thada,
Deepam deva dayanithe pasupathe,
hrud kalpyatham gruhyatham.
I offer you an imaginary throne made of precious jewels,I offer you bath in the water of melted snow from the Himalayas,I offer you holy silken cloth to wear,I adorn you with very many precious jewels,I offer you musk and sandal,I offer you Bilwa and Champaka flowers,And I offer you the holy lamp,But all these I offer in the portal of my mind,Please God who is merciful and who is the Lord of all beings,Accept my offerings and bless me.
Souvarne nava rathna Ganda Rachithe,
pathre Grutham Payasam,
Bakshyam pancha vidam Payo dadhiyutham,
rambha phalam panakam,
Saaka namayutham jalam ruchikaram,
karpoora gandojwalam,
Thamboolam manasa maya virachitham Bhakthyo prabho sweekuru
Sweet rice in a golden bowl inlaid with the nine jewels, the five kinds of food made from milk and curd, bananas, vegetables, sweet water scented with camphor, and betel leaves - I have prepared all these in my mind with devotion. O lord, please accept them.I offer you Ghee and the sweet payasam in golden vessel ,Decorated with nine type of precious gems,I offer you five different dishes made of curd and milk,I offer you panakam made of sweet fruits,I offer you tasty sweet scented water to drink,I offer you the lamp made of camphor along with tinkling bells,And I offer you betel leaf and nut,But these are offered by my mind with utter devotion to you,So Lord Kindly accept and bless.
Chathram Chamarayoryugam vyajanagam,
chaa darshakam nirmalam,
Veena bheri mrudanga kahala kala geetha nruthyam thada,
Sasthangam pranthi sthuthir bahu vidha,
hyethat samastham maya,
Sankalpena samapitham thava vibho , poojam gruhana prabho.
I offer you a pretty stage,I offer you couple of decorative fans,I also offer you shining mirror,I offer you Veena, kettledrums, Mrudanga and a very big drum,I offer you song and dance,I offer you full prostration,I offer you several types of prayers,But all these I offer you my Lord, in my mindSo Lord kindly accept this my worship.
Aathma thwam Girija Mathi sahacharaa,
prana sarreram gruham,
Pooja theey vishayopa bhoga rachana,
nidhra samadhi sthithi,
Sanchara padayo pradakshina vidhi,
sthothrani sarva giraa,
Yadyath karma karomi thathad akhilam,
shambho thavaradhanam.
My soul is your temple my lord,My activities are thine attendants,My body is thine home,My acts to please my senses are thine worship,My act of sleep is the deep meditation on thee,All my walks with my feet are thine perambulations,What ever falls from my mouth are thine prayers,Oh Lord, everything I say and do are thine forms of worship.
Kara charana krutham vaak kayajam karmajam vaa,
Sravana nayanajam vaa maanasam vaa aparadham,
Vihithamavihitham vaa sarva methath Kshamaswa,
Jaya Jaya katunabdhe sri Mahadeva Shambho.
Please pardon Oh lordAll those acts committed by me,By hands, by action, by body orBy hearing, by my sight, or by my mind,Whether they are proper or improper..Victory oh victory, Oh, ocean of mercy,Oh, The greatest of Gods and Oh benevolent one.
Matha cha Parvathy Devi,
Pitha devo Maheswara,
Bandhava Shiva Bakthamscha,
Swadeso Bhuvana thray.
My mother is the goddess Parvathy,My father is the Lord Shiva,My friends are the devotees of ShivaAnd my native place is all the three worlds.
Shiva Manasa Pooja by Adi Sankaracharya[The mental worship of Lord Shiva]Translated by P. R. Ramachander
Aaradhayami mani sannibham athma lingam,
Maayapuri hrudaya pankaja sannivishtam,
Sradha nadhi vimala chitha jalabishegai,
Nithyam samadhi kusmaira punarbhavai.
(This stanza does not appear in most of the texts of Shiva Manasa Pooja but appears in Nirguna Manasa Pooja. But the version which I consult includes it here as the first stanza)I worship that Linga,Which is in me as my soul,Residing in the illusory lotus of my heart,Getting bathed by the clear water,Of the river of my devotion,And worshipped daily by the Lotus,Of my meditation for avoiding another birth.
Rathnai Kalpitham asanam,
Himajalai snanam cha divyambaram,
Naana rathna vibhooshitham mruga madha modhanvitham Chandanam,
Jathi champaka bilwa pathra rachitham,
pushpam cha deepam Thada,
Deepam deva dayanithe pasupathe,
hrud kalpyatham gruhyatham.
I offer you an imaginary throne made of precious jewels,I offer you bath in the water of melted snow from the Himalayas,I offer you holy silken cloth to wear,I adorn you with very many precious jewels,I offer you musk and sandal,I offer you Bilwa and Champaka flowers,And I offer you the holy lamp,But all these I offer in the portal of my mind,Please God who is merciful and who is the Lord of all beings,Accept my offerings and bless me.
Souvarne nava rathna Ganda Rachithe,
pathre Grutham Payasam,
Bakshyam pancha vidam Payo dadhiyutham,
rambha phalam panakam,
Saaka namayutham jalam ruchikaram,
karpoora gandojwalam,
Thamboolam manasa maya virachitham Bhakthyo prabho sweekuru
Sweet rice in a golden bowl inlaid with the nine jewels, the five kinds of food made from milk and curd, bananas, vegetables, sweet water scented with camphor, and betel leaves - I have prepared all these in my mind with devotion. O lord, please accept them.I offer you Ghee and the sweet payasam in golden vessel ,Decorated with nine type of precious gems,I offer you five different dishes made of curd and milk,I offer you panakam made of sweet fruits,I offer you tasty sweet scented water to drink,I offer you the lamp made of camphor along with tinkling bells,And I offer you betel leaf and nut,But these are offered by my mind with utter devotion to you,So Lord Kindly accept and bless.
Chathram Chamarayoryugam vyajanagam,
chaa darshakam nirmalam,
Veena bheri mrudanga kahala kala geetha nruthyam thada,
Sasthangam pranthi sthuthir bahu vidha,
hyethat samastham maya,
Sankalpena samapitham thava vibho , poojam gruhana prabho.
I offer you a pretty stage,I offer you couple of decorative fans,I also offer you shining mirror,I offer you Veena, kettledrums, Mrudanga and a very big drum,I offer you song and dance,I offer you full prostration,I offer you several types of prayers,But all these I offer you my Lord, in my mindSo Lord kindly accept this my worship.
Aathma thwam Girija Mathi sahacharaa,
prana sarreram gruham,
Pooja theey vishayopa bhoga rachana,
nidhra samadhi sthithi,
Sanchara padayo pradakshina vidhi,
sthothrani sarva giraa,
Yadyath karma karomi thathad akhilam,
shambho thavaradhanam.
My soul is your temple my lord,My activities are thine attendants,My body is thine home,My acts to please my senses are thine worship,My act of sleep is the deep meditation on thee,All my walks with my feet are thine perambulations,What ever falls from my mouth are thine prayers,Oh Lord, everything I say and do are thine forms of worship.
Kara charana krutham vaak kayajam karmajam vaa,
Sravana nayanajam vaa maanasam vaa aparadham,
Vihithamavihitham vaa sarva methath Kshamaswa,
Jaya Jaya katunabdhe sri Mahadeva Shambho.
Please pardon Oh lordAll those acts committed by me,By hands, by action, by body orBy hearing, by my sight, or by my mind,Whether they are proper or improper..Victory oh victory, Oh, ocean of mercy,Oh, The greatest of Gods and Oh benevolent one.
Matha cha Parvathy Devi,
Pitha devo Maheswara,
Bandhava Shiva Bakthamscha,
Swadeso Bhuvana thray.
My mother is the goddess Parvathy,My father is the Lord Shiva,My friends are the devotees of ShivaAnd my native place is all the three worlds.
Sri Ganesha Chaturthi
SALUTATIONS to Lord Ganesha who is the remover of obstacles in every ones life, 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 namasthe
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 dipped 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!
Mushikavaahana modaka hastha,
Chaamara karna vilambitha sutra,
Vaamana rupa maheshwara putra,
Vighna vinaayaka paada namasthe
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 dipped 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!
Sri Gayatri Mantra
Om Bhoor Bhuva Svaha,
Tat Savitur Varenyam,
Bhargo Devasya dheemahi,
Diyo yo naha prachodayat
Background:
This is the prayer which my father Eswarachandra (my hero) taught when I was a small kid. As a kid, I was fortunate to grow in a good family with parents who constantly prayed to God with lot of Bhakti. I surely feel I might have done something really good in my previous Janma to be born to such Divine Parents.
I was an average student in School but after I started reciting this Mantra, my skills and intelligence sharpened. And I believe its Gayathri Mata blessing each time and writing knowledge on my tongue just like Goddess wrote Knowledge for Kalidasa. Ofcourse I am not Kalidasa but whatever I am today is because of reciting Gayatri Mantra and because of my Parents prayers.
Significance and Meaning of Gayatri Mantra:
Gayatri Mantra is one the holiest and powerful mantras from Vedas.
Gayatri (Sanskrit: गायत्री, gāyatrī) is the feminine form of gāyatra, a Sanskrit word for a song or a hymn. Originally the personification of the Gayatri mantra, revered by both Buddhists and Hindus worldwide, the goddess Gāyatrī is considered the veda mata, the mother of all Vedas and also the personification of the all-pervading Parabrahman, the ultimate unchanging reality that lies behind all phenomena. Gayatri Veda Mata is seen by many Hindus to be not just a Goddess, but a portrayal of Brahman himself, in the feminine form. Essentially, the Goddess is seen to combine all the phenomenal attributes of Brahman, including Past, Present and Future as well as the three realms of existence.[citation needed] Goddess Gāyatrī is also worshipped as the Hindu Trimurti combined as one. In Hinduism, there is only one creation who can withstand the brilliance of Aditya and that is Gāyatrī. Some also consider her to be the mother of all Gods and the culmination of Lakshmi, Parvati and Sarasvati.[citation needed]
Gāyatrī is typically portrayed as seated on a red lotus, signifying wealth. She appears in either of these forms:
Having five heads with the ten eyes looking in the eight directions plus the earth and sky, and ten arms holding all the weapons of Vishnu, symbolizing all her reincarnations.[citation needed]
Accompanied by a white swan, holding a book to portray knowledge in one hand and a cure in the other, as the goddess of Education.[citation needed]
Tat Savitur Varenyam,
Bhargo Devasya dheemahi,
Diyo yo naha prachodayat
Background:
This is the prayer which my father Eswarachandra (my hero) taught when I was a small kid. As a kid, I was fortunate to grow in a good family with parents who constantly prayed to God with lot of Bhakti. I surely feel I might have done something really good in my previous Janma to be born to such Divine Parents.
I was an average student in School but after I started reciting this Mantra, my skills and intelligence sharpened. And I believe its Gayathri Mata blessing each time and writing knowledge on my tongue just like Goddess wrote Knowledge for Kalidasa. Ofcourse I am not Kalidasa but whatever I am today is because of reciting Gayatri Mantra and because of my Parents prayers.
Significance and Meaning of Gayatri Mantra:
Gayatri Mantra is one the holiest and powerful mantras from Vedas.
Gayatri (Sanskrit: गायत्री, gāyatrī) is the feminine form of gāyatra, a Sanskrit word for a song or a hymn. Originally the personification of the Gayatri mantra, revered by both Buddhists and Hindus worldwide, the goddess Gāyatrī is considered the veda mata, the mother of all Vedas and also the personification of the all-pervading Parabrahman, the ultimate unchanging reality that lies behind all phenomena. Gayatri Veda Mata is seen by many Hindus to be not just a Goddess, but a portrayal of Brahman himself, in the feminine form. Essentially, the Goddess is seen to combine all the phenomenal attributes of Brahman, including Past, Present and Future as well as the three realms of existence.[citation needed] Goddess Gāyatrī is also worshipped as the Hindu Trimurti combined as one. In Hinduism, there is only one creation who can withstand the brilliance of Aditya and that is Gāyatrī. Some also consider her to be the mother of all Gods and the culmination of Lakshmi, Parvati and Sarasvati.[citation needed]
Gāyatrī is typically portrayed as seated on a red lotus, signifying wealth. She appears in either of these forms:
Having five heads with the ten eyes looking in the eight directions plus the earth and sky, and ten arms holding all the weapons of Vishnu, symbolizing all her reincarnations.[citation needed]
Accompanied by a white swan, holding a book to portray knowledge in one hand and a cure in the other, as the goddess of Education.[citation needed]
Sri Ganeshaya Namaha
Vakratunda Mahakaya Koti Surya Samaprabha
Nirvighnam kurume Deva
Sarva karyeshu Sarvadha.
This is a prayer to Lord Ganesha (Son of Parvathi and almighty Shiva) to start with auspicious things in life. Ganesha is also known as a God of Education and Knowledge. This Mantra is mainly recited to praise Lord Ganapathi and to remove all the obstacles to proceed in Life.
The meaning of the Mantra is as follows:
Oh Dear Lord Ganapathi who is known as Vakratunda which means Crooked trunk, Mahakaya - with an enormous body, Koti Surya SamaPrabha- Powerful/Bright as Millions of Sun, Nirvighnam Kurume Deva - destroy all the obstacles in life, Sarva Karyeshu Sarvadha - Please bless in all the work I do all the time.
Om Namo Ganapatheye Namaha.
Nirvighnam kurume Deva
Sarva karyeshu Sarvadha.
This is a prayer to Lord Ganesha (Son of Parvathi and almighty Shiva) to start with auspicious things in life. Ganesha is also known as a God of Education and Knowledge. This Mantra is mainly recited to praise Lord Ganapathi and to remove all the obstacles to proceed in Life.
The meaning of the Mantra is as follows:
Oh Dear Lord Ganapathi who is known as Vakratunda which means Crooked trunk, Mahakaya - with an enormous body, Koti Surya SamaPrabha- Powerful/Bright as Millions of Sun, Nirvighnam Kurume Deva - destroy all the obstacles in life, Sarva Karyeshu Sarvadha - Please bless in all the work I do all the time.
Om Namo Ganapatheye Namaha.
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