YOGA AND THE BOONS OF SHRI GANESHA
Om Namaste Ganapataye
On the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi, in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada, we
welcome Shri Ganesha into our homes with the sen
In veneration of Lord Ganesha, a sacred hymn often chanted on this day is the Ganesha
Atharvashirsha from the Atharva Veda.
The Ganesha Atharvashirsha describes the nature of Lord Ganesha as the personification of
the Supreme Brahman – the cause of creation, protection, and dissolution of all beings, and
the indwelling Self within all.
tvam brahmā
tvam viṣṇustvam
rudrastvamindrastvamagnistvam
vāyustvam sūryastvam chandramāstvam
brahma bhūrbhuvaḥ svarom ||
tvam viṣṇustvam
rudrastvamindrastvamagnistvam
vāyustvam sūryastvam chandramāstvam
brahma bhūrbhuvaḥ svarom ||
Ganesh Chaturthi calls us to remember the eternal truth—the light of our true Self,
untouched by the mind and its passing experiences. It is the blessing of Lord Ganesha, the
bestower of steadiness and equanimity, guiding us to see the impermanence of the body,
the play of the senses, and the restless tide of the mind, so that we may rest in the
unchanging Self within.
Salutations to the One with the having long stomach; the destroyer of pride; the singletusked Lord, remover of all obstacles, son of Shiva, and bestower of boons!
Salutations to the One with the having long stomach; the destroyer of pride; the singletusked Lord, remover of all obstacles, son of Shiva, and bestower of boons!
On this auspicious Ganesh Chaturthi, may Lord Ganesha bless us all with the divine boon of
yoga.
Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha!
Namita Sinha
- urdhva-yoga
Recent Posts
Om Namaste Ganapataye
On the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi, in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada, we welcome Shri Ganesha into our homes with the sentiment of inviting auspiciousness, purity,
and prosperity.
In veneration of Lord Ganesha, a sacred hymn often chanted on this day is the Ganesha Atharvashirsha from the Atharva Veda.
The Ganesha Atharvashirsha describes the nature of Lord Ganesha as the personification of
the Supreme Brahman – the cause of creation, protection, and dissolution of all beings, and
the indwelling Self within all.
This beautiful hymn describes the states of Yoga that Shri Ganesha symbolizes:
- Beyond the three gunas that cause bondage – sattva, rajas and tamas
- Beyond the three states of consciousness – waking, dreaming and sleeping
- Beyond the three bodies – gross, subtle and causal
- Beyond the three states of time – past, present, and future
- Ever abiding in the Mūlādhāra chakra as principle of stability, security
- Possessing three śaktis (iccha, kriya, jnana) – the power of will, action and knowledge
- The one on whom the yogis and sages meditate upon eternally
- You are the creator (Brahma), sustainer (Vishnu) and dissolver (Rudra)
- You are the God Indra – the principle of richness and prosperity
- You are the God of agni (fire), vayu (air), surya (sun), chandrama (moon)
- You are the symbol of OM – the three levels of existence – bhūh, bhuvah and svah
tvam gunatrayātītah |
tvam avasthātrayātītah |
tvam dehatrayātītah |
tvam kālatrayātītah |
tvam mūlādhārastitho’si nityam |
tvam śaktitrayātmakah |
tvam yogino dhyāya’nti nityam |
tvam avasthātrayātītah |
tvam dehatrayātītah |
tvam kālatrayātītah |
tvam mūlādhārastitho’si nityam |
tvam śaktitrayātmakah |
tvam yogino dhyāya’nti nityam |
tvam brahmā
tvam viṣṇustvam
rudrastvamindrastvamagnistvam
vāyustvam sūryastvam chandramāstvam
brahma bhūrbhuvaḥ svarom ||
tvam viṣṇustvam
rudrastvamindrastvamagnistvam
vāyustvam sūryastvam chandramāstvam
brahma bhūrbhuvaḥ svarom ||
Ganesh Chaturthi calls us to remember the eternal truth—the light of our true Self,
untouched by the mind and its passing experiences. It is the blessing of Lord Ganesha, the
bestower of steadiness and equanimity, guiding us to see the impermanence of the body,
the play of the senses, and the restless tide of the mind, so that we may rest in the
unchanging Self within.
Salutations to the One with the having long stomach; the destroyer of pride; the singletusked Lord, remover of all obstacles, son of Shiva, and bestower of boons!
On this auspicious Ganesh Chaturthi, may Lord Ganesha bless us all with the divine boon of
yoga.
Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha!
Namita Sinha
- urdhva-yoga
Recent Posts
