Indian god with the head of an elephant as it is called. God Ganesha - the elephant who fulfills wishes
Ganesha is one of the most powerful and kind Indian deities. Ganesha is a wonderful talisman of protection and support for good luck and success in all areas of life. All you have to do is ask Ganesh, and he will remove any obstacles on the way to your goals and desires, to your success. This wonderful talisman, patron and strongest symbol of success in study and work, in trade and business, in travel and in creativity, helps to gain influence and great authority.
Description of the talisman
Ganesha - depicted with a human body and the head of an elephant, he is an assistant in acquiring abundance and knowledge, success and well-being, as well as in business and happiness, he also helps. Ganesha’s big “belly” is a symbol of wealth and prosperity, and the ability to “digest” all sorts of troubles, and also, symbolically, of course, Ganesha, as if “swallows” and neutralizes troubles and misfortunes, protects us in this fragile world. Two tusks (one broken, the other whole) symbolize imperfection and at the same time, perfection of our real world.
Safety precautions for using the talisman
And here are the safety precautions for using this wonderful talisman of success - Ganesha:
1) Do not place a figurine or figurine of Ganesha in your home if it is chipped or cracked, otherwise this talisman will act in the opposite way, i.e. attract troubles.
2) Periodically clean the Ganesha figurine from dust and dirt so that nothing prevents this wonderful talisman from attracting success to you in all your affairs.
3) When stroking the figurine of Ganesha on the trunk and asking yourself for success, do not use words with the particle “not”, and naturally, never wish failure on other people (even if they are your competitors).
4) When you wish for something, at the end of the phrase, be sure to say: “For my good and the good of everyone around me!” This will lead you to even greater success in business without harming anyone.
What are the talismans of Ganesha?
The Ganesha talisman is made from a variety of materials, it can be: glass or wood, metal or semi-precious stone, even plastic is not forbidden. But it is best to buy this talisman metal or jade. In principle, it doesn’t matter what the talisman is made of, the main thing is to treat it with care and respect it. Ganesha can have a variety of objects in his hands, and now let’s look at what they symbolize.
A bowl of sweets means: well-being, prosperity, and pleasure in our life.
Iron hook: the need to curb your passions and control yourself, your irrepressible desires.
A lotus in the hands of Ganesha indicates the divine principle, purity of thoughts and the perfection of our world.
The rosary symbolizes our aspirations to achieve life goals and the acquisition of spiritual knowledge.
The ropes in the hands of Ganesha remind us that a person should strive for high goals in life and not be strongly attached to material things.
The snake wrapped around Ganesha's waist symbolizes energy in all its forms, incarnations and manifestations.
Very often, the deity is depicted riding on a mouse, which is capable of overcoming any, even very huge, obstacles in life. Well, if the mouse is next to Ganesha, i.e. at his feet, this means that the fulfillment of desires and wealth are in his power.
How to activate this talisman
Ganesha loves to be stroked on his trunk and, in gratitude for this, he attracts success to his owner and protects him from all sorts of storms and troubles. To enhance the effect, you can stroke his tummy and right palm. Ganesha also loves to be treated to various delicacies. Place offerings at his feet: various sweets, coins, dried fruits, pineapple pieces, banana or coconuts. If Ganesha is depicted with a mouse, then feed it too (corn, nuts, grain). Do not skimp on the treats and very soon you will receive pleasant surprises and gifts in the form of abundance and success in all matters.
In any situation, for example, if you feel bad or are in trouble, you can take the Ganesha figurine in your hand and, stroking his trunk or palm, ask for help, telling about your problems and sorrows. Rest assured, your request will not go unheeded. The deity will definitely help you. This kind and wonderful talisman controls recognition in society, taming evil forces, helps to overcome any obstacles, creates harmony in your life and success in business, brings wisdom and skills, and gives a person peace. Ganesha also controls construction, literature, various types of luck, travel, in a word, many areas of life in which you want to succeed and in which knowledge and skills are required. When starting a new business, you can also turn to this good deity for help.
Where to put a figurine of the deity of success - Ganesha
You can place a Ganesha figurine in the northwestern zone of your apartment, house or office (the sector of assistants). This deity belongs in your office. Place the figurine on your desktop, but not directly in front of you, but slightly to the right. This talisman will stimulate your professional growth, increase your income and will help in various matters. And where there is success, there is glory, which means that in the south (fame sector) of your house or apartment, this talisman will not be superfluous, just try to make the Ganesha figurine look expensive and rich. And also, make sure that the figurine (for the glory zone) is made of wood (wood - feeds fire - in the circle of generation), preferably red (fire element). And of course, this talisman can also be placed in the career sector (northern zone of your home or office).
This wonderful talisman will bring you prosperity and success in business. It is believed that the larger the Ganesha figurine, the more success and money it attracts. Yes, this is true, but even if the figurine is small, then make sure that it looks elegant, expensive, even luxurious. But, in any case, it’s up to you to decide what size your talisman will be, since small figurines also work great. And don’t forget, when stroking Ganesha’s trunk, imagining your successes, recite the mantra (3 - 6 - 9 or more times), here it is.
There are many different gods in Hinduism, one of which is definitely familiar to many thanks to his head. Ganesha, and we are talking about him, has an elephant. This deity is considered very kind and supportive to those who pray to him and lead the right way. Let's find out more about him.
Who is Ganesha
Ganesha, or, as he is also called, Ganapati, the god of prosperity and wisdom, is one of the most revered and beloved deities in. It has great significance for Hinduism. Often, as a sign of respect, the prefix Sri is added before his name.
Ganesha is the patron of business and trade, his calling is to remove obstacles on the path to prosperity and, for those who really need it, to reward prosperity for righteousness. In addition, the deity provides assistance to those who wander and have a thirst for knowledge, and fulfills desires.
Did you know? Since, according to ancient legend, Ganesha destroys all obstacles with the help of his trunk, the elephant trunk is considered a symbol of well-being among the people of India.
Ganesha is the son of the gods Shiva, whose retinue he includes, and Parvati. His wives are Buddhi (intelligence) and Siddhi (success). What it looks like (iconography)
The Indian god has yellow or red (the deity can be depicted a little differently), a huge belly, four and the head of an elephant with one tusk. On the belt there is an entwining snake, which is a symbol that manifests itself in various forms.
Almost all the time God sits on a lotus flower. There is a mouse nearby (according to other versions, a rat, a shrew, or even). The legend says that Ganesha pacified this mouse, which was previously a demon, and began to ride it.
The mouse is a symbol of fussiness and insolence. This interpretation confirms: Ganesha destroys false vanity, pride, selfishness, and insolence. Usually the deity is depicted with four arms, but it also happens with six, eight, eighteen - up to thirty-two.In the upper hands of the deity there is a lotus flower and a trident, and the fourth hand is positioned as if it is giving something. Sometimes this hand is used to depict a ladoo, a sweet ball made from rice flour. 
Ganesha has a candy in his trunk, this symbolizes sweets from liberation. And he has huge ears for a reason, because he should not miss a single request for help from.
The secret meaning of body parts
Almost all parts of the body of the Indian god Ganesha have a special meaning:
- elephant head - a symbol of prudence, devotion;
- huge ears speak of wisdom, the ability to hear all those who pray;
- the tusk is power and the ability to fight dualism;
- the trunk is a symbol of his tallness;
- his huge belly shows his generosity and desire to save everyone from suffering.
Did you know? One of the largest statues of the god Ganesha is located in Thailand in the province of Chachoengsao. The dimensions of this giant are amazing: 15.8 meters in height and 23.8 meters in width.
Popular versions of the birth of a deity
According to legend, Ganesha’s mother dreamed of a son and constantly begged Vishnu to help, as a result he took pity and granted her, in whose honor a reception was organized. The god Shani also came there, who has the ability to incinerate with just one glance.
He looked at the baby, and his head burned. Shiva ordered the servants to get the first one they came across. This is how Ganesha acquired the elephant's head.
There is a version that it was Shiva who tore off his son’s head, angering his wife. To rectify the situation, he attached an elephant's head to Ganesh.
Another version says that Parvati made a figure of a boy from saffron and clay, which stood at the entrance to her room as a guard so that her husband would not enter there without asking.
One day a boy did not allow Shiva to come to Parvati, he became very angry and beheaded the boy. The goddess was upset, and Shiva revived Ganesha, giving the boy the head of an elephant. 
How to appeal to the sweet tooth god: mantras to Ganesha
To address the Indian deity who loves so much, you need to use. But they are different for each case.
For success and achieving goals
For this, there are two mantras that are used, for example, on the eve of a serious matter: Om gam ganapataye namah - guides you to the right path, bringing success. Om Sri Ganeshaye Namah - helps businessmen, promotes the discovery and development of talents.
To clear the mind and prevent fears
This mantra is needed to clear the mind of the bad ones that clog it; she puts things in order before any important event: Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahi Vakratundaya Dhimahi Tanno Danty Prachodayat Om Ekadantaya Vidmahe Vakratundaya Dhimahi Tanno Danty Prachodayat
In addition, two more mantras cleanse the mind, remove obstacles, and kill fear and phobias: Om Lakshmi-Ganapataye Namah and - Om Gam Gam Ganapataye Highna-Hinashi Me Swaha.
For any endeavor
Guarantees success in your endeavors: Jay Ganesha Jay Ganesha Jay Ganesha Pakhi Mam Sri Ganesha Sri Ganesha Sri Ganesha Raksha Mam Gam Ganapataye Namo Namah Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah
For protection from enemies
Mangalam Dishtu Me Maheshwari - protects from enemies and enemies.
To fulfill your wishes
Aum Ganadhipataye Om Ganakridaye Namaha - in addition to fulfilling desires, it also promotes successful endeavors and prosperity.
At first glance, Ganesha’s appearance may not appeal to you, but the deity patronizes only people with subtle qualities. Therefore, learn to see the true essence that hides behind, otherwise there will be a big obstacle on your path to achieving spirituality.
For good luck and material well-being, it is not enough to know who Ganesha is - you should buy a figurine of the god and place it in your home. There is an opinion: the larger the figurine, the better (supposedly a lot of wealth will come). True, this theory has not been confirmed.
Important! Ganesha figurines are also worn on the arm, neck, and in the wallet. If some part of the mini-deity breaks off, know that Ganesha saved you from trouble and transferred the negativity to himself. Do not rush to throw away the broken talisman. If the broken piece is not lost, try attachingher back into place and do not forget about words of gratitude - in this case, God returns to his original state, continuing to provide protection and help, as before the breakdown.
It is better to place a bronze figurine in the west or north-west of the home; you can also allocate a place for it on your own, on the right hand. And the wooden figurine should be placed in the family area (eastern side) or wealth (southeastern part of the house). All this is to make more money. 
Be sure to treat the figurine with respect, rub the god’s stomach and palm - he loves it. In order to enhance the effect, you should chant mantras addressed to it. Also, in order to earn the favor of the deity, it is recommended to place candy or other sweets near his figurine.
Now you know the main features of the cult of Ganesha. Whether to believe in the powers of the Indian deity with the head of an elephant or not is everyone’s business, but still, a figurine with his image and a respectful attitude towards it have definitely not bothered anyone. Moreover, purchasing it is not a problem nowadays. And you don’t have to go to India for this.
In epic and puranic mythology - son Shiva and Parvati, Skanda's brother. Ganesha's wives are Buddhi (“mind”) and Siddhi (“success”). According to the Varaha Purana, the Gods turned to Shiva with a request to create a god who would prevent the commission of evil deeds, and Ganesha arose from the radiance of Shiva’s greatness.
Iconography. Ganesha is usually represented as a dense man with a red or yellow human torso, a large spherical belly, four arms and an elephant's head with one tusk.
Ganesha is a deity who forms the retinue of Shiva. He appears in the Hindu pantheon relatively late, in the early Middle Ages, but immediately occupies an honorable position in it and is one of the most popular and revered Indian gods. He is called upon to help when undertaking an important task. God of wisdom and remover of obstacles, patron of trade and travelers.
Shri Ganesha symbol- swastika.
Ganesha Day- fourth lunar. It is on the fourth lunar day of the month of Bhadra that the Chatur Ganesh festival is celebrated and is celebrated for the next 10 days.
Ganesh is the Ishta Devata and the patron saint of people who born on Thursday, as well as on the -th, 5th and 22nd lunar day.
Ganesh also represents the OM pranava, without which there is nothing in this world.
Versions of the birth of Ganesha
1. “Brihaddharma Purana” (II book). After the birth of Skanda, Shiva refused to “indulge in lovemaking” for the sake of offspring, but Parvati passionately desired a son. The angry Shiva rolled up the goddess’s robe and handed it into her hands: “Here is your son, Parvati.” - “How can this piece of cloth replace my son?” – she objected. But as she spoke, she accidentally pressed the bundle to her chest. As soon as the bundle touched the goddess’s chest, it came to life and Parvati ordered the priests to perform the rituals required for the birth of a son.
Versions of the appearance of an elephant's head
1. According to one version, at the festival in honor of the birth of Ganesha, they forgot to invite the god Shani, who, out of revenge, incinerated the head of the newborn. Brahma advised Parvati to replace it with the head of the first creature she encountered, and it turned out to be an elephant.
2. Brihaddharma Purana” (II book). After the birth of Ganesha, all the gods were invited to a festival where everyone could look at the baby. Only Shani did not honor Parvati and her son, because... he was cursed by his wife for neglecting her, and from his gaze everything that the gaze of God fell on perished. Parvati ignored Shani's warning and asked him to look at her son. As soon as Shani looked at Ganesha, the baby's head separated from the body and fell to the ground. Even Shiva failed to resurrect the baby. Then a voice came from heaven, ordering to “put” the head of the one who “sleeps facing north” on Ganesha’s shoulders. Shiva’s servant Nandin was sent to search for the head, and after long wanderings he came to the capital of the heavenly kingdom of Amaravati. At the gate of the city he saw Airavata, Indra's elephant, lying with his head to the north. Having won the battle with Indra, Nandin cut off the elephant's head and returned to Shiva. The young god came to life and, at the behest of Shiva, became the head of the ganas (hosts of Shiva’s servants), receiving from Brahma the name Ganesha, “Lord of the hosts.” Indra came to Shiva with repentance and, as a sign of forgiveness, Shiva ordered the body of the headless elephant to be thrown into the ocean so that it would gain a new head, after which the resurrected Airavata returned to Indra.
3. Another explanation was that Parvati molded a man out of clay and, having washed him in the waters of the Ganges, placed him as a guard in front of her chambers, and when the new guard blocked Shiva’s path there, the angry god cut off his head and, seeing his wife’s despair, promised place the head of the first creature you come across, which turns out to be an elephant, to Ganesha’s body.
4. “Varaha Purana”. Ganesha lost his head due to the curse of Parvati, who was dissatisfied with his birth.
Two explanations have been proposed by Indian myth-makers to explain why why does the elephant head only have one tusk?.
1. According to one of them, he lost one tusk for conscientiously fulfilling his duties as a guard, this time not allowing the brahmana Parashurama (one of the avatars of Vishnu) into the chambers of Shiva; Parashurama, who did not stand on ceremony with anyone at all, cut off one of his tusks with his ax.
2. According to another legend, Ganesha himself used one tusk as a weapon, breaking it off and striking the giant Gajamukha (“Elephant Face” - again “elephant world”), who then turned into a rat, which later became Ganesha’s riding animal (vahana).
Ganesha loves sweet dishes very much: rice flour balls with a sweet center. On one of his birthdays, Ganesha went from house to house accepting offers of sweet dishes. After eating a large quantity of them, he rode off at night on his mouse. Suddenly the mouse stumbled - it saw a snake and got so scared that Ganesha ended up falling. His belly opened and all the sweet foods came out. But Ganesha pushed them back into his stomach and, catching the snake, tied it around his stomach. Seeing all this, the Moon in the sky laughed cheerfully. This misbehavior of the Moon made Ganesha very angry and he threw one of his fangs at the Moon and said that from now on no one should look at the Moon on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi.
One day Ganesha and His brother Ruler Subramanya were once arguing about who was the eldest of them. The question was asked to Lord Shiva for a final decision. Shiva decided that the one who makes a circle across the whole world and returns first to the starting point will receive the right to be the eldest. Subramanya immediately flew away on his vehicle - a peacock - to circle the world. But the wise Ganesha, expressing devoted respect and love, walked around His parents and asked for a reward for His victory. Lord Shiva said: “Beloved and wise Ganesha! But how can I give you a reward; You haven’t walked around the whole world, have you?” Ganesha replied, “No, but I went around my parents. My parents represent the entire manifested universe!” Thus the dispute was settled in favor of Lord Ganesha, who was thereafter recognized as the elder of the two brothers. Mother Parvati also gave Him a fruit as a reward for this victory.
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Although Ganesha is the leader of the lower pantheon in the service of Shiva, he is revered primarily as deity of wisdom, business and removal of obstacles. The same functions are performed by both of his wives - Buddhi (“Reason”) and Siddhi (“Success”).
Ganesha was and is still called upon to help with every endeavor., many Sanskrit works begin with an appeal to him (a separate Ganesha Purana is dedicated to him). Images and temples of Ganesha are extremely popular, especially in southern India. In numerous temples dedicated to Ganesha, the fourth day of the bright half of the month - chaturtti - is especially celebrated, and in the month of Bhadra (August-September) in Maharashtra, the Ganesha festival is celebrated for ten days.
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Names. GANESHA In the late Vedic period, the epithet “Ganapathi” (identical in meaning to “Ganesha”) originally belonged to Rudra-Shiva himself as a deity invariably surrounded by a retinue (Taittiriya Samhita). Ghatodara - “Thick-bellied”; Vighnesha – “Lord of Obstacles”; Ekadanta - “One tooth”.
Mantras and puja to Ganesha
OM GAM GANAPATAYE NAMAHA- This is the main mantra dedicated to Ganesha. It bestows purity of intentions and, again, success in all endeavors (read the continuation of the information after the photo).
OM GAM GANAPATAYE SARVE VIGHNA RAYE SARVAYE SARVE GURAVE LAMBA DARAYA HRIM GAM NAMAHA- one of the most powerful mantras for gaining Wealth.
1. Ganesha Gayatri
Om Bhur Bhuvah Swaha
Tat Purushaya Vidmahe
Vanratundaya Dhimahi
Tanno Dantih Prachodayat
Translation: Om, Earth, airspace and heaven.
Let us meditate on that great spirit,
To one with a trunk,
May He guide me to comprehend the Truth.
2. Om Gam Ganapatae Namo Nama (or Namaha)
Salutations to the Great Ganesha.
3. Om Shrim Hrim Klim Glaum Gam Ganapatae
Varavarad Sarva Janame Vasmanaya Matchmaker
Translation: Bija mantras of Lakshmi, Durga, Kali and two bija mantras of Ganesha. Shower your mercy, O Lord, and accept my ego as a gift. Glory to you.
4. Calling of Ganesha
Gajanam bhutganadisevitam
Kapittha jambhu pchayacaru bhakshanam
Umasutham Shokvina Shkarakam
Namami Vighneshwar Panpadkajam.
Translation: O elephant-faced one, revered by all,
One who eats the fruit of kappitha and jambu,
O son of Uma, destroyer of sorrows,
I bow to your lotus feet, Lord of the World.
How to perform a ritual at home
If you do not have the opportunity or desire to join us, but you really want to do something to get Ganesh Ji to pay attention to you, we will tell you how to perform the ritual at home.
Light the fire and incense.
To begin, simply say a mantra greeting to the Lord God, the Divine Mother, the five elements, the Sun, Moon and Stars, your ancestors and parents, your teachers and your Guru Ji. This time, focus your attention on calling your Guru and perform Guru Manas Puja by placing incense on your teacher's photo and reciting the mantra Aim Shreem Pilot Baba Guruve Namaha.
You can also recite the guru mantra
Om Guru Bhyo Namaha
Om Parama Guru Bhyo Namaha
Om Para-para Guru Bhyo Namaha
Om Parameshthi-gurubhyo Namaha! OM.
or Mantra
Gurur Brahma!
Gurur Vishnu!
Guru Devo Maheshwaram!
Guru Sakshat Parabrahma.
Tasmai Sri Gurawe Namaha. OM.
(translation: Guru is Brahma! Guru is Vishnu! Guru is Lord Maheshvara! I contemplate in the Guru the Parabrahman himself. And so I worship Sri Guru forever.
This way you will establish a connection with your teacher and receive a blessing to perform the ritual.
You can of course make a homa or small yajna offering (sacrificial fire) in honor of the Ganesh festival, but you can simply recite mantras and offer prasad to Ganesha in the form of fire, incense, sweets, rice, kumkum (red powder) and flowers.
To avoid confusion, we suggest that you simply invoke the spirit of Lord Ganesha into your home and into the image that he represents.
For the ritual, you need to have incense, fire, sweets, water and a red flower, offering which to the murti (statue or image) of Ganesha, you should recite a mantra with which you will transfer the energies of the deity into the murti and establish the presence of Ganesha in your home:
OM BHUR BHUVAH SVAHA SIDDHI BUDDHI SAHITAYA GANAPATAYE NAMAHA GANAPATHIM AVAHAYAMI STHAPAYAMI.
(this is the mantra of invoking the Deity Ganesha, who will be accompanied by the Goddesses Siddhi and Buddhi - the divine consorts of Ganesha).
Then invite the Deity to take his place:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA ASANAM SAMARPAYAMI
While chanting “samarpayami”, offer some rice and flowers to Ganesha.
The next step is to greet Ganesha in the form that stands in front of you:
NAMO GATE PATAYE NAMO GANAPATAYE NAMAHA PRAMATHA PATAYE NAMASTESTU LAMBO DARAYAIKADANTAYA VIGHNA VINASHINE SHIVA SUTAYA VARADA MURTAYE NAMO NAMAHA. OM.
(This mantra welcomes the patron of vows, Ganapati, the fat-bellied Ekadanta - the remover of obstacles, the son of Shiva). After which the puja begins.
If there is a murti in front of you in the form of a sculpture, you can wash the feet of the god-like Ganesha with water and say:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA PADYAAM SAMARPAYAMI
Then wash Ganesha’s hands, saying:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA ARGHYAM SAMARPAYAMI
Then wash your face and let Ganesha drink the water with the mantra:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA ACHAMANYAM SAMARPAYAMI
Now the most delicious thing - bathing Ganesha with panchamrita (a mixture of milk, yogurt or kefir, honey, sugar and ghee) with the words:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA PANCHAAMRITA SNANAM SAMARPAYAMI.
After which you need to wash Ganesha Ji with warm water and wipe clean with the mantra:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA SHUDHODAKA-SNANAM SAMARPAYAMI
Dress Ganesha Ji in clean, beautiful clothes:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA VASTRANI SAMARPAYAMI
Dress Ganesha in various decorations, a crown:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA BHUSHANANI SAMARPAYAMI
Offer sandalwood paste to Ganesha:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA CHANDANAM SAMARPAAYAMI
Offer kum-kum (red powder) and place tilak on the forehead and feet of the Deity:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA KUMKUMAM SAMARPAYAMI
Serve rice:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA AKSHATAM SAMARPAYAMI
Offer flowers:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA PUSHPANI SAMARPAAYAMI
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHAPUSHPA MALAM SAMARPAYAMI(in the event that you offer the deity not one or two flowers, but a whole garland).
Offer incense:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA DHUPAM SAMARPAYAMI
Bring a lamp with fire:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA DUPAM SAMARPAYAMI
Offer sweets:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA NAVEDYAM SAMARPAAYAMI
Offer whole fruits:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA PHALAM SAMARPAYAMI
Presenting coins and money:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHADRAVYA DAKSHINAMSAMARPAYAMI
Performing parikrama (circling the altar or puja place around 3 times clockwise) or simply turning clockwise around its axis, reciting the mantra:
OM SHRIM HRIM GLAUMGAM GANAPATAE NAMAHA PRADAKSHINAM SAMARPAAYAMI
Then begin arati - divine praise of Ganesha.
At the end, do namaskara by bending your knees and touching your forehead to the floor, mentally thanking Ganesha and all the Deities.
October 17th, 2017
Today is Tuesday, the day of Mars, Mangalavara. On this day of the week it is recommended to resort to Ganapati practices. And the other day I was just remembering the great, in my opinion, translator of tantric texts, who created for us a Russian-language version of the text of the root tantra of the Charya class - “Mahavairocana abhisambodhi”, as well as commentaries on it by the I-Ching and Buddhaguhya. He also penned a translation of the general explanatory Kriya Tantra "Susiddhikara Sutra", the root text of the Yoga Tantra - "Vajrashekhara" and Amoghavajra's commentary on it. None of our famous Buddhologists, lovers of Lamrim, has ever even tried to translate this into Russian)). You can read briefly about this translator here - https://www.hse.ru/staff/fesyun Andrey Grigorievich Fesyun has published many different books, but the tantric texts I mentioned, comments to them and a number of articles you can download in three volumes here here - Tantric Buddhism. In a day mangalavara I just remembered his article dedicated to elephant-headed deities)). Here she is:
The popular elephant-headed deity, popularly known as "Ganesha", has been an intriguing subject for anyone interested in the East until the present day. This mystical deity, who entered the arena of the Vedic pantheon late, quickly became one of the most significant figures; science, yoga, tantra, dance, drama, music, calligraphy - all these areas of human self-expression arose thanks to the existence of Ganesha. He fulfills the desires of his admirers, drives away all evil influences from them, brings them joy, prosperity and peace. The sacred texts contain numerous legends about his birth. The most popular is the one that tells how the goddess Parvati created Ganesha as the guardian of her private life.
Annoyed by her husband's refusal to respect her right to privacy, outraged that he allowed himself to enter her chambers even when she was taking a bath, Parvati decided to settle this once and for all. The next time, before entering the bathroom, she scraped some fragrant sandalwood ointment from her body and sculpted it into the figure of a young man. Having breathed life into her, she announced to him that he was her son and must guard the entrance while she was taking a bath, for which she armed him with a club and passed on some witchcraft techniques.
Soon after this, Shiva (the deity of destruction and Parvati's husband) came to look at her, but the young man stood in front of him and did not allow him inside. Shiva became angry, not knowing that it was his son, and began to fight with him with rage, as a result of which the young man’s head was separated from his body. Coming out of the bathroom, Parvati saw her headless son; in grief and anger she threatened to destroy heaven and earth.
Shiva calmed her down and ordered his companions (known as gana) to go and bring the head of the first living being they met. This turned out to be an elephant; They cut off his head, placed it on the young man and breathed life into him again. Delighted, Parvati hugged her son.
Shiva named him Ganesha; this word consists of two parts: gana (follower of Shiva) and isha (lord). Thus, he was appointed overlord of his followers.
Ganesha is usually depicted with the head of an elephant and only one tusk; the second one is broken off. Another distinctive feature is his large belly, which almost falls out over the edge of his underwear. A sacred thread, usually in the shape of a snake, is tied across the left shoulder and chest. Ganesha's cart is pulled by a mouse, often depicted as worshiping its lord.
According to the strict rules of Hindu iconography, it is forbidden to depict Ganesha with only two hands, so most often he has four, which is a sign of divinity. In some figures we see six, eight, ten, twelve and even fourteen hands, each of which holds a separate symbolic object (there are up to fifty of them in total).
Ganesha's physical attributes themselves are rich in symbolism. Usually one of his hands performs the protective abhaya mudra, and in the other he holds sweetness (modaka), expressing the sweetness of awareness of his inner essence. In his other two hands he often holds ankusha (elephant goad) and pasha (lasso) in front of him. The latter is designed to catch and hold worldly desires and attachments; the first is to guide people on the path of virtue and truth. Ganesh also strikes and removes all kinds of obstacles with his goad.
His fat belly symbolizes natural abundance, as well as the fact that Ganesha swallows all the misfortunes of the universe and protects the world.
The appearance of Ganesha is composite: four creatures - a man, an elephant, a snake and a mouse - form his figure. All of them together and each individually have a deep symbolic meaning. Thus, the appearance of Ganesha represents the eternal human desire to merge with nature.
Its main distinguishing feature is the elephant's head, symbolizing goodwill, strength and intellectual power. All the qualities of an elephant are contained in the form of Ganapati. This is the largest and strongest animal of the forest, but it is kind and, surprisingly, is a vegetarian, so it does not kill for its own food. He is very affectionate and devoted to his owner and feels very good when he is treated with kindness and love. Although Ganesha has great power, he is also loving and forgiving; he is touched by the affection of those who worship him. At the same time, if provoked, an elephant can destroy an entire forest, being an army in itself. He is also completely ruthless in eradicating evil.
And yet, the large head of Ganesha symbolizes the wisdom of the elephant. His huge ears, like a fan, sift out good from evil. Hearing everything, they leave only good things; they are sensitive to all the requests of those praying - big and small.
Ganesha's trunk is a symbol of his insight (viveka), the most important quality in spiritual improvement. The elephant uses it to fell a large tree, carry huge logs to the river, or for other heavy work. The same huge trunk can be used to pick up a few blades of grass, or to crack a small coconut, remove the hard covering and eat the soft contents. The most difficult and most delicate operations are within the capabilities of this trunk, symbolizing the intelligence and insight of Ganesha.
A curious aspect of his portrait is his broken tusk, from which his other name comes, Ekadanta (where eka means “one” and danta means “tooth”). There is one interesting legend about this:
When Parashurama, one of Shiva's favorite disciples, came for a visit, he encountered Ganesha, who was guarding the inner chambers. Since his father was sleeping, Ganesha did not allow him to enter. Parashurama, however, did not give up trying to get inside, and things came to an exchange of blows. Ganesha grabbed him with his trunk, spun him around and threw him to the ground, causing Parashurama to lose consciousness for a while. Having come to his senses, he threw an ax at Ganesha; he recognized it as his father’s weapon (Shiva gave it to Parashurama) and did not dodge, but respectfully accepted the blow with one of the tusks, which immediately fell off, and now Ganesha has only one tusk.
According to another legend, Ganesha was asked to write down the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata, which the author himself, Saint Vyasa, was going to dictate to him. Imagining the gigantic scale and significance of this work, Ganesha realized the inappropriateness of any ordinary “pen” in such a task, so he broke off one of his tusks and made a writing stylus from it. The lesson here is that there is no such thing as excessive sacrifice in the pursuit of knowledge.
The ancient drama Sisupalvadha gives a different version. It says that Ganesha lost his tusk through the machinations of the scoundrel Ravan (the negative hero of the Ramayana), who took it by force to make earrings from ivory for the beauties of Lanka.
The small mouse that Ganesha is supposed to ride is another interesting figure in his iconography. At first glance, it seems strange that the Lord of Wisdom was given a modest, insignificant mouse, which, of course, could not lift either his massive head or his huge belly. However, this implies, firstly, that wisdom is a rather bizarre conglomeration of factors, and secondly, that the wise never consider anything in this world to be disproportionate or repulsive.
In every sense, the mouse is comparable to high intelligence. She is able to slip unnoticed into places where it is considered impossible to penetrate. At the same time, she cares little about how virtuous or harmful it is. The mouse thus represents our wandering, seeking mind, drawn to undesirable, corrupt areas. By depicting a mouse worshiping Ganesha, it is implied that the intellect is tamed by his power of insight.
In any attempt to plumb the depths of the phenomenon of Ganesha, it must be remembered that he was born by the goddess Parvati without any intervention on the part of her husband Shiva, and therefore his relationship with his mother is unique and specific. The sensitive nature of this relationship becomes clearer when reading the following legend:
As a child, Ganesha tormented a cat by pulling its tail, rolling it on the ground and causing it great pain, as spoiled children often do. After some time, when he became bored with this game, he went to his mother Parvati and found her suffering, covered with scratches and covered in dust. When asked what happened, he received the answer that it was his own fault. She explained that she was the same cat he was playing with.
His absolute attachment to his mother is the reason why in the South Indian tradition Ganesha is depicted alone, without a female partner. He considered his mother Parvati to be the most beautiful and perfect woman in the universe. Bring me an equally beautiful woman,” he said, “and I will marry her.” But no one could find an equal to the delightful Uma (Parvati), so the search continues to this day...
In contrast, in northern India, Ganesha is often depicted with two wives - the daughters of Brahma, namely Buddhi and Siddhi, who metaphorically express wisdom and achievement respectively. In yogic schools, Buddhi and Siddhi represent the feminine and masculine currents in the human body. Artworks express this aspect of Ganesha in a graceful and charming way.
In the tantric direction, Ganesha is depicted in the guise of Shakti Ganapati. Here he has four hands, two of which hold symbolic objects, and with the other two he embraces his concubine, who sits on his left thigh. The third eye in this image is, of course, the eye of wisdom, whose gaze penetrates beyond ordinary physical reality.
Ganesha corresponds to the mooladhara chakra in the human body; its color is red.
It is impossible to discuss Lord Ganesha without mentioning the mystical syllable OM. This is the most powerful, universal symbol of the divine presence in Hinduism. It is believed that this was the first sound after the creation of the world.
When inverted, this divine profile forms the profile of an elephant-headed deity.
Ganesha is thus the only deity associated in a "physical" sense with the prehistoric sacred sound OM - a powerful reminder of his high position in the Hindu pantheon.
Nandikeshvara
Deity with the head of an elephant. Referred to as the "Joyful Celestial" (歡喜天, Kangiten), the "Great Noble Celestial" (大聖天, Daishoten) or (in full) the "Great Noble Joyful Celestial of Self-Abiding" (大聖歡喜自在天, Daisho kangi jizaiten) .
Previously, Nandikeshvara were the leaders of the troops of Maheshvara (大自在天, Japanese: Daijizaiten), demon kings who brought misfortune and suffering to people, but after acquiring the Teachings of the Buddha they became deities of happiness and prosperity, guarding the Buddhist Law. By worshiping them, they eliminate disasters and suffering, and gain abundance and wealth.
In esoteric Buddhism, he is the Main Venerable of the group of Noble Celestials who bring virtuous happiness.
In Japan, they began to be seen as the guardians of harmonious relationships between spouses; They are placed in cabinets that can be opened with doors and are rarely put on display. Presented in the form of one or two figures; most often - in the second version, standing and hugging, in the guise of a man and a woman; chins are placed on the partner's right shoulder. Sometimes both heads are turned to the same direction; very rarely they imagine themselves kissing.
When they were still kings of evil demons who tormented people, Avalokiteshvara turned into a celestial maiden and satisfied demonic carnal passion; having converted to Buddhism, they became defenders of the teaching. They are called Vinayaka In Two Bodies (双身毘奈夜迦, Japanese soshin binayaka). The ritual of worship involves pouring oil and rice wine over the figures, which is why the small figurines, made of copper, have acquired a shiny black coating over the centuries. The ceremony of worship of the Noble Celestial is performed in secret by a group of initiates, and includes offerings of the Far Eastern radish (蘿蔔根, rafukon) in the form of a phallic symbol.
The figure of the Joyful Celestial with two hands is depicted in the outer limit of the Vajradhatu mandala; in some paintings or sculptures he is represented with four or six arms, and sometimes with three heads.
Vinayaka
Six Divisions of Vinayaka of the Four Directions (四方六部歡喜天, Japanese: shiho rokubu kangiten):
east - Diamond Crusher - sangai binayaka (umbrella),
south – Diamond Food – keman binayaka (garland),
west - Diamond Clothing - kokyusen b. (clutching bow and arrows),
north - Diamond Face - chozu-ten (Boar Head Deity),
north - Diamond Spell - koto binayaka (squeezing sword),
north - Vinayaka - kangi-ten (Joyful Deity).
The word Vinayaka means “remover”, “destroyer”; He is a deity who creates obstacles to the performance of rituals and the attainment of enlightenment, but he can remove these obstacles if he is appeased. His names are the same as those of Nandikeshwar; Keishitsu in Gyozohonki says the following about him:
This great, noble celestial-king is the freely transforming body of Maheshwar; the sacred teaching states that he is called the “Noble Celestial” because he possesses the Six Miraculous Insights; He is called the “Great Free Celestial” because he has completely mastered wisdom and compassion. He is not an ordinary Vinayaka, but the Body of Transformation of the Tathagata Mahavairocana, as well as the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, therefore, when speaking about his original body, they always add “Noble”.
His other Sanskrit names are Nandikeshvara (“Joyful Lord”), Ganesha (“Leader of the Troops”), Ganapati (“Lord of the Troops”). The last two names are given because he leads the hosts of Maheshvara (Ishan) warriors. The Gankoki says:
The power rooted in the virtue of compassion gives all Vinayakas a joyful heart (Japanese: kangisin), so that even torture has no effect on them.
It is also called “joyful” because in esoteric Buddhism it is closely associated with the delights that arise from sexual union. One of the images of Vinayak, used in secret rituals to redirect his energy to remove obstacles erected by him, shows him in the form of an embracing couple. The Kangi soshin kuyoho says:
The concubine of the celestial king of the Great Self-dwelling (Maheshvara), the goddess Uma (Umahi) gave birth to three thousand children. The thousand and five hundred are on the left, and the first among them is King Vinayaka, whose every action is evil. He presides over one hundred and seven thousand ranks of Vinayaka. The thousand and five hundred are on the right, and the first among them is the god Senayaka, an adherent of virtue, whose every action is good. He presides over one hundred and seven ten eight thousand ranks of warriors who act nobly and hold virtue high. King Senayaka - Body of Transformation Avalokiteshvara. In order to subdue the evil practices of King Vinayaka, he manifests himself in the guise of husbands and wives, appearing in exactly the same forms, hugging each other... In order to richly reward unfortunate living beings, Tathagata Mahavairocana manifests his Transformation Bodies in this way.
Vinayaka's embracing bodies are described in various texts such as Kangi Hisho, Kakuzensho and Byakuho Kusho. One of the legends says that the Noble Celestial was the son of Maheshwar's concubine. His appearance was vulgar, his ideas were low, his behavior was furious and malicious, which is why he was driven out of heaven. While living on Mount Vinayaka, he noticed a beautiful goddess who appeared nearby and attacked her, but she turned into a terrible demon who declared that she was Kundali. Seeing this disgusting form, Vinayaka was greatly frightened, but Kundali said: Now you are in my power, however, I will take pity on you and become your concubine, so that your consciousness will turn away from evil and be filled with beautiful things, and no longer create obstacles and difficulties.”
Another legend tells of a king who lived on the continent of Marakeira, who ate only beef and radishes. When all the cattle in his kingdom were eaten, he began to devour the flesh of the dead, and when they ran out, he began to eat living people. The Chief Minister, along with a group of subjects and soldiers, killed the loathsome king, who immediately turned into the evil demon Vinayaka and disappeared into the sky. After this, the kingdom was struck by famine and epidemics; then the minister and his subjects began to pray to Sahasrabhajarya Avalokiteshvara, who took the form of a Vinayaka woman, and this manifestation of the bodhisattva seduced the evil demon. Being in joy (kangi) from the sexual satisfaction received from his concubine, Vinayaka lifted the curse of hunger and disease from the country, and the people lived in peace.
In the Gankoki it is said that Vinayaka is the body of Transformation of Mahavairocana, “for which there is no place where it does not reach” (Japanese musho fushi-sin), which the Tathagata manifests for the liberation of living beings in a manner suitable for their perception. He is also the transformed body of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara: “The Bodhisattva manifests in this body as Vinayaka’s concubine, the bearer of virtue, and therefore turns Vinayaka away from creating obstacles.”
The Shosetsu Fudoki gives the following iconographic description of Vinayaka:
“He is depicted with a human body and the head of an elephant. In his right hand is a wide ax; the left one is bent at the elbow, and in the palm facing to the right, huge radishes are clutched, pointing to the left.”
The Darani Shukyo gives the following description:
“He has a human body and an elephant’s head. His right elbow is bent and a radish is clutched in his upward-facing palm. In his left fist, palm up, he holds a “ring of pleasure” (Japanese: kangi-ton). His body and hands are decorated with bracelets, necklaces, a belt, “morning haze” brocade (Japanese asagasumi) and other things. He sits with his legs bent."
Notes
Six supernatural abilities (Sanskrit: shadabhijna, Japanese: rokutsu).
Quote From: Mikkyo daijiten. P. 384, s. v. Kangiten.
Taishozo-zuzo 1:127.
Quote From: Mikkyo daijiten. P. 384, s. v. Kangiten. In the Diamond World mandala he is depicted in the same way, but sitting cross-legged on a lotus leaf. On Genzu-mandara he sits cross-legged, holding a radish in his left hand and an elephant goad-hook (sometimes a wide ax) in his right hand.
Ganesha is one of the most revered Gods in India. But he is no less revered in China, because... it is believed to bring success in business. The most popular worship of him is the recitation of his “thousand names” in a chant.
This God, half-man, half-elephant, can be depicted with four, six, eight and even eighteen arms, with a snake on his belt. Sometimes he is depicted with three eyes. In his two upper hands Ganesha has a trident and a lotus. In three hands he holds an ax, a lasso and a shell. Ganesha's fourth hand is depicted as if he is giving gifts, but very often he has a lada in his hand. Lada is a sweet ball made from pea flour. In his fifth hand he has a staff; with this staff he helps people, pushing them forward. And the rosary symbolizes a focus on spirituality and knowledge. The candy in his trunk signifies the sweetness of liberation. Well, the snake coiled around him is energy that can manifest itself in different forms. He was given big ears in order not to miss more than one request from humanity. The halo above his head testifies to his holiness. Almost always he sits on the rat or it follows him.
The myth of the God of wisdom Ganesha
As is known from mythology, Ganesha is the son of Goddess Parvati and God Shiva. And there are several legends about such a strange appearance of Ganesh. One of them says that God Shiva, being angry, cut off the head of his own son when he did not let him into his mother’s chambers. After this, having come to his senses, God Shiva regretted what he had done and, in order not to bring pain to his beloved wife, Shiva ordered to cut off the head of the first creature that came across the path of his servants and bring this head to him.
And the first creature was a baby elephant. Not sparing the baby elephant, the servants cut off its head and brought it to Shiva. And God Shiva, using his abilities, attached the head of an elephant to the body of Rakesh. The baby elephant's head was heavy and therefore the child did not grow up slender and tall, as befits the Gods.
Many people know that Ganesh does not have one tusk, but not everyone knows why. But there is another legend connected with this. And the legend says that Ganesha lost his tusk in the battle with Parashurama. Parashurama is God Vishnu reincarnated as a human. It all happened like this... Once Vishnu came to visit God Shiva, but he was resting, and Ganesha did not wake him up. Parashurama became angry and cut off Ganesh's tusk. And none of the Gods decided to correct this, so Ganesha was left with one tusk for the rest of his life.
But legends are legends, and I propose to talk about Ganesha as a Feng Shui talisman.
The meaning and making of the talisman of the God of Wisdom Ganesh
Ganesha is the God of wisdom. It helps you get around obstacles. Ganesha is the patron of luck. Helps you achieve heights in business. Ganesha helps you earn more, stimulates you to achieve goals and brings profit.
Ganesha also helps those people who are engaged in sciences, crafts, music and dance. There is an opinion that the larger the Ganesh statue, the more wealth it will bring. So when choosing a talisman, the size of the figure depends only on you.
Ganesh amulet is mainly made from precious and semi-precious metals and stones. And in India, Ganesh figures are made of plastic. But it doesn’t matter what material it’s made of, the main thing is to treat it with honor.
Where to place the Ganesh figurine
Ganesha can be placed both in your home and in an office, store or educational institution. It is better if it stands in the northwest. This sector is considered the helper sector, as well as the travel sector. It is best to place Ganesh on your desktop at home or in the office. It may be advisable to place a Ganesh figurine at the entrance to the bank and in the store.
If your Ganesh statue is made of bronze, then it needs to be placed in the West, this is the metal sector. If you place it in this sector, then you will be guaranteed the help of friends and financial well-being.
It is better to place a wooden statue of Ganesh in the family sector in the East, then your finances will increase.
Activation of the amulet of the God of Wisdom Ganesha
Ganesha loves to have his belly and right palm stroked. You also need to make offerings for Ganesh. These could be sweets and coins. If you do not skimp on offerings, then expect pleasant surprises.
But you can activate the amulet in another way, namely with the help of mantras.
Mantra 1: Om gam ganalataya nam ah - this is the main mantra for Ganesh. This mantra is considered to “guide on the true path,” bring good luck, and also remove all kinds of obstacles.
Mantra 2: Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah - by pronouncing this mantra you can achieve success in any business. And also all your talents will flourish, you will be able to achieve excellence in any field of activity.
Also read these mantras before an important matter or financial transaction and everything you want will come true./p
The figurine of God Ganesha is broken: what to do
If something breaks or breaks off a Ganesh figurine, this is a sign that he saved you from some kind of trouble by taking it upon himself. According to the teachings of Feng Shui, all broken things should be thrown away, but there are rare exceptions, and this exception is the talisman of God Ganesh.
If you still have that part that has broken (usually a spear or a hand), then carefully glue it in place and thank Ganesh for saving you from any trouble, then he will return to his original state and produce the same the effect of protection and assistance, as before.