<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865717321766602828</id><updated>2011-04-21T14:16:03.042-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Sougandhika</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sougandhikab.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2865717321766602828/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sougandhikab.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Sougandhika</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08428060103071413914</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>3</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865717321766602828.post-6293063067518940988</id><published>2007-09-26T04:25:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-09-26T04:39:31.026-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Types of Ganeshas</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ET99Bbjn2-I/RvpEcrx0KUI/AAAAAAAAAfA/SPOZSZAU-zM/s1600-h/DSC02645.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114475586411309378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ET99Bbjn2-I/RvpEcrx0KUI/AAAAAAAAAfA/SPOZSZAU-zM/s320/DSC02645.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;&lt;a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meenabn/TypesOfGaneshas"&gt;http://picasaweb.google.com/meenabn/TypesOfGaneshas&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div align="center"&gt;Source: Magazine&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2865717321766602828-6293063067518940988?l=sougandhikab.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sougandhikab.blogspot.com/feeds/6293063067518940988/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2865717321766602828&amp;postID=6293063067518940988' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2865717321766602828/posts/default/6293063067518940988'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2865717321766602828/posts/default/6293063067518940988'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sougandhikab.blogspot.com/2007/09/types-of-ganeshas.html' title='Types of Ganeshas'/><author><name>Sougandhika</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08428060103071413914</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp2.blogger.com/_ET99Bbjn2-I/RvpEcrx0KUI/AAAAAAAAAfA/SPOZSZAU-zM/s72-c/DSC02645.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865717321766602828.post-5413637300302743201</id><published>2007-09-20T11:12:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2007-09-20T12:18:45.190-07:00</updated><title type='text'>GANESHA POOJA VIDHANAM</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ET99Bbjn2-I/RvLEMvFYobI/AAAAAAAAAWI/hA5zSsAWXuc/s1600-h/DSC02620-1.JPG"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112364250095460786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ET99Bbjn2-I/RvLEMvFYobI/AAAAAAAAAWI/hA5zSsAWXuc/s320/DSC02620-1.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Om Harihi Om&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;GANESHA POOJA VIDHANAM&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;First light the lamps.&lt;br /&gt;Place the Ganesh idol or Photo frame facing the East or West. But not facing the South. Apply sandal paste and kumkum on the forehead, palms and feet and then garland with flowers.&lt;br /&gt;Ōm Aim Hrīm Srīm - [4]&lt;br /&gt;Om shuklambaradharam vishnum Shashi varnam chaturbhujam, Prasanavadanam dyayetha, sarva vignobha upashanthaye. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guru dhyanam :&lt;/strong&gt; With [Mrhi Mudra] folded hand chant :&lt;br /&gt;Guru brahma guru vishnu gurudevo maheshwaraha. Guru saakshaat param brahma Tasmai shree guravey namaha.&lt;br /&gt;Nidhayey sarva vidyanaam, bhishajey bhavaroginaam. Guravey sarva lokaanam, dakshina murthayey namah.&lt;br /&gt;Ōm prajńānam brhmayam ātma brahma tattvamasi aham brahmasmi&lt;br /&gt;śrī guru; parama guru; parameşti guru; divya guru śaranam&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Śri śivācarya varyadhyām śankarācarya madhyamām asmadāchārya paryantām&lt;br /&gt;vande guru param param. Harih Ōm&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Aachamaniyam :&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Ōm Aim Ka e ī La Hrīm Ātma tatvam śodhayāmi svāhā&lt;br /&gt;Ōm Klīm Ha Sa Ka Ha La Hrīm Vidyā tatvam śodhayāmi svāhā&lt;br /&gt;Ōm Sauh Sa Ka La Hrīm Śiva tatvam śodhayāmi svāhā&lt;br /&gt;Ōm Aim Ka e ī La Hrīm; Klīm Ha Sa Ka Ha La Hrīm; Sauh Sa Ka La Hrīm Sarva tatvam śodhayāmi svāhā&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Prāņāyāmah :&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Ōm Bhūh..... Bhūrbhuvassuvarōm (three times)&lt;br /&gt;Āsana Pūjā&lt;br /&gt;Ōm asya śrī āsana mahāmantrasya prthivyā merupŗşta ŕşih sutalam candah,&lt;br /&gt;Kūrmo devatā, āşane viniyogah.&lt;br /&gt;Yogāsanāya namah:&lt;br /&gt;Vīrāsanāya namah:&lt;br /&gt;Śarāsanāya namah:&lt;br /&gt;Samyōgāsanāya namah:&lt;br /&gt;Ōm Hrīm ādhāra śakti kamalāsanaya namah:&lt;br /&gt;Raktadvādaśa śaktyuktāya dvīpanāthaāya namah:&lt;br /&gt;Bhūmadevyai namah: Harih ōm&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ghanta Puja :&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4 - Jagadhvani Mantramāth hum phat svāhā&lt;br /&gt;4 - Āgamārtham tu devānam gamanārtham tu rakşasām&lt;br /&gt;4 - Kuru ghaņtāravam karōmyādau devatāhvāna lāńchanam&lt;br /&gt;4 - Iti ghaņtānatham kŗtvā&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ring the bell and recite:&lt;br /&gt;4 - He ghaņte susvare pīthe ghaņtādhvani vibhūşite&lt;br /&gt;Vādayanti parānande ghaņtā devam prapūjayet&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Pūjā to Sun / Lamp&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Ōm Bhāskarāya vidmahe mahāddyutikarāya dhīmahi tanno āditya pracōdayāt. Harih Ōm&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Kalaśa Pūjā&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;[4]&lt;br /&gt;Kalaśasya mukhe vişņuh ghaņte rudrah samāśritāh, mule tatra stitō brahma madhye mātŗganah smŗtāh&lt;br /&gt;Kukşo tu sāgarāh sarve saptadvīpā vasundharā&lt;br /&gt;Rg Veda, Yajur Veda, Sāma Veda , Aphyātharvaņah&lt;br /&gt;Angaiśca sahita sarve kalaśambusamāśritāh&lt;br /&gt;Ayāntu śrī devī pūjārtham duritakşaya kārakāh&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Gańge ca Yamune Caiva Godāvari Sarasvati&lt;br /&gt;Narmade Sindhu Kāveri jale asmin sannidhim kuru&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Am ām im īm um ūm aŗum aŗūm alum alūm em aim ōm oum am aha&lt;br /&gt;Ka e ī La Hrīm Ha Sa Ka Ha La Hrīm Sa Ka La Hrīm&lt;br /&gt;Pūjōpkaranāni dravyāni ātmanan ca tam prōkşya Hrih ōm&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sankalpam :&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Mamopatha samastha, duritha kshaya dwara, shri parameshwara preetheyartham, karishya manasya karmanaha nirvignam parisamaptyartha aadhao vigneshwara poojam karishyey.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ganapati Dyanam :&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ōm Ganānām tvā gaņapati gum havāmahe&lt;br /&gt;Kavim Kavīnām upamaśra vastamam&lt;br /&gt;Jyeştharājam brahmańām brahmaņaspata&lt;br /&gt;Ā nah śrnvan ūtibhih sida sādanam&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Aavahanam (Invoking the God) - Place left palm on the centre of the chest and with the right palm touch the feet of the idol (or frame) simultaneously and chant the mantra :&lt;br /&gt;Ōm Śrīm Hrīm Klīm Gloum Gam Gaņapataye&lt;br /&gt;Vara varada sarva jannme vacamanaya svāha&lt;br /&gt;Hsraim Hskalarīm Hasrasouh&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mahāpadmā vanantasthe Kāranānanda (pari pūrna Meru Prasthare; Vigrahe, Bhimbe, .....)&lt;br /&gt;Sava bhuta hite matah ehyehi paramesvarah&lt;br /&gt;Mahāhaņapataye namah:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Prana Yamam:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Om boohu, Om bhuvaha, Oghum suvaha, Om mahaha, Om janaha, Oghum satyam, Om tat sa vithurvarenyam, Bhargo devasya dhimahi, dheeyo yonah pracho dayathu. Om aphaha, Jyothi rasa, amrutham brahma, bhurbhuvasuvaram.&lt;br /&gt;Aasanam - After chanting the following mantra, offer one flower or tulsi leaf :&lt;br /&gt;Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: Aasanam samarpayami&lt;br /&gt;Paadhyam and snaanam : Offer one spoon of water into a plate or bowl after chanting each line of following mantra :-&lt;br /&gt;Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: Paadhyo paadhyam samarpayaami Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: Hastyo ardhyam samarpayaami Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: Aachamaniyam samarpayami Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: Snanaan tharam aachamaniyam samarpayaami&lt;br /&gt;Vastram, Upavitham and Aabharanam - After chanting each mantra, offer akshata (rice) with flowers or tulsi leaf:&lt;br /&gt;Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: vastrartha akshataan samarpayaami Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: upavitaartha akshataan samarpayami Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: aabharanartha akshataan samarpayaami&lt;br /&gt;Chandanam - Apply sandalpaste on the forehead of the idol (or photoframe) and chant&lt;br /&gt;Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: Divya Parimalla gandhaan-dharayaame&lt;br /&gt;Kumkum - Apply kumkum on top of the sandal paste and chant :&lt;br /&gt;Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: Haridra kumkumam samarpayaami.&lt;br /&gt;Akshata - offer some akshata (rice) and chant.&lt;br /&gt;Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: Akshataan samarpayaami&lt;br /&gt;Pushpam - offer some flowers and chant :&lt;br /&gt;Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: Pushpaanni samarpayaami&lt;br /&gt;Now you have invoked Lord Ganesh for the Pooja, and you are ready for the Pushpaanjali and naamavali (praising the Lord by his different names) After each of the following mantra offer a flower :&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Om sumukhaya namaha Om ekadantaaya namaha Om kapilaaya namaha Om gajakarnakaaya namaha Om lambodaraaya namaha Om vikataaya namaha Om vignaraajaya namaha Om vinayakaaya namaha Om dhuma ketavey namaha Om ganadyakshaaya namaha Om faalachandraya namaha Om gajananaaya namaha Om vakratundaaya namaha Om shoorpa karnaaya namaha Om Heyrambaaya namaha Om skandapoorvajaaya namahaOm moola prakrutayey namaha Om kshetra paalaya namaha Om gurubhyo namaha Om siddhi vinayaka swaminey namaha Nana vidha parimala - patra - pushpani samarpayaami &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Prarthana :&lt;/strong&gt; With folded hands chant :&lt;br /&gt;Vigneshwara mahabhaaga sarva loka namaskruta, Mayarabdha midham, karma nirvignam kuru sarvadhaa. Aabrahma lokaath, aasheyshaath aalokaa, loka parvataath, Yey vasanthi, dvija devah, tey bhyo nityam, namostutey. Namo namo ganeshya, namastey siva soonavey, Avighnam kuru mey devah, namami tvam ganadhisha.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dhoop :&lt;/strong&gt; Light two agarbattis and show it to the Lord accompanied by the ringing of the bell and chat.&lt;br /&gt;Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: Dhoopamaagraapayaami&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Deepam:&lt;/strong&gt; (Optional) If you have lit a small accompanying lamp, show it to the Lord accompanied by ringing of bell. If not, just continue with agarbathi and say :&lt;br /&gt;Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah: Deepam Darshayaami&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Naivedyam :&lt;/strong&gt; Keep the prasadam (coconut fruits, kheer etc.) in a plate before the Lord, put Tulsi leaves on it close your eyes and chant the mantra offering mentally the naivedyam to the Lord.&lt;br /&gt;Ōm mahāgaņādhipathaye namah:&lt;br /&gt;Om bhur bhuvasuvaha, tat sa vithur varenyam, bhargo devasya dhimahi, dhiyoyo nah prachodayat&lt;br /&gt;Parorajasi sāvadōm amŗtam mahānaivedyam parikalpayāmi Namah:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Take 2 spoonful of water on your right palm, drip the water drops around the prasadam chanting :&lt;br /&gt;Deva savitah prasuva&lt;br /&gt;Again 2 drops , drop as above :&lt;br /&gt;Satyam tvartena parishinchaami&lt;br /&gt;Take 2 drops and drop thru the palm on your right side near prasadam chanting:&lt;br /&gt;Amrutah opatarana masi&lt;br /&gt;Now, make gesture of offering prasadam to the Lord, chanting :&lt;br /&gt;Om Pranaaya swaha Om Apaanaya swaha Om Vyaanaya swaha Om Udaanaya swaha Om Samaanaya swaha Om brahmaney swaha Om maha Ganapataye namahe, Kadali phaladhikam nivey dayami&lt;br /&gt;Drop 2 drops of water thru right palm on right side of naivedyam saying :&lt;br /&gt;Niveydanan antaram aachamaniyam samarpayami&lt;br /&gt;2 drops - repeat Madhyey Madhyey amruta paniyam samarpayaami 2 drops - repeat Amrutaapidhaa namasi2 drops - repeat Hasta prakshaalanam samarpayaami2 drops - repeat Padha prakshaalanam samarpayaami2 drops - repeat Aachamaniyam samarpayaami&lt;br /&gt;Then put Tulsi leaves or flowers at the feet of the Lord after chanting :&lt;br /&gt;Poogi phala samaayuktam, Naagavalli dalai yurtam Karpoora churna sanyuktam Tamboolam prati gruhataam Taamboolam Samarpayaami&lt;br /&gt;Light the Aarti (camphor) and show it to the Lord accompanied by ringing of the bell and the following mantra.&lt;br /&gt;Raajadi rajaaya prasanna Saahiney, namo vayam vaishravan aaya karma ney. Samey kaamaan, kaama kaamaya mahyam, kaameshwaro vaishravano dadhaatu kuberaya vaishravaanaya, mahaarajaya namaha.&lt;br /&gt;Take 2 spoonful of water in your right palm and let it drop in the plate in front and say :&lt;br /&gt;Tat purushaya vidmahey vakratundaaya dhimahi. Thanno dantih pracho dayat. Karpoora niraanjanam sandarisha yaami.&lt;br /&gt;Pour one spoonful water in plate after each mantra :&lt;br /&gt;Neeraaja naanaantaram aachamaniyam samarpayaami Rakshaan dhaarayaami&lt;br /&gt;offer flowers or Tulsi saying :&lt;br /&gt;Mantra pushpam samarpayaami, sarva opachaaran samarpayaami.&lt;br /&gt;With folded hands pray.&lt;br /&gt;Vakratunda mahaakaya surya koti sama prabha. Avignam kuru mey deva, sarva kaaryeshu sarvadaa.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Prostrate before the Lord and exit. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Source:&lt;/strong&gt; Internet&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2865717321766602828-5413637300302743201?l=sougandhikab.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://sougandhikab.blogspot.com/feeds/5413637300302743201/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2865717321766602828&amp;postID=5413637300302743201' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2865717321766602828/posts/default/5413637300302743201'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2865717321766602828/posts/default/5413637300302743201'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sougandhikab.blogspot.com/2007/09/ganesha-pooja-vidhanam.html' title='GANESHA POOJA VIDHANAM'/><author><name>Sougandhika</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08428060103071413914</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp2.blogger.com/_ET99Bbjn2-I/RvLEMvFYobI/AAAAAAAAAWI/hA5zSsAWXuc/s72-c/DSC02620-1.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865717321766602828.post-1680928987329930251</id><published>2007-09-15T13:00:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-09-20T12:12:42.749-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Ganesha Symbolism</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_ET99Bbjn2-I/RuuJuldylLI/AAAAAAAAAVw/dlhCX0CKhQg/s1600-h/ganesha_symbolism2[1].JPG"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110329635606009010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_ET99Bbjn2-I/RuuJuldylLI/AAAAAAAAAVw/dlhCX0CKhQg/s320/ganesha_symbolism2%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt; Lord Ganesha, popularly known and easily recognized asthe Elephant-God, is one of the most important deitiesof the Hindu patheon.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Before every undertaking, be it laying of the foundation of a house, or opening of astore or beginning any other work, Lord Ganesha isfirst worshipped so at to invoke his blessings.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Ganesha has many names. The main ones are Ganapati(lord of the ganas, or attendants), Vighneshwara(controller of all obstacles), Vinayaka (the prominentleader), Gajaanana (elephant-faced), Lambodara(pendant-bellied), and Ekdanta (having one tusk).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The complex form of the Ganesh idol is said to havebeen wrought by ancient sages to symbolise universaltruths as revealed to them by divine inspiration. Eachattribute of the icon conveys meanings on many different planes to which everyone can relate at anindividual level. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The rotund body of Ganesh represents the Cosmos. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The elephant head denotes the serenity of wisdom and thepower of gentle strength. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The broken tusk is the markof the intellectual who inscribed the epic Mahabharataand then shed his ego on completion of the successfultask. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;On his forehead is the symbol " 3Õ " - 'OM',which is the Life Force that God breathed into hisCreation; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;hence it is said that the chant of "OM" indaily prayer, is the consent of man to let God enter him.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Thus the chant of "OM Ganesh' became synonymous withthe start of every Hindu endeavour; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;murmured by the housewife as she begins the day with rituals in her little altar at home, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;the revered sound is echoed by the husband opening the shutters of his workplace;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;it can be heard reverberating in the hallowed walls ofancient temples or resounding at the consecration of anew temple; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;at the commencement of wedding nuptials ornaming of a new-born child; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;when laying the foundationof a new building or founding a new political party,on starting on a journey or starting a new business.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Even rituals for the glory or invocation to other gods begin with the first invocation to Lord Ganesh..&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;In each of his four hands Ganesh holds an emblem of benediction. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The Lotus flower symbolises the gift of wealth, beauty and purity; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;the &lt;strong&gt;Rosary&lt;/strong&gt; denotes thespiritual and inspirational in prayer and meditation.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;Swastika&lt;/strong&gt;, the true meaning of which isauspiciousness, attracts positive energies from alldirections and brings divine blessing upon humanendeavour. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The sweet &lt;strong&gt;laddu&lt;/strong&gt; held in one handdemonstrates the joy of sharing the "sweets of life"with those around us.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;Sacred Thread&lt;/strong&gt; worn across the left shoulderconsists of three strands symbolising the HolyTrinity, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;the three dimensons of time - Past, Presentand Future, the three domains of Heaven, Earth and theUnderworld, and the three tellers &lt;strong&gt;A, U, M&lt;/strong&gt; of the soundof &lt;strong&gt;"OM"&lt;/strong&gt; the cosmic Life Force. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;The snake encircling the waist represents cosmic energy called Kundalini which lies coiled at the base of the spine and whenawakened through yoga energises the dormant powerwithin all of us. The mouse is the chosen mount of Lord Ganesh to carry the divine light into the darkest corners of the world and the narrowest of human hearts. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Ganesh's seat is the lotus flower - the symbol ofpurity and detachment; blossoming to the sunshineabove even as its roots remain in the mire itrepresents the awakening of consciousness to receivethe divine light even as one is rooted in thematerialistic world. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Source: Internet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2865717321766602828-1680928987329930251?l=sougandhikab.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2865717321766602828/posts/default/1680928987329930251'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2865717321766602828/posts/default/1680928987329930251'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://sougandhikab.blogspot.com/2007/09/ganesha-chaturthi.html' title='Ganesha Symbolism'/><author><name>Sougandhika</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08428060103071413914</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp1.blogger.com/_ET99Bbjn2-I/RuuJuldylLI/AAAAAAAAAVw/dlhCX0CKhQg/s72-c/ganesha_symbolism2%5B1%5D.JPG' height='72' width='72'/></entry></feed>
