Ganesha Gayatri Mantra

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The devotees of Gamsha also do Japa of the Ganesha Gayatri Mantra. This is as follows.

Tat purushaaya vidmaheVakratundaaya dheemahiTanno 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 indices 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.

You Can Advertise HereHe 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 birthday He was going around house

to house accepting the offerings of swat puddings Having eaten a god 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 an 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 to the

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.

You Can Advertise HereIn 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!

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