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OM GAM Ganapatiyei Namaha
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For a pronunciation guide, visit this page on Blessings On The Net. You'll need to click on the "Gods and Goddesses" link, and then click on Ganesha. This will bring up a page of audio links.
Towards the bottom you will see that there are several pages - choose the second page, then about halfway down click
on " Namo Gajanana - Ganesh Mahamantra". This will start a Real Player file where you will hear
the mantra sung. -
Another amazing resource is the CD Ganesha: He Listens, He Sees, He Cares which
is available through the IndiaYogi link on our resources page, or on eMusic mp3 download service (contact us for a link
to a trial membership that includes 25-50 free downloads - an eMusic subscription is HIGHLY recommended to Shakti Wicca members,
as they have an extensive Indian and New Age selection which includes many albums that are extremely helpful in learning mantra
pronunciation and rhythm structures). This CD includes a beautiful variety of prayers and bhajans (hymns) to Ganesha,
and has a track where the Ganesha mahamantra is chanted a full 108 times. There is also a track where the 108 names of Ganesha
are chanted. I highly recommend that Shakti Wicca Neophytes obtain this CD within their first few months of practice.
After reading the article and listening to the pronunciation file, you will want to
begin a daily japa practice to help kindle and maintain a relationship with your first Hindu guru - Ganesha!
The Ganesha Japa Practice
Preparation - Cleansing:
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To begin this practice, pick a time of day that you can consistently commit 15-30 minutes to for spiritual
work. It is recommended that you set up a basic meditation altar to perform your japa meditations at. You may also wish to
light candles and burn an Indian incense, such as rose, jasmine, sandalwood or nag champa.
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Brush your teeth and wash your face, hands and arms up to the elbows before sitting for japa meditation. This
shows your respect for the God/deses and the practice, by cleansing the areas of your body that you will be using to connect
with Them. Performing japa right after showering is ideal, but not necessary. Smudging is also an acceptable form of
cleansing the body and space prior to chanting. (Wash your hands at the very least, if you are unable to do the others for
whatever reason.)
Mental Preparation - Centering:
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Once at your meditation altar, take a few moments to ground, center and shield yourself from psychic distractions
by Casting a Circle of some sort. Your daily meditation Circle does not necessarily need to be as elaborate as one you would
create for a ritual, but do take the time to shield yourself in some manner.
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Say an affirmation or prayer stating your intent to connect with Ganesha, so that He may remove all obstacles,
clear the way, and act as your guide into Hindu spirituality.
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Take your mala, and with the guru bead between the thumb and any finger
other than the index (which is considered the "ego" finger) of your right hand, chant "OM"
until you feel calm and uplifted.
The Japa Meditation:
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Bring the attention of your mind to the Divine Form of Ganesha. It is strongly recommended that you obtain a
picture or statue of Him for your altar, as this will help facilitate your meditation exponentially.
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Begin chanting OM GAM Ganapatiyei Namaha, keeping count using the beads on the mala.
Do not chant too fast or too slowly. Savour the vibrations that the sounds make as you chant them.
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Chant for at least 1 full round of 108. When you first undertake this discipline, this may seem like
alot - but over time you will find that you can easily chant for longer periods of time. Let the progression happen naturally,
until you can chant for 30 minutes continuously.
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If you will be chanting more than 1 round, then you will stop when you come to the guru bead and go back around
the other way. Do not cross the guru bead. Chanting 5 rounds (5 is a number of Shiva, father of Ganesha) would be the next
goal to work towards.
Closing the Practice:
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Once you have finished your chanting, take a few moments to chant "OM" at the guru bead once again.
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Bring your mind once again to the Divine Form of Ganesha, and feel all the energy that you have raised during
your japa practice flow from you to Him as a devotional offering.
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Repeat your affirmation or prayer stating your intent to connect with Ganesha so that He may remove
all obstacles, clear the way, and act as your guide into Hindu spirituality.
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You may choose to sit in silent meditation at this point, or close the practice if short on time.
Journalling Your Experiences:
- As soon as you are finished with your japa meditation, you will want to journal your experiences - even if you feel that
you have nothing to report. Inspirational thoughts that arose during the meditation, as well as any other intuitive experiences
or urgings are very important.
- To aid you in establishing any patterns in your practice, jot down the date, time, weather, and lunar-phase of each entry.
- Also make a notation of your mood and energy level prior to chanting and afterwards.
- When you are not performing japa, you may wish to keep your journal near you bedstand, in case any interesting dreams
occur.
- Eventually you will begin to see your development unfold, and be able to track your progress. This journal will also help
you keep track of any questions that arise during your practice, that you can either work on answering via further meditations,
or present to you facilitator. You facilitator may also ask to see highlights from your journal from time to time to judge
how you are progressing.
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