Our new AHYMSIN Sangha Mantra will be the Ganesha Mantra.
The new mantra will be the Ganesha mantra for the next one year, until the Mahashivaratri next year in 2025.
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ।
Om Gaṁ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ ।
Salutations to Lord Ganapati.
From Ahymsn:
Ganesha is the divine force as it operates in the Muladhara chakra to stabilise, not only to make one sit in a stable way but also to have stability in life. The exact translation of the mantra does not matter because behind each word, there is a mystery and behind that, there is another mystery. For example, the figure of Ganesha is quite a little bit like the figure of the way we right the sound of ‘Om’.
Lord Ganesha represents firm determination. Whenever our mind is resolute, it is also fearless. By letting go of fear all our obstacles are systematically overcome.
Collectively, as the Sangha, we vow towards a pillar like stability and stillness in mind and emotion, perseverance in asana, daily meditation (same time, same place), removal of obstacles in sadhana and in daily life and in relationships, purification of buddhi, resolved on enlightenment, harmony with Mother Earth with a resolute commitment to Ahimsa and non-violence, protection, and security through freedom from all fears and their evolutes. What are the evolutes of fear? They are such dangers as: worries, anxieties, anger, hatred, bitterness, envy, prejudice, revenge, and so forth. We resolve again that this mantra is a spark, an illumination of the spirit which has been gifted to us.
OM (It is the universal sound where its utterance is considered the sound of creation itself.)
GAM (is a bija mantra, or the seed mantra, for Ganesha or Ganapati. These words are used interchangeably to indicate the same god in Hinduism.)
Ganapataye (Lord Ganesha, who is the remover of all obstacles in our life, in our sadhana. He provides physical and emotional stability that we all aspire for by removing the obstacles, the resistances, the conflicts of our spiritual life, of our relationships.)
Namaha (means salutations. This word is in most prayers and is also in the commonly used word “namaste”; which means my salutations to you.)
This mantra is from the Ganapati Upanishad, a long Sanskrit writing from the Vedas all about and in adoration of Ganesha.
Lord Ganesha represents firm determination. Whenever our mind is resolute, it is also fearless. And then, all our obstacles are automatically overcome.
Ganesha the lord of the ‘Adhara’. You’ve heard Swamiji speak so much about that firmness of that seated pose. He would say that he would just sit and it would be like he was a rock, earth upon earth. In fact, we even have his words to share with you tonight.
Swami Veda Bharati says:
“Ganesha is a deity of the Muladhara chakra. “Mula” means root, “Adhara” means base, substratum. If you see the pictures of various chakras in the Kundalini books, you will see a little Ganesha drawn in the Muladhara because bottom heavy. There is a word in yoga called “asana-siddhi”. Asana-siddhi means accomplishing an asana, meaning you can stay in an asana, let us say your meditation asana, unmoving for as long as you wish without feeling disturbance and without feeling discomfort. As I’ve been telling you, I can sit for five hours in the same position lecture and it is through the grace of Ganesha.
You know the story of Mahabharata?
After the war and so on, Sage Vyasa (the father of Shukadeva) he wanted to dictate his book. So, he put an ad in the galactic times. It described – ‘to take the dictation of a nonstop Epic’. Ganesha is also in India God of script of course applied
If you go to the Badrinath temple, up in the mountains, at the border with the China, which is now closed for the winter, to the Mana village, there’s a cave of Vyasa and a cave of Ganesha.
Ganesha said “Okay, I would like to take the job, on one condition.” “What?” “Well, you know, I’m Ganesha. I am the master of Asana. Once I say sit down, I sit down. So, if you are dictating, if you stop, I quit. If you make a stop anywhere, I quit.” He says, “Okay, agreed?”
Vyasa says, “Okay, I have one condition too. Whatever I’m dictating, you must understand before writing it down.” He says, “Alright. Set. Ready.” So, every now and then, Vyasa’s composition, in composing instantly a hundred thousand verses, without stopping. You know, it’s even for Vyasa, it’s a little hard, you know. So, every now and then, he is dictating. He throws, when he feels that he might stumble and he might have to stop, he’s not sure. So, he creates a verse which is very difficult to understand. These are known as “Kuta shlokas”, cryptic, cryptic, shlokas, cryptic verses. So he throws in one or two cryptic verses, this is…he says, “Wait, I have to understand it.” While Ganesha is busy understanding, he is composing in his mind. Tricky, tricky fellow.”
Lord Ganesha, Lord of the Adhara, this seat, this stability, this firmness of conviction. When I sit for my meditation, mind you are with me. Mind, why are you over there, over here? Here today gone tomorrow? Mind, listen to my direction and with that firmness, the buddhi is purified, its ability to decide, to make the judgment – “Is this the correct thought, appropriate thought, necessary thought at this time?” “No?” Okay, then leave. That buddhi is Ganesha.
The purpose of the new mantra – the “Ganesha Mantra”.
Our purpose, our sankalpa – you take a resolve with that intention and these are the intentions that I will provide for the Sangha, but each of you will have your own personal intention then that you’ll establish for your practice.
Collectively, as the Sangha, we vow towards a pillar like stability and stillness in mind and emotion, perseverance in asana, daily meditation (same time, same place), removal of obstacles and sadhana and in daily life and in relationships, purification of buddhi, resolved on enlightenment, harmony with Mother Earth with a resolute commitment to Ahimsa and non-violence, protection and security through freedom from all fears. That protection, that security is necessary for us to feel grounded and stable, to be able to move into our higher realms of life, with relationships and our service to humanity.
When we begin any kind of quest, or journey, or take on any kind of vow, a marriage, bringing a child into the world, during such decisions, we ask for Lord Ganesha to be there with us to make that firmness of that decision, of that sankalpa, of that intention to be pure, and thereby to bless us. He is the destroyer of obstacles and gives the way in which one can begin major endeavours. He grants wisdom and skill, the two qualities needed for any endeavour to succeed.
In the clarity of your own mind, you will accept the blessing of this special mantra, and set the determination of its presence in your life.
Whether you do the 108 beads, seeds as recitations or how many malas you will decide to do. If you do about 4 malas per day or able to do the one mala a day. Swami Veda would say, “Simplify. But be ambitious.” So, search in your hearts for that ability, that inner strength, to be ambitious. It is important that you begin with a certain attitude. Noticing if there is a rush to the meditation seat, “oh, I have to go somewhere. I have to rush to get somewhere. Let me at least sit for 5 minutes.”
And, with that sankalpa, with that intention, set a commitment. Accordingly, set a time and place, and begin. You may consider continuing for a fixed number of days, such as 40.
Let us explore the transformative effect of the Ganesha mantra on all our relationships through japa, through self-observation, reflection, and through your spiritual journals.
One of the ways is through Japa.
Which mala to use for the Ganesha mantra?
You can use the Rudraksha mala.