Ganesha: The Remover of Obstacles
Ganesha is the elephant-headed deity, son of Shiva and Parvati. He is known as the scribe for the Mahabharata, the biggest epic ever composed and worshipped extensively throughout India and all over the world. He is invoked first during ritualistic worship in Hinduism, known as puja, as his blessings are sought for auspiciousness to one and all. He is a deity of primary importance in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Place him anywhere in your home, office or sacred space to invoke the Remover of Obstacles. However, it is known to bring even more benefits to have him near the door or where you enter or leave your home. The northeast is considered the best placement.
Let the Lord of New Beginnings and Remover of Obstacles protect and provide you comfort in your home.
Mantra for Ganesha:
"Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha
Meaning: It means bowing down to Ganapati with all our existence and accepting all his great qualities in our self-being.
Benefit: It wards off all the negativities from one’s life before beginning any work. Chanting of this mantra ensures success in all the new ventures that one wishes to undertake."
Ganesha has many distinguishing features. He is pot bellied, one tusk is broken, and he is usually holding his favorite sweet, laddus. The preferred color of flower for offering him is red. You can easily worship him by offering him a red flower and any sweets. Light a new stick of incense and wave it in a clockwise direction 3 or more times. Imagine he is eating the sweets you have offered while you wait. Making this intentional practice will help allow you to connect with the Divine and invoke his blessing. After all, he is the remover of obstacles and allows an ally on your side.
Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The story of his creation begins with Parvati, the Divine Mother. She wanted a child and so she made one from the earth. However, the legend goes that Shiva came home to this stranger in his house thinking he was an enemy and cut his head off after a fierce battle with Shiva’s servants. Parvati was in utter disbelief so to appease her, Lord Shiva went out to find a new head for the boy. The first animal they came across was an elephant and so he removed his head and brought it back to the boy, hence the creation of Ganesha.
Loved by all, he is the approachable god that helps us in our daily lives as well as our spiritual paths. Try chanting his name and invoking his blessings daily...Om Gam Ganapataye Namah.
