Sarva Mangala Maangalye

Sarva Mangala Maangalye
PRAYER TO DEVI

Sarva Mangala Maangalye,
Shive Sarvaartha Saadhike.
Sharanye Tryamba Ke Gauri,
Naaraayani Namostute.

Adorations to Goddess,
who is the auspiciousness of all that is auspicious,
who is the consort of Lord Shiva,
who is the bestower of every desire of one’s heart.
Adorations to You!
O Devi, I have taken refuge in you.

Goddess Parvati is the consort of Lord Shiva and is worshipped as Shakti. Puranic literature describes her as having many forms, including Durga, Chandi, Kali and Uma.

Source: Hindu Daily Prayer Blog

Deity Stories: Ganesha: The Lord of Beginnings

Ganesha is the supreme expression of super consciousness. He is the lord of beginnings. His very form itself is very powerful. If we understand his form, we will understand the truth presented in his form. His is the most worshipped form. Ganesha is the only God who is worshipped by all 6 Vedic traditions.

A much loved God, he is always remembered as simple, innocent and easily approachable. Of his four hands, he holds ankusha (elephant prods typically used to direct or steer elephants) in one hand, pasa (noose) in the other, his own broken tusk in the third hand, and a sweet in the last.

If we understand the ayudhas (symbolic tools) he carries, we will understand the truth. The ankusha(small steel rod that is used to control an elephant) is the technique of unclutching. Just like an elephant can be controlled with a small steel rod, a simple unclutching technique can help one control the mind which is like an elephant. Pasa - means all his emotions are under his control, he is emotionally balanced. If you know how to Unclutch and keep your emotions under your control, life will be very sweet, like the one he is holding in one of his hands! The tusk that he carries in one of his hands represents spontaneity and dedication. When you have spontaneity and dedication, whatever you start will be successful. That is why we worship Ganesha first, before we start anything new.

Always carry ankusha and live like Ganesha. Technique of unclutching, being emotionally balanced, spontaneous and dedicated will make your life sweet and you will always be dancing, even while you are walking! His big belly represents joy and prosperity. He shows his innocence and simple life through his huge body. He is the lord of the Muladhara chakra or the root center. He represents the pure energy of Visualization. When visualization is disturbed it becomes imagination. Ganesha represents undisturbed visualization.

Before we begin anything new if you pray to Ganesha, there will be no obstacles. He's the planning commission. He is the energy who constantly and spontaneously expresses visualization. His vahana (vehicle), the mouse, means constantly being alive. Mooshika (mouse) expresses intense activeness. Meditate on Ganesha the supreme energy of super consciousness. Sarva mangala (all auspicious), sarva kalyana (all beautiful), sarva uttama (all superior qualities) are expressed in the form of Ganesha.

This article was taken from YOGAM4YOU.ORG, Swamiji's USA Tour 2009.

108 Names of Lord Shiva (Anandeshwara)

Wonderful chanting of Lord Shiva's (Anandeshwara) 108 names during Maha Shiva Ratri:

OM shivAya namaH
OM maheshwarAya namaH
OM shaMbhave namaH
OM pinAkine namaH
OM shashishekharAya namaH
OM vAmadevAya namaH
OM virUpAxAya namaH
OM kapardine namaH
OM nIlalohitAya namaH
OM sha.nkarAye namaH
OM shulapANaye namaH
OM khaTvA.ngine namaH
OM vishhNuvallabhAya namaH
OM shipivishhTAye namaH
OM aMbikAnAthAya namaH
OM shrIkaNThAya namaH
OM bhaktavatsalAya namaH
OM bhavAya namaH
OM sharvAya namaH
OM tro;plesjAua namaH
OM shitikanThAya namaH
OM shivApriyAya namaH
OM ugrAya namaH
OM kapAline namaH
OM kAmAraye namaH
OM andhakAsura sUdanAya namaH
OM gaN^gAdharAya namaH
OM lalAtAxAya namaH
OM kAlakAlAya namaH
OM kr^ipAnidhaye namaH
OM bhImAya namaH
OM parashuhastAya namaH
OM mR^igapANaye namaH
OM jaTAdharAya namaH
OM kailAsavAsine namaH
OM kavachine namaH
OM kaThorAya namaH
OM tripurAntakAya namaH
OM vR^ishhA.nkAya namaH
OM vR^ishhabhArUDhaya namaH
OM bhasmoddhulita vigrahAya namaH
OM sAmapriyAya namaH
OM svaramayAya namaH
OM trayImUrtaye namaH
OM anIshvarAya namaH
OM sarvaGYAya namaH
OM paramAtmane namaH
OM somasUryAgnilochanAya namaH
OM havishhe namaH
OM yaGYamayAya namaH
OM somAya namaH
OM pa.nchavaktrAya namaH
OM sadAshivAya namaH
OM vishveshvarAya namaH
OM vIrabhadrAya namaH
OM gaNanAthAya namaH
OM prajApataye namaH
OM hiraNyaretase namaH
OM durdharshhAya namaH
OM girIshAya namaH
OM girishAya namaH
OM anaghAya namaH
OM bhujaN^gabhUshhaNAya
OM bhargAya namaH
OM giridhanvane namaH
OM giripriyAya namaH
OM kR^ittivAsase namaH
OM purArAtaye namaH
OM bhagavate namaH
OM pramathAdhipAya namaH
OM mr^ityu.njayAya namaH
OM sUxmatanave namaH
OM jagadvyApine namaH
OM jagadgurave namaH
OM vyomakeshAya namaH
OM mahAsenajanakAya namaH
OM chAruvikramAya namaH
OM rudrAya namaH
OM bhUtapataye namaH
OM sthANave namaH
OM ahirbudhnyAya namaH
OM digaMbarAya namaH
OM ashhTamUrtaye namaH
OM anekAtmane namaH
OM sAtvikAya namaH
OM shuddavigrahAya namaH
OM shAshvatAya namaH
OM khaNDaparashave namaH
OM ajAya namaH
OM pAshavimochakAya namaH
OM mR^iDAya namaH
OM pashupataye namaH
OM devAya namaH
OM mahAdevAya namaH
OM avyayAya namaH
OM haraye namaH
OM bhaganetrabhide namaH
OM avyaktAya namaH
OM daxAdhvaraharAya namaH
OM harAya namaH
OM pUshhadantabhide namaH
OM avyagrAya namaH
OM sahasrAxAya namaH
OM sahasrapade namaH
OM apavargapradAya namaH
OM anantAya namaH
OM tArakAya namaH
OM parameshvarAya namaH