\nSankara suvana bhavani nandana<\/span><\/i><\/span>
\nGaie Ganapati jagavandana…<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
(Praise be to Ganapati, the son of Shankara and Parvati, worshipped by the whole world)<\/span><\/p>\n Siddisadana gajavadana vinayaka<\/span><\/i><\/span> (Praise be to Ganapati with the elephant face, the abode of success, the leader par excellence, the ocean of compassion, most handsome and capable of everything)<\/span><\/p>\n Modaka priya mudamangala data<\/span><\/i><\/span> (Praise be to Ganapati, who is fond of modakas, who is the giver of joy and auspiciousness, who is the giver of joy and auspiciousness, who is the ocean of learning and bestower of intelligence. With folded hands Tulsidas beseeches, \u2018May Rama and Sita ever dwell in my heart\u2019)<\/span><\/p>\n This is the first song in Vinaya Patrika, written by Sant Tulsidas. In this series of songs in the form of letters of submission to the Lord, Tulsidasji appeals to Sri Rama in a truly soul-stirring manner. The\u00a0 first song is an invocation prayer to Lord Ganesha. <\/span><\/p>\n He is called Ganapati<\/strong><\/em> because He is the Lord of ganas, the demi-gods who are Lord Shiva\u2019s attendants. <\/span><\/p>\n The word gana also means ‘groups\u2019 \u2013 groups of sense organs, organs of action, pancha pranas (the five vital airs or life forces) (the five vital life forces), antahkarana (the four inner equipments) the pancha mahabhutas (the five elements) etc. He is the master, and naturally guides and leads them in the right direction. <\/span><\/p>\n Yo<\/span>u can also read about 108 names of Lord Ganesha with Meaning?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ganapati is the leader, most worshipful in this world (jagvandan)<\/strong>. If we emulate Him and master our senses, our organs of action and our vital life forces, we can also become jaga vandana, respected and revered in the world. We should learn to control ourselves, instead of trying to control others. <\/span><\/p>\n Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva (Trust) and the joy of Mother Parvati (Faith). <\/span>Symbolically, He stands for knowledge and is the son of shraddha (faith) and <\/span>vishvasa (trust).<\/span><\/p>\n In Ramcharitmanas, Sri Tulsidasji says:<\/strong><\/p>\n Bhavani sankarau vande<\/span><\/em> My obeisance to Bhavani and Shankara, the form of shraddha and vishvasa, without whom we cannot see the Lord seated in our heart. Knowledge is thus the son of shraddha and vishvasa. In the Geeta, it is said: shraddhavan labhate jnanam<\/em> \u2013 the person with faith attains Knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n Ganesha is Siddhi Sadhana<\/strong><\/em>, the abode of all siddhis \u2013 achievements, accomplishments and powers. One who has control over himself and possesses faith and knowledge, becomes the very abode of all success, siddhi sadhana. All of us are born to succeed. It is a different matter that we often seem to\u00a0<\/span>specialize in failing! We fail because we do not perform to our potential. If we tap all our inherent talents and powers, we are sure to succeed. <\/span><\/p>\n Ganesha is called Vinayaka<\/strong><\/em> (visista nayaka) the incomparable leader. The mantle of leadership falls naturally on one who gained mastery over himself, has faith and knowledge, and commands success in all his endeavours. One of the essential qualities of a good leader is compassion. Lord Ganesha<\/a><\/span><\/span> has it in abundance. He is called Kripasindhu<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 the ocean of compassion.<\/span><\/p>\n Ganesha is described as Gajavadana<\/strong><\/em>, with an elephant\u2019s face. The elephant\u2019s trunk has enormous strength and is also capable of recognizing fine distinctions. We should also develop subtle discrimination along with strength of mind and sharpness of intellect.<\/span><\/p>\n Tulsidasji calls the elephant faced God ‘sundara<\/strong><\/em>‘ \u2013 beautiful. Good looks alone do not make a person beautiful. Only a person who is disciplined, has faith, knowledge and success, is truly beautiful. If one spends all one\u2019s time taking care of the body and cultivating physical beauty and refrains from doing anything out of fear of sullying one\u2019s hands, it cannot be called true beauty. Ganesha\u2019s beauty is that He is capable of doing everything \u2013 saba layaka<\/strong><\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n Ganesha is very fond of modakas. Moda<\/em> means joy. In Kathopanishad, Lord Yama tells Nachiketa: ‘sa modate modaniyam hi labdhva<\/em> \u2013 he rejoices, having attained the Supreme, which is the cause for all rejoicing.\u2019 The only joy-giving thing is our own Self. In the Panchadasi it is said: ‘iyamatma paranandah parapremaspadam yatah<\/em> \u2013 this Self is of the nature of the highest joy\u2019, being dearest (to us).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pure Consciousness is blissful, since it is our own Self. Ganesha loves to revel in His own Self \u2013 modaka priya<\/strong><\/em>. For gross-minded and extroverted people, joy is only in enjoying objects of the world. They do not know the sweetness and pure bliss of the Self that is enjoyed by the wise. Sant Jnaneshwar says that Vedanta is modaka \u2013 it teaches us about our own Self. <\/span><\/p>\n Ganesha bestows joy, auspiciousness and goodness \u2013 mudamangala data<\/strong><\/em>. The very name of the Lord gives joy and auspiciousness. In Sri Ramcharitmanas,<\/span><\/p>\n Tulsidasji says:<\/strong><\/p>\n Rama bhagata hita nara tanu dhari<\/span><\/em> For the sake of the devotees, Sri Rama<\/a><\/span><\/span> assumed a human form, bore many hardships and brought joy to the saints and good people. The devotees, who chant His name lovingly, become the abode of joy and auspiciousness. Sense pleasures give us joy, but not mangalam \u2013 auspiciousness. Tapas and fasting give mangalam, but not joy, of course some ascetics find joy in performing penance also. However, even to the common man, the mere chanting of the Lord\u2019s name gives joy and auspiciousness.<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, with folded hands Tulsidasji requests a boon from Lord Ganesha<\/a><\/span><\/span>: ‘May Rama and Sita ever dwell in my heart.\u2019 Rama is ananda (bliss) and Sitaji is shanti (peace). After all, in the final tally, whether they know it or not, all want only happiness and peace. <\/span>Thus, the attributes of Lord Ganesha teach us many <\/span>things. If we try to emulate him, we can also gain joy and peace.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Ganesha](\"http:\/\/www.chinmayaupahar.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Shiva-Parvati-Ganesha-in-Calendar.jpg\" "\\"Ganesha")
<\/p>\n
\nKripasindhu sundara saba layaka<\/span><\/i><\/span>
\nGaie Ganapati jagavandana<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Ganesha](\"http:\/\/www.chinmayaupahar.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/bppa_5d70acba57d5b.jpg\" "\\"Ganesha")
<\/p>\n
\nVidyavaridhi buddhi vidhata<\/span><\/i><\/span>
\nMangata Tulsidasa kara jore<\/span><\/i><\/span>
\nBasahi siyarama mana more<\/span><\/i><\/span>
\nGaie Ganapati jagavandana<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Modak\"](\"http:\/\/www.chinmayaupahar.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/maxresdefault-1024x576.jpg\" "\\"Modak\\"")
<\/p>\n
\nSraddha visvasa rupinau<\/span><\/em>
\nYabhyam vina na pasyanti<\/span><\/em>
\nSida svantashtamisvaram.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\nSahi sankata kie sadhu sukhari<\/span><\/em>
\nNamasaprema zapata apayasa,<\/span><\/em>
\nBhagata hoy mudamangala basa.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n