Saturday, April 16, 2011

GANESHA THE ELEPHANT HEADED GOD

           One of the myths concerning the birth of Ganesha, the elephant headed God is as follows:

     Ganesha was created by Parvati, the wife of Shiva.  He is thought of as the son of both Shiva and Parvati.  He is the first son of the Divine Couple.  He was created from the earth element gathered from Parvati's body and molded into a small boy, and filled with the Breath of Life by Parvati.  This is the original form of Ganesh with a human head, the head of a small boy.  His name is "ADI GANESHA."


     Parvati set the small boy as a guard in front of her bathing place to stop anyone from entering.  One day as she was bathing, Maheshvara Himself came seeking Parvati.  The young boy said, "Halt, none are to pass.  Lady Parvati is bathing."


     Shiva amazed at the little guard's impudence, to attempt to stop the owner of Kailash from seeing his own wife, removed the boy's head with one throw of his trident.  Parvati seeing what happened was overcome with grief at the death of her son.  Shiva sent everyone in his kingdom to seek the boy's head.  It was nowhere to be found.


     Just then a Asura with a man's body and an elephant's head approached.  Shiva immediately cut of the demon's elephant head and placed it upon the young boy's body.  Vishnu reanimated the boy.  Shiva accepted him as his own son and he was loved by all.  His name became GANESHA, the elephant headed God. He was granted the boon of answering prayers.


    The elephant God also became the leader of the Gods.   He is the first approached of all the gods.  The God that is closest and most easily accessible to those of the material plane.  He still plays the role of the guard at the gate to the divine world.  Through His grace one can gain entrance into the subtle worlds.  His name as leader of the Gods is GANAPATI.


     GANESHA resides in the center at the base of the spine.  "YA" is a suffice added to a deity's name which means Consciousness.  So it is a means of invoking the mind or consciousness of the god.  GANESHA is of  the muladhara.  He is of the earth element.  When invoked by the mantra OM GUM MOTO GANESHAYA NAMAHA, He will slowly rise to the navel center.  Chant the mantra OM GUM GANESHAYA NAMAHA as if you are speaking to the navel center, "OM GUM GANESHAYA NAMAHA ...OM GUM GANESHAYA NAMAHA ...OM GUM GANESHAYA NAMAHA..."


     ADI GANESHA should be installed in the heart.  Chant the mantra "OM GUM ADI GANESHAYA NAMAHA in the heart as if you are speaking to the heart center, "OM GUM ADI GANESHAYA NAMAHA ...OM GUM ADI GANESHAYA NAMAHA...OM GUM ADI GANESHAYA NAMAHA."


     ISHWARA is the Supreme. The object of one's devotion. ISHWARA

is the Supreme. Chant OM GUM GANESHA ISHWARAYA NAMAHA in the throat chakra.


     GANAPATI should be installed in the mind center at the third eye.  Chant the mantra OM GUM GANAPATIYA NAMAHA as if you are speaking to the mind center, "OM GUM GANAPATIYA NAMAHA ...OM GUM GANAPATIYA NAMAHA ...OM GUM GANAPATIYA NAMAHA."


     In the soul center, above you head approximately twelve inches, chant the mantra, "GAY GAY GAY KROME KROME KROME..."  "GAY" is short for GANESHA.  "KROME should be chanted forcefully.  It is a sound that breaks down the barriers which prevent the flow of prana rising from the earth center as well as the barriers that prevent the Divine Mind from flowing down into the subtle body.

    

     This exercise will release blockages that stop the flow of intelligence.  It should be done the first thing in the morning and whenever you are beginning a project or undertaking a journey.  Ganesha is a great siddhi and holds the keys to bring heaven to earth and the strength to lift earth to heaven.  He will make Himself real to you when you think about Him.  These mantras are an easy way to remember Him and to focus His energies where they will release flows of energy in your subtle body to uplift your consciousness and bring down heaven's power to manifest material goals in your life.