110-431: Saiddhantika Non - Saiddhantika Rudraksha ( IAST : rudrākṣa ) refers to the dried stones or seeds of the genus Elaeocarpus specifically, Elaeocarpus ganitrus . These stones serve as prayer beads for Hindus (especially Shaivas ),and Buddhists . When they are ripe, rudraksha stones are covered by a blue outer fruit so they are sometimes called "blueberry beads The stones are associated with
220-568: A macron ). Vocalic (syllabic) consonants, retroflexes and ṣ ( / ʂ ~ ɕ ~ʃ/ ) have an underdot . One letter has an overdot: ṅ ( /ŋ/ ). One has an acute accent : ś ( /ʃ/ ). One letter has a line below: ḻ ( / ɭ / ) (Vedic). Unlike ASCII -only romanisations such as ITRANS or Harvard-Kyoto , the diacritics used for IAST allow capitalisation of proper names. The capital variants of letters never occurring word-initially ( Ṇ Ṅ Ñ Ṝ Ḹ ) are useful only when writing in all-caps and in Pāṇini contexts for which
330-499: A mouse (shrew) in five of them, a lion in his incarnation as Vakratunda , a peacock in his incarnation as Vikata , and Shesha , the divine serpent, in his incarnation as Vighnaraja . Mohotkata uses a lion , Mayūreśvara uses a peacock, Dhumraketu uses a horse , and Gajanana uses a mouse, in the four incarnations of Ganesha listed in the Ganesha Purana . Jain depictions of Ganesha show his vahana variously as
440-466: A mouse , elephant , tortoise , ram, or peacock . Ganesha is often shown riding on or attended by a mouse . Martin-Dubost says that the rat began to appear as the principal vehicle in sculptures of Ganesha in central and western India during the 7th century; the rat was always placed close to his feet. The mouse as a mount first appears in written sources in the Matsya Purana and later in
550-573: A third eye or the sectarian mark (IAST: tilaka ), which consists of three horizontal lines. The Ganesha Purana prescribes a tilaka mark as well as a crescent moon on the forehead. A distinct form of Ganesha called Bhalachandra (IAST: bhālacandra ; "Moon on the Forehead") includes that iconographic element. Ganesha is often described as red in colour. Specific colours are associated with certain forms. Many examples of color associations with specific meditation forms are prescribed in
660-1261: A 100-kilometer radius of the city of Pune , each of the eight shrines celebrates a particular form of Ganapati, complete with its own lore. The eight shrines are: Morgaon , Siddhatek , Pali , Mahad , Theur , Lenyadri , Ozar and Ranjangaon . There are many other important Ganesha temples at the following locations: Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai, Ganpatipule temple at Ganpatipule , Binkhambi Ganesh mandir in Kolhapur, Jai Vinayak temple in Jaigad, Ratnagiri, Wai in Maharashtra; Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh ; Jodhpur , Nagaur and Raipur ( Pali ) in Rajasthan ; Baidyanath in Bihar ; Baroda , Dholaka, and Valsad in Gujarat and Dhundiraj Temple in Varanasi , Uttar Pradesh . Prominent Ganesha temples in southern India include
770-573: A clearly-recognizable deity with well-defined iconographic attributes in the early 4th to 5th centuries CE. Some of the earliest known Ganesha images include two images found in eastern Afghanistan. The first image was discovered in the ruins north of Kabul along with those of Surya and Shiva . It is dated to the 4th century. The second image found in Gardez , the Gardez Ganesha , has an inscription on Ganesha pedestal that has helped date it to
880-554: A cooling effect on the body, promoting a sense of balance and harmony. Astrological Significance: In Vedic astrology, 18 Mukhi Rudraksha beads are associated with specific planetary influences. Different Mukhi (faces) Rudraksha beads are believed to resonate with different planets, providing astrological benefits to the wearer. Many individuals consult astrologers to determine the most suitable Rudraksha beads based on their birth chart. Cultural and Fashion Statement: Beyond their spiritual and health benefits, Rudraksha beads have become
990-627: A cultural and fashion symbol. Many people wear 21 Mukhi Rudraksha necklaces or bracelets as a part of their daily attire, blending tradition with contemporary fashion. This fusion of cultural significance and style has contributed to the widespread popularity of Rudraksha beads. Rudraksha beads are categorized based on the number of faces they possess, ranging from 1 to 21, with rare occurrences of beads having up to 26-27 faces. Additionally, unique types such as Gaurishankar (two beads conjoined), Trijuti (three beads conjoint), veda (4 conjoined sawar s) and dwaita (2 conjoined sawar s) are also found among
1100-411: A cycle of 108 and has symbolic value as a 'principle' bead. Rudraksha garlands usually contain beads in combinations 27+1, 54+1, or 108+1. The mantra Om Namah Shivaya , associated with Shiva, is often chosen for repetitions ( japa ) using rudraksha beads. Begin by immersing the beads in ghee (clarified butter) for 24 hours, followed by soaking them in full-fat milk for an additional 24 hours. Rinse
1210-489: A deeper meditative experience. Many meditation practitioners wear 19 Mukhi Rudraksha beads as a means to align their spiritual energies and reach a heightened state of awareness. Health Benefits: Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, recognizes the medicinal properties of Rudraksha beads. Some believe that wearing 20 Mukhi Rudraksha beads can have positive effects on the cardiovascular system and overall well-being. The 13 Mukhi Rudraksha beads are also thought to have
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#17327756481781320-565: A deity related to the principal deity ( parivāra-devatã ); or as the principal deity of the temple ( pradhāna ). As the god of transitions, he is placed at the doorway of many Hindu temples to keep out the unworthy, which is analogous to his role as Parvati's doorkeeper. In addition, several shrines are dedicated to Ganesha himself, of which the Ashtavinayak (Sanskrit: अष्टविनायक; aṣṭavināyaka ; lit. "eight Ganesha (shrines)") in Maharashtra are particularly well known. Located within
1430-453: A five-faced stone is representative of Hanuman. Rudraksha s from Nepal are between 20 and 35 mm (0.79 and 1.38 in) and those from Indonesia are between 5 and 25 mm (0.20 and 0.98 in). Rudraksha stones are most often brown, although white, red, yellow, or black stones may also be found. Many types of stone are described. Gauri Shankar are two stones which are naturally conjoined. Sawar are Gauri Shankar in which one of
1540-497: A folk grāma-devatā (village deity) who later rose to greater prominence. Martin-Dubost notes a view that the rat is a symbol suggesting that Ganesha, like the rat, penetrates even the most secret places. Ganesha is Vighneshvara ( Vighnaraja, Marathi – Vighnaharta) , the Lord of Obstacles, both of a material and spiritual order. He is popularly worshipped as a remover of obstacles, though traditionally he also places obstacles in
1650-433: A font, etc. It can be enabled in the input menu in the menu bar under System Preferences → International → Input Menu (or System Preferences → Language and Text → Input Sources) or can be viewed under Edit → Emoji & Symbols in many programs. Equivalent tools – such as gucharmap ( GNOME ) or kcharselect ( KDE ) – exist on most Linux desktop environments. Users of SCIM on Linux based platforms can also have
1760-858: A hanging belly), and Gajanana ( gajānana ), having the face of an elephant . Vinayaka ( विनायक ; vināyaka ) or Binayaka is a common name for Ganesha that appears in the Purāṇa s and in Buddhist Tantras. This name is reflected in the naming of the eight famous Ganesha temples in Maharashtra known as the Ashtavinayak ( Marathi : अष्टविनायक , aṣṭavināyaka ). The names Vighnesha ( विघ्नेश ; vighneśa ) and Vighneshvara ( विघ्नेश्वर ; vighneśvara ) (Lord of Obstacles) refers to his primary function in Hinduism as
1870-456: A marital context it can mean "lover" or "husband", so the name may mean either "Fond of Intelligence" or "Buddhi's Husband". Ganesha is identified with the Hindu mantra Om . The term oṃkārasvarūpa (Om is his form), when identified with Ganesha, refers to the notion that he personifies the primal sound. The Ganapati Atharvashirsa attests to this association. Chinmayananda translates
1980-400: A number of facets or "faces" ( Mukhi ) which are separated by a line or cleft along the stone. Typically, these stones possess between 1 and 21 faces, although instances of Rudraksha with up to 26-27 faces have been reported, albeit rarely. Those with a single face ( ek Mukhi ) are the rarest. A Rudraskha with eleven faces is worn by renunciants, those who are married wear a two-faced stone and
2090-518: A protective shield around the wearer. It is said that 14 Mukhi Rudraksha these beads absorb negative energy, promoting a sense of peace and tranquility. Wearing 15 Mukhi Rudraksha beads is thought to provide a shield against negative influences and promote a positive aura. Meditation Aid: The texture and energy of 17 Mukhi Rudraksha beads make them popular among those who practice meditation. The 12 Mukhi Rudraksha beads are believed to help individuals focus their mind, enhance concentration, and facilitate
2200-420: A ritual maintenance routine based on traditional guidelines: Material-Specific Care Rudraksha beads are often worn in malas or bracelets made from various materials such as thread, silver, or copper. These materials can be maintained with gentle polishing methods, such as using herbal polishers, to keep them clean and presentable without damaging the bead itself. Several late-medieval Upanishads describe
2310-808: A rosary (mala) whose beads are either made of the tulsi plant or rudraksha. हृदयं कुण्डली भस्मरुद्राक्षगणदर्शनम् । तारसारं महावाक्यं पञ्चब्रह्माग्निहोत्रकम् After prostrating himself before the celebrated form of Sri Mahadeva-Rudra in his heart, adoring the sacred Bhasma and Rudraksha and mentally reciting the great Mahavakya-Mantra, Tarasara, Sage Shuka asked his father Geat Sage Vyasa . अथ हैनं कालाग्निरुद्रं भुसुण्डः पप्रच्छ कथं रुद्राक्षोत्पत्तिः । तद्धारणात्किं फलमिति । तं होवाच भगवान्कालाग्निरुद्रः । त्रिपुरवधार्थमहं निमीलिताक्षोऽभवम् ।निमीलिताक्षोऽभवम् तेभ्यो जलबिन्दवो भूमौ पतितास्ते रुद्राक्षा जाताः । सर्वानुग्रहार्थाय तेषां नामोच्चारणमात्रेण दशगोप्रदानफलं दर्शनस्पर्शनाभ्यां द्विगुणं फलमत ऊर्ध्वं वक्तुं न शक्नोमि Sage Bhusunda questioned Lord Kalagni-Rudra: What
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#17327756481782420-584: A single consort or a nameless servant (Sanskrit: daşi ). Another pattern connects Ganesha with the goddess of culture and the arts, Sarasvati or Śarda (particularly in Maharashtra ). He is also associated with the goddess of luck and prosperity, Lakshmi . Another pattern, mainly prevalent in the Bengal region, links Ganesha with the banana tree, Kala Bo . The Shiva Purana says that Ganesha had begotten two sons: Kşema (safety) and Lābha (profit). In northern Indian variants of this story,
2530-437: A temple to house it in. At entrances of villages and forts, below pīpaḹa ( Sacred fig ) trees ... in a niche ... in temples of Viṣṇu (Vishnu) as well as Śiva (Shiva) and also in separate shrines specially constructed in Śiva temples ... the figure of Vighneśvara is invariably seen." Ganesha temples have also been built outside of India, including Southeast Asia , Nepal (including
2640-615: A thread of unity among diverse spiritual traditions, illustrating its global significance beyond its origins. The enduring allure of Rudraksha beads reflects their timeless significance in the realm of spirituality and holistic well-being. Rudraksha beads, derived from the seeds of the Rudraksha tree, hold a profound spiritual significance in Hinduism and various other cultures. The tradition of wearing these beads dates back thousands of years, and their popularity has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries. In this article, we delve into
2750-454: A tradition prior to what we can already see in place in the Purāṇic literature and the iconography of Gaṇeśa . Thapan's book on the development of Ganesha devotes a chapter to speculations about the role elephants had in early India but concludes that "although by the second century CE the elephant-headed yakṣa form exists it cannot be presumed to represent Gaṇapati-Vināyaka . There
2860-514: Is a long tradition of wearing 108 rudraksha beads in India, particularly within Shaivism , due to their association with Shiva, who wears rudraksha garlands. Most garlands contain 108 beads plus one because as 108 is considered sacred and a suitable number of times to recite a short mantra. The extra bead, which is called the "meru", bindu , or "guru bead", helps mark the beginning and end of
2970-573: Is a non-Vedic god. His origin is to be traced to the four Vināyakas, evil spirits, of the Mānavagŗhyasūtra (7th–4th century BCE) who cause various types of evil and suffering". Depictions of elephant-headed human figures, which some identify with Ganesha, appear in Indian art and coinage as early as the 2nd century. According to Ellawala, the elephant-headed Ganesha as lord of the Ganas was known to
3080-417: Is a popular figure in Indian art . Unlike those of some deities, representations of Ganesha show wide variations and distinct patterns changing over time. He may be portrayed standing, dancing, heroically taking action against demons, playing with his family as a boy, sitting down on an elevated seat, or engaging in a range of contemporary situations. Ganesha images were prevalent in many parts of India by
3190-411: Is a spiritual practice deeply rooted in ancient traditions. Whether worn for their spiritual, health, or astrological benefits, these beads continue to capture the fascination of individuals seeking a deeper connection with themselves and the divine.The Rudraksha bead, a symbol of spiritual connection, resonates across various cultures, each embracing it with unique reverence and practices. This bead weaves
3300-534: Is also attested to in the Ganapati Atharvashirsa . Courtright translates this passage as follows: "You continually dwell in the sacral plexus at the base of the spine [ mūlādhāra cakra ]." Thus, Ganesha has a permanent abode in every being at the Muladhara. Ganesha holds, supports and guides all other chakras, thereby "governing the forces that propel the wheel of life ". Though Ganesha
3410-653: Is also used for major e-text repositories such as SARIT, Muktabodha, GRETIL, and sanskritdocuments.org. The IAST scheme represents more than a century of scholarly usage in books and journals on classical Indian studies. By contrast, the ISO 15919 standard for transliterating Indic scripts emerged in 2001 from the standards and library worlds. For the most part, ISO 15919 follows the IAST scheme, departing from it only in minor ways (e.g., ṃ/ṁ and ṛ/r̥)—see comparison below. The Indian National Library at Kolkata romanization , intended for
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3520-782: Is by setting up an alternative keyboard layout . This allows one to hold a modifier key to type letters with diacritical marks. For example, alt + a = ā. How this is set up varies by operating system. Linux/Unix and BSD desktop environments allow one to set up custom keyboard layouts and switch them by clicking a flag icon in the menu bar. macOS One can use the pre-installed US International keyboard, or install Toshiya Unebe's Easy Unicode keyboard layout. Microsoft Windows Windows also allows one to change keyboard layouts and set up additional custom keyboard mappings for IAST. This Pali keyboard installer made by Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) supports IAST (works on Microsoft Windows up to at least version 10, can use Alt button on
3630-684: Is closely associated with the personality of Ganesha, especially in the Puranic period, when many stories stress his cleverness and love of intelligence. One of Ganesha's names in the Ganesha Purana and the Ganesha Sahasranama is Buddhipriya . This name also appears in a list of 21 names at the end of the Ganesha Sahasranama that Ganesha says are especially important. The word priya can mean "fond of", and in
3740-550: Is mentioned in Hindu texts between the 1st century BCE and 2nd century CE, and a few Ganesh images from the 4th and 5th centuries CE have been documented by scholars. Hindu texts identify him as the son of Parvati and Shiva of the Shaivism tradition, but he is a pan-Hindu god found in its various traditions. In the Ganapatya tradition of Hinduism, Ganesha is the Supreme Being. The principal texts on Ganesha include
3850-418: Is no evidence of a deity by this name having an elephant or elephant-headed form at this early stage. Gaṇapati-Vināyaka had yet to make his debut." The Pashupati seal (c. 2300 BCE - 2000 BCE) depicts 4 animals including an elephant around a deity who is claimed by some to be Shiva . Brown notes that this seal indicates the sacredness of elephants before Vedic period. One theory of the origin of Ganesha
3960-549: Is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions are found throughout India . Hindu denominations worship him regardless of affiliations. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains and Buddhists and beyond India. Although Ganesha has many attributes, he is readily identified by his elephant head and four arms. He
4070-498: Is popularly held to be the son of Shiva and Parvati , the Puranic texts give different versions about his birth. In some he was created by Parvati, or by Shiva or created by Shiva and Parvati, in another he appeared mysteriously and was discovered by Shiva and Parvati or he was born from the elephant headed goddess Malini after she drank Parvati's bath water that had been thrown in the river. The family includes his brother,
4180-678: Is primarily cultivated in the foothills of the Himalayas , mainly in Nepal and India. The most popular varieties of rudraksha are found in the regions of Kathmandu , around Arun Valley Region in Nepal and Kulu , and Rameshwaram in India. There are several naturally occurring trees of rudraksha s in the alpine forests of Dhauladhar and lower Shivalik ranges of the Himalayas . Groves are mostly found in Uttarakhand state of India. Wearing Rudraksha beads goes beyond mere ornamentation; it
4290-504: Is propitiated, he grants success, prosperity and protection against adversity. Ganesha is a non-sectarian deity. Hindus of all denominations invoke him at the beginning of prayers, important undertakings, and religious ceremonies. Dancers and musicians, particularly in southern India, begin art performances such as the Bharatanatyam dance with a prayer to Ganesha. Mantras such as Om Shri Gaṇeshāya Namah (Om, salutation to
4400-776: Is reflected in the Mudgala Purana , which states that the name of Ganesha's second incarnation is Ekadanta. Ganesha's protruding belly appears as a distinctive attribute in his earliest statuary, which dates to the Gupta period (4th to 6th centuries). This feature is so important that according to the Mudgala Purana , two different incarnations of Ganesha use names based on it: Lambodara (Pot Belly, or, literally, Hanging Belly) and Mahodara (Great Belly). Both names are Sanskrit compounds describing his belly (IAST: udara ). The Brahmanda Purana says that Ganesha has
4510-522: Is still used today. In rejecting any claim that this passage is evidence of Ganesha in the Rig Veda , Ludo Rocher says that it "clearly refers to Bṛhaspati —who is the deity of the hymn—and Bṛhaspati only". Equally clearly, the second passage ( RV 10 .112.9) refers to Indra , who is given the epithet ' gaṇapati ', translated "Lord of the companies (of the Maruts )." However, Rocher notes that
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4620-586: Is that he gradually came to prominence in connection with the four Vinayakas ( Vināyakas ). In the Yajurveda , the Vināyakas were a group of four troublesome demons who created obstacles and difficulties but who were easily propitiated. The name Vināyaka is a common name for Ganesha both in the Purāṇas and in Buddhist Tantras. Krishan is one of the academics who accept this view, stating flatly of Ganesha, "He
4730-557: Is the beginning of Rudraksha beads? What is the benefit of wearing them on the body? Lord Kalagni-Rudra answered him thus: I closed my eyes for the sake of destroying the Tripurasura . From my eyes thus closed, drops of water fell on the earth. These drops of tears turned into Rudrakshas. By the mere utterance of the name of 'Rudraksha', one acquires the benefit of giving ten cows in charity. By seeing and touching it, one attains double that benefit. I am unable to praise it anymore. Like
4840-420: Is widely revered, more specifically, as the remover of obstacles and bringer of good luck; the patron of arts and sciences ; and the deva of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rites and ceremonies. Ganesha is also invoked during writing sessions as a patron of letters and learning. Several texts relate anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits. Ganesha
4950-465: Is worshipped on many religious and secular occasions; especially at the beginning of ventures such as buying a vehicle or starting a business. K.N Soumyaji says, "there can hardly be a [Hindu] home [in India] which does not house an idol of Ganapati. ... Ganapati, being the most popular deity in India, is worshipped by almost all castes and in all parts of the country". Devotees believe that if Ganesha
5060-572: The śuklapakṣa (the fourth day of the waxing moon) in the month of Bhadrapada (August/September) and the Ganesh Jayanti (Ganesha's birthday) celebrated on the cathurthī of the śuklapakṣa (fourth day of the waxing moon) in the month of magha (January/February)." An annual festival honours Ganesha for ten days, starting on Ganesha Chaturthi, which typically falls in late August or early September. The festival begins with people bringing in clay idols of Ganesha, symbolising
5170-476: The Ganesha Purana , the Mudgala Purana and the Ganapati Atharvasirsha . Ganesha has been ascribed many other titles and epithets, including Ganapati ( Ganpati ), Vighneshvara , and Pillaiyar . The Hindu title of respect Shri ( Sanskrit : श्री ; IAST : śrī ; also spelled Sri or Shree ) is often added before his name. The name Ganesha is a Sanskrit compound, joining
5280-747: The Brahmananda Purana and Ganesha Purana , where Ganesha uses it as his vehicle in his last incarnation. The Ganapati Atharvashirsa includes a meditation verse on Ganesha that describes the mouse appearing on his flag. The names Mūṣakavāhana (mouse-mount) and Ākhuketana (rat-banner) appear in the Ganesha Sahasranama . The mouse is interpreted in several ways. According to Grimes, "Many, if not most of those who interpret Gaṇapati 's mouse, do so negatively; it symbolizes tamoguṇa as well as desire". Along these lines, Michael Wilcockson says it symbolises those who wish to overcome desires and be less selfish. Krishan notes that
5390-537: The Brahmins and the non-Brahmins and find an appropriate context in which to build a new grassroots unity between them" in his nationalistic strivings against the British in Maharashtra . Because of Ganesha's wide appeal as "the god for Everyman", Tilak chose him as a rallying point for Indian protest against British rule. Tilak was the first to install large public images of Ganesha in pavilions , and he established
5500-559: The Ellora Caves with this general form has been dated to the 7th century. Details of the other hands are difficult to make out on the statue shown. In the standard configuration, Ganesha typically holds an axe or a goad in one upper arm and a pasha ( noose ) in the other upper arm. In rare instances, he may be depicted with a human head. The influence of this old constellation of iconographic elements can still be seen in contemporary representations of Ganesha. In one modern form,
5610-593: The root word pille in the name Pillaiyar might have originally meant "the young of the elephant", because the Pali word pillaka means "a young elephant". In the Burmese language , Ganesha is known as Maha Peinne ( မဟာပိန္နဲ , pronounced [məhà pèiɰ̃né] ), derived from Pali Mahā Wināyaka ( မဟာဝိနာယက ). The widespread name of Ganesha in Thailand is Khanet (can be transliterated as Ganet), or
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#17327756481785720-462: The 300 species of Elaeocarpus , 35 are found in India. The principal species of this genus is Elaeocarpus ganitrus , which has the common name of " rudraksha tree", and is found from the Gangetic plain in the foothills of the Himalayas to Nepal , South and Southeast Asia , parts of Australia , Guam , and Hawaii . These tree species typically found at higher altitudes, primarily in
5830-459: The 4th or 5th century. An independent cult with Ganesha as the primary deity was well established by about the 10th century. Narain summarises the lack of evidence about Ganesha's history before the 5th century as follows: What is inscrutable is the somewhat dramatic appearance of Gaṇeśa on the historical scene. His antecedents are not clear. His wide acceptance and popularity, which transcend sectarian and territorial limits, are indeed amazing. On
5940-653: The 5th century. Another Ganesha sculpture is embedded in the walls of Cave 6 of the Udayagiri Caves in Madhya Pradesh . This is dated to the 5th century. An early iconic image of Ganesha with elephant head, a bowl of sweets and a goddess sitting in his lap has been found in the ruins of the Bhumara Temple in Madhya Pradesh, and this is dated to the 5th-century Gupta period . Other recent discoveries, such as one from Ramgarh Hill, are also dated to
6050-424: The 6th century. The 13th century statue pictured is typical of Ganesha statuary from 900 to 1200, after Ganesha had been well-established as an independent deity with his own sect. This example features some of Ganesha's common iconographic elements. A virtually identical statue has been dated between 973 and 1200 by Paul Martin-Dubost, and another similar statue is dated 12th century by Pratapaditya Pal. Ganesha has
6160-470: The 9th and the 10th centuries. The serpent is a common feature in Ganesha iconography and appears in many forms. According to the Ganesha Purana , Ganesha wrapped the serpent Vasuki around his neck. Other depictions of snakes include use as a sacred thread (IAST: yajñyopavīta ) wrapped around the stomach as a belt, held in a hand, coiled at the ankles, or as a throne. Upon Ganesha's forehead may be
6270-592: The Dravidian hypothesis, which argues that anything not attested to in the Vedic and Indo-European sources must have come into Brāhmaṇic religion from the Dravidian or aboriginal populations of India as part of the process that produced Hinduism out of the interactions of the Aryan and non-Aryan populations. There is no independent evidence for an elephant cult or a totem; nor is there any archaeological data pointing to
6380-560: The Himalayan region, has become scarce in India due to its previous use in making railway sleepers. The finest quality seeds originate from specific altitudes in the Himalayas, where the soil, atmosphere, and environmental factors contribute to their unique vibration. Elaeocarpus ganitrus trees grow to 60–80 ft (18–24 m). They are evergreen trees which grow quickly, and as they mature their roots form buttresses, rising up near
6490-514: The Hindu deity Shiva and are commonly worn for protection and for chanting mantras such as Om Namah Shivaya ( Sanskrit : ॐ नमः शिवाय ; Om Namaḥ Śivāya ). They are primarily sourced from India , Indonesia , and Nepal for jewellery and malas ( garlands ) and valued similarly to semi-precious stones. Rudraksha can have up to twenty one "faces" ( Sanskrit : मुख , romanized : mukha , lit. ' face ' ) or locules - naturally ingrained longitudinal lines which divide
6600-727: The Illustrious Ganesha) are often used. One of the most famous mantras associated with Ganesha is Om Gaṃ Ganapataye Namah (Om, Gaṃ , Salutation to the Lord of Hosts). Devotees offer Ganesha sweets such as modaka and small sweet balls called laddus . He is often shown carrying a bowl of sweets, called a modakapātra . Because of his identification with the color red, he is often worshipped with red sandalwood paste ( raktachandana ) or red flowers. Dūrvā grass ( Cynodon dactylon ) and other materials are also used in his worship. Festivals associated with Ganesh are Ganesha Chaturthi or Vināyaka chaturthī in
6710-498: The Sritattvanidhi, a treatise on Hindu iconography . For example, white is associated with his representations as Heramba-Ganapati and Rina-Mochana-Ganapati (Ganapati Who Releases from Bondage). Ekadanta-Ganapati is visualised as blue during meditation in that form. The earliest Ganesha images are without a vahana (mount/vehicle). Of the eight incarnations of Ganesha described in the Mudgala Purana , Ganesha uses
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#17327756481786820-781: The Transliteration Committee of the Geneva Oriental Congress , in September 1894. IAST makes it possible for the reader to read the Indic text unambiguously, exactly as if it were in the original Indic script. It is this faithfulness to the original scripts that accounts for its continuing popularity amongst scholars. Scholars commonly use IAST in publications that cite textual material in Sanskrit, Pāḷi and other classical Indian languages. IAST
6930-582: The Upanishads, the Tirumurai describes the wearing of rudraksha garlands and their use as prayer beads for chanting mantras . Accordingly, the Tirumurai identifies wearing a pair of rudraksha garlands as a sign of piety . They who walk the twin paths of charya and kriya ever praise the twin feet of the Lord. They wear holy emblems—the twin rings in earlobes, the twin rudraksha garland around
7040-410: The Vedic term referred specifically to Ganesha. The Amarakosha , an early Sanskrit lexicon, lists eight synonyms of Ganesha : Vinayaka , Vighnarāja (equivalent to Vighnesha ), Dvaimātura (one who has two mothers), Gaṇādhipa (equivalent to Ganapati and Ganesha ), Ekadanta (one who has one tusk), Heramba , Lambodara (one who has a pot belly, or, literally, one who has
7150-687: The area of Sanskrit studies make use of free OpenType fonts such as FreeSerif or Gentium , both of which have complete support for the full repertoire of conjoined diacritics in the IAST character set. Released under the GNU FreeFont or SIL Open Font License , respectively, such fonts may be freely shared and do not require the person reading or editing a document to purchase proprietary software to make use of its associated fonts. Ganesha Traditional Ganesha ( Sanskrit : गणेश , IAST : Gaṇeśa ), also spelled Ganesh , and also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , Lambodara and Pillaiyar ,
7260-495: The battle and where the replacement head came from vary from source to source. Another story says that Ganesha was created directly by Shiva's laughter. Because Shiva considered Ganesha too alluring, he gave him the head of an elephant and a protruding belly. Ganesha's earliest name was Ekadanta (One Tusked), referring to his single whole tusk, the other being broken. Some of the earliest images of Ganesha show him holding his broken tusk. The importance of this distinctive feature
7370-491: The beads with water and gently wipe them dry with a clean cloth. Avoid using soap or any other cleaning materials. It's normal for the color of the Rudraksha to slightly change during this process, as these are natural beads. Additionally, some color from the thread may come off during conditioning, which is also normal. It's recommended to condition the beads every six months, following the same procedure. Cleaning and Maintenance of Rudraksha Beads Rudraksha beads, derived from
7480-566: The brothers and may reflect sectarian tensions. Ganesha's marital status, the subject of considerable scholarly review, varies widely in mythological stories. One pattern of myths identifies Ganesha as an unmarried brahmachari . This view is common in southern India and parts of northern India. Another popularly-accepted mainstream pattern associates him with the concepts of Buddhi (intellect), Siddhi (spiritual power), and Riddhi (prosperity); these qualities are personified as goddesses, said to be Ganesha's wives. He also may be shown with
7590-499: The common era. Courtright reviews various speculative theories about the early history of Ganesha, including supposed tribal traditions and animal cults, and dismisses all of them in this way: In this search for a historical origin for Gaṇeśa, some have suggested precise locations outside the Brāhmaṇic tradition.... These historical locations are intriguing to be sure, but the fact remains that they are all speculations, variations on
7700-443: The conjoined stones has just one face. Ganesha are stones which have a trunk-like protrusion on their bodies. Trijuti are three stones which are naturally conjoined. Other rare types include veda (4 conjoined sawar s) and dwaita (2 conjoined sawar s). Rudraksha is sacred to and popularly worn by devotees of Shiva. Rudraksha stones may be strung together as beads on a garland ( mala ) which can be worn around
7810-547: The construction, wearing, and use rudraksha garlands as well as their mythological origin as the tears of Rudra . तं गुहः प्रत्युवाच प्रवालमौक्तिकस्फटिकशङ्ख रजताष्टापदचन्दनपुत्रजीविकाब्जे रुद्राक्षा इति । आदिक्षान्तमूर्तिः सावधानभावा । सौवर्णं राजतं ताम्रं तन्मुखे मुखं तत्पुच्छे पुच्छं तदन्तरावर्तनक्रमेण योजयेत् Sage Guha replied: (It is made of any one of the following 10 materials) Coral, Pearl, Crystal, Conch, Silver, Gold, Sandal, Putra-Jivika, Lotus, or Rudraksha. Each head must be devoted and thought of as presided over by
7920-536: The consumer edition since XP. This is limited to characters in the Basic Multilingual Plane (BMP). Characters are searchable by Unicode character name, and the table can be limited to a particular code block. More advanced third-party tools of the same type are also available (a notable freeware example is BabelMap ). macOS provides a "character palette" with much the same functionality, along with searching by related characters, glyph tables in
8030-631: The convention is to typeset the IT sounds as capital letters. For the most part, IAST is a subset of ISO 15919 that merges the retroflex (underdotted) liquids with the vocalic ones ( ringed below ) and the short close-mid vowels with the long ones. The following seven exceptions are from the ISO standard accommodating an extended repertoire of symbols to allow transliteration of Devanāgarī and other Indic scripts , as used for languages other than Sanskrit. The most convenient method of inputting romanized Sanskrit
8140-858: The deities of Akara to Kshakara. Golden thread should bind the beads through the holes. On its right silver (caps) and left copper. The face of a bead should face, the face of another head and tail, the tail. Thus a circular formation must be made. अथ कालाग्निरुद्रं भगवन्तं सनत्कुमारः पप्रच्छाधीहि भगवन्रुद्राक्षधारणविधिं स होवाच रुद्रस्य नयनादुत्पन्ना रुद्राक्षा इति लोके ख्यायन्ते सदाशिवः संहारकाले संहारं कृत्वा संहाराक्षं मुकुलीकरोति तन्नयनाज्जाता रुद्राक्षा इति होवाच तस्माद्रुद्राक्षत्वमिति तद्रुद्राक्षे वाग्विषये कृते दशगोप्रदानेन यत्फलमवाप्नोति तत्फलमश्नुते स एष भस्मज्योती रुद्राक्ष इति तद्रुद्राक्षं करेण स्पृष्ट्वा धारणमात्रेण द्विसहस्रगोप्रदानफलं भवति । तद्रुद्राक्षे एकादशरुद्रत्वं च गच्छति । तद्रुद्राक्षे शिरसि धार्यमाणे कोटिगोप्रदानफलं भवति Sage Sanatkumara approached Lord Kalagni Rudra and asked him, "Lord, kindly explain to me
8250-476: The emergence of the Ganapatyas , to this shift in emphasis from vighnakartā (obstacle-creator) to vighnahartā (obstacle-averter). However, both functions continue to be vital to his character. Ganesha is considered to be the Lord of letters and learning. In Sanskrit, the word buddhi is an active noun that is variously translated as intelligence, wisdom, or intellect. The concept of buddhi
8360-519: The evidence from archaeological excavations in Mathura and outside India. First terracotta images of Ganesha are from 1st century CE found in Ter, Pal, Verrapuram, and Chandraketugarh . These figures are small, with an elephant head, two arms, and chubby physique. The earliest Ganesha icons in stone were carved in Mathura during Kushan times (2nd–3rd centuries CE). Ganesha appeared in his classic form as
8470-614: The existence of this divinity prior to the fifth century. The evidence for more ancient Ganesha, suggests Narain, may reside outside Brahmanic or Sanskritic traditions, or outside geocultural boundaries of India. Ganesha appears in China by the 6th century, states Brown, and his artistic images in temple setting as "remover of obstacles" in South Asia appear by about 400 CE. He is, states Bailey, recognised as goddess Parvati's son and integrated into Shaivism theology by early centuries of
8580-951: The following: Kanipakam in Andhra Pradesh ; the Rockfort Ucchi Pillayar Temple at Tiruchirapalli , Puliakulam Munthi Vinayagar Temple at Coimbatore and Karpaga Vinayagar Temple in Pillaiyarpatti which is a town named after Ganesha in Tamil Nadu ; Kottarakkara , Pazhavangadi , Kasargod in Kerala ; Hampi , and Idagunji in Karnataka ; and Bhadrachalam in Telangana . T. A. Gopinatha notes, "Every village however small has its own image of Vighneśvara (Vigneshvara) with or without
8690-474: The four Vinayaka shrines in the Kathmandu Valley ), and in several western countries. An elephant–headed anthropomorphic figure on Indo-Greek coins from the 1st century BCE has been proposed by some scholars to be "incipient Ganesha", but this has been strongly contested. Others have suggested Ganesha may have been an emerging deity in India and southeast Asia around the 2nd century CE based on
8800-564: The fruit is fully ripe, the stones are covered with a blue outer fleshy husk of inedible fruit. The blue colour is not derived from a pigment but is due to structural colouration . Rudraksha beads are sometimes called "blueberry beads" in reference to the blue colour of the fruit. Rudraksha fruits contain alkaloids , flavonoids , tannins , steroids , triterpenes , carbohydrates , and cardiac glycosides . They also contain rudrakine, an alkaloid which had been discovered in rudraksha fruit in 1979. Rudraksha stones are described as having
8910-467: The god of war, Kartikeya , who is also called Skanda and Murugan. Regional differences dictate the order of their births. In northern India, Skanda is generally said to be the elder, while in the south, Ganesha is considered the firstborn. In northern India , Skanda was an important martial deity from about 500 BCE to about 600 CE, after which worship of him declined significantly. As Skanda fell, Ganesha rose. Several stories tell of sibling rivalry between
9020-400: The god's visit. The festival culminates on the day of Ananta Chaturdashi , when the idols ( murtis ) are immersed in the most convenient body of water. Some families have a tradition of immersion on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, or 7th day. In 1893, Lokmanya Tilak transformed this annual Ganesha festival from private family celebrations into a grand public event. He did so "to bridge the gap between
9130-410: The head of an elephant and a big belly. This statue has four arms, which is common in depictions of Ganesha. He holds his own broken tusk in his lower-right hand and holds a delicacy, which he samples with his trunk, in his lower-left hand. The motif of Ganesha turning his trunk sharply to his left to taste a sweet in his lower-left hand is a particularly archaic feature. A more primitive statue in one of
9240-581: The master and remover of obstacles ( vighna ). A prominent name for Ganesha in the Tamil language is Pillai ( Tamil : பிள்ளை ) or Pillaiyar ( பிள்ளையார் ). A. K. Narain differentiates these terms by saying that pillai means a "child" while pillaiyar means a "noble child". He adds that the words pallu , pella , and pell in the Dravidian family of languages signify "tooth or tusk", also " elephant tooth or tusk". Anita Raina Thapan notes that
9350-555: The method of wearing Rudraksha." What he told him was, "Rudraksha became famous by that name because initially, it was produced from the eyes of Rudra. During the time of destruction and after the act of destruction, when Rudra closed his eye of destruction, Rudraksha was produced from that eye. That is the Rudraksha property of Rudraksha. Just by touching and wearing this Rudraksha, one gets the same effect of giving in charity one thousand cows." तुलसीपारिजातश्रीवृक्षमूलादिकस्थले । पद्माक्षतुलसीकाष्ठरुद्राक्षकृतमालया He should count using
9460-429: The more official title of Phra Phi Khanet . The earliest images and mention lists Ganesha as a major deity in present-day Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam dating to the 7th and 8th centuries, and these mirror Indian examples of the 5th century or earlier. In Sri Lankan , among Sinhalese Buddhists, he is known as Gana deviyo , and revered along with Buddha , Vishnu , Skanda and other deities. Ganesha
9570-460: The name "Lord of the Gaṇas " to mean "Lord of Hosts" or "Lord of created categories", such as the elements. Ganapati ( गणपति ; gaṇapati ), a synonym for Ganesha , is a compound composed of gaṇa , meaning "group", and pati , meaning "ruler" or "lord". Though the earliest mention of the word Ganapati is found in hymn 2.23.1 of the 2nd-millennium BCE Rigveda , it is uncertain that
9680-543: The name Lambodara because all the universes (i.e., cosmic eggs ; IAST: brahmāṇḍas ) of the past, present, and future are present in him. The number of Ganesha's arms varies; his best-known forms have between two and sixteen arms. Many depictions of Ganesha feature four arms, which is mentioned in Puranic sources and codified as a standard form in some iconographic texts. His earliest images had two arms. Forms with 14 and 20 arms appeared in Central India during
9790-487: The neck. The beads are commonly strung on silk, or on a black or red cotton thread. Less often, jewellers use copper, silver or gold wires. The rudraksha beads may be damaged if strung too tightly. The Devi-Bhagavata Purana describes the preparation of rudraksha garlands. Hindus often use rudraksha garlands aids to prayer and meditation , and to sanctify the mind, body, and soul , much as Christians use prayer beads and rosaries to count repetitions of prayer. There
9900-641: The neck—and adopt the twin mudras, all in amiable constancy. Thinking of Him, great love welling up in their heart, if they finger the rudraksha beads, it will bring them the glory of the Gods. Chant our naked Lord’s name. Say, “ Namah Shivaya !” Ch. Devi Lal Rudraksha Vatika , is a 184 acres (0.74 km) grove dedicated to rudraksha which also has over 400 endangered ayurvedic medicinal herbs in Yamunanagar district of Haryana state in India . Rudraksha
10010-403: The number of heads are known. While some texts say that Ganesha was born with an elephant head, he acquires the head later in most stories. The most recurrent motif in these stories is that Ganesha was created by Parvati using clay to protect her and Shiva beheaded him when Ganesha came between Shiva and Parvati. Shiva then replaced Ganesha's original head with that of an elephant. Details of
10120-479: The one hand, there is the pious belief of the orthodox devotees in Gaṇeśa's Vedic origins and in the Purāṇic explanations contained in the confusing, but nonetheless interesting, mythology. On the other hand, there are doubts about the existence of the idea and the icon of this deity" before the fourth to fifth century A.D. ... [I]n my opinion, indeed there is no convincing evidence [in ancient Brahmanic literature] of
10230-669: The only variation from these old elements is that the lower-right hand does not hold the broken tusk but is turned towards the viewer in a gesture of protection or fearlessness (Abhaya mudra ). The same combination of four arms and attributes occurs in statues of Ganesha dancing, which is a very popular theme. Ganesha has been represented with the head of an elephant since the early stages of his appearance in Indian art. Puranic myths provide many explanations for how he got his elephant head. One of his popular forms, Heramba-Ganapati , has five elephant heads, and other less-common variations in
10340-700: The opportunity to install and use the sa-itrans-iast input handler which provides complete support for the ISO 15919 standard for the romanization of Indic languages as part of the m17n library. Or user can use some Unicode characters in Latin-1 Supplement, Latin Extended-A, Latin Extended Additional and Combining Diarcritical Marks block to write IAST. Only certain fonts support all the Latin Unicode characters essential for
10450-409: The path of those who need to be checked. Hence, he is often worshipped by the people before they begin anything new. Paul Courtright says that Ganesha's dharma and his raison d'être is to create and remove obstacles. Krishan notes that some of Ganesha's names reflect shadings of multiple roles that have evolved over time. Dhavalikar ascribes the quick ascension of Ganesha in the Hindu pantheon, and
10560-503: The people of Sri Lanka in the early pre-Christian era. The title "Leader of the group" (Sanskrit: gaṇapati ) occurs twice in the Rig Veda , but in neither case does it refer to the modern Ganesha. The term appears in RV 2.23.1 as a title for Brahmanaspati , according to commentators. While this verse doubtless refers to Brahmanaspati, it was later adopted for worship of Ganesha and
10670-538: The practice of submerging all the public images on the tenth day. Today, Hindus across India celebrate the Ganapati festival with great fervour, though it is most popular in the state of Maharashtra. The festival also assumes huge proportions in Mumbai , Pune , and in the surrounding belt of Ashtavinayaka temples. In Hindu temples, Ganesha is depicted in various ways: as a subordinate deity ( pãrśva-devatã ); as
10780-429: The rat is destructive and a menace to crops. The Sanskrit word mūṣaka (mouse) is derived from the root mūṣ (stealing, robbing). It was essential to subdue the rat as a destructive pest, a type of vighna (impediment) that needed to be overcome. According to this theory, showing Ganesha as master of the rat demonstrates his function as Vigneshvara (Lord of Obstacles) and gives evidence of his possible role as
10890-603: The reasons why individuals choose to wear Rudraksha beads and the spiritual and health benefits associated with them. Spiritual Significance: Rudraksha beads are revered in Hinduism as sacred symbols of Lord Shiva. Legend has it that these beads originated from the tears of Lord Shiva, and thus, wearing them is believed to connect the wearer with divine energy. Many individuals wear Rudraksha beads to enhance their spiritual practices, meditation and prayers. Positive Energy and Protection: The unique vibrations and energies associated with 11 Mukhi Rudraksha beads are believed to create
11000-502: The relevant passage as follows: (O Lord Ganapati!) You are (the Trimurti) Brahma , Vishnu , and Mahesa . You are Indra . You are fire [ Agni ] and air [ Vāyu ]. You are the sun [ Sūrya ] and the moon [ Chandrama ]. You are Brahman . You are (the three worlds) Bhuloka [earth], Antariksha-loka [space], and Swargaloka [heaven]. You are Om. (That is to say, You are all this). Some devotees see similarities between
11110-471: The right side of the keyboard instead of Ctrl+Alt combination). Many systems provide a way to select Unicode characters visually. ISO/IEC 14755 refers to this as a screen-selection entry method . Microsoft Windows has provided a Unicode version of the Character Map program (find it by hitting ⊞ Win + R then type charmap then hit ↵ Enter ) since version NT 4.0 – appearing in
11220-486: The romanisation of all Indic scripts , is an extension of IAST. The IAST letters are listed with their Devanagari equivalents and phonetic values in IPA , valid for Sanskrit , Hindi and other modern languages that use Devanagari script, but some phonological changes have occurred: * H is actually glottal , not velar . Some letters are modified with diacritics : Long vowels are marked with an overline (often called
11330-515: The seeds of the Elaeocarpus ganitrus tree, are traditionally believed to hold spiritual significance and are commonly used in Hindu, Buddhist, and meditation practices. The beads require simple, regular maintenance to preserve their longevity and appearance. Below are some common cleaning and maintenance practices for Rudraksha beads, as suggested by practitioners and manufacturers: Periodic Ritual Maintenance Some practitioners also perform
11440-468: The shape of Ganesha's body in iconography and the shape of Om in the Devanāgarī and Tamil scripts. According to Kundalini yoga , Ganesha resides in the first chakra , called Muladhara ( mūlādhāra ). Mula means "original, main"; adhara means "base, foundation". The muladhara chakra is the principle on which the manifestation or outward expansion of primordial Divine Force rests. This association
11550-408: The sons are often said to be Śubha (auspiciousness) and Lābha . The 1975 Hindi film Jai Santoshi Maa shows Ganesha married to Riddhi and Siddhi and having a daughter named Santoshi Ma , the goddess of satisfaction. This story has no Puranic basis, but Anita Raina Thapan and Lawrence Cohen cite Santoshi Ma's cult as evidence of Ganesha's continuing evolution as a popular deity. Ganesha
11660-466: The stone into segments. Each face represents a particular deity. Rudraksha is a Sanskrit compound word consisting of " Rudra "( Sanskrit : रुद्र ) referring to Shiva and " akṣa "( Sanskrit : अक्ष ) meaning "eye". Sanskrit dictionaries translate akṣa ( Sanskrit : अक्ष ) as eyes, as do many prominent Hindus such as Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and Kamal Narayan Seetha; accordingly, rudraksha may be interpreted as meaning "Eye of Rudra". Of
11770-487: The transliteration of Indic scripts according to the IAST and ISO 15919 standards. For example, the Arial , Tahoma and Times New Roman font packages that come with Microsoft Office 2007 and later versions also support precomposed Unicode characters like ī . Many other text fonts commonly used for book production may be lacking in support for one or more characters from this block. Accordingly, many academics working in
11880-464: The trunk and radiating out along the surface of the ground. The rudraksha tree starts bearing drupes (fruit) in three to four years from germination. It yields between 1,000 and 2,000 fruits annually. These fruits are commonly called " rudraksha fruit", but are also known as amritaphala (fruits of ambrosia ). The pyrena of the fruit, commonly called the "pit" or "stone", is typically divided into multiple segments by seed-bearing locules . When
11990-448: The variety of Rudraksha beads available. IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration ( IAST ) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that emerged during the 19th century from suggestions by Charles Trevelyan , William Jones , Monier Monier-Williams and other scholars, and formalised by
12100-425: The words gana ( gaṇa ), meaning a 'group, multitude, or categorical system' and isha ( īśa ), meaning 'lord or master'. The word gaṇa when associated with Ganesha is often taken to refer to the gaṇas, a troop of semi-divine beings that form part of the retinue of Shiva , Ganesha's father. The term more generally means a category, class, community, association, or corporation. Some commentators interpret
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