Ganesha: Morning Gratitude Meditation Series
GANESHA
Ganesha or Ganapathi is the well-loved elephant-headed God of the Hindu pantheon. Ganesh is known as the son of the God Shiva and the Goddess Parvati. One of the most well-known mythical stories about Ganesha is that he was created by Parvati using clay to protect her. Shiva became jealous of Ganesha and beheaded. Shiva then replaced Ganesha's original head with that of an elephant. Ganesha is also worshipped by Jains and Buddhists.
Ganesha is widely known as the remover of all obstacles, and the God of new beginnings. In Hindu religious rites, ceremonies usually begin with an invocation and honoring of Ganesha. He usually is depicted as being pot-bellied, has one tusk broken, and four arms that often hold a noose called a pasam, an elephant goad, and a dish of Indian sweets, laddus. His appetite for these sweets is legendary and offerings of them are often left at his shrine. The noose or pasam, is a triple twine weapon. The three twines are said to represent arrogance, illusion (maya), and ignorance, which are overcome through contemplation on Ganesha.
The mantra we are going to chant for the first week is dedicated to the God Ganesha.
Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha
Sanskrit: ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Listen to this Youtube video for proper pronunciation. Click here.
It can be translated as “My salutations to Lord Ganesha.” This mantra is from the Ganapati Upanishad, a long Sanskrit writing from the Vedas all about and in adoration of Ganesha.
Om is thought to constitute the divine in the form of sound. It is the universal sound where its utterance is considered the sound of creation itself.
Gam is a beej or seed mantra, for Ganesha or Ganapati. In Tantrik tradition, the beej mantra or seed sound has a vibrational quality to it which embodies the essence of the God or Goddess. This is the part that invokes the actual energy of Ganesha.
Ganapataye is an alternative name for Ganesha.
An interesting fact about Japa meditation and chanting classical mantras is that the length of the exhales whilst chanting the mantra, is roughly six seconds, the ideal exhalation length for optimal well-being. The sound vibration produced by the mantra will resonate through the body, the subtle body, and the atmosphere of the space you are in. If you have an image or murti (statue) of Ganesha, you could place an offering near it; typical offerings are sweets, red flowers, sandoor (red vermillion powder), or anything offered with love.
