Mālā-Mantra of Gaṇapati
Mālā-Mantra of Gaṇapati · gaṇapati mālā-mantra, “the garland mantra of Gaṇapati”
The mālā-mantra of Gaṇapati is a long mantra, a garland of names, that opens “ॐ गणपतये वक्रतुण्डाय गजदन्ताय”. Sumantu Muni gives it in the Brahma Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, in the rule of Vināyaka pūjā, and says that it brings kings under one’s sway.
The setting
Sumantu Muni gives the rule of Vināyaka pūjā in the Caturthī Kalpa of the Brahma Parva. He first lists twelve small images of Gaṇapati, each the size of a thumb or of its joint, made of neem wood, the root of white arka, white and red candana, the roots of red and white karavīra, aśvattha, arka and bilva, ivory, a bull’s horn and anthill earth, each with its own worship and fruit. Then he gives the mantras. The first is this mālā-mantra.
The names in the mantra
The mantra names Gaṇapati, in order:
- Gaṇapati
- Vakratuṇḍa, of the curved trunk
- Gajadanta, of the elephant tusk
- the one who sounds “gula gula”
- Caturbhuja, of four arms
- Trinetra, of three eyes
- holding the musala, pāśa and vajra in his hands
- Sarvabhūtadamana, subduer of all beings
- Sarvalokavaśaṃkara, who brings all the worlds under sway
- destroyer of all the wicked
- Sarvaśatruvimardana, crusher of all enemies
It closes by asking him to bring the king under sway, with “strike, strike; cook, cook”, and “with the vajra and aṅkuśa, O Gaṇeśa, phaṭ svāhā”.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 30
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 30