अगजानन (Agajaanana): The Face of Gauri [Devi Parvati]
अगजा (Agajaa) = Devi Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya
आनन (Aanana) = Face
पद्मार्कं (Padmaarkam): The Rays from the Lotus [Face of Gauri]
पद्म (Padma) = Lotus
अर्क (Arka) = Belonging or Relating to Sun
गजाननं (Gajaananam): Having the Face of an Elephant
गज (Gaja) = Elephant
आनन (Aanana) = Face
अहर्निशम् (Aharnisham): Day and Night, Continually
अनेकदंतं (Anekadamtam): Granting Many [Wishes of] His [Devotees]
अनेक (Aneka) = Many
द (Da) = Giving, Granting
तम् (Tam) = His
भक्तानां (Bhaktaanaam): Devotees
भक्त (Bhakta) = Devotee
एकदन्तं (Ekadantam): Having a Single Tusk
एक (Eka) = One
दन्त (Danta) = Tusk
उपास्महे (Upaasmahe): Worship
उपास् (Upaas) = Worship
Meaning in English
1: As the Rays from the Lotus-Face of Gauri (Devi Parvati) is Always on Her Beloved Son Gajanana ( Who is having the Face of an Elephant ),
2: Similarly, the Grace of Sri Ganesha is Always on His Devotees; Granting their Many Prayers; the Devotees who with deep devotion Worship the Ekadanta ( Who is having a Single Tusk ).
I constantly salute the son of Gauri, the devotee of Vaasudeva who uses a snake as a couch. He is the Lord of the group of attendants of Shiva . Lord Indra and the Devas serve him. He wears a snake as a garland and is worshipped by sages. He holds his favorite sweetmeat (of liberation). He has an elephant face. He destroys the unlimited ego garva of Lord Chandra (moon). He grants happiness to those who bows to Him and protects His devotees who pray Him. He removes the obstacles fir our liberation.
शुक्लाम्बरधरं (Shukla-Ambara-Dharam): Who is wearing White Clothes
शुक्ल (Shukla) = White
अम्बर (Ambara) = Clothes, Garments
धर (Dhara) = Wearing
विष्णुं (Vissnnum): Who is All-Pervading
विष्णु (Vissnnu) = All-Pervading
शशिवर्णं (Shashi-Varnnam): Who is Bright in Appearance like the Moon
शशिन् (Shashin) = Moon
वर्ण (Varnna) = Colour, Appearance
चतुर्भुजम् (Catur-Bhujam): Who is having Four Arms
चतुस् (Catus) = Four
भुज (Bhuja) = Arm
प्रसन्नवदनं (Prasanna-Vadanam): Who is having a Compassionate and Gracious Face
प्रसन्न (Prasanna) = Gracious, Kind
वदन (Vadana) = Face
ध्यायेत् (Dhyaayet): Let us Meditate on Him
ध्यान (Dhyaana) = Meditation
सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये (Sarva-Vighna-Upashaantaye): To ward of all Obstacles
सर्व (Sarva) = All
विघ्न (Vighna) = Obstacle
उपशान्त (Upashaanta) = Calmed, Appeased
Meaning in English
1: (We Meditate on Sri Ganesha) Who is wearing White Clothes, Who is All-Pervading, Who is Bright in Appearance like the Moon and Who is having Four Arms,
2: Who is having a Compassionate and Gracious Face; Let us Meditate on Him to ward of all Obstacles.
I begin the blog series with a prayer to Lord Ganesh by Sri. Muthuswamy Dīkshitar (with a pen name Guruguha), one of the Trinity of Carnatic Music. This composition in Raga Nattai in the 17th Century, is still one of the most sought after one by musicians across the world. The undercurrent of Nattai raga and the effervescence of the lyrics have withstood the test of time though hundreds of adaptations and fusions that have been tried out by scores of musicians.
I meditate (smarAmi) on the supreme (mahA) Ganapati who is worshipped (vandita) by Vasishta, the Vamadevas, etc (Adi). He, the son (sutam) of Lord Shiva (mahAdEvA), is praised (nutam) by Guruguha. He shines bright (prakAsham) like millions (kOti) of cupids (mAra). He is tranquil (shAntam). He loves (priyam) great poetry (mahA kAvya), drama (nAtaka), etc (Adi). He loves (priyam) the sweet Modaka. His mount (vAhanam) is a mouse (mUshika).
As I conclude Adi Sankara’s Pancha Rathnamala on Lord Ganesh, my memories went several decades back to my childhood days and the number of “Thoppukaranams” that I use to do before each exam in the schools. This is an age old practice prevalent for centuries in India, more particularly in South of India. Modern day Western World calls it “Super Brain Yoga” now and has converted this practice into a money making health exercise.
I also used to wonder about the number of alternate names that He has and the number of shapes and sizes that He manifests at different homes.
Even today as I google, I see 25.8 Million images of Lord Ganesha in a span of 0.67 seconds and there are a minimum of 108 alternate names for Him.
Here is one such simple image that I thought should be shared.
Tam-Eka-Dantam-Eva Tam Vicintayaami Santatam ||5||
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
नितान्तकान्तदन्तकान्तिमन्तकान्तकात्मजं (Nitaanta-Kaanta-Danta-Kaantim-Antaka-Antaka-Aatmajam): Who is Very Dear to Devotees as Beautiful Ekadanta and Who is the Son of One Who Restrained Yama
नितान्त (Nitaanta) = Extraordinary, Excessive, Considerable, Very Much
कान्त (Kaanta) = Desired, Loved, Dear
दन्त (Danta) = signifying Ekadanta [another name of Sri Ganesha]
कान्ति (Kaanti) = Loveliness, Beauty, Splendour
अन्तक (Antaka) = Yama
अन्तक (Antaka) = Putting an End, Causing Death
आत्मज (Aatmaja) = Born from, a Son, self-originated
अचिन्त्यरूपमन्तहीनमन्तरायकृन्तनम् (Acintya-Ruupam-Antahiinam-Antaraaya-Krntanam): Whose Form is Inconceivable and without any Limit and which Cuts through the Obstacles [of Devotees]
अचिन्त्य (Acintya) = Inconceivable, Surpassing thought
रूप (Ruupa) = Form, Appearance
अन्त (Anta) = End, Limit, Boundary
हीन (Hiina) = Left, Abandoned, Bereft or Deprived of, Low, Vile
अन्तराय (Antaraaya) = Intervention, Obstacle
कृन्तन (Krntana) = Cutting of, Dividing
हृदन्तरे (Hrd-Antare): Within the Cave of the Heart
हृद् (Hrd) = Heart
अन्तर (Antara) = Interior of anything
निरन्तरं (Nirantaram): Having no Interval, Uninterrupted, Perpetual, Continually
वसन्तमेव (Vasantam-Eva): Abides in this manner
वस (Vasa) = Dwelling, Residence
एव (Eva) = Exactly so, in this Manner, Indeed, Truly
योगिनां (Yoginaam): Yogis
योगिन् (Yogin) = Yogi, Ascetic, contemplative Saint
तमेकदन्तमेव (Tam-Eka-Dantam-Eva): [I Reflect upon] Him, the Ekadanta
तम् (Tam) = His
एक (Eka) = One
दन्त (Danta) = an Elephant’s Tusk, Ivory
एव (Eva) = Exactly so, in this Manner, Indeed, Truly
विचिन्तयामि (Vicintayaami): I Reflect upon
विचिन्त् (Vicint) = to Think of, Reflect upon, to Perceive, Discern, Observe
सन्ततम् (Santatam): Stretch or Extended along, Woven together, Continuous, Uninterrupted
Meaning of the Verse
5.1: (Salutations to Sri Vinayaka) Whose Beautiful Form of Ekadanta is very much Dear to His Devotees, and Who is the Son of the One (referring to Lord Shiva) Who Put an End to (i.e. restrained) Antaka (i.e. Yama).
5.2: Whose essential Form is Inconceivable and without any Limit, and which Cuts through the Obstacles of His Devotees,
5.3: Who Continually Abides in the Cave of the Heart of the Yogis.
5.4: I Continually Reflect upon Him, the Ekadanta (another name of Sri Vinayaka).
धनंजयादिभूषणम् (Dhananjaya-Aadi-Bhuussannam): Who Himself is Adorned with Poers like that of Fire etc
धनंजय (Dhanamjaya) = Fire
आदि (Aadi) = Beginning with, Etc, and so on, and Others
भूषण (Bhuussanna) = Adorned, Decorated
कपोलदानवारणं (Kapola-Daana-Vaarannam): From Whose Cheeks flow down the Juice of Grace
कपोल (Kapola) = Cheek
दान (Daana) = act of Giving, Gift, Donation, Rut-Fluid
वारुणी (Vaarunnii) = any Spirituous Liquor, of a River
भजे (Bhaje):
भज् (Bhaj) = To Revere, Adore
पुराणवारणम् (Puraanna-Vaarannam): Juice of Praise form the Puranic Scriptures
पुराण (Puraanna) = Ancient, Old, the Puranic Scriptures
वारुणी (Vaarunnii) = any Spirituous Liquor, of a River
Meaning of the Verse
4.1: (Salutations to Sri Vinayaka) Who Wipes out the Sufferings of the Destitutes who take His Refuge; Who is the Receptacle of the Words of Praises of the Ancients,
4.2: Who is the Former Son (the latter being Kartikeya) of the Enemy of Tripurasuras (i.e. Lord Shiva), and Who Chews down the Pride and Arrogance of the Enemies of the Devas,
4.3: Who wields Terrible Power to Destroy the delusion of the Five Elements constituting the World (from the mind of His Devotees); Who Himself is Adorned with the Powers (behind the Five Elements) like Fire etc,
4.4: From Whose Cheeks flow down the Juice of Grace; Salutations to Him Whose Praise similarly flows down like Juice from the Puranas.
भास्वरम् (Bhaasvaram): Shining, Brilliant, Bright, Resplendent, the Sun
Meaning of the Verse
3.1: (Salutations to Sri Vinayaka) Who is the Auspicious Power behind All the Worlds and Who Removes the Mighty (inner) Demons,
3.2: Whose Huge Body signifies Prosperity and Boon-Giving and Whose Most Excellent Face reflects His Imperishable Nature.
3.3: Who Showers Grace (Kripakara), Who Showers Forgiveness (Kshamakara), Who Showers Joy (Mudakara) and who Showers Glory (Yashaskara) to His Devotees,
3.4: Who Bestows Intelligence and Wisdom (Manaskara) to those Who Salute Him with Reverence; I Salute His Shining Form.
निरन्तरम् (Nirantaram): Having no Interval, Uninterrupted, Perpetual, Continually
Meaning of the Verse
2.1: (Salutations to Sri Vinayaka) To those who do not Bow down to God out of arrogance, He takes a Frightening form; His benign however form is like a Newly-Risen Sun,
2.2: Who is always Fresh without any Decay, and is Saluted Reverentially by the Devas and the Devoted Persons; Who Extricates those who Surrender to Him from Difficult Calamities,
2.3: Who is the God of the Devas (Sureshvara), Who is the God of Prosperity (Nidhishvara), Who is the God with an Elephant Face (Gajeshvara) and Who is the God of the Ganas (celestial attendants) (Ganeshvara),
2.4: Who is the Great God (Maheshvara); To His Refuge, Who is Superior than the Best, I Continually place myself in devotional surrender.
Prabhu's Ponder 