Ganesha
Ganesha mantra
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Oṁ Gaṁ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ
Simple reading: Om gam ga-na-pa-ta-ye na-mah
About this mantra
The mantra of new beginnings. Ganesha is honoured first in every undertaking as the remover of obstacles, and Gaṁ is his bīja — his seed-sound.
Meaning
Om — Gam — salutations to Ganapati, lord of the ganas. The ganas are the hosts that attend Shiva; devotional commentators widen the word to every ordered set of forces in the world — and Ganapati is the intelligence that marshals them. The mantra is a request in miniature: let what stands in the way step aside, and let what scatters come into order.
When to recite it
The default opening of any beginning — new work, a first day, moving house, before study or travel; counted especially on Wednesdays and through the Ganesh Chaturthi days. Many keep 3, 11, or 108 repetitions before anything that matters.
Word by word
- ॐoṁ
- the primordial sound
- गंgaṁ
- the bīja (seed sound) of Ganesha
- गणपतयेgaṇapataye
- to Ganapati, lord of the ganas
- नमःnamaḥ
- I bow, salutations
Source: Gaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣa (Ganapati Upaniṣad)