Hinduism

The 108 Names of Ganesh

Chanting the 108 names of Lord Ganesha is part of the traditional daily worship called a Puja. It is called the Vighnesvarashtottara Satanamavalih or “garland of Ganesa’s 108 names”. The names are attributes of the Diety, each one delineating an aspect of His infinite and indescribable nature.

Each name is preceded by the mantra Aum (Om) and followed by namah (Namaha) meaning “obeisance, praise, adoration,” or “homage” to.

Aum Akhuratha Namah
One With Mouse As His Charioteer

Lord Ganesha, with a huge body, has a small mouse as his charioteer. The hugeness matters little when the study of life principles is considered. The soul may be the greatest or the smallest. This represents life in its totality and Lord Ganesha is suggestive of these cosmic aspects.


Aum Alampata Namah
The Eternal

By whose puissance this world of illusion is manifest, whose creation is this universe, who is the Lord of all gods and creation, he is the Eternal, Lord Ganesha.


Aum Amit Namah
One Who Has No Comparison

Ganesha is the embodiment of ‘OM’, the symbol of the Great God. He is the Eternal Spirit, the Beginning of all beginnings, beyond comparison.


Aum Anantachidrupamayam Namah
Infinite And Consciousness Personified

He who is the root cause of the worlds, who is uniquely manifest in the hearts of all, can be realised only by concentrated meditation. Lord Ganesha, the Infinite, is beyond distinctions and beginning.


Aum Avaneesh Namah
Master Of The Whole Earth

As a rotund, elephant-faced figure, Lord Ganesha is the Lord and Master of the whole earth.He is the protector of the visible world and leader of the helpless, destroying all evil and obstacles.


Aum Avighna Namah
Without Obstacles

The mighty, massive Ganesha, mounted on his vehicle, bestows everything desired if his devotees chant his name with fervour and devotion; He is also responsible in keeping away all obstacles from their path.


Aum Balaganapati Namah
The Beloved Child

Lord Ganesha is adored by all the gods, even by the four-faced Brahma, and Lord Indra. As the elephant-faced child, he is the colour of the rays of the rising sun.


Aum Bhalchandra Namah
Sporting The Moon Crest

A moon crest adorns the forehead of Lord Ganesha. It denotes a pot of nectar, providing divine coolness to the wearer. It also denotes intelligence and mental, enlightenment, the moon being the symbol of mind and peace.


Aum Bheema Namah
Gigantic

The massive Lord Ganesha reposes on the jewelled throne with the snare, the hamulus and the lotus flower in his hands. On his forehead reposes the moon. He is four-armed, has a single tusk, a trunk askew, a potbelly and he is gigantic.


Aum Bhoopati Namah
Lord Of The Lords

Bhoopati, also called Ganapati, is the Lord of the lords, the Master of the ganas or celestial hordes. He is worshipped by Brahma himself and is worshipped in all the three worlds.


Aum Bhoovanpati Namah
Lord Of The Lords

Bhoovanpati is the Great God Himself to whom even the Trinity – Vishnu the Protector, Shiva the Destroyer and Brahma the Creator – pay obeisance and propitiate Him to save the world from evil.


Aum Buddhinath Namah
Lord Of Wisdom

Lord Ganesha, the Lord of wisdom is the repository of all knowledge. His illimitable erudition makes even Goddess Saraswati and Sage Narada bow their heads in awe.


Aum Buddhipriya Namah
Bestower Of Knowledge

Buddhipriya, the repository of knowledge, bestows guileless discretion to the worshipper. As ruler of the Mooladhara Chakra or plexus, he arouses a person’s latent energy or life force to take him to the Divine Light.


Aum Buddhividhata Namah
God Of Wisdom

By chanting Lord Ganesha’s name day in and day out, one gets richer by imbibing all knowledge and wisdom from him, who is of enlightened heart and unwavering wisdom.


Aum Chaturbhujeti Namah
Four-Armed

The four-armed Ganesha is an embodiment of truth, discretion, having control over money power and bondage. These four arms represent the four castes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra, symbolically indicating his divinity.


Aum Devadeva Namah
Lord of All Lords

Lord Ganesha is the Master of all. He is always worshipped in the three worlds by all, and is the first to be reverenced among the celestials.


Aum Devantakanashakarin Namah
Destroyer Of Demons

Lord Ganesha, the Destroyer of evils slew the powerful demons, re-establishing righteousness and peace in the three worlds.


Aum Devavrata Namah
Accepter of All Penances

The elephant-faced Ganesha is propitiated by all as He is Auspiciousness personified. He is the granter of boons and -responds to penances of his devotees.


Aum Devendrashika Namah
Protector Of the Gods

Lord Ganesha, Protector of the gods is their beloved. With a large form, who has the mouse as his vehicle, he is the embodiment of peace and tranquillity-the giver of peace to all.


Aum Dharmik Namah
One Who Favours Charity

The Great Lord Ganesha is gentle, forgiving and compassionate. He likes to prod man with his goad to the path of righteousness and truth so that he can learn to be charitable.


Aum Dhoomravarna Namah
Smoke-Coloured Body

The smoke-hued Ganesha is the beloved Lord of gods and mortals. His body is sometimes compared with a red lotus. His hands are ornamented with gem-studded bangles and his whole smoke-coloured image is enchanting.


Aum Durja Namah
The Invincible

Ganesha, the elephant-faced, pot-bellied Lord is Infinite Strength and Power personified. He is deathless, has no beginning or end – he is invincible.


Aum Dvaimatura Namah
Son Of Two Mothers

Goddess Parvati created~ a child from the perspiration that came off her body. She lowered him into the River Ganga and he grew into a large being. Both Parvati and Ganga claimed to be his mother.


Aum Ekaakshara Namah
Of The Single Syllable

Lord Ganesha is the symbol of a single syllable ‘OM’, the symbol of the Great God. He is also known as Pranava, the sound from which the world emanated.


Aum Ekadanta Namah
He Of Single Tusk

The rotund, massive Ganesha sports a single tusk, a broken one, which symbolises him as beyond the rules of cosmic orderliness, as he is the cosmos itself. The broken tusk represents the shedding of the ego.


Aum Ekadrishta Namah
Single-Tusked

The single-tusked Ganesha stands for one direction. He gathers information from various directions, but having decided his course of direction, he does not waver. The single tusk represents the non-dualistic nature of reality.


Aum Eshanputra Namah
Son Of Shiva

Lord Ganesha is the elder son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. He is the elephant-faced son, having a simple broken tusk and a trunk that is askew. He is the delight of them.


Aum Gadadhara Namah
Wielder Of The Mace

As Gadadhara, Lord Ganesha wields powerful weapons for destroying demons of evil. The gada or Mace is the divine weapon used to wipe out evil and slay the asuras.


Aum Gajakarna Namah
Elephant-Eyed

The elephant-eyed Ganesha is the embodiment of goodness and virtue, his size belying his non-violent nature. The small eyes radiate wisdom and compassion, powerful, yet gentle.


Aum Gajanana Namah
Elephant-Faced

Lord Ganesha in the form of Gajanana, with an elephant face, is deemed to be a very auspicious symbol, warding off possible mishaps and troubles. He stands for power and strength.


Aum Gajananeti Namah
Elephant-Faced

The elephant-faced Lord Ganesha is one-tusked, has a large, body with a huge belly, and is capable of destroying all obstacles.


Aum Gajavakra Namah
Elephant Trunk

Ganesha with his twisted trunk is symbolic of his vast knowledge and powers of discrimination, vital for spiritual progress. The curved trunk is shaped like ‘OM’ also symbolic of the life force energy.


Aum GajavaktraNamah
Elephant-Mouthed

The elephant-mouthed Ganesha is very fond of sweets. With a huge belly signifying wealth and the modaka sweet in his hand, symbolic of the sweetness of the realised Inner Self, he personifies love.


Ganadhakshya
Lord Of The Celestial Hordes

Lord Ganesha is the Chief of the group of gods, the. celestials. He is the first to be worshipped by the gods and mortals alike. He is the Lord of all he surveys, the Master of the earth, the universe, the cosmos, all creation.


Aum Ganadhyakshina Namah
Lord Of The Celestials

Lord Ganesha is the Lord of the gods and is the beloved of all. As the Chief and Supreme God among gods, he is worshipped by all.


Aum Ganapati Namah
Lord Of The Ganas

Lord Ganesha is also called Ganapati, the Lord of the celestial hordes. He is the Supreme Deity, Lord Almighty, who rules over the entire kingdom of the gods.


Aum Gaurisuta Namah
Son Of Gauri

Gauri is another name of Goddess Parvati. Gaurisuta is Lord Ganesha, the deft son of Gauri. He enlightens and causes his mother’s face to blossom with his love and devotion.


Aum Gunina Namah
Lord Of All Virtues

Gunina, the Lord of all virtues, is Grace personified, making everything auspicious. His immense grace and radiance is supreme and ethereal, and is adored by one and all.


Aum Haridra Namah
The Golden One

Lord Ganesha, although smoke-coloured, is the Golden One, as he has a moon crest on his forehead, a sacred thread in the form of a serpent round his body, cheeks anointed with a vermilion paste, glowing golden like the rays of the sun.


Aum Heramba Namah
Beloved Of The Mother

Lord Ganesha is Heramba, the fire-headed Protector of the weak. He is his mother’s beloved, and is her protector.


Aum Kapil Namah
Tawny-Coloured

The tawny-coloured elephant-faced Ganesha is the God of wisdom who teaches that the path of success and achievement is through the use of intellect, and that through wisdom alone can one reach salvation.


Aum Kaveesha Namah
Lord Of Poets

Ganesha is the Lord of wisdom from whom emanates knowledge that is divine. All poets invoke his grace before picking up their pens, for he is the Lord of poets from whose divine pen flow divine words.


Aum Kirti Namah
Lover Of Music

Lord Ganesha is Nada Brahman, Lord of music. He is the repository of knowledge and a mine of virtues from whom emanates illimitable erudition, and cosmic music and rhythm.


Aum Kripakaram Namah
Who Is Merciful

Lord Ganesha, as Kripakaram, wavy with profound kindness, is the sea exhibited by his eyes. He is ever Merciful and the beacon of divine fight.


Aum Krishapingaksha Namah
Black- Yellowish -Brown -Eyed

Lord Ganesha, whose, eyes radiate power, compassion, wisdom and love, is omnipotent and infinite. His small eyes dazzle with the exuberance of the fight of a million suns, entire kingdom of the gods.


Aum Kshamakaram Namah
Abode Of Forgiveness

Constant and regular chanting of Lord Ganesha’s name is a sure path for atonement of sins. He is the abode of forgiveness, the seat of compassion, and most forgiving. Repose faith in him and he will protect you.


Aum Kshipra Namah
Quick-Acting

Handsome of appearance and red in colour like the hibiscus flower, he holds his broken tusk, noose, goad, and sprig of the wish-fulfilling tree in his, hands and a pot of precious gems in his trunk.


Aum Lambakarna Namah
Large-Eared

The large-eared Ganesha is a mine of information gathered from all directions. His large ears are used for winnowing information, retaining only the essentials.


Aum Lambodara Namah
Huge-Bellied

The big-bellied Ganesha is the symbol of the whole universe-all that is conceivable in the whole cosmos- from which all events of the world emerge. It is symbolic of his capacity to assimilate the whole information.


Aum Mahabala Namah
Extremely Strong

Lord Ganesha, with his huge body, is symbolic of the cosmos or the universe. He is extremely strong and powerful, endowed with intellectual prowess.


Aum Mahaganapati Namah
The Omnipotent And All-Powerful

Lord Ganesha, the Almighty, the Supreme Infinite, is omnipotent and all powerful. His infinite form is beyond man’s comprehension, and is limitless.


Aum Maheshwaram Namah
Lord Of The Universe

Maheshwaram, from whom the universe is born, is the Eternal Brahman. All the elements-earth, fire, air, water and ether-are manifest in him. He is the Supreme Lord of the universe.


Aum Mangalamoorti Namah
The Auspicious

Lord Ganesha is the personification of all that is auspicious. He who was worshipped by Lord Shiva before his vanquishing Tripurasur, by Lord Vishnu before his tying of Bali in the rope, by Lord Brahma before creating the world, by Parvati before her slaying the demon Manisha, is Mangalamoorti.


Aum Manomay Namah
Conqueror Of One’s Heart

Lord Ganesha is the God of all people, big and small, educated and illiterate. He is compassionate and forgiving, wise and intellectual. With his huge body, gentle eyes and calm countenance, he fills one’s heart with love.


Aum Mritunjaya Namah
Deathless

The Infinite Lord Ganesha has no beginning or end. He is deathless and the root cause of the creation. He is the embodiment of ‘OM’, the symbol of the Great God who has no end and is invincible.


Aum Mudakaram Namah
Abode Of Joy

Lord Ganesha is the home of Siddhi and Buddhi, the repository of knowledge and the abode of joy. He bestows happiness and welfare to all.


Aum Muktidaya Namah
Giver Of Eternal Peace

Muktidaya is Lord Ganesha who grants security to his devotees, thereby providing eternal peace. He destroys all the obstacles that one may face when entreated by his devotees.


Aum Musikvahan Namah
He With The Mouse As His Vehicle

Lord Ganesha, with I his massive body, favours the Mouse as his beloved vehicle. The mouse, known to cause great havoc, is kept under the control of Ganesha by serving as his vehicle.


Aum Nadapratithista Namah
Lover Of Music

Lord Ganesha is symbolic of the music and rhythm of the cosmos. He loves music and sometimes a veena is one of the attributes seen in his hands. He is the patron of music and dance.


Aum Namasthetu Namah
Destroyer Of All Sins

Lord Ganesha is the sea-fire to end the sea. He purges the devotees of all sins by incinerating the sins and impieties by his holy fire.


Aum Nandana Namah
Son Of Lord Shiva

Nandana, son of Lord Shiva, is the mind-born son of Lord Shiva, or, as popularly believed, the creation of Parvati. He is the elder son of Shankara, and the beloved of his mother, Uma.


Aum Nideeswaram Namah
Master Of All Kinds Of Treasures

Lord Ganesha, the repository of knowledge, is adorable, with his plump body, his tusk broken and single. His is the Lord of all wealth-material as well as spiritual-endowed with intrinsic qualities that command the respect of all.


Aum Pashin Namah
One Who Sits Like A Rock

Lord Ganesha is Infinite and Consciousness personified, solid and unwavering like a rock, who is unshakeable, invincible, the seat of infinite power, the pure essence of luminous mind.


Aum Pitambar Namah
Wearer Of Yellow Clothes

Lord Ganesha, who wears clothes of white and yellow, personifies purity and uniqueness. With a deep knowledge of the self, he is the eternal spirit who is changeless yet causes change all around.


Aum Pramod Namah
Lord Of The Place

As Pramod, Lord Ganesha is the only refuge of the shelterless as he is Lord of the place. He is the Lord of the gods, the repository of wisdom, the seat of spiritual awakening, from whom creation has come.


Aum Prathameshvar Namah
One Who Holds The First Place

Lord Ganesha, the eternal spirit, the Brahman, is the God of Auspiciousness, holding the first place. He is the Beginning of all beginnings, worshipped by Mahesha and other gods.


Aum Purush Namah
The Supreme Authority

Lord Ganesh is Punish, the Supreme Authority. He is the Omniscient Lord Almighty who rules over the entire universe. He is the Ultimate Reality, the One Truth, the Manifest Spirit.


Aum Rakta Namah
Red-coloured

Lord Ganesha’s body hue is compared to the red lotus and his tusk to the vermilion blood marks when it is thrust into his enemies for destruction.


Aum Rudrapriya Namah
Beloved Of Shiva

Lord Ganesha, the beloved son of Shiva, is the Master of all, whose virtuous qualities are orisoned by even the creator, Brahma. He is Shiva’s revered and noble son.


Aum Sarvadevatman Namah
Accepter Of Celestial Offerings

As Lord of the gods, Lord Ganesha is happy to accept the loving offerings of the celestials. They adore and worship him, and as their Master, and he bestows his grace on them.


Aum Sarvasiddhanta Namah
Provider of Adeptness To His Disciples

The repository of wisdom and knowledge, Lord Ganesha bestows success on his devotees. He who chants his name continually will be sure of being blessed with the ability to be adept in all his actions.


Aum Sarvatman Namah
Blesser Of The Universe

He who dwells in every heart in a secret manner, by whose command this entire world exists, who is Infinite and the Enlighter of the hearts, by knowledge, he is Sarvatman, Lord Ganesha.


Aum Shambhavi Namah
Son Of Parvati

Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shankar and Goddess Parvati. He is the playfully deft son and is adored by his parents. He enlightens and causes his mother’s face to blossom with love for him.


Aum Shashivarnam Namah
Moon – Complexioned

He who is attired in a white garment and who is all pervading, is Lord Ganesha, the elephant-faced Lord with a moon-complexion that glows brightly, indicating mental enlightenment, the moon being the symbol of peace.


Aum Shoorpakarnai Namah
Large-Eared

Lord Ganesha is the Lord with large ears. These large ears serve the purpose of gathering information from all possible directions. Like a winnowing basket, His ears are receptive and attuned to every mortal’s cry of woe or praise.


Aum Shuban Namah
One Who Is Auspicious

A prayer to Lord Ganesha precedes all worship for he is auspicious and nothing can take place without invoking his name. For, he is the remover of obstacles in one’s path, and the guarantor of success in. all ventures.


Aum Shubhagunakanan Namah
Mine Of All Virtues

Lord Ganesha is the Lord of all treasures and virtues; symbolic of perfection and infinite beauty he is compassionate, forgiving, endearing and protector of all that is good.


Aum Shweta Namah
White Colour

The huge-bellied Lord Ganesha, with an elephant face, a single-tusk which is askew, has his body and clothes white, being worshipped on the shore of ocean of milk with white flowers. His face beams the beatitude.


Aum Siddhidhata Namah
Bestower Of Success

The chanting of Lord Ganesha’s name will pay rich dividends in the form of being bestowed with success. The Lord is the bestower of the desired abilities.


Aum Siddhipriya Namah
Bestower Of Boons

Siddhipriya is Lord Ganesha who grants the desires and boons of his devotees. Being compassionate and large-hearted the elephant-faced Ganesha fulfills the wishes of worshippers.


Aum Siddhivinayaka Namah
Bestower Of Success

Lord Ganesha’s huge pot-belly is symbolic of wealth and success. He bestows both on his devotees, being the kind and compassionate Lord who grants them boons and showers them with success.


Aum Skandapoorvaja Namah
Older Than Skanda

Ganesha is the older son of Shiva and Parvati, and brother of Skanda (Karthik). He is the destroyer of the asura’s pride, and protector of the weak and helpless. He protects and loves his brother Skanda.


Aum Sumukha Namah
Of Auspicious And Pleasant Visage

His strange visage is in the form of ‘OM’, the sound symbolic of the cosmic reality. Ganesha, with the bulky body, stands for the cosmos in its entirety. He is the symbol of auspiciousness.


Aum Sureshwaram Namah
Lord Of All The Gods

Sureshwaram is Lord Ganesha as Head of the ganas or celestials. He is the Supreme Being, the Foremost Being, the very cause of the creation of the cosmos Lord Almighty.


Aum Swaroop Namah
Lover Of Beauty

Lord Ganesha, the Master of resourcefulness and perfection in all spheres, is a lover of beauty. His awkward body signifies that outward form has no connection with inner beauty and spiritual perfection.


Aum Tarun Namah
The Youthful

The young Ganesha, ever youthful, is Wisdom personified. His huge body takes on the colour of red like the noonday sun, depicting the strength of, youth.


Aum Uddanda Namah
Punisher Of Evil

Uddanda is Lord Ganesha as punisher of evil. He also forgives those who seek his pardon. He is the vanquisher of demons and remover of all obstacles.


Aum Umaputra Namah
Son Of Uma

Uma, another name of Parvati, desired to have a son. Lord Shiva granted her wish and Ganesha took form. He is the beloved son of Uma, her delight, and obedient servant, ever ready to serve her.


Aum Vakratunda Namah
Askew-Trunked

Lord Ganesha, the single-tusked one, is attributed with an askew proboscis or trunk, which symbolises power, capable of destroying all obstacles and evil.


Aum Varaganapati Namah
Bestower Of Boons

Ganesha is the bestower of all fruits of desire and granter of all adeptness that his worshippers seek. He is magnanimous and forgiving, being a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.


Aum Varaprada Namah
Granter Of Boons

Lord Ganesha grants boons to his devotees. He is most efficacious. He gives knowledge to the seeker of wisdom, prosperity to those desiring wealth, issues to the childless, and guidance to the attainment of spiritual liberation.


Aum Varadavinayaka Namah
Bestower Of Bounty And Success

The massive Ganesha, the granter of boons to his devotees, is the guarantor of success in all ventures. His devotees need never fear failure. As the benefactor of his devotees, he is greatly adored by them.


Aum Veeraganapati Namah
The Valiant Warrior

The red-complexioned Ganesha is sometimes attributed with eight pairs of arms, holding a bow, arrow, goblin, spear, hammer, mace, pick-axe, serpent, banner, trident, discus, goad, noose, battleaxe, sword and shield – all signs of a valiant warrior.


Aum Vidyavaridhi Namah
Repository Of All Knowledge

Lord Ganesha is the God of wisdom. He incinerates ignorance by his divine fire and enlightens by his knowledge. He is a gold mine of knowledge and wisdom.


Aum Vignahara Namah
Destroyer Of Evil

Vignahara is Lord Ganesha, who, like a vigorous wind, scatters away and destroys the dark clouds of evil. His name’s mere recollection removes all sins.


Aum Vignaharta Namah
Destroyer Of Obstacles

Lord Ganesha is a veritable sceptre that destroys all obstacles. He is the destroyer of multitudes of obstacles, destroyer of all afflictions.


Aum Vighnanashin Namah
Destroyer Of Obstacles

The askew-trunked Ganesha, also called Vighnanashin, is the destroyer of all impediments. He is the destroyer of darkness created by obstacles.


Aum Vighnaraja Namah
Lord Of All Obstacles

The veritable sceptre to destroy all objects, Lord Ganesha is invincible. He is the inimitable jungle fire who destroys the jungle of troubles for his devotees. He is the destroyer of multitudes of obstacles.


Aum Vighnarajendra Namah
Lord Of All Obstacles

The noble Ganesha is the King of all the factors causing obstacles. He causes obstacles for the demons and enemies, causing them to stumble and be vanquished.


Aum Vighnavinashanaya Namah
Destroyer Of All Afflictions

The four-armed Ganesha is sometimes attributed with eight pairs of hands that are symbolic of destruction of evil. He protects his devotees by destroying all afflictions.


Aum Vigneshwar Namah
Lord Of All Obstacles

Vigneshwar, the only sun to destroy the darkness caused by obstacles, the only fire to incinerate the jungle of impediments, the only Garuda to browbeat the haughty snakes of troubles, is the Lord of all obstacles.


Aum Vikat Namah
Of The Monstrous Figure

Lord Ganesha, the most adorable one, adored by all gods, is endowed with a huge, monstrous body, symbolising unity of the primeval forest denizen with man – combining the physical energies of mortals.


Aum Vinayaka Namah
Lord Of All

As Vinayaka, Lord Ganesha is the Supreme Leader of all, being endowed with special qualities. He is the Chief of all the celestial demi-gods, and is ever adored by them.


Aum Vishwamukha Namah
Lord Of The Universe

Lord Ganesha is the Supreme Reality, the Atman of all. He is the witness of all that is happening in the world. He is the Lord of the universe, the Supreme Being who has no beginning, who has no end.


Aum Yagnakaya Namah
Accepter of Sacrificial Fires

The calm and majestic Ganesha, with the strength and power of an elephant, is the Lord of the universe. He evokes great love and accepts the sacrificial fires offered to him by gods and mortals.


Aum Yashaskaram Namah
Giver Of Fame And Glory

Lord Ganesha is worshipped by both the devas and the asuras, for he is the Lord of the gods. He gives prosperity, fame and glory to-all the worlds, shining with a lustrous glow.


Aum Yashvasin Namah
The Popular

The pot-bellied, askew-trunked single-tusk Ganesha is popularly the beloved of all. He is the subject of those who sing his praise, the jewel from whose face flows nectar.


Aum Yogadhipa Namah
Lover Of Meditation

Lord Ganesha is the fountainhead of wisdom, the Great God ‘ that Eternal Truth, that Eternal Reality. His name is chanted at the beginning and end of meditation at all times.

Other Ganesh Mantras

  • Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah.

This is the mantra of invocation, adoration and worship. It means ” Praise to Lord Ganesha“. It is repeated at the beginning of religious ceremonies and mantra recitation to invoke Ganesha’s blessings for the auspicious beginning of a task, project, change of life, community undertaking or simply to offer Him praise.

This mantra is usually taught to children for their good education. It increases their memory power, and they become successful in their examinations. Of course, people of any age may use this mantra when taking courses in a school or university, and for success in attaining their degree.

  • Aum Gum Ganapataye Namaha.

This is Lord Ganesha’s mula (“root”) mantra. It is also known as His bija mantra, for it combines Ganesha’s bija (“seed”) sound, “gum,” with the phrase, “Praise be to Ganapati.” This is a mantra from Ganapati Upanishad. One may always use it before beginning a journey, new career or job, or before entering into any new contract or business so that impediments are removed and your endeavor may be crowned with success.

  • Aum Vakratundaya Hum.

This is a very powerful mantra. When something is not working properly, individually or universally, nationally or internationally, or when the minds of the people turn crooked, negative, depressed or discouraged, the attention of Ganesha may be drawn by this mantra to straighten their ways. The HUM symbolizes “Delay no more, my Lord, in straightening the paths of the crooked-minded ones.”

In addition, this mantra could also be used for healing any spinal deficiency, such as curvature of the spine or curved limbs. Dedicate 1,008 repetitions of this holy word to straighten and heal such deficiencies.

  • Aum Kshipra Prasadaya Namah.

Kshipra means instantaneous. If some danger or negative energy is coming your way and you don’t know how to get rid of that trouble, with true devotion, practice this mantra for quick blessing and purification of one’s aura.

  • Aum Shrim Hrim Klim Glaum Gam Ganapataye Vara Varada Sarva Janamme Vashamanaya Svaha.

There are several bija (seed) mantras in this mantra . Among other things, it signals, “Shower Your blessings, O Lord. I offer my ego as an oblation.”

  • Aum Sumukhaya Namah.

This mantra has a lot of meaning, but to make it simple, it means you will be always very beautiful in soul, in spirit,in face, everything. By meditating on this mantra, very pleasing manners and a beauty comes on you. Along with that comes peace, which constantly dances in your eyes; and the words you speak are all filled with that power of love.

  •  Aum Ekadantaya Namah.

Ekadanta refers to one tusk in the elephant face, which means God broke the duality and made you to have a one-pointed mind. Whoever has that oneness of mind and single-minded devotion will achieve everything.

  • Aum Kapilaya Namah.

Kapila (red) means that you are able to give color therapy. You are able to create colors around yourself and around others, bathe them in that color and heal them. As per the mantra you create, so will you create the colors. Another meaning is “wish cow,” the “cow of plenty.” It means that whatever you wish, that comes true. There is a wish-cow inside you. Whatever you wish, especially for healing others, comes true immediately.

  • Aum Gajakarnikaya Namah.

The ears of Ganesha, the elephant, are constant fanning, which means people may talk a lot,but you are not receiving inside anything other than that which is important.It also means that you can sit anywhere and tune this cosmic television (the body) with seven channels (chakras) and all 72,000 nadis, to any loka and be able to hear ancestors, angels, the voice of God or the voice of prophets. That kind of inner ear you will develop through this mantra.

  • Aum Lambodaraya Namah.

This means you feel that you are this universe. It means that all the universes are within you. Like an entire tree is in the seed, the whole universe is in the sound of creation, which is Aum, and that Aum consciousness in you makes you feel that you are the universe. Therefore, if you say, realizing the oneness with the universe, “shanti to the world” every day, then the grace of God will come and there will be world peace, universal peace. It is the universes within Aum and Aum within you.

  • Aum Vikataya Namah.

This means realizing this world as a dream or a drama. When you are in that high consciousness, this whole world looks like a dream. All of us have taken a role. We have to play our role in life as wife or husband or children or citizens, all consistent with the role we have taken.

When an actor bitten by a sponge cobra that is brought on the stage falls, the entire audience cries; but that boy who has fallen knows it was not a real cobra and he is not dead. Life is a drama –definitely life in this material world, this physical world of ego, is a drama. But inside, like the boy on the stage who is quite happy knowing that he didn’t die by the bite of the sponge cobra, like that, the truth never dies in us; it is immortal. So everything else you consider as drama. That consciousness comes to you by knowing this mantra.

  • Aum Vighna Nashanaya Namah.

This mantra invokes the Lord Ganesha to remove every impediment in your life and in your works. By constant meditation on this mantra, all obstacles and blocked energy in your physical and astral bodies are released.

  • Aum Vinayakaya Namah.

Vinayaka is the name of Ganesha in the golden age. So by realizing this mantra, your life will have a golden age. In your office, in your work, you’ll be the boss. Vinayaka means something under control. Vinayaka means the Lord of problems.

  • Aum Ganadhyakshaya Namah.

This mantra is so important. Suppose you have a group, a country, neighbors, or any kind of group therapy, group healing or a whole country needing healing, then you have to bring that entire group to your mind’s arena and say this mantra. A group healing takes place by this mantra.

  • Aum Bhalachandraya Namah.

In Sanskrit, bhala means the forehead center. Chandra means the crescent moon. Bhalachandra means that chakra from where the nectar drips. That is the secret of all healing. It is to feel yourself as Siva, identifying yourself with the Truth and feeling constantly that you are carrying the crescent moon, the symbol of growth and nectar and peace.

from Loving Ganesa
by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

The Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

From the Pagan Calendar, we have this great info about the Ganesh Chaturthi:

Vinayaka Chaturthi – also known as Ganesh Chaturthi – is a Hindu holiday festival that is observed on on the fourth waxing moon day during the month of Bhadrapada. This is around August or September on the Gregorian Calendar. The purpose of this festival is to honor the very popular Hindu God Ganesha, also known as Vinayaka.

  • Dates vary from year to year.
  • In 2018, the festival runs from September 12 thru Sept 23.

The concept of Ganesh Chaturthi is that Ganesha comes to the home of his devotees on Ganesh Chaturthi day. He brings auspiciousness, hope, success and happiness to all homes. During His brief stay, He removes all obstacles. While returning He takes with him all problems and unhappiness.

Vinayaka Chaturthi is a festival that allows people to call on the power of Ganesh and to receive help from him in removing all of the obstacles that hinder their spiritual or mental path. It is also a time to ask for help in developing spiritual strength and resolve. It is a festival of great hope, joy and celebration that can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of class or wealth.

This remains one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the Country, partly because Ganesh is one of the most popular deities for worship. Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is the supreme god of knowledge, wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. He is the Lord who is first worshiped before any holy occasion or puja.

His blessings are often invoked at religious ceremonies as he is the one who can remove all obstacles to success, particularly when people are starting a new business or enterprise. Ganesh is known as the giver of fortune and one who can help to avoid natural calamities. Ganesh is also the patron god of travelling.

Lord Vinayaka is revered as the preserver of all good things and prevents Vigna (meaning obstruction/bad omen). His motto is Shubh-Laabh (good prospect and good prosperity).

The Significance of the Festival

Hindus believe that during Ganesh Chaturthi, Lord Ganesh visits his people on the earth to personally attend to their prayers. Therefore the divine energy of Lord Ganesh descends on the earth in large measures during the event. The idols of Ganesh newly bought and installed act as antennas to receive the energies of Lord Ganesh and transfer them to the people during worship. After the worship, this is why the idols specially installed for the puja are immersed marking the sendoff.

How the Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated:

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great devotion all over India. People bring home murtis (Idols) of Lord Ganesha and celebrate the festival by worshiping the Lord in a special way for a day and a half, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days or 11 days depending on the family tradition and commitment of each individual.

In certain parts of India, such as Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, the festival is celebrated for ten days and is a very public occasion. Elsewhere it may celebrated in homes, where hymns are sung and offerings made to Ganesh. Sweets are a common offering as Hindu legend has it that Ganesh liked them. On the last day of worship the idol is taken out in a colorful and musical procession to be immersed traditionally at a beach.

Rituals during the festival include:

  • Pranapratishhtha – the process of infusing the deity into a murti or idol.

Several months before the start of Vinayaka Chaturthi, a large clay statue of Ganesha is crafted. There is no set size limit for this murti, it can be smaller than an inch or be over twenty feet tall, depending on the person making it. This murti is then either placed in homes or set up in specially made tents so that people can pay respect to it.

If you are interested in making one of your own, here’s a link to a short simple tutorial on how to make one out of paper mache. Some artistic ability is helpful but not required. Make A Paper Mache Ganesh

Ganesh Chaturthi starts with the installation of these Ganesh statues in colorfully decorated homes and specially erected temporary structures mantapas (pandals or colorful temporary shrines) in every locality. The mantapas are decorated specially for the festival, either by using decorative items like flower garlands, small banana saplings, lights, etc or are theme based decorations, which depict religious themes or current events.

The statues are worshiped with families and friends. The priest, usually clad in red silk dhoti and shawl, then invokes life into the statue amidst the chanting of mantras. This ritual, also known as Pranapratishhtha, is done to breathe life into the idol.

  • Shhodashopachara – 16 forms of paying tribute to Ganesha.

After life is breathed into the image of Ganesh, people pay respect to the murti by offering it all kinds of different items. The offerings include 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass, red flowers, coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas. The statue is anointed with Kumkum and Sandalwood paste. Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda, the Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and the Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted.

For the next ten days, the statue is worshiped.

  • Uttar Puja – saying farewell before the murti is moved.

Uttar Puja is performed in order to provide a farewell to Lord Ganesh just before the immersion. Here is the step by step procedure of Uttar Puja.

Light a lamp near the idol and decorate the idol with flowers. The puja will consist of offering Achamaniyam (water to drink), Sankalp (determination), chandanarpan (sandal paste), pushpa puja (puja with flowers), Durvarpan (offering durva grass), dhopp and deep darshan (offering incense and camphor light), Nivedan (offering some dishes and fruits). Say the prayers, chant Ganesh mantras and then do arati. Then do namaskar and move the idol a little with your right hand to mark the conclusion of uttar puja.

  • Ganpati Visarjan – immersion of the idol in the river.

On the eleventh day, after the Uttar puja, the Ganesh idols are taken in procession with a huge fanfare to the water bodies. The crowds shout the names of Ganesh in ecstasy and make the procession a colorful and vibrant event. The idols taken in the procession are of different sizes, models and colors. They are carried through the streets for all to see. When this has concluded, people once again pay homage one last time before they are taken to the river and submersed.

The divine energies in the idols are transferred to the waters and then to the larger world. Therefore through the process of Visarjan, three objectives of the devotees are fulfilled namely saying thanks to Ganesh for the favors received, giving a sendoff to the Lord and sending the divine powers of the Lord for the benefit of all.

The idols are immersed one by one in the waters either manually or with the help of a crane. Usually, curd rice or puffed rice is made a bundle and sent along with the idol as a mark of giving food for the deity to have while journeying. After the visarjan, some sand is collected from the spot and sprinkled around the home.

  • Alternatively:

Many of the Ganesh idols will be placed outside under Bodhi Trees (Sacred Fig). The Bodhi tree is revered as a great source of remedies and is used to treat up to 50 different ailments. It also has a unique ability in that it can produce Oxygen at night-time instead of Carbon Dioxide. These healthy aspects of the tree make it a popular place for people to go to worship, as it is seen a great healer to naturally cure illnesses.

Performing A Puja At Home:

Every Hindu puja starts with the invocation of God in the object of worship in order to accept the puja and prayers. After the puja, there is a ritual called ‘Yathasthan’ meaning giving a sendoff to the deity worshiped. This is the spirit and logic behind Ganesh Visarjan also. Spiritually, this process prepares a man to move from the form to the formless state of God.

Here are the things which you will need for Ganesh Chaturthi Puja.

  • An idol of Lord Ganesh.
  • Chandan or sandalwood paste.
  • Red flowers, preferably Hibiscus flowers.
  • Incense sticks.
  • Durva grass.
  • Modakas (here’s a recipe) or any sweet made at home after taking bath and without having any food.
  • Some fruits.
  • A Chaurang or elevated table to place the idol.
  • A cloth to cover the table and things to decorate it like lights.
  • Diya to light in front of the idol for Aarti.

Preparation for Ganesh Chaturthi Puja at Home

Sweep and wipe clean your house. Bring the idol of Ganesh at home and you can invite your friends and relatives for the Puja. Let your entire family gather at the time of Puja. Recite Ganesh Shlokas to welcome the Lord in your house.

Many families invite Pandits or Brahmins to do Ganesh Chaturthi Puja at home so that they can perform the Puja of Lord Ganesh the right way. For any Puja or Vrat you need two things – cleanliness and devotion. This will help you get the blessings of Lord Ganesh.

  • Clean your house and take bath. Wear fresh clothes and get ready for the puja.
  • Prepare the Ganesh mandap with coconut or banana leaves. You can use mango leaves and flowers also to decorate it. Some decorate it with leaves of the Ashoka tree.
  • A pot filled with water and rice is installed near the idol of Lord Ganesh.
  • Now place the idol of Lord Ganesh saying ‘Om Ganeshay Namah’.
  • Start the Puja by chanting 108 names of Lord Ganesh or chant simple Ganesh mantras.
  • Light the Diya or lamp and offer Aarti to the Lord by singing hymns especially dedicated to Ganesh or Ganesh Aarti.
  • Offer Naivaidya of special recipes and fruits to Ganesh Jee.

There is a significance of number 21 in this Puja and so people offer 21 Durva grass blades and 21 Modaks. 21 signify – 5 organs of perception, 5 organs of action, 5 vital airs, 5 elements and the mind.

However, when you are performing Ganesh Chaturthi Puja at home you can be flexible. All you need to have is clean body and mind and the thing that is most important is devotion and not the ritual. So, try to keep things simple and concentrate on the Puja.

Make a Papier Mache Ganesh

A simple method for a paper mache Ganesh. Some artistic ability is helpful, but if you are willing to simply get in there and have fun, it might surprise you how easy it could turn out to be!

The materials needed are:

  • Paper mache
  • Latex or other water-based paint in a variety of colors
  • Gold-leaf or metallic gold paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Sand paper
  • Putty or joint compound
  • Miscellaneous ornaments and cloth for dressing the image
  • Replicas of the various implements he will be holding

Instructions:

  • Mix paper mache to a firm but homogeneously wet consistency.
  • Make an armature (skeleton) of wood, Styrofoam, or similar material.
  • Create the image by covering the armature with paper mache.
  • Make implements for each hand and make sure they can be inserted and glued later when the image is dry
  • Brush the exterior smooth with a wet brush.
  • Let the image dry in a cool place, away from the sunlight. (Drying time is usually one month for every foot in height for a clay image, three weeks for paper mache.)
  • When dry, sand with coarse, then fine sandpaper
  • Fill cracks with putty or joint compound.
  • Sand again
  • Apply a white primer and sand with very fine sandpaper.
  • Make the image dust-free.
  • Paint the torso, head, trunk, and limbs
  • Use red paint and a fine brush for the Aum, swastika, and other – symbols.
  • Paint, decorate, and/or assemble the various implements
  • Place appropriate dress (traditionally white or red silk) upon the image.
  • Glue the implements into the hands
  • Decorate the image with ornaments, flowers, etc.

adapted from Loving Ganesa
by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

An alternative method can be explored with this visual tutorial from Hobby Ideas:

How Ganesh Came Into Being


The legend behind the birth of Ganesha is as follows:

It is said that Goddess Parvati, before taking an elaborate bath, wanted someone to stand guard at the door.

Not finding anyone, she created the idol of a child from the sandalwood paste that she had applied on herself, and breathed life into it. She told the boy she had created not to let anyone in, and went to have her bath. When her husband, Lord Shiva came home, the child could not recognise him and refused to let him in. Shiva was furious, and severed the head of the child.

When she learnt that the child she had created was dead, Parvati was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him immediately. Shiva ordered his lieutenants to get the head of any creature that was sleeping with its head facing north. The servants returned with the head of an elephant. Shiva joined the elephant’s head to the boy’s body, and Parvati’s child lived again.

The legend also says that Shiva made the boy the leader of his armies. Hence, the name Ganesha, meaning ‘god of the army’.

A Hymn To Ganesha

A Renowned Five-Jeweled Hymn by
Sri Adi Sankara (798-820)
Free-Flowing Translation by J. Sethuraman

Maha Ganesa Pancharatna Stotram

I bow to Vinayaka
Who, with glee, holds a half-eaten modaka in His hand,
Who is the ever-present means of moksha
Who has the moon as an ear ornament,
Who protects all the worlds,
Who is the single leader for those who are lost without anybody to help them,
Who destroyed the elephant demon and
Who swiftly removes the blemishes of those who bow to Him.

I seek refuge of the great Lord Vinayaka
Who is higher than the highest,
Who is everlasting,
Who is ferocious to others than those that bow to Him,
Who is resplendent as the newly rising sun,
Worshiped by both demons and Gods,
The savior of those that bow to Him from all their miseries,
The lord of all the Gods,
The lord of all wealth,
The elephant God,
And Ganesvara, the lord of the ganas.

I bow to the resplendent one
Who bestows peace to all the worlds,
Who conquered the elephant demon,
Who has not a small belly,
The excellent one,
Who has a beautiful elephant face,
Who is eternal,
Who is kind,
Who is forgiving,
Who gives happiness,
Who bestows fame and
Who satisfies every wish of those that bow to him.

I worship the ancient elephant God
who shares the misery of the poor,
the fit receptacle of all the ancient prayers,
the first son of the enemy of the three cities (Shiva),
the shatterer of the pride of the demons,
the fierce destroyer of the worlds,
decorated by fire and other elements, and
whose elephant cheeks are flowing with must
(the rut that flows from the cheeks of male elephants.)

I constantly think of Him alone,
the single-tusked one,
With a lovingly brilliant tusk,
The son of the destroyer of the sacrifice (Shiva),
With a form that cannot be comprehended,
With no end,
Who tears asunder all doubts, and
Who is verily like spring to the yogis who hold Him in their hearts all the time.

One who repeats every day
The Maha Ganesha Pancharatna Stotram
With reverence
In the mornings or evenings
while holding Ganesvara in his heart
He, very quickly,
Will be joined by
Good health, blemishlessness, good fellowship, good children, long life,
and the eight vibhutis (powers).

from Loving Ganesa
by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

How To Meditate

For the purpose of this project, we are recommending the “unstructured” meditation practice. In the “unstructured” meditation practice, we simply substitute the mantra for our normal mental chatter.

Whenever you feel angry, uncomfortable, unhappy, frustrated, upset, scared, bored, unsure, or unloved, simply begin to think (or say) the mantra. If you notice that you are dwelling on unpleasant experiences in the past, experiencing unhappiness in the present present or envisioning a disastrous future – just go back to thinking the mantra. Any time you find yourself in the grip of worry, guilt, or fear – this just means it’s time to begin thinking the mantra again. When you are driving in your car, when you are cleaning your house, when you are working out, when you begin a new task – these are all excellent times to remember the mantra.

Eventually, the mantra will be a constantly running stream in the background of your mind. Your “worry” thoughts will begin to take on less importance. It’s as if, when you wake up in the morning, you begin your meditation practice, and you continue it all day long until you go to bed. Anytime you notice “Oh, I am not thinking that mantra,” just begin it again.

The mantra may be said aloud, or sung, or chanted, or allowed to just run silently through your mind. It doesn’t matter at all. Whatever feels most comfortable for you at the time.

If you prefer a more structured practice, that’s fine too. Here are some guidelines you might find helpful:

Traditional meditation practice is called Japa, or recitation, and is the spiritual practice of devotedly repeating a mantra, generally a specified number of times, such as 108, often while counting on a strand of beads, called a japa mala, while conscientiously concentrating on the meaning of the mantra. The mantra can also be repeated for a specified period of time, such as 20 minutes. This can be done while sitting or walking, and gives the best results with a consistent daily practice.

The repetition should be dutifully slow. This brings punya, merit, to the devotee. Japa is a form of devotional worship, invocation, supplication, praise, adoration, meditation and direct, experiential communion.

Unless we are actually in a state of samadhi (total absorption), which is rare for most people, japa provides a means to disengage from our racing thoughts and our memories of the past — mostly the bad ones. The repetition of positive, uplifting, spiritual mantras over and over again lifts consciousness and causes the muladhara chakra to spin clockwise. We feel uplifted. Life does not look so bad, and neither does the past. A sense of forgiveness comes and the future looms bright. The past is forgiven and forgotten. Japam can be done by everyone.

 

Making A Shrine For Ganesh


Creating a home shrine is not difficult. The altar should be close to the floor if you plan to use it for puja and/or meditation. However when there are small children in the home it is often best to have it higher and out of reach.

For a Ganesha shrine, an image, or murti, of Lord Ganesha is placed at the center of the altar. A metal or stone image is best, but if not available there are two traditional alternatives:

  1. A framed picture, preferably with a sheet of copper on the back.
  2. A kumbha, which is a symbol of Ganesha made by placing a coconut on a brass pot of water with five mango leaves inserted between the coconut and the pot. The coconut should be husked but still have the fibers on the top.

Bathing the God’s image (murti) is a part of a puja and other ceremonies. For this, special arrangements may need to be made. Most simply, the murti may be placed in a deep tray to catch the water. After the bath, the tray is removed and the murti dried off, and then dressed and decorated.

Various items for the altar can include:

  • Water cups and a small spoon for offering water
  • A brass vessel of unbroken, uncooked rice mixed with enough turmeric to turn the rice yellow
  • A tray or basket of freshly picked flowers (without stems) or loose flower petals
  • A lamp
  • Small metal bell
  • Incense burner and a few sticks of incense
  • Fresh fruit

Removing Obstacles using the Ganesh Mantra


Do you have problems in your life? Have you been encountering obstacles, trials, tribulations? Are you at the beginning of a business venture, working on a book, taking classes, or planning a trip? Do you need a little extra help from unexpected sources? If the answer to any one of these questions is “yes”, then you might want to consider joining us this month.

It’s easy, it costs nothing, and it takes very little time out of your busy schedule. It might even lighten your load. You may find that your projects and tasks flow more easily, that your income increases even as your work load decreases. It just might be the best thing you ever did for yourself. All that is required is a commitment to try it for 30 days, and to share your experiences (positive or otherwise) with the other members of the project.

How does it work?

The post with the mantra, will be uploaded tomorrow (Feb 7th) which is the “official” start of our 30 days. I have collected lots of nifty and interesting tidbits of information, and other cool stuff which will be uploaded as our 30 days progresses. I am really hoping that we can generate some lively discussion, and give each other support as we work this project.

Note:

This is the original post from 2007. The information on the mantra has already been uploaded and can be found in the post about  Revisiting Ganesh.

 

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