Invoking The Many Aspects Of Ganesha
Ganesha is the swami of Riddhi and Siddhi. Riddhi is the force responsible for prosperity and abundance ­ all material riches and luxury pertaining to the five senses.Siddhi refers to spiritual powers, including extra-sensory perception, clairvoyance, clairaudience, premonition and thought manifestation.

Ganesha was born of the `dirt' of Adi Shakti, as she bathed, indicating that all the riddhi and siddhi in creation are nothing but a speck of dirt of the phenomenal force of the Mother. Ganesha is the deity closest to physical creation, the swami of ridhhi and siddhi, which are nothing but maya, unreality. They are temporary and so are bound to leave. Most people spend their lives chasing these, forgetting the temporary nature of these forces and oblivious to what lies beyond ... Ganesha is venerated as the first deity, the first step to the phenomenal experiences of the world of spirit. Ganesha manifested at a time when impurities started creeping into the society. In due course, as worldly desires took precedence over spiritual pursuits, mantras and sadhanas were prescribed to invoke different aspects of Ganesha, to fulfil specific desires in the realm of the physical, the grossest layer of creation.

Uchchhishta Ganapati is invoked through specific mantras as a giver of boons, as protector and to develop mastery over the five senses. Heramba is the fiveheaded form of Ganapati, golden in colour and riding a lion. This ten-armed deity is invoked for acquiring fearless ness and to overcome one's enemies. The Maha Ganapati form corresponds to wealth and pleasures, as he is the bestower of bliss. The red-golden Bala Ganapati is called upon for good health and a bright future. Haridra Ganapati with his turmeric complexion and yellow vestments is the harbinger of prosperity and protection.

The white-coloured Shwetark Ganpati is said to reside in the root of a rare variety of the madar plant, bearing white flowers instead of the common purple flowers. Shwetark Ganpati brings vitality, vigour and strength when kept in the bedroom; intelligence and concentration when kept in the study , spiritual powers in the puja room, bringing luck and prosperity , freeing the house from negative influences.

These potent sadhanas are given according to individual requirements and capacity by the siddha guru, without charging you a fee. When the guru gives the mantra, blessings follow but then it's imperative to balance out that karma, since every action has an equal and opposite reaction and every pleasure has pain attached to it.

The guru guides the practitioner on which mantra is to be practised, for how long, the correct pronunciation and bhaav and the different practices to complement the sadhna. At the completion of the mantra sadhana, a yajna is performed for the siddhi of mantra.One of the safest mantras to practice for manifesting the shakti of Ganesha is `gama ganpataye namah' but this too can be channelised by the guru for desired effects.

The success of the sadhana is indicated by the manifestation of the deity in the yajna agni. Sadhakas or seekers who have been seriously practising the various mantra siddhis, have been known to have had physical manifestations of the gods. Ganesh Chaturthi is the auspicious night of siddhi mantra and mantra diksha under the guidance of a guru. (Today is Ganesh Chaturthi.)