Welcoming Ganesha

Lord Ganesha is all set to arrive on earth on Ganesh Chaturthi on 25 August. Lord Ganesha is one of the most prominent gods in Hinduism and his name is always invoked before any other god’s name in different ceremonies and before beginning new ventures.

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Ganesh Chauth or Vinayak Chaturthi or Vinayak Chavithi, is a Hindu carnival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha. Lord Vinayaka, Ganeshji or Vinayaka is the most beloved among the masses. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated during the Hindu month of Bhadrapad which is the time from mid–August to mid–September and is the grandest festival of all in Maharashtra. It is celebrated for ten days, ending on the day of Ananta Chaturdashi.

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with immense love and devotion all over India. People bring Ganesha murtis or idols to their homes and celebrate the festival by worshiping the Lord in a special way for a day and a half, three days, five days, seven days or 11 days as per the family tradition and commitment of each individual.

Lord Ganesha can be viewed as a symbol of the Divine energy that helps us overcome several obstacles in our journey to spiritual growth and enlightenment. Lord Ganesha is respected as the sole eliminator of obstacles from human life. He is worshipped to make the journey of life easy for his devotees and bestow them the power to endure difficulties.

As per kundalini yoga, Lord Ganesha resides in the muladhara chakra, the first chakra or the sacral plexus of the body. This is the place our kundalini exists, he governs our lives and pushes us towards the path of victory and performance. Mula stands for unique and adhara stands for foundation. The muladhara chakra is where the energy of Shakti resides. It is present within each of us. When our muladhara chakra gets charged, our kundalini shakti also awakens. This energy moves every chakra in our body and helps us activate a strong sense of self, express divine love, communicate in a better and clearer way and connects with our intuition.

There are various Ganesha mantras which guide us to manifest the power and energy of Lord Ganesha to remove obstacles from our life. The mantras should be recited with full devotion and faith.

The divine and soulful mantra Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha is significant not because it is easy and catchy, it is significant because it represents willingness to release and move past the perceived obstacles in our lives. This mantra encapsulates the soul of Lord Ganesha and that’s why it is aptly known as a beej or mool mantra as well. The letter ‘gam’ in this Ganesh mantra gives skill and ability to the devotee and removes obstacles from their path. While beginning any new venture or endeavour, this mantra can bring peace and harmony to all.

The core meaning of this mantra is that one is bowing down to the almighty Ganesha with all devotion and imbibing all great traits of Ganesha within himself.

People tend to make excuses about why they cannot achieve their dreams, however anyone can easily succeed if they choose to focus on their goals rather than their challenges. So when one decides to chant this mantra, one is aligning himself with the desired and much loved outcome and moving towards it with sincerity.

Lord Ganesha is one of the most loved gods and his love and blessings not only reward our efforts but also accelerate our evolution and help us become a better person in life.

How to chant Ganesha mantra

Chant Ganesha mantra when you are looking for peace. You can repeat this mantra 108 times on your mala beads or follow the pace of your breath. Ideally, to chant this mantra, sit quietly, close your eyes and slowly focus on your breath. With every breath chant Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha and gradually shift your concentration to muladhara chakra for at least 15 to 20 minutes a day. Most importantly, find your own way so that it resonates with your energy frequency.