Rudri - 8- Chapter 1 - Om GAM Ganapataye Namah

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understanding. In keeping with tradition, we invoke Ganesh at the

beginning of every undertaking, and the Rudri is no exception. We

invoke Ganesh to not only remove obstacles in our path, but as

Swamiji says, "Ganesh is also Lord of Wisdom. No one can enter into

the secret without wisdom. So Ganesh was unanimously declared the

first to be worshiped in every ceremony." The term "Nidhipati",

which Swamiji has translated as "Guardian of the Treasure",reminds me

of a story in the "Ramakrishna, The Nectar of Eternal Bliss" . On

page 187, it talks about a woodcutter who

went daily to the forest to cut wood. On the way, he meets a

brahmachari, who tells him to "go forward". The simple woodcutter

takes those two words to heart, and ventures a little deeper into the

forest each day.He finds a silver mine, and then a gold mine and even

a diamond mine. He becomes wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.

Ramakrishna used this story to illustrate the riches to be found

within if one only continues to go inward with japa and sadhana.

The treasure is within each of us, and Ganapati is the guardian of

/gatekeeper to that treasure. Maa often tell us to "wake up".

Swamiji has said that the purpose of Sadhana is to awaken the

divinity inherent within each of us. By invoking

Ganesh at the beginning of our recitation of any text, in our case the

Rudri, we are asking him to help us go within ourselves and realize

the divine within. Also, here is the meaning of the word ‘Gum’ in

the verse. Swamiji says, ‘Gum is a special character which amplifies

the expression of anuswara, the sound of an atom, which means

perfection. Ga means wisdom, plus Om, the Infinite beyond conception

- the ultimate wisdom, or the wisdom of the Infinite beyond

conception. “ JAI GANESH

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