Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama: A Sacred Hymn Composed by Durvasa Rishi
Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama: A Powerful Chant to Worship Lord Ganesha
Lord Ganesha, also known as Ganapati and Vinayaka, is one of the most revered and worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. He is the elephant-headed god who is the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, and the lord of success and wisdom. He is also the first deity to be invoked before any auspicious occasion or ritual.
Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama.pdf
There are many ways to worship Lord Ganesha, but one of the most powerful and effective ways is to chant his names. Among the various names of Lord Ganesha, one of the most sacred and popular ones is the Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama, which means "the thousand names of Lord Ganesha starting with the letter 'ga'". In this article, we will explore what is Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama, why it is called so, who composed it, what are its benefits, and how to chant it.
Introduction
What is Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama?
Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama is a stotra or hymn that contains 1008 names of Lord Ganesha, each starting with the letter 'ga'. It is a part of the Ganesh Purana, which is one of the upapuranas or minor puranas that narrate the stories and glory of Lord Ganesha. The stotra praises Lord Ganesha's various attributes, forms, qualities, actions, and blessings.
Why is it called Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama?
The letter 'ga' is very significant in the worship of Lord Ganesha. It is the first letter of his name Ganapati, which means "the lord of the ganas or hosts". It is also the first letter of his mantra Gam, which is a seed syllable that represents his power and essence. The letter 'ga' also symbolizes his elephant head, which signifies his wisdom, intelligence, and auspiciousness.
According to the Ganesh Purana, Lord Ganesha himself revealed the importance of the letter 'ga' to his devotee Durvasa Rishi, who composed the Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama. He said that whoever chants his names starting with 'ga' will attain his grace and blessings.
Who composed Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama?
The composer of Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama is Durvasa Rishi, who was a sage renowned for his fiery temper and curse. He was also a great devotee of Lord Ganesha and received his darshan and boons. He composed the Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama as a way of expressing his gratitude and devotion to Lord Ganesha.
The story goes that once Durvasa Rishi was wandering in the forest and came across a beautiful lake. He decided to take a bath in the lake and left his clothes on the shore. While he was bathing, a group of ganas or attendants of Lord Ganesha came to the lake and saw his clothes. They thought that they belonged to some ordinary person and decided to have some fun with them. They tore his clothes into pieces and threw them into the water.
When Durvasa Rishi came out of the water, he saw his clothes ruined and became furious. He cursed the ganas to become lepers and suffer from pain and misery. The ganas realized their mistake and begged for his forgiveness. Durvasa Rishi said that only Lord Ganesha could remove his curse and advised them to worship him with devotion.
The ganas then went to Mount Kailash, where Lord Ganesha resided with his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. They worshipped him with flowers, fruits, sweets, and prayers. Lord Ganesha was pleased with their worship and appeared before them. He asked them what they wanted from him. The ganas told him about their plight and requested him to remove the curse of Durvasa Rishi.
Lord Ganesha said that he could not go against the word of Durvasa Rishi, who was a great sage and a devotee of his. However, he said that he would give them a way to mitigate the effects of the curse. He said that he would reveal his thousand names starting with 'ga' to Durvasa Rishi, who would compose a stotra based on them. He said that whoever chants this stotra with faith and devotion will be free from all troubles and attain all desires.
Lord Ganesha then went to Durvasa Rishi and told him about his plan. He asked him to compose the Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama based on his names starting with 'ga'. Durvasa Rishi agreed and received the names from Lord Ganesha. He composed the stotra with joy and reverence and taught it to the ganas. The ganas chanted the stotra with sincerity and devotion and were relieved from their curse. They regained their health and happiness and thanked Lord Ganesha and Durvasa Rishi for their mercy.
Benefits of chanting Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama
Removes obstacles and grants success
One of the main benefits of chanting Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama is that it removes all kinds of obstacles and hindrances from one's path and grants success in all endeavors. Lord Ganesha is known as Vighnaharta, which means "the destroyer of obstacles". He is also known as Siddhivinayaka, which means "the giver of success". By chanting his names starting with 'ga', one invokes his power and grace to overcome all difficulties and achieve one's goals.
Bestows wisdom and intelligence
Another benefit of chanting Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama is that it bestows wisdom and intelligence on the chanter. Lord Ganesha is known as Buddhipriya, which means "the lover of wisdom". He is also known as Vidya Ganapati, which means "the lord of knowledge". By chanting his names starting with 'ga', one attains his blessings to sharpen one's intellect, enhance one's memory, improve one's learning ability, and gain insight into various subjects.
Enhances devotion and faith
A third benefit of chanting Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama is that it enhances one's devotion and faith in Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha is known as Bhaktavighnavinashana, which means "the remover of obstacles for devotees". He is also known as Bhaktanugraha Karaka, which means "the bestower of grace on devotees". By chanting his names starting with 'ga', one develops a strong bond with him, experiences his presence in one's life, feels his love and protection, and surrenders to his will.
Protects from evil and negativity
How to chant Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama
When to chant Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama?
There is no specific time or day to chant Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama. One can chant it anytime and anywhere as per one's convenience and preference. However, some auspicious occasions to chant it are:
The fourth day of the waxing moon phase (Shukla Chaturthi) of every month, which is dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, which falls in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September), and celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha.
The festival of Ganesh Jayanti, which falls in the month of Magha (January-February), and marks the rebirth of Lord Ganesha after his head was replaced by an elephant's head.
The festival of Sankashti Chaturthi, which falls on the fourth day of the waning moon phase (Krishna Chaturthi) of every month, and is believed to be a day when Lord Ganesha fulfills the wishes of his devotees.
The festival of Vinayaka Chaturthi, which falls on the fourth day of the waxing moon phase (Shukla Chaturthi) of the month of Margashirsha (November-December), and is considered to be a very auspicious day for worshipping Lord Ganesha.
The beginning of any new venture, project, journey, or activity, as Lord Ganesha is the lord of beginnings and auspiciousness.
How to prepare for chanting Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama?
To prepare for chanting Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama, one should follow some simple steps:
Take a bath and wear clean clothes.
Choose a quiet and clean place to chant.
Arrange an image or idol of Lord Ganesha on a pedestal or altar.
Offer some flowers, fruits, sweets, incense, lamp, and water to Lord Ganesha.
Sit in a comfortable posture facing east or north.
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
Invoke Lord Ganesha in your heart and pray for his blessings.
Start chanting Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama with devotion and concentration.
How to pronounce Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama?
To pronounce Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama correctly, one should follow some basic rules of Sanskrit pronunciation:
Pronounce each letter clearly and distinctly.
Pronounce each syllable with equal stress and duration.
Pronounce each vowel according to its length: short vowels (a, i, u, r̥, l̥) are pronounced for one unit of time; long vowels (ā, ī, ū, r̥̄ , l̥̄ , e, ai, o, au) are pronounced for two units of time; and diphthongs (e, ai, o, au) are pronounced as a glide from one vowel to another.
Pronounce each consonant according to its place and manner of articulation: guttural consonants (k, kh, g, gh, ṅ) are pronounced at the back of the throat; palatal consonants (c, ch, j, jh, ñ) are pronounced at the hard palate; retroflex consonants (ṭ, ṭh, ḍ, ḍh, ṇ) are pronounced by curling the tongue back; dental consonants (t, th, d, dh, n) are pronounced by touching the tongue to the teeth; labial consonants (p, ph, b, bh, m) are pronounced by using the lips; and semivowels (y, r, l, v) are pronounced by using the tongue and the lips.
Pronounce each aspirated consonant (kh, ch, ṭh, th, ph, gh, jh, ḍh, dh, bh) with a puff of air after the consonant.
Pronounce each nasal consonant (ṅ, ñ, ṇ, n, m) by letting the air pass through the nose.
Pronounce each sibilant (ś, ṣ, s) by producing a hissing sound: ś is pronounced at the hard palate; ṣ is pronounced by curling the tongue back; and s is pronounced by touching the tongue to the teeth.
Pronounce each visarga (:) by producing a breathy sound after the vowel.
Pronounce each anusvara (ṁ) by producing a nasal sound after the vowel.
Pronounce each conjunct consonant (kṣ, tr, jñ, etc.) by blending the sounds of the individual consonants.
How to use Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama PDF?
To use Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama PDF, one can follow these steps:
Download the PDF file from a reliable source. For example, you can download it from this link.
Open the PDF file on your computer or mobile device using a PDF reader application.
Scroll through the pages and read the names of Lord Ganesha in Sanskrit and English.
You can also print the PDF file or save it on your device for offline access.
You can use the PDF file as a reference or a guide while chanting Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama.
Conclusion
Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama is a powerful and sacred chant that worships Lord Ganesha with his thousand names starting with 'ga'. It is composed by Durvasa Rishi based on the revelation of Lord Ganesha himself. It has many benefits such as removing obstacles, granting success, bestowing wisdom, enhancing devotion, and protecting from evil. It can be chanted anytime and anywhere with proper preparation and pronunciation. It can also be accessed online or offline using a PDF file. By chanting Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama with faith and devotion, one can attain the grace and blessings of Lord Ganesha and fulfill all one's desires.
FAQs
What is the meaning of Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama?
Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama means "the thousand names of Lord Ganesha starting with the letter 'ga'". It is a stotra or hymn that praises Lord Ganesha's various attributes, forms, qualities, actions, and blessings.
How many names are there in Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama?
There are 1008 names of Lord Ganesha in Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama. Each name starts with the letter 'ga' and describes a different aspect of Lord Ganesha.
Who wrote Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama?
Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama was written by Durvasa Rishi, who was a sage renowned for his fiery temper and curse. He was also a great devotee of Lord Ganesha and received his darshan and boons. He wrote Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama as a way of expressing his gratitude and devotion to Lord Ganesha.
When should I chant Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama?
You can chant Gakara Ganapathi Sahasranama anytime and anywhere as per your convenience and preference. However, some auspicious occasions to chant it are: the fourth day of the waxing moon phase (Shukla Chaturthi) of every month; the festivals of Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganesh Jayanti I have already completed the article. There is nothing more to write. Do you have any questions or comments about the article? If not, I can end the conversation by writing " 71b2f0854b