Ganesha

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/30/02 5:35:36 PM Pacific Daylight Time, tomgull

writes:

 

<< It's always auspicious to start off with a prayer to Ganesha >>

 

In my experience, Amma starts every night's bhajan session with a song to

Ganesh (at least in San Ramon.)

 

-Amalia-

[Guest guest]

It's always auspicious to start off with a prayer to Ganesha after

your Om's and Guru Mantra. There's a handful of popular

slokas/verses out there, or any of his many names will do. Just

find one you like. Examine the different names' meanings to find

one that fits your needs or life.

 

For example, Vakratunda: The one with the curved trunk.

Mantra: Om Vakratundaaya Hum (good for straighening out twisted

events, according to what I've read). I can't seem to find that

link, but it gave different Ganesh mantras for different purposes,

such as something like, "Om Kshipra Prasaadaaya Namaha" for clearing

your aura. This name of Ganesha translates to "quick-acting"

or "quick-rewarding" from what I've read.

 

 

I've also read that it's auspicious to end your meditation with an

invocation to Ganesh, however I've never seen this done.

 

Here's a page with some Ganesha names:

http://perso.club-internet.fr/ganapati/anglais/anoms.html

 

This page about a Ganapati puja mentions having the photo face East

or West but not South...

http://www.vishuji.com/ganpooja.htm

 

>From my limited understanding, alot of times the "Maha" version of a

deity is the more spiritual form or highest form. Example, Maha

Laxmi is different than regular Laxmi or Dhana Laxmi, just as Maha

Ganapati is a little different than Ganapati, Ganesha, Ekadanta,

etc. This might be confusing to some people. Another example, the

discus Sudarshana is the weapon of Vishnu, but Maha Sudarshan (still

the discus) is the expanded form of Lord Vishnu (i.e., the universe),

to my understanding.

Tom