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Ganesha is one of the most widely worshipped figures in Hinduism, and devotees often chant mantras to remove obstacles and bring success to any major endeavor, like a new business deal, marriage, or childbirth. Ganesha goes by many names, including “Ganapati” (the Lord of Lords) and “Vakratunda” (one with a curved trunk), and he’s celebrated every year in a 10-day birthday festival called Ganesha Chaturthi. Whether you’re new to worshipping Ganesh or you’re looking for new mantras to add to your prayers, this is the ultimate guide to chanting Ganesha mantras. Keep reading to learn more!
Things You Should Know
- Ganesha is widely known as the remover of obstacles and is renowned for his wisdom. Repeat his mantras before a major event to attract success and luck.
- Chant these mantras 108 times and use all of your senses to focus on your mantra and Lord Ganesha.
- Make an offering to Ganesha after repeating your mantra to give appreciation to the deity and allow him to remove any obstacles in your way.
Steps
Chanting Ganesha Mantras Effectively
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Clean your house, bathe, and wear clean clothes. During Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and other Ganesh festivals, idols of Ganesh are purified in a nearby body of water and brought home. If you’re a devotee of Ganesh, clean your house, wash your body, and wear clean clothes before bringing Lord Ganesh into your home.[13]
- When placing Ganesh on a clean, decorated platform, leave your door open to bring in positive energy.[14]
- During this festival, devotees also immerse dissolvable murtis, or idols, of Ganesh into water, which symbolizes the cyclical nature of time and how even the gods will eventually dissolve.
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Focus entirely on the mantra and your senses. Nitya rituals, or prayers to gods, are designed so that you use all your senses to focus on the deity. As you gaze upon the murti, or idol, of Ganesh, use incense, camphor, or fragrant flowers to ground your sense of smell. Play bells and cymbals, or listen to yourself chanting the mantra out loud to focus your sense of hearing. Eat prasad, food that has been ritually blessed by the deity you’re worshiping.[15]
- The sense of touch is engaged in doing all of these parts of the ritual.
- Some devotees also wear prayer beads to keep track of how many times they say the mantra. Chant all mantras 108 times to bring your material self closer to your highest spiritual self.[16]
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Make an offering to Ganesh and repeat the appropriate mantra. Offerings you can make to Ganesh or other deities can range from offering them a seat to giving them fresh food. After chanting your mantra 108 times, speak an additional mantra when making your offering to the deity. Here are some of the offerings you can make:[17]
- Offer a seat: Chant “om sri [Deity name] āsanam samarpayāmi.”
- Offer water to wash the deity’s hands and feet or face and mouth: Chant “om sri [Deity name] pādyam ārghyam āchamaniyam samarpayāmi.”
- Offer honey, sugar, ghee (or clarified butter), yogurt, or water to drink: Chant “om sri [Deity name] pādyam ārghyam āchamaniyam samarpayāmi.”
- Offer sandalwood paste, vermillion, and turmeric or sacred ash: Chant: “om sri [Deity name] chandanam samarpayāmi, om sri [Deity name] sindoor tilakam samarpayāmi, om sri [Deity name] haldiyam samarpayāmi, om sri [Deity name] vibhooti samarpayāmi.”
- Offer light by lighting another lamp: Chant “om sri [Deity name] deepam samarpayāmi.”
- Offer fresh food and water: Chant “om sri [Deity name] naivedyam samarpayāmi.”
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
References
- ↑ The Eternal Epics. Hindu Mythology Explorers. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVf-1eaXgRs
- ↑ https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/5-things-to-know-about-ganesha
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vVf-1eaXgRs?t=38
- ↑ https://youtu.be/qf3EdXE0c1c?t=57
- ↑ https://youtu.be/M_d7Ej4ujb8?t=115
- ↑ https://youtu.be/cV6r_VdIlvI
- ↑ https://youtu.be/dkVlpm1mKFI?t=127
- ↑ The Eternal Epics. Hindu Mythology Explorers. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://youtu.be/agqwzb3YzQ0?t=1
- ↑ https://shlokam.org/gajaananambhuta/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_msb4zpnhjc
- ↑ https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/festivals/ganesh-chaturthi-2023-know-rituals-puja-samagri-ganesh-aarti-citywise-shubh-muhurat-dos-and-donts-and-more-101694678196110.html
- ↑ https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/festivals/ganesh-chaturthi-2023-know-rituals-puja-samagri-ganesh-aarti-citywise-shubh-muhurat-dos-and-donts-and-more-101694678196110.html
- ↑ https://www.hinduamerican.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/HowHindusWorship2.0.pdf
- ↑ https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/heres-how-the-number-108-binds-us-to-the-universe/
- ↑ https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/hindu-puja-instructions