Om Ganeshaya Namah

Shree Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad*

Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad is one of the cardinal texts of the Ganapatya Sect. This thoughtfully structured hymn contains the core belief of the sect, and provides guidance for the contemplation and worship of Ganapati through appropriate mantra and symbols.

It has the following parts:

·     Shanti Path

·     Upanishad

·     Swaroopa Mantra

·     Ganesha Mantra

·     Ganesha Gayatri

·     Ganesha Roopa

·     Ashta Naama Ganapati

·     Phalashruti

Highlights of this hymn:

·     Ganapati is the Supreme Deity, the Creator-Preserver-Destroyer (Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva) of the world.

·     Ganapati is nirguna nirakara Brahman and is resident in all as atman, the core life principle.

·     Ganesha Mantra contains the Bija Mantra:

ॐ गं गणपतये नमः

·     Ganesha Gayatri is a mantra, and a quiz!

·     Ganapati, as detailed in Ganesha Roopa, may also be visualised as saguna.

Ganesha Gayatri

॥ गणेश गायत्री ॥

एकदंताय विद्महे । वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि ॥

तन्नो दंतिः प्रचोदयात् ॥ ८॥

As a basic mantra, it means:

May we visualise and internalise the One with a single tusk. May we meditate upon the One with a crooked mouth.

May the One with the tusk inspire, motivate, and guide us.

Some have read this mantra as a quiz – a Q & A between two groups of shishyas. One group asks, ‘We have thought of the One with a single tusk. Who may he be, can you solve the riddle? The other group asks, ‘Does he also have a twisted trunk?’ Both groups agree that they are contemplating the same deity, and they together sing the last line: May the One with the tusk inspire, motivate, and guide us.

Ganesha Roopa

Ganesha Roopa mentions the following details of the iconography -

Ganapati has one tusk, four hands, holds pasha (a rope to restrain and bind), ankusha (goad to spur a slumbering elephant to its destination). His hand mudras signify fearlessness and generosity for grant of boons. He has a flag with the mouse as the insignia. His body is of red hue, he has a huge belly, ears like winnows, his attire is blood red, and his body is smeared with fragrant red-sandalwood paste. He is best worshipped with red flowers. He is compassionate to his devotees, and steadfast and unwavering for the sustenance of the world. He appeared at the beginning of creation. He is the Param Purusha. The most wise and pious of the yogis always meditate on Him.

Ganapati Atharvashirsha

 A quick translation of a few selected shlokas is given below:

त्वं वाङ्मयस्त्वं चिन्मयः ॥

त्वमानंदमयस्त्वं ब्रह्ममयः ॥

त्वं सच्चिदानंदाद्वितीयोऽसि ॥

त्वं प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि ॥

त्वं ज्ञानमयो विज्ञानमयोऽसि ॥ ४॥

You are the master of language,

You are the efflorescence of consciousness,

You are the abundance of Supreme Bliss,

You are the repository of Brahman,

You are the one and only Truth-Consciousness-Bliss,

Verily, You are the Brahman.

You are essence of Knowledge and Wisdom.

सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तो जायते ॥

सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तस्तिष्ठति ॥

सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि लयमेष्यति ॥

सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि प्रत्येति ॥

त्वं भूमिरापोऽनलोऽनिलो नभः ॥

त्वं चत्वारि वाक्पदानि ॥ ५॥

From You is born the entire world,

Upon You subsists the entire world,

After the deluge, the entire world seeks repose in You,

The entire world reaches out to You,

You are the Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Sky,

You are the four levels of speech.

त्वं गुणत्रयातीतः त्वमवस्थात्रयातीतः ॥

त्वं देहत्रयातीतः ॥ त्वं कालत्रयातीतः ॥

त्वं मूलाधारस्थितोऽसि नित्यम् ॥

त्वं शक्तित्रयात्मकः ॥

त्वां योगिनो ध्यायंति नित्यं ॥

त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं विष्णुस्त्वं रुद्रस्त्वं

इन्द्रस्त्वं अग्निस्त्वं वायुस्त्वं सूर्यस्त्वं चंद्रमास्त्वं

ब्रह्मभूर्भुवःस्वरोम् ॥ ६॥

You are beyond the three gunas (sattva,rajas,tamas),

You are beyond the three states (jagrata, svapna, susupti),

You are beyond the three forms of bodies (corporal, astral, causal),

You are beyond the three kalas (present, past, future),

You are eternally resident as the prime base,

You are the source of the three powers (motivation, action, wisdom),

Yogis always meditate upon You.

You are Brahma, You are Vishnu, You are Rudra,

You are Indra, You are Agni, You are Vayu,

You are Surya, You are Chandrama,

You are Brahman,

You are the Bhu-loka (Earth),

You are the Bhuvah (Loka above Bhu),

You are the Svah (Loka above Bhuvah),  

You are the primal sound AUM.

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The full text is available at sanskritdocuments.org, and English translation is available at shlokam.org and other sites.

Renditions by Suresh Wadkar, Anuradha Paudwal and other singers are available at You Tube.

 

Ganesha sculpture- a photo of ASI monument number - N-KA-B112

Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebid, Karnataka (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

May Lord Ganesh shower his blessings on us.

Ganesh Chaturthi, 19^th September, 2023.

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 * Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad is one of the minor Upanishadas, and is believed to be of later origin (possibly during 16th to 17th century AD).

Atharvashirsha Chanting at Pune

On 20th Spetember, 2023 thirty-six thousand women devotees chanted Atharvashirsha at the famous Dagdu Seth Ganapati Pandal. This was the 36th edition of the annual ritual chanting. Devotees from Russia and Thailand also participated. (Source: Dainik Bhaskar, 21st Sep, 2023)

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