HINDU RESOURCES >> LORD GANESH

His Prayers and Worship by Shri Prakash Gossai

Om Shri Ganesh Aya Namah

EKADANTA MAHAKAYA SURYA KOTI SAMAPRABHA
NIRBIGHNAM KURUME DEVA SARBAKARYESHU SARBADA
Oh, Lord Ganesh, with carved trunk and massive body, the one whose splendor is equal to millions of suns, please bless me so that I do not face any obstacles in my endeavors.

Lord Ganesh or Ganapati is known as the Hindu elephant-headed God. He is also called Vighneshwar, the destroyer of all obstacles. Many devotees worship him to acquire siddhi, success and buddhi, intelligence. Lord Ganesha is always worshipped first in any Hindu ceremony, festival or any venture. He is the son of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.

There are many stories of how Ganesha got his elephant head. The most popular story regarding Lord Ganesha’s origin is the one derived from the Shiva Purana.

Goddess Parvati wanted to take a bath and created a boy from clay and water to stand guard outside while she bathed. During this time, Lord Shiva returned home to find a stranger at the entrance to his home, preventing him from entering his house. In anger, Lord Shiva cut off the boy’s head. Goddess Parvati was stricken with grief upon discovering what had happened. She asked Lord Shiva to find the head of a newborn baby that has never seen his mother’s face for her son’s body. In order to console her, Lord Shiva and his troops went to find the head of a newborn baby sleeping with his head pointing to the north. They found a baby elephant sleeping thus and brought back his head.

Lord Shiva attached the head of the elephant on the boy’s body and revived him. He named the boy Ganapati (God of knowledge and wisdom) and granted him a boon that everyone would have to worship Him first before beginning any auspicious undertaking or any kind of worship.

KIRTAN

SATYUG KE BAAT BATAAYE, GIRJAA SUT KEE KATHAA SUNAAYE
It happened in Satyug, listen O devotee to the story of the son of Parvati

PRAAT SNAAN KEE BELAA THEE VO, KOYEE NA THAA PAHRAA DEKHAA JO
MORAT EK MAATEE KEE BANAAYEE, PRAAN PRATISHTAA USME KARAAYEE
BOLI KISEE KO AANE NA DENAA, JAS TAK NAA AADESH SUNAAYEE
It was early morning, no one was there to guard Parvatiji, and so she made a statue of clay and invoked life into it. She asked him not to let anyone in without her permission while she took her bath

ITNE ME SHANKARJEE PADHAARE, AUR BALAAK NE ROKE DWAARE
SHIV NE KOOP KIYAA TAB BHAAREE, LE TRISHOOL NIJ SUT PE CHALAAYEE
In a little while Shankarji came, the young boy stopped him from going in. Shankarji was furious at his disrespectful behavior and struck him with his trident.

SHEESH UTAARAA US BAALAK KAA, VYAAKUL HAAL THAA PARBATI KAA
BHOOL HUE SHANKAR ME JAANEE, KAISE KISKO PRAAN DILAAYEE
His head fell on the ground, Parvati was very distressed to see this and Shankarji soon realized his mistake and was anxious to correct it by giving him his life back again

BOLI SATEE KE JEEV HO AISAA, JO MAANGE SANMUKH NAA SOYEE
SRISHTEE GHOOMKE DEKHAA SHIVANE, AISE TO GAJ SUT HEE PAAYEE
Parvati said if he could find a newly born, who has not yet seen his mother’s face; the child could be brought back to life.

SHEESH LE AAYE PRABHU GAJ SUT KAA, BAALAK KO NAB JANAM DILAAYAA
US DIN SE BANGAYEE GAJANAM, SHREE GANESH GANAPATI KEHLAAYEE
Shankarji searched all over the world and could only find a newly born elephant. The elephant head was given to the boy and thus he regained life and from that day he was called Gajananam, Ganesh and Ganapati.

JAI GANAPATI JAI JAI GAJAANANAA, JAI JAI GANWAH GANAARAJA
We all bow to him and say “Jai”(glory) to him

MANTRA

GAJAANAM BHOOT GAN AADI SEVITAM
KAPITTHA JAMBHOO PHAL SAARBHAKSHINAM
UMA SUTAM SHOP VINAASH KAARANAM
NAMAAMI VIGHNESHWAR PAAD-PANG KAJAM
I pray to the lotus feet of Vighneshwar, the remover of obstacles, the elephant-headed Lord of ‘bhutas’ and ‘gunas’ who partakes in the essence of ‘kapittha’ and ‘jambhoo’ fruits, who is the son of Uma and who removes the suffering of His devotees.

LAMBODAR NAMASTUBHYAM SATANAM MODAK PRIYA
NIRVIGHNAN KUROO MAY DEVA SARV KAARYESHA SARVADAA
We bow to Ganeshji, the beloved of his devotees. He is the remover of all obstacles and impediments and the bestower of all forms of success.

SYMBOLISM OF LORD GANESH

GANESH CHATHURTI

Ganesh Chathurti is the birthday of Lord Ganesh and it celebrated on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Badrapad in the month of August/September. A life-like clay model of Lord Ganesh is made several months prior to the day of Ganesh Chathurti. Devotees elaborately decorate the Murti (image) and the Pandit (Priest) invokes life into the Murti, this ritual is the pranapratishtha ceremony. Devotees continue to chant Vedic mantras and worship is done for five, seven or ten days, after which the Murti is taken ceremoniously through the streets in a procession accompanied by singing and dancing to the river, sea or ocean. The Murti is immersed into the water. It is believed that the Lord takes with him our misfortunes on his journey to his abode in Kailash. When the Murti is immersed in the water, devotees chant “Ganapati Morya Agle Baras To Jaldi Aa” – “ Father Ganapati, please come again next year”.

Jai Vighneshwar Jai Jai, Jai Lamodar Jai Jai
Jai Gan Naayak Jai Jai, Jai Sukh Daayak Jai Jai
Victory to the remover of obstacles, the pot-bellied Ganeshji. Victory to the leader of the devatas and the bestower of happiness and bliss.

Prem Say Bolo Ganesh Bhagwan Kee Jai