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Ganesha Yantra

Seeing is believing. The many names, varied descriptions and attributes of a deity make it difficult, if not impossible, for a worshipper to comprehend the essence of a deity. The ancient Tantric seers, to overcome these limitations, devised tools for meditation that would empower a devotee. The yantra – in Sanskrit, a machine or device that absorbs cosmic energy – is one such tool, a visual, abstract representation of a deity’s form or body upon which a devotee can fix his gaze. Typically, a yantra is inscribed with mantras, mystical chants that focus the mind.

 

 

Representation

Every yantra has specific qualities. The Ganesha yantra is believed to establish balance in an individual’s life. Its periphery is a deep green, eight-dimensional square. Meditating upon the green inspires the devotee. Within the square are 8-petalled lotuses arranged in a ring, symbolic of Prakriti or creation. Five petals represent the five elements while three symbolize the gunas or qualities present in all beings. The next ‘layer’ is a six-pointed star that balances the male and female principles. Under the star is a triangle pointing upwards – this is amrit, the divine nectar of immortality. At the epicenter of the yantra is a point – the bindu – that famously represents the start of all Creation. This is Ganesha Himself. The bindu is the focus of meditation. All the motifs around point to it; indeed the eye is involuntarily drawn to and rests on this point. The bindu must be represented as a glowing, golden dot.

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Ganesh Mantra: Om shrim hrim klim glaum gam ganapataye...

 

Whether you recite, whisper or utter them silently to yourself, mantra japa or repetitive chanting is said to be the simplest way to access God. The 15 Ganesha mantras are described as ‘siddhi mantras’ (siddhi in Sanskrit  varyingly means “perfection”, “accomplishment” or attainment of spiritual power.), with each one containing powers attributed to the elephant God. Meditating on these awakens our own untapped potential for accomplishment in varied endeavors. Regular chanting will also enhance one’s ‘psychic body’, energizing the kundalini or subtle energy that lies coiled at the base of the spine. Thus, the worshipper is freed from negative thoughts and emotions; at the same time, his mortal body too is cleansed of toxins.


Om shrim hrim klim glaum gam ganapataye... 
vara varada sarva
janamme vashamanaya svaha

The bell-like tones of this mantra bring forth a shower of blessings from Ganesha. In uttering them, the worshipper surrenders his ego to the Lord, seeking His protection and grace at all times.  Notice the first line which contains several seed (in Sanskrit, “beej”) mantras, single syllabic utterances from Vedic texts whose meanings vary depending on their intonation and the purpose of incantation. ‘Om’ for instance, is an affirmative sound, one which fuels our energies and is associated with divine protection and benevolence. ‘Shrim’ invokes love and beauty; it concerns the heart and hence, both physical and emotional health. ‘Hrim’ is associated with Maya, a syllable that empowers us to see through the illusory nature of the world. ‘Klim’ is forceful, stimulating and energizing; symbolically, it is represented by a thunderbolt that destroys lowly ignorance. ‘Glaum’ is the earth element while ‘Gam’ is the primal Seed, Ganesha himself. In chanting this mantra, the devotee seeks the grace of Ganesha in his present life and all future lifetimes.

 

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Lakshmi - Ganesh - Saraswati

- By Shyam Banerji in his book Hindu Gods and Temples

 

In a culture where different regional traditions add color to the religious fabric, Gods and Goddesses are worshiped individually and in combinations in many different ways.

Though the measure may vary from person to person, “Sukh” (physical comfort), “Shanti” (peace of mind) and “Ananda” (intrinsic bliss) have been identified in Hindu scriptures as the three prime motivations and objectives of life. The worship of Saraswati, Ganesha and Lakshmi reflects this innate philosophical connectivity. The combined imagery, and the cardinal lesson it holds, actually teaches the beholder the art of living.

Learning makes a person knowledgeable and wise. The wisdom he gains enables him to control his senses. By doing so he can enrich his productivity by overcoming obstacles. Such a person is generally blessed with the immeasurable wealth of prosperity and happiness. In other words, without knowledge there can be no progress. Without wisdom, wealth cannot be earned, retained or enriched. To the enlightened devotee, this “wealth” of prosperity and happiness means being at peace with one’s senses, ones duties, one’s yearnings and desires. To the average individual, quite appreciably, it stands for financial gain and familial well-being.

The mind is the seat of Saraswati and she resides there in the form of knowledge. Lakshmi also like to stay in home where people work and pray with pure, unblemished minds. Ganesha removes all obstacles from the paths of such people.


Pictured Above: Set of Lakshmi Ganesh Saraswati Statues from Ganesh Mall

 

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Ganesh Mantra: Om Lambodaraya Namah

The English poet William Blake spoke of seeing ‘the world in a grain of sand....and eternity in an hour’. His perception of the world is somewhat similar to perceiving the world in Om and thus in Ganesha himself. Om is symbolically Ganesha himself; as Lambodara, the Big-Bellied One, he contains all universes past and present within him. By reciting this mantra, we affirm our own oneness with the universe – as part of creation, we contain worlds within us.

Whether you recite, whisper or utter them silently to yourself, mantra japa or repetitive chanting is said to be the simplest way to access God.

Ganesh Ritual - II

Though Ganesha is pleased with a simple sincere prayer, many Ganesh devotees perform certain rituals that have been inspired by traditions and legends.

It is common to see a worshiper at a Ganesha temple holding his ears and performing squats ! This is followed by lightly tapping his temples with closed fists. Comic as it may seem, this practice is of great significance. As a ritual, it signifies seeking forgiveness from Ganesha for one’s wrongdoings (children are taught to perform this at an early age). There is more to it however, since Ganesha is specifically associated with higher mental powers. In recent times, this exercise has been promoted as a yogasana named Superbrain Yoga; its regular practice, along with the right breathing technique is said to sharpen the intellect and improve one’s powers of concentration. Try it!

Ganesha is worshiped with the simple ‘durva’ grass, which according to Ayurveda, is imbued with powerful healing properties. Legend has it that the gods once approached Ganesha for his help in subduing the demon Analasura, whose fire-emitting eyes scorched hapless victims. Ganesha transformed himself into a child and challenged the demon to a fight. When Analasura tried swallowing Ganesh, the deity revealed himself in his “viraat” or gigantic form and gulped down the demon instead. So fiery was the demon’s body that Ganesha was filled with agony. A group of sages passing by offered a bunch of durva grass. When these were placed over his head, Ganesha experienced instant relief from the heat within him. Ever since, durva has been used to worship Ganesha.

For many householders, the morning worship commences with Ganesha being given a ritual bath (recommended for waterproof stone idols). This can be as simple as pouring a little water over the idol, or more elaborately, bathing it successively in turmeric infused water, milk and rosewater. A dot of sandalwood paste and kum-kum (red powder) is then applied on his forehead.

Some devotees wrap a tiny strip of cloth around him and adorn him with flowers. Fruit, a split coconut, betel leaves and a bowl of water are offered to the idol and an oil lamp is lit before the sacred mantras are chanted. Ganesha is now ready for the day’s work of listening to his devotees’ requests!

Pictured above Scripture Ganesh Statue from Ganesh Mall

Ganesh Mantra: Om Ekadantaya Namah

Do thoughts in your head scurry around like rats in a cage?
Do minor interruptions throw you off course?

Chant to Ekadanta – the Single-tusked One

This mantra is for attaining single-mindedness in whatever you undertake. Meditating on Ganesha’s single tusk helps in focusing your energies. Also, the tusk is one of Ganesha’s deadly weapons, used to skewer demons. The mantra thus acts as a protective force field around you.

Whether you recite, whisper or utter them silently to yourself, mantra japa or repetitive chanting is said to be the simplest way to access God.

Ganesha's Favorite Foods Contd.

Elephant God Ganesha is a hearty eater with a special liking for high calorie treats! Besides Modaks & Laddoos mentioned earlier, Ganesha is also partial to pedas or dry milk sweets made with sweetened, reduced milk and moong lentil halwa, a dense, sweet dessert of mung beans cooked in ghee.

In modern times, not all sweets are made at home, with more women entering the work force. Sweet shops fill in the need and constantly innovate with their wares to grab customers’ attention.

While Ganesha is obviously inclined to sweetmeats, he’s not partial to salted snack foods either. Maharashtrians, who keep open house during Ganesh Chaturthi, prepare various sweets and savories for each day of the festival. Chaklis are a popular tea-time snack, made with rice flour and gram flour, deep-fried until crunchy.

Southern India has its own set of goodies to satiate Ganesha’s appetite. Modaks are a must, of course. Additionally, a Tamilian home would prepare sundal or chick peas flavored with grated coconut and tempered with mustard seeds, red chilies and curry leaves. Others might offer a bowl of sweet pongal, a rice-and-lentil mash cooked with jaggery. Accompanying this is vada, a doughnut shaped, deep-fried savory made of urad dal. Ganesha rounds off this sumptuous repast with a bowl of rice payasam or kheer (rice cooked in sweetened and reduced milk)

Ganesha is also fond of fruits, with bananas, mangoes and guavas being his favorites.

Ganesha's Favorite Foods

Offering food to the gods (known as prasad) is an integral part of virtually every prayer ritual in Hinduism. With Ganesha, this takes on a special dimension, since the elephant God is a hearty eater with a special liking for high calorie treats! During Ganesh Chaturthi, a a variety of his favorite sweets and savories are prepared in homes with much the same love and care as they’d be made for a child’s birthday.

Topping the list of goodies is the modak, a steamed dumpling. Two varieties are made, one a savory ball of rice flour and black gram lentils and the other, stuffed with a coconut-jaggery filling. There’s more to the modak than meets the eye – it’s symbolic of the oneness of the universe.

In popular art, Ganesha is often depicted with a bowl of laddoos (pictured here) placed before him as prasad (there’s an aesthetic unity about this that’s visually pleasing, the golden yellow balls complementing Ganesha’s own rotund form!) Ganesha isn’t overly fussy about what sort of laddoo is offered. He’s extremely fond of the orange-hued motichoor laddoo, made of tiny, deep-fried gram-flour droplets. But he won’t say ‘no’ to rawa (semolina) laddoos or yellow, besan (gram flour) laddoos, either.

Ganesh Rituals - I

While  Hindu puja (prayer) rituals are more or less common to all the gods, several practices have evolved that are unique to Ganesha.

Ganesha can be worshipped even without an idol or picture. A bowl filled with rice, with a betel nut (or sometimes a coconut) placed on top represents him equally well. In many ceremonies, a priest will invoke his presence by creating a small cone of thick turmeric paste! Some devotees like sculpting their own idol out of clay for Ganesh Chaturthi.

Often, a devotee faced with a difficult, problematic or challenging situation in his life will make a vow to Ganesha, offering to break a certain number of coconuts at the temple if Ganesha will resolve his problems. The coconut represents the most evolved part of a human being – his head. Smashing a coconut before the Lord is symbolic of destroying one’s ego and surrendering oneself to His grace. When the ego disappears, the true Self reveals itself, much like the sweet water in the innermost recess of the hard shelled coconut.

Pictured above Terra-Cotta Ganesh Statue from Ganesh Mall.

Ganesh Mantra: Om Kshipra Prasadaya Namah

   

For all his vastness (and dare we say it, ungainly bulk), Ganesha is known to move with surprising dexterity – hence the name, Kshipra, which means “The Swift One”.  Chant this mantra when you are in a tight spot, when you feel overwhelmed, helpless and out of your depth. Regular practice of this mantra will offer you Ganesha’s constant protection and act as a shield against dark, negative forces. In more mundane terms, this mantra endows you with the ability to think on your feet and summon forth reserves of courage you didn’t think you possessed.