Bhagwan Shri Ganesh
Introduction
Bhagwan Shri Ganesa is revered as the remover of all obstacles. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati and is known by many names. Some of these are Vighnesha, Vinayaka, Ganapati, Vakratunda, Lambodara and Parvati Nandan.
Origin
There are many legends surrounding the birth or the incarnation of Lord Ganesha. The most common is as follows :
Mother Parvati once wanted to take a bath and created a boy from the dirt of Her own body, asking him to stand as a guard outside while she bathed. In the meantime Lord Shiva returned home to find a stranger at His door, preventing him from entering. In anger, Lord Shiva cut off the boy's head, upon which Mother Parvati was stricken with great grief. In order to console Her, Lord Shiva sent out His troops (Ganas) to fetch the head of anyone found sleeping with his head pointing to the north. They found an elephant sleeping thus and brought back its head. Shiva then attached the elephantine head to the body of the boy and revived him. He named the boy Ganapati or commander of His troops, and granted Him a boon that anyone would have to worship Him (Ganesha) before beginning any undertaking.
Mantras
Some of the most common mantras dedicated to Lord Ganesha are
1). Om Vakratunda Mahakaya, Suryakoti Samaprabha, Nirvighnam Kurume Deva, Sarvakar Yeshu Sarvada
Translation
O Lord Ganesha who has a large body, curved trunk and brightness of a million suns, please remove all obstacles in my work always.
2). Gajananam Bhoota Ganadi Sevitam, Kapittha Jambu phalasara bhakshitam Umasutam Shoka Vinasha karanam Namami Vighneswara pada pankajam
Translation
Oh Elephant-faced, worshiped by the existing beings, of all living beings, tasting the elephant apple (kaith) and jambolana (jamun), the Son of Uma, destroyer of grief, I bow to the lotus feet
of Ganesh who is lord of all
Chaalisa
Jai jai jai vandan bhuvan, Nandan Gauri Ganesh
Dukh dvandvan phandan haran, Sundar suvan Mahesh
Glory be to You, Shri Ganesh Ji. You are Gauri's son and the destroyer of all pain, suffering and difficulties.
Hey Ganesh Ji, beautiful son of Shri Shiva Ji, glory be to you.
Jayati Shambhu-sut Gauri Nandan, Vighna haran nasan bhav-phandan
Jai Gananayak jansukh dayak, Vishv-vinayak Buddhi-vidhayak
Victory on to you son of Shambhu (Lord Shiva) and Gauri. You are the remover of worries and destroyer of all fear.
Victory is yours in all righteous battles for the safety and happiness of all. You are the destroyer of ignorance and the giver of
knowledge.
Ek radan gaj badan birajat, Vakratund shuchi shund susajat Tilak
tripundbhal shashi sohat, Chhavi lakhi sur nar muni man mohit.
On your shoulders you carry a head with one tooth and huge tusk. The three markings
adds grace to your forehead, charming warriors, mankind and even saints.
Ur mani-mal saroruh lochan, Ratna mukut-shir shoch vimochan. Kar
kuthar shuchi subhag trishulam, Modak bhog sugandhit phulam.
Wearing a garland of jewels, your eyes are like full blown lotus flowers and your head adorned with a jewelled crown.
You, Shri Ganesh Ji free your devotees from stress and worries. You wield a sacred axe and trident in your hands your
favourites are sweet ladoos ... (delicacy) ... and sweet scented flowers.
Sundar pitambar tan sajit, charan paduka muni man rajit. Dhani
Shiv-suvan bhuvan sukh data, Gauri-lalan shadanan bhrata.
Dressed in yellow silk and wearing jewel studded wooden sandals, Hey Shri Ganesh Ji, giver of peace and happiness to the world;
You are the son of Shiva and Gauri and brother to Kartikeya. You are Great.
Riddhi Siddhi tava chanvar sudharahin, mushak vahan sohit
dvarahin Tav manima ko varne para, janma charitra vichitra tumhara.
Riddhi (prosperity) and Siddhi (accomplishment) serve you by waving chanvar (fan) while your mushak (mouse) vahan (vehicle) adds splendour at the door.
As for the mysterious and strange story of your birth, who can really describe your greatness?
Ek asur Shiv-rup banavai, Gaurihin chhalan hetu tahan avai. Yah
karan te shri Shiv-pyari, nij tan-mail murti rachi dari.
A demon, disguised as Shiva, repeatedly tried to delude Gauri Mataa, who in order
to foil the demon's attempts, moulded, You, a divine form from the scurf of her body.
So nij sut kari grih-rakhvare, dvar pal sam tehin baithare.
Jabahin svayam shri Shiv tahan aye, binu pahichan jan nahin paye.
Gauri Mataa then assigned you to protect the home and stationed you at the door and
when Shiva .. her husband ... came, he was not recognised and was not allowed to enter.
Puchhyo Shiv ho kinke lala bolat bhe tum vacnan rasala
Main hun Gauri-sut suni lijai age pag na bhavan hit dijai.
Shiva asked, "whose son are you?" and you pleasantly replied: "I am Gauri's son. Do
not take even a single step beyond this point towards the house."
Avahin matu bujhi tab jao, balak se jani bat badhao. Chalan
chahyao-Shiv bachan na manyo, tab hvai kruddh yuddh tum thanyo.
You asked Shiva to wait there "until you obtained your mother's permission" instead
of prolonging "talk" with "a child", but Shiva attempted to enter and you challenged him.
Tathshan nahi kachhu Shambhu vicharyo, gahi trishul bhul
vashmaryo. Siras phul sam shir kati gayau, chat udi lop gagan mahan bhayau.
At that moment Shiva did not give a second thought and hurled his trishul ..
trident .. at you, severing your head which soared into the sky and disappeared.
Gayo Shambhu jab bhavan manjhari, jahan baithi Giriraj-kumari.
Puchhe Shiv nij manmuskaye, kahahu Sati-sut kahan te jaye.
Shiva then entered and therein saw Gauri .. daughter of the Mountain King, Himalaya
... seated. Shiva smilingly asked: "Hey Sati, tell me, how did you give birth to your son?"
Khulige bhed katha suni sari, giri vikal giriraj dulari. Kiyon na
bhal svami ab jao, lao shish jahan se pao.
At this stage, hey Shri Ganesh Ji, the story of your birth unfolded and Gauri learnt of what had happened to you.
Your mother became distraught and fell to the ground. "You did not do good," Gauri told Shiva and let him know that he
should "go and bring my son's head from wherever you find it."
Chalyo Vishnu sang Shiv vigyani, milyo na so hastihin shir ani.
Dhadh upar sthit kari dinhyon, pran vayu sanchalan kinhyon.
Knowledgeable in all skills, Shiva accompanied by Vishnu searched for the head in vain and
eventually, they brought the head of a baby elephant and placing it on your body, blew life into it.
Shri Ganesh Shiv nam dharayo, Vidya buddhi amar var payo. Bhe
prabhu patham pujya sukhdayak, vighna vinashak buddhi vidhayak.
Shivaji named you Shri Ganesha and blessed you with immortality, knowledge and wisdom.
Shiva Ji also pronounced that You are the first among those who are
worshipped and You remove all obstacles and bring joy and enhance the
intellect.
Prathamahin nam let tav joi, jag kahan sakal kaj sidh hoi.
Sumirahin tumahin milahin sukh nana, vinu tav kripa na kahun kalyana
Hey Shri Ganesh Ji, whosoever takes thy name before embarking on a mission achieves
success. Those who meditate on You enjoys happiness and peace and security, for
without your blessing there is no success.
Tumharahin shap bhayo jag ankit, bhadavan chauthi chandra
akalankit. Jabahin pariksha Shiv tuhin linha, pradakshina prithvi kahi
dinha.
It was your sraap .. curse .. that cause the moon's face to be tarnished with the
black reflection of the earth on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada
(Bhado) so that none dare to look at it. And when Shiva Ji wanted to test your
intellegence, he asked you to go around the earth.
Satmukh chalyo mayur udai, baithi rache tum sahaj upai. Ram nam
mahi par likhi anka, kinh pradakshina taji man shanka.
Your brother, Sadmukha ... Kartikeya ... jumped on his peacock and went to fly around
the earth, You, hey Shri Ganesh Ji wrote Rama's name ... RAM ... on the ground
and meditating upon Rama circumambulated ... went around ... the name written on
the ground.
Shri pitu-matu-charan dhari linhyo, ta kahan sat pradakshina
kinhyo. Prithvi parikrama phal payo, as lakhi suran suman varshayo.
Further, hey Shri Ganesh Ji you with utmost devotion grasped the feet of your parents ...
Gauri and Shiva ... and circumambulated them seven times, thereby achieving the
blessing equal to circumambulating the earth and so pleased were the gods that
they showered flowers upon you.
Sundar Das' das ram ke chera, Durvasa ashram dhari dera. Virchyo
Shri Ganesh Chalisa, Shiv puran varnit yogisa.
Sundardasa, a devotee of Rama while he staying in Durvasa's hermitage, composed this Shri
Ganesh Chalisa just as the Rishis that composed the Shiva Poorana.
Nitya Gajanan jo gun gavat, grah vasi sumati param sukh pavat.
Jan dhan dhanya-suvan sukh dayak, dehin sakal shubh shri Gananayak.
Those who daily recite this Chalisa will enjoy intelligence and bliss. Shri Ganesh Ji
is the bestower of wealth, progeny and happiness and every auspicious object
upon his devotees.
Doha Shri Ganesh yah chalisa, path karai dhari dhyan, Nit nav
mangal mod lahi, milai jagat sanman.
Dvai sahstra dash vikrami,bhadra Krishna tithi gang, Puran
chalisa bhayo, sundar bhakti abhang.
Those who meditate upon Shri Ganesh Ji and recite the verses of the Chalisa will be
blessed and honoured.In the month of Bhadra, the third day of the dark half,
in the Vikrama year 2,010 (A.D.1953) the 40 verses of this Chalisa was completed
by Sundardasa to show his devotedness to Shri Ganesh Ji.
Bhagwan Shri Ganesa is revered as the remover of all obstacles. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati and is known by many names. Some of these are Vighnesha, Vinayaka, Ganapati, Vakratunda, Lambodara and Parvati Nandan.
Origin
There are many legends surrounding the birth or the incarnation of Lord Ganesha. The most common is as follows :
Mother Parvati once wanted to take a bath and created a boy from the dirt of Her own body, asking him to stand as a guard outside while she bathed. In the meantime Lord Shiva returned home to find a stranger at His door, preventing him from entering. In anger, Lord Shiva cut off the boy's head, upon which Mother Parvati was stricken with great grief. In order to console Her, Lord Shiva sent out His troops (Ganas) to fetch the head of anyone found sleeping with his head pointing to the north. They found an elephant sleeping thus and brought back its head. Shiva then attached the elephantine head to the body of the boy and revived him. He named the boy Ganapati or commander of His troops, and granted Him a boon that anyone would have to worship Him (Ganesha) before beginning any undertaking.
Mantras
Some of the most common mantras dedicated to Lord Ganesha are
1). Om Vakratunda Mahakaya, Suryakoti Samaprabha, Nirvighnam Kurume Deva, Sarvakar Yeshu Sarvada
Translation
O Lord Ganesha who has a large body, curved trunk and brightness of a million suns, please remove all obstacles in my work always.
2). Gajananam Bhoota Ganadi Sevitam, Kapittha Jambu phalasara bhakshitam Umasutam Shoka Vinasha karanam Namami Vighneswara pada pankajam
Translation
Oh Elephant-faced, worshiped by the existing beings, of all living beings, tasting the elephant apple (kaith) and jambolana (jamun), the Son of Uma, destroyer of grief, I bow to the lotus feet
of Ganesh who is lord of all
Chaalisa
Jai jai jai vandan bhuvan, Nandan Gauri Ganesh
Dukh dvandvan phandan haran, Sundar suvan Mahesh
Glory be to You, Shri Ganesh Ji. You are Gauri's son and the destroyer of all pain, suffering and difficulties.
Hey Ganesh Ji, beautiful son of Shri Shiva Ji, glory be to you.
Jayati Shambhu-sut Gauri Nandan, Vighna haran nasan bhav-phandan
Jai Gananayak jansukh dayak, Vishv-vinayak Buddhi-vidhayak
Victory on to you son of Shambhu (Lord Shiva) and Gauri. You are the remover of worries and destroyer of all fear.
Victory is yours in all righteous battles for the safety and happiness of all. You are the destroyer of ignorance and the giver of
knowledge.
Ek radan gaj badan birajat, Vakratund shuchi shund susajat Tilak
tripundbhal shashi sohat, Chhavi lakhi sur nar muni man mohit.
On your shoulders you carry a head with one tooth and huge tusk. The three markings
adds grace to your forehead, charming warriors, mankind and even saints.
Ur mani-mal saroruh lochan, Ratna mukut-shir shoch vimochan. Kar
kuthar shuchi subhag trishulam, Modak bhog sugandhit phulam.
Wearing a garland of jewels, your eyes are like full blown lotus flowers and your head adorned with a jewelled crown.
You, Shri Ganesh Ji free your devotees from stress and worries. You wield a sacred axe and trident in your hands your
favourites are sweet ladoos ... (delicacy) ... and sweet scented flowers.
Sundar pitambar tan sajit, charan paduka muni man rajit. Dhani
Shiv-suvan bhuvan sukh data, Gauri-lalan shadanan bhrata.
Dressed in yellow silk and wearing jewel studded wooden sandals, Hey Shri Ganesh Ji, giver of peace and happiness to the world;
You are the son of Shiva and Gauri and brother to Kartikeya. You are Great.
Riddhi Siddhi tava chanvar sudharahin, mushak vahan sohit
dvarahin Tav manima ko varne para, janma charitra vichitra tumhara.
Riddhi (prosperity) and Siddhi (accomplishment) serve you by waving chanvar (fan) while your mushak (mouse) vahan (vehicle) adds splendour at the door.
As for the mysterious and strange story of your birth, who can really describe your greatness?
Ek asur Shiv-rup banavai, Gaurihin chhalan hetu tahan avai. Yah
karan te shri Shiv-pyari, nij tan-mail murti rachi dari.
A demon, disguised as Shiva, repeatedly tried to delude Gauri Mataa, who in order
to foil the demon's attempts, moulded, You, a divine form from the scurf of her body.
So nij sut kari grih-rakhvare, dvar pal sam tehin baithare.
Jabahin svayam shri Shiv tahan aye, binu pahichan jan nahin paye.
Gauri Mataa then assigned you to protect the home and stationed you at the door and
when Shiva .. her husband ... came, he was not recognised and was not allowed to enter.
Puchhyo Shiv ho kinke lala bolat bhe tum vacnan rasala
Main hun Gauri-sut suni lijai age pag na bhavan hit dijai.
Shiva asked, "whose son are you?" and you pleasantly replied: "I am Gauri's son. Do
not take even a single step beyond this point towards the house."
Avahin matu bujhi tab jao, balak se jani bat badhao. Chalan
chahyao-Shiv bachan na manyo, tab hvai kruddh yuddh tum thanyo.
You asked Shiva to wait there "until you obtained your mother's permission" instead
of prolonging "talk" with "a child", but Shiva attempted to enter and you challenged him.
Tathshan nahi kachhu Shambhu vicharyo, gahi trishul bhul
vashmaryo. Siras phul sam shir kati gayau, chat udi lop gagan mahan bhayau.
At that moment Shiva did not give a second thought and hurled his trishul ..
trident .. at you, severing your head which soared into the sky and disappeared.
Gayo Shambhu jab bhavan manjhari, jahan baithi Giriraj-kumari.
Puchhe Shiv nij manmuskaye, kahahu Sati-sut kahan te jaye.
Shiva then entered and therein saw Gauri .. daughter of the Mountain King, Himalaya
... seated. Shiva smilingly asked: "Hey Sati, tell me, how did you give birth to your son?"
Khulige bhed katha suni sari, giri vikal giriraj dulari. Kiyon na
bhal svami ab jao, lao shish jahan se pao.
At this stage, hey Shri Ganesh Ji, the story of your birth unfolded and Gauri learnt of what had happened to you.
Your mother became distraught and fell to the ground. "You did not do good," Gauri told Shiva and let him know that he
should "go and bring my son's head from wherever you find it."
Chalyo Vishnu sang Shiv vigyani, milyo na so hastihin shir ani.
Dhadh upar sthit kari dinhyon, pran vayu sanchalan kinhyon.
Knowledgeable in all skills, Shiva accompanied by Vishnu searched for the head in vain and
eventually, they brought the head of a baby elephant and placing it on your body, blew life into it.
Shri Ganesh Shiv nam dharayo, Vidya buddhi amar var payo. Bhe
prabhu patham pujya sukhdayak, vighna vinashak buddhi vidhayak.
Shivaji named you Shri Ganesha and blessed you with immortality, knowledge and wisdom.
Shiva Ji also pronounced that You are the first among those who are
worshipped and You remove all obstacles and bring joy and enhance the
intellect.
Prathamahin nam let tav joi, jag kahan sakal kaj sidh hoi.
Sumirahin tumahin milahin sukh nana, vinu tav kripa na kahun kalyana
Hey Shri Ganesh Ji, whosoever takes thy name before embarking on a mission achieves
success. Those who meditate on You enjoys happiness and peace and security, for
without your blessing there is no success.
Tumharahin shap bhayo jag ankit, bhadavan chauthi chandra
akalankit. Jabahin pariksha Shiv tuhin linha, pradakshina prithvi kahi
dinha.
It was your sraap .. curse .. that cause the moon's face to be tarnished with the
black reflection of the earth on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada
(Bhado) so that none dare to look at it. And when Shiva Ji wanted to test your
intellegence, he asked you to go around the earth.
Satmukh chalyo mayur udai, baithi rache tum sahaj upai. Ram nam
mahi par likhi anka, kinh pradakshina taji man shanka.
Your brother, Sadmukha ... Kartikeya ... jumped on his peacock and went to fly around
the earth, You, hey Shri Ganesh Ji wrote Rama's name ... RAM ... on the ground
and meditating upon Rama circumambulated ... went around ... the name written on
the ground.
Shri pitu-matu-charan dhari linhyo, ta kahan sat pradakshina
kinhyo. Prithvi parikrama phal payo, as lakhi suran suman varshayo.
Further, hey Shri Ganesh Ji you with utmost devotion grasped the feet of your parents ...
Gauri and Shiva ... and circumambulated them seven times, thereby achieving the
blessing equal to circumambulating the earth and so pleased were the gods that
they showered flowers upon you.
Sundar Das' das ram ke chera, Durvasa ashram dhari dera. Virchyo
Shri Ganesh Chalisa, Shiv puran varnit yogisa.
Sundardasa, a devotee of Rama while he staying in Durvasa's hermitage, composed this Shri
Ganesh Chalisa just as the Rishis that composed the Shiva Poorana.
Nitya Gajanan jo gun gavat, grah vasi sumati param sukh pavat.
Jan dhan dhanya-suvan sukh dayak, dehin sakal shubh shri Gananayak.
Those who daily recite this Chalisa will enjoy intelligence and bliss. Shri Ganesh Ji
is the bestower of wealth, progeny and happiness and every auspicious object
upon his devotees.
Doha Shri Ganesh yah chalisa, path karai dhari dhyan, Nit nav
mangal mod lahi, milai jagat sanman.
Dvai sahstra dash vikrami,bhadra Krishna tithi gang, Puran
chalisa bhayo, sundar bhakti abhang.
Those who meditate upon Shri Ganesh Ji and recite the verses of the Chalisa will be
blessed and honoured.In the month of Bhadra, the third day of the dark half,
in the Vikrama year 2,010 (A.D.1953) the 40 verses of this Chalisa was completed
by Sundardasa to show his devotedness to Shri Ganesh Ji.