Today is the first day of Ganesha Mahotsava - the big festival honoring & celebrating birthday of the elephant-headed god Ganapat! He is said to be present on earth during these days. Wishing all a beautiful Ganesha Chaturthi, and let us remember the profound significance that Lord Ganesha symbolizes:

Ganesha is Ganapati, the Lord of ganas, or groups of atoms (molecules). He is the energy, or Shakti, that keeps this manifest creation together. Without this, the universe as we know it would not exist. To make sure that every substance (dravya) fucntions according to its respective quality (guna), there needs to be a force that upholds this balance and maintains it - this is Ganapati. And because this force has to be so huge, to take care of this whole creation, the symbol of the elephant was chosen: the biggest animal!

Another beautiful symbolism of the elephant is the fact that in an elephant, the organs of perception (jnanendriya) and the organs of action (karmendriya) come together: the trunk is used to grab, as well as to smell! A beautiful symbol of how the Shakti or energy that Ganesha represents is a combination of Jnana Shakti and Kriya Shakti moving together - the ability of understanding/knowing and the ability to act are aligned to each other.

In our body, the Ganesha Tattva, or energy, is located at the base of the spine: the muladhara cakra. It is the kundalini shakti. And that is also why Ganesha is shown holding a noose (pasha) and a goad (ankusha) - the goad is a symbol for that which awakens the energy, and the noose is a symbol for the control over it, giving it the proper direction. Because if this energy is awakened and not properly directed or channelized, it can be dangerous also. And a way to invoke this energy, to awaken it, is through mantras... the mantra (which is symbolized by the mouse that is the vehicle of Ganesha) becomes the way to move this energy, to awaken it!

And this is just a glimpse of the beautiful and profound symbolism of this happy elephant-headed boy, who loves to eat sweets!

The whole universe is nothing but groups of atoms, groups of qualities, of energy. Gana means group and a group cannot exist without a lord. Ganesha was born from the unmanifest transcendental consciousness called Shiva. Just as when atoms bond, matter comes into existence; so when all the fragmented aspects of human consciousness bond, Divinity happens effortlessly and that is the birth of Ganesha from Shiva. ~~ Sri Sri

See other posts related to Ganesha -

Ganesha (Ganpati) Sahasranama
108 Names of Lord Ganesha
Shri Ganesh (Ganpati) Arti
Ganesha Mantra Stuti

|| श्री गणपति सहस्रनामावलि ॥

ॐ गणपतये नमः ॥ ॐ गणेश्वराय नमः ॥ ॐ गणक्रीडाय नमः ॥ ॐ गणनाथाय नमः ॥

ॐ गणाधिपाय नमः ॥ ॐ एकदंष्ट्राय नमः ॥ ॐ वक्रतुण्डाय नमः ॥ ॐ गजवक्त्राय नमः ॥

ॐ मदोदराय नमः ॥ ॐ लम्बोदराय नमः ॥ ॐ धूम्रवर्णाय नमः ॥ ॐ विकटाय नमः ॥

ॐ विघ्ननायकाय नमः ॥ ॐ सुमुखाय नमः ॥ ॐ दुर्मुखाय नमः ॥ ॐ बुद्धाय नमः ॥

ॐ विघ्नराजाय नमः ॥ ॐ गजाननाय नमः ॥ ॐ भीमाय नमः ॥ ॐ प्रमोदाय नमः ॥

ॐ आनन्दाय नमः ॥ ॐ सुरानन्दाय नमः ॥ ॐ मदोत्कटाय नमः ॥ ॐ हेरम्बाय नमः ॥

ॐ शम्बराय नमः ॥ ॐ शम्भवे नमः ॥ ॐ लम्बकर्णाय नमः ॥ ॐ महाबलाय नमः ॥

ॐ नन्दनाय नमः ॥ ॐ अलम्पटाय नमः ॥ ॐ भीमाय नमः ॥ ॐ मेघनादाय नमः ॥

ॐ गणञ्जयाय नमः ॥ ॐ विनायकाय नमः ॥ ॐ विरूपाक्षाय नमः ॥ ॐ धीराय नमः ॥

ॐ शूराय नमः ॥ ॐ वरप्रदाय नमः ॥ ॐ महागणपतये नमः ॥ ॐ बुद्धिप्रियाय नमः ॥

ॐ क्षिप्रप्रसादनाय नमः ॥ ॐ रुद्रप्रियाय नमः ॥ ॐ गणाध्यक्षाय नमः ॥ ॐ उमापुत्राय नमः ॥

ॐ अघनाशनाय नमः ॥ ॐ कुमारगुरवे नमः ॥ ॐ ईशानपुत्राय नमः ॥ ॐ मूषकवाहनाय नमः ॥

ॐ सिद्धिप्रदाय नमः ॥ ॐ सिद्धिपतये नमः ॥ ॐ सिद्ध्यै नमः ॥ ॐ सिद्धिविनायकाय नमः ॥

ॐ विघ्नाय नमः ॥ ॐ तुङ्गभुजाय नमः ॥ ॐ सिंहवाहनाय नमः ॥ ॐ मोहिनीप्रियाय नमः ॥

ॐ कटिंकटाय नमः ॥ ॐ राजपुत्राय नमः ॥ ॐ शकलाय नमः ॥ ॐ सम्मिताय नमः ॥

ॐ अमिताय नमः ॥ ॐ कूश्माण्डगणसम्भूताय नमः ॥ ॐ दुर्जयाय नमः ॥ ॐ धूर्जयाय नमः ॥

ॐ अजयाय नमः ॥ ॐ भूपतये नमः ॥ ॐ भुवनेशाय नमः ॥ ॐ भूतानां पतये नमः ॥

ॐ अव्ययाय नमः ॥ ॐ विश्वकर्त्रे नमः ॥ ॐ विश्वमुखाय नमः ॥ ॐ विश्वरूपाय नमः ॥

ॐ निधये नमः ॥ ॐ घृणये नमः ॥ ॐ कवये नमः ॥ ॐ कवीनामृषभाय नमः ॥

ॐ ब्रह्मण्याय नमः ॥ ॐ ब्रह्मणस्पतये नमः ॥ ॐ ज्येष्ठराजाय नमः ॥ ॐ निधिपतये नमः ॥

ॐ निधिप्रियपतिप्रियाय नमः ॥ ॐ हिरण्मयपुरान्तस्थाय नमः ॥

ॐ सूर्यमण्डलमध्यगाय नमः ॥ ॐ कराहतिध्वस्तसिन्धुसलिलाय नमः ॥

ॐ पूषदन्तभृते नमः ॥ ॐ उमाङ्गकेळिकुतुकिने नमः ॥ ॐ मुक्तिदाय नमः ॥

ॐ कुलपालकाय नमः ॥ ॐ किरीटिने नमः ॥ ॐ कुण्डलिने नमः ॥

ॐ हारिणे नमः ॥ ॐ वनमालिने नमः ॥

ॐ मनोमयाय नमः ॥ ॐ वैमुख्यहतदृश्यश्रियै नमः ॥ ॐ पादाहत्याजितक्षितये नमः ॥

ॐ सद्योजाताय नमः ॥ ॐ स्वर्णभुजाय नमः ॥ ॐ मेखलिने नमः ॥ ॐ दुर्निमित्तहृते नमः ॥

ॐ दुस्स्वप्नहृते नमः ॥ ॐ प्रहसनाय नमः ॥ ॐ गुणिने नमः ॥ ॐ नादप्रतिष्ठिताय नमः ॥

ॐ सुरूपाय नमः ॥ ॐ सर्वनेत्राधिवासाय नमः ॥ ॐ वीरासनाश्रयाय नमः ॥ ॐ पीताम्बराय नमः ॥

ॐ खड्गधराय नमः ॥ ॐ खण्डेन्दुकृतशेखराय नमः ॥ ॐ चित्राङ्कश्यामदशनाय नमः ॥

ॐ फालचन्द्राय नमः ॥ ॐ चतुर्भुजाय नमः ॥ ॐ योगाधिपाय नमः ॥ ॐ तारकस्थाय नमः ॥

ॐ पुरुषाय नमः ॥ ॐ गजकर्णकाय नमः ॥ ॐ गणाधिराजाय नमः ॥ ॐ विजयस्थिराय नमः ॥

ॐ गणपतये नमः ॥ ॐ ध्वजिने नमः ॥ ॐ देवदेवाय नमः ॥ ॐ स्मरप्राणदीपकाय नमः ॥

ॐ वायुकीलकाय नमः ॥ ॐ विपश्चिद्वरदाय नमः ॥ ॐ नादाय नमः ॥ ॐ नादभिन्नवलाहकाय नमः ॥

ॐ वराहवदनाय नमः ॥ ॐ मृत्युञ्जयाय नमः ॥ ॐ व्याघ्राजिनाम्बराय नमः ॥

ॐ इच्छाशक्तिधराय नमः ॥ ॐ देवत्रात्रे नमः ॥ ॐ दैत्यविमर्दनाय नमः ॥ ॐ शम्भुवक्त्रोद्भवाय नमः ॥

ॐ शम्भुकोपघ्ने नमः ॥ ॐ शम्भुहास्यभुवे नमः ॥ ॐ शम्भुतेजसे नमः ॥ ॐ शिवाशोकहारिणे नमः ॥

ॐ गौरीसुखावहाय नमः ॥ ॐ उमाङ्गमलजाय नमः ॥ ॐ गौरीतेजोभुवे नमः ॥

ॐ स्वर्धुनीभवाय नमः ॥ ॐ यज्ञकायाय नमः ॥ ॐ महानादाय नमः ॥ ॐ गिरिवर्ष्मणे नमः ॥

ॐ शुभाननाय नमः ॥ ॐ सर्वात्मने नमः ॥ ॐ सर्वदेवात्मने नमः ॥ ॐ ब्रह्ममूर्ध्ने नमः ॥

ॐ ककुप्छ्रुतये नमः ॥ॐ ब्रह्माण्डकुम्भाय नमः ॥ ॐ चिद्व्योमफालाय नमः ॥

ॐ सत्यशिरोरुहाय नमः ॥ ॐ जगज्जन्मलयोन्मेषनिमेषाय नमः ॥ ॐ अग्न्यर्कसोमदृशे नमः ॥

ॐ गिरीन्द्रैकरदाय नमः ॥ ॐ धर्माय नमः ॥ ॐ धर्मिष्ठाय नमः ॥ ॐ सामबृंहिताय नमः ॥

ॐ ग्रहर्क्षदशनाय नमः ॥ ॐ वाणीजिह्वाय नमः ॥ ॐ वासवनासिकाय नमः ॥

ॐ कुलाचलांसाय नमः ॥ ॐ सोमार्कघण्टाय नमः ॥ ॐ रुद्रशिरोधराय नमः ॥

ॐ नदीनदभुजाय नमः ॥ ॐ सर्पाङ्गुळिकाय नमः ॥ ॐ तारकानखाय नमः ॥

ॐ भ्रूमध्यसंस्थितकराय नमः ॥ ॐ ब्रह्मविद्यामदोत्कटाय नमः ॥ ॐ व्योमनाभाय नमः ॥

ॐ श्रीहृदयाय नमः ॥ ॐ मेरुपृष्ठाय नमः ॥ ॐ अर्णवोदराय नमः ॥

ॐ कुक्षिस्थयक्षगन्धर्वरक्षः- किन्नरमानुषाय नमः ॥

Akhuratha : One who has Mouse as His Charioteer

Alampata : Ever Eternal Lord

Amit : Incomparable Lord

Anantachidrupamayam : Infinite and Consciousness

Personified Avaneesh : Lord of the whole World

Avighna : Remover of Obstacles

Balaganapati : Beloved and Lovable Child

Bhalchandra : Moon-Crested Lord

Bheema : Huge and Gigantic

Bhupati : Lord of the Gods

Bhuvanpati : God of the Gods

Buddhinath : God of Wisdom

Buddhipriya : Knowledge Bestower

Buddhividhata : God of Knowledge

Chaturbhuj : One who has Four Arms

Devadeva : Lord! of All Lords

Devantakanashakarin : Destroyer of Evils and Asuras

Devavrata : One who accepts all Penances

Devendrashika : Protector of All Gods

Dharmik : One who gives Charity

Dhoomravarna : Smoke-Hued Lord

Durja : Invincible Lord

Dvaimatura : One who has two Mothers

Ekaakshara : He of the Single Syllable

Ekadanta : Single-Tusked Lord

Ekadrishta : Single-Tusked Lord

Eshanputra : Lord Shiva’s Son

Gadadhara : One who has The Mace as His Weapon

Gajakarna : One who has Eyes like an Elephant

Gajanana : Elephant-Faced Lord

Gajananeti : Elephant-Faced Lord

Gajavakra : Trunk of The Elephant

Gajavaktra : One who has Mouth like an Elephant

Ganadhakshya : Lord of All Ganas (Gods)

Ganadhyakshina : Leader of All The Celestial Bodies

Ganapati : Lord of All Ganas (Gods)

Gaurisuta : The Son of Gauri (Parvati)

Gunina : One who is The Master of All Virtues

Haridra : One who is Golden Coloured

Heramba : Mother’s Beloved Son

Kapila : Yellowish-Brown Coloured

Kaveesha : Master of Poets

Krti : Lord of Music

Kripalu : Merciful Lord

Krishapingaksha : Yellowish-Brown Eyed

Kshamakaram : The Place of Forgiveness

Kshipra : One who is easy to Appease

Lambakarna : Large-Eared Lord

Lambodara : The Huge Bellied Lord

Mahabala : Enormously Strong Lord

Mahaganapati : Omnipotent and Supreme Lord

Maheshwaram : Lord of The Universe

Mangalamurti : All Auspicious Lord

Manomay : Winner of Hearts

Mrityuanjaya : Conqueror of Death

Mundakarama : Abode of Happiness

Muktidaya : Bestower of Eternal Bliss

Musikvahana : One who has Mouse as His Charioteer

Nadapratithishta :One who Appreciates and Loves Music

Namasthetu : Vanquisher of All Evils and Vices and Sins

Nandana : Lord Shiva’s Son

Nideeshwaram : Giver of Wealth and Treasures

Omkara : One who has the Form Of OM

Pitambara : One who has Yellow-Coloured Body

Pramoda : Lord of All Abodes

Prathameshwara : First Among All

Purush : The Omnipotent Personality

Rakta : One who has Red-Coloured Body

Rudrapriya : Beloved Of Lord Shiva

Sarvadevatman : Acceptor of All Celestial Offerings

Sarvasiddhanta : Bestower of Skills and Wisdom

Sarvatman : Protector of The Universe

Shambhavi : The Son of Parvati

Shashivarnam : One who has a Moon like Complexion

Shoorpakarna :Large-Eared Lord

Shuban : All Auspicious Lord

Shubhagunakanan : One who is The Master of All Virtues

Shweta : One who is as Pure as the White Colour

Siddhidhata : Bestower of Success and Accomplishments

Siddhipriya : Bestower of Wishes and Boons

Siddhivinayaka : Bestower of Success

Skandapurvaja : Elder Brother of Skand (Lord Kartik)

Sumukha : Auspicious Face

Sureshwaram :Lord of All Lords

Swaroop : Lover of Beauty

Tarun : Ageless

Uddanda : Nemesis of Evils and Vices

Umaputra : The Son of Goddess Uma (Parvati)

Vakratunda : Curved Trunk Lord

Varaganapati : Bestower of Boons

Varaprada : Granter of Wishes and Boons

Varadavinayaka : Bestower of Success

Veeraganapati : Heroic Lord

Vidyavaridhi : God of Wisdom

Vighnahara : Remover of Obstacles

Vignaharta : Demolisher of Obstacles

Vighnaraja : Lord of All Hindrances

Vighnarajendra : Lord of All Obstacles

Vighnavinashanaya : Destroyer of All Obstacles and Impediments

Vigneshwara: Lord of All Obstacles

Vikat : Huge and Gigantic

Vinayaka : Lord of All

Vishwamukha : Master of The Universe

Vishwaraja : King of The World

Yagnakaya : Acceptor of All Sacred and Sacrificial Offerings

Yashaskaram : Bestower of Fame and Fortune

Yashvasin : Beloved and Ever Popular Lord

Yogadhipa : The Lord of Meditation

श्रीगणेशजी की आरती

गणपति की सेवा मंगल मेवा सेवा से सब विघ्न टरै ।

तीन लोक तैतिस देवता द्वार खडे सब अरज कारै ॥

रिद्धी सिद्धी दक्षिण वाम विराजे ,अरु आंनद से चवँर ढ़ुले ।

धूप दीप और लिये आरती भक्त खडे जयकार करे ॥ गणपति की…

गुड के मोदक भोग लगे हैं,मुषक वाहन चढ़ा करैं ।

सौम्यरुप सेवा गणपति की ,विघ्न भाग जा दूर पडे ॥ गणपति की…

भादों मास और शुक्ल चतुर्थी दिन दोपहरी पूर्ण पडे ।

लियो जन्म गणपति प्रभुजी ने दुर्गा मन आनंद भये ॥ गणपति की…

अद्भुत बाजा बजे इंद्र का ,देववधू जयगान करे ।

श्री शंकर जी के आनंद उपज्यों ,नाम सुने सब विघ्न टरैं ॥ गणपति की…

आनि विधाता बैठे आसन ,इंद्र अप्सरा नृत्य करे ।

देख वेद ब्रम्हाजी जाको विघ्नविनायक नाम धरै ॥ गणपति की…

एक दंत गजबदन विनायक ,त्रिनयन रुप अनूप धरैं ।

पग खम्बा सा उदर पुष्ट हैं देख चंद्रमा हास्य करैं ॥ गणपति की…

दे श्राप श्री चंद्र देव को कलाहीन तत्काल करें ।

चौदह लोक मे फिरे गणपति तीन भवन में राज्य करैं ॥ गणपति की…

उठी प्रभात जब धरें ध्यान को‌ई ताके कारज सर्व सरे ।

पूजा काले गावे आरती ,ताके सिर यश छत्र फिरे ॥ गणपति की…

गणपति की पूजा पहले करनी ,काम सभी निर्विघ्न सरै ।

श्री प्रताप गणपति प्रभुजी की हाथ जोड स्तुति करैं ॥ गणपति की…

गणपति की सेवा मंगल मेवा , सेवा से सब विघ्न टरै ।

तीन लोक तैतिस देवता द्वार खडे सब अरज करै ॥

|| Jai Ganesha ||

वक्रतुंड महाकाय कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभ ।

निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥

“Oh! Lord (Ganesha), of huge body and curved elephant trunk, whose brilliance is equal to billions of suns, always remove all obstacles from my endeavors.”

गजाननं भूतगणादिसेवितं कपित्थजंबूफलचारुभक्षणम्‌ ।

उमासुतं शोकविनाशकारकं नमामि विघ्नेश्वरपादपङ्कजम्‌ ॥

“Salutations to Lord Ganesha who has an elephant head, who is attended by the band of his followers, who eats his favorite wood-apple and rose-apple fruits, who is the son of Goddess Uma, who is the cause of destruction of all sorrow. And I salute to his feet which are like lotus.”

सुमुखश्चैकदंतश्च कपिलो गजकर्णकः ।

लम्बोदरश्च विकटो विघ्ननाशो गणाधिपः ।

धूम्रकेतुर्गणाध्यक्षो भालचन्द्रो गजाननः ।

द्वादशैतानि नामानि यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि ।

विद्यारंभे विवाहे च प्रवेशे निर्गमे तथा ।

संग्रामे संकटे चैव विघ्नस्तस्य न जायते ॥

Sumukha, Ekadanta, Kapila, Gajakarnaka, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnanaasha, Ganaadhipa, Dhuumraketu, Ganaadhyaksha, Bhaalachandra, Gajaanana -

No obstacles will come in the way of one who reads or listens to these 12 names of Lord Ganesha at the beginning of education, at the time of marriage, while entering or exiting anything, during a battle or calamity.

शुक्लाम्बरधरं देवं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।

प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥

“In order to remove all obstacles, one should meditate on (the Lord Ganesha) as wearing a white garment, as having the complexion like the moon, and having four arms and a pleasant countenance.”

मूषिकवाहन् मोदकहस्त चामरकर्ण विलम्बित सूत्र ।

वामनरूप महेश्वरपुत्र विघ्नविनायक पाद नमस्ते ॥

“Oh God who has the mouse as his vehicle, and the sweet modhaka (rice ball) in your hand, whose ears are wide like fans, wearing the sacred thread. Oh son of Lord Shiva who is of short stature and who removes all obstacles, Lord Vinayaka, I bow at your feet.”