Ganesha - Aum Gam Ganapataye Namaha

Ganesha is the elephant headed deity that calls in the new energies, new beginnings and is often seen at thresholds in your life where perhaps you need to draw on a new perspective

Ganesha is the God of knowledge, God of wisdom, Lord of Obstacles or Lord of Beginnings  and moves from understanding to real wisdom. He is the giver and also the removal remover of obstacles, something for you to bear in mind....

as your journey (Sadhana) progresses you come to see that more obstacles or unpleasant experiences and things arise... DON'T WORRY these are the tests of faith, of perseverance, of strength. they mean you are on course and are showing you that as you churn out the practices so that you can be integrated into the light of letting go of the obstacles and Ganesha is revealing this to you = obstacles purpose is for you to become more whole...

sOMe representations of Ganesha for the Yogi i'd like you to know before I tell you a story...

Head of Ganesha = wisdom

Big ears Ganesh = Greatest thing for the Yogi is To listen = What is beneficial to hold onto and listen? or what is beneficial to let go? so all boundaries are clear and have no limits

Elephants eyes are small = this is Internal Drishti that needs to be awakend, the  yogi relies on something greater than the external  circumstances and so yogi looks within the invitation to gaze into the heart and mind and soul

Ganesha often hold Sweets or has a bowl of them mmmm how delicious, however they offer you the promises that Through the  practices and Sadhana they help you find the sweetness of self... 

how reassuring, so when your obstacles arise, give thanks to Ganesha for revealing the path... and now to the story.

The Golden Mango

Once upon a time a long long time ago, or maybe not so long ago for this is a story happening in modern day too..

there was this really famous family Shiva and Parvati(Shakti) their sons Ganesha and Skanda...

All the devas, the gods and Goddesses were wondering who is the wisest of Shiva and Parvati's two children, Brahma The creator didn't know and so they were wondering how to find out… Eventually Narada the son of Brahma who was known as a great prankster suggested he go to find out.  So Narada travelled to Mount Kalish where they lived...

Shiva saw Narada arriving and sensed that something was wrong and questioned Narada ‘So what prank are you planning?’

Narada replies “no no no I come with the gift of golden mango with the taste that is sweeter than nectar and it bestows the gift of wisdom...”

"Ahhhh. How wonderful I will share with Parvati"  said Shiva as he shared everything with his Beloved Shakti

but alas Narada said “no only one person can Eat the Mango.” 

"mmm well they we can't accept I share everything with my Beloved" replied Shiva

so Narada  suggested why doesn't one of your children have the Mango... So the children came and were offered the Mango but of course if you have children you'll know how can you only offer to one, so then they started to argue who was going to have the Mango.

‘Well done Narada’ Shiva said!

‘Okay let's have a contest whoever goes around the world three times and returns first will win’ said Narada. ooo excitement built and the children thought great especially Skanda.

Skanda Being thin and fit jumped upon his vehicle a peacock and raced off laughing for he knew Ganesha was slow...

Ganesha was slow and big and fat from his love of sweets and  he knew his vehicle a mouse could not complete with a peacocks speed.

Skanda went to every temple and prayed and kept going with great speed and saw as he went around the world that Ganesh was still in the same place and thought wow he is so fast…

Meanwhile Ganesh sat pondering and reflecting to allow his wisdom to come forth. Then he remembered that Shiva and Parvati represented the entire universe, they had told him so Shiva was the ruler of the Universe and Shakti represented his power so without delay he got up, smiled and walked around his parents with great devotion folding his hands in prayer of anjali mudra.

‘Why are you circling us Ganesh’ said Shiva

‘I am your son and you to me make up my whole world. You and mum represent the entire universe, why should I go any further to win the contest?’

Shiva Was so pleased he gave him the golden Mango

ahh....

the end!

Symbolism of the story

now i know you are probably wishing your children would have such reverence.... the mango is the sweetest reward of wisdOM and self realisation that can only be centred in the truth which is Shiva and Shakti. the mind is the act of Skanda rushing off into the outer world seeking the truth, when the inward, mindful reflection of Ganesh reveals the truth or wisdom comes frOM within. all the answers you ever SEEk are within you the temple of your body, mind and heart, why cOMmune or seek else where. the god/deity of your own unique awareness is in the temple of You... use meditation, mantra, yoga ,pranayama to rest in the ground of your being. allow Ganesha to show you the way...

Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha

ॐ गम गणपतये नमः

more of these stories will be on my YogaRelax retreat  - hope you can join me and reveal a new chapter of your life story...

Namaste

Michelle

http://www.yogarelax.co.uk

The Transformative Powers of 'Bija Mantra' Meditation

In Vedic tradition, “Bija Mantras” are used as tools for the expansion and widening of one’s mind by utilizing the power of sound vibrations. “Mantra” is a Sanskrit word made up of two syllables: “man” (mind) and “tra” (liberate). Thus in its most literal translation the word “Mantra” means “to liberate one’s mind”. In Sanskrit a “seed” is called “Bija.” The word “Mantra” when translated by virtue of its practical use relates to a sound that can “create transformation.” 

Certain sounds which cannot be translated into a literal meaning but have the power to create great transformative growth and expansion in humans at the physical, emotional and spiritual levels are known as “Bija” or Seed Mantras.

The Source of Bija Mantras

To truly understand the transformative power of “Bija Mantras, we need to realize that any form of sound in the universe is vibrational energy. Human speech or words is also a combination of sound waves each of which resonates at specific vibrational frequencies. According to ancient Indian texts as well as the latest works in quantum physics, the whole universe was created through cosmic sound energy which was then followed by heat and light energy and eventually life forms. So sound vibrations are intimately connected to our “prana” or “life energy”.

How Bija Mantras Work

In Vedic healing and spiritual traditions, specific mono syllable seed sounds or “Bija Mantras” were developed to create balance and harmony in the human body, mind and soul. Each and every part of our body functions at a specific rhythm and pulse and when all our systems are balanced and tuned with each other we experience perfect harmony and health. On the other hand, any imbalance in our body can lead to mental, physical or emotional dis-ease. Sound therapy is a very effective way to heal and rejuvenate ourselves as every cell in our body is mainly composed of water which makes them excellent sound resonators! Thanks to the recent developments in the field of Psychoacoustics, the ancient practice of using sound energy for holistic healing practices is now gaining even more credibility!

A Simple Yet Powerful Bija Mantra Meditation Ritual

In yoga there are 7 specific Bija Mantras that vibrationally align our energy centers or chakras through sound energy:

1. Root Chakra – Bija mantra: LAM (Pronouncd as lum in alum )

2. Sacral Chakra – VAM (vum as in thumb)

3. Solar Plexus Chakra – RAM (rum)

4. Heart Chakra – YAM (yum as in yummy)

5. Throat Chakra – HAM (hum as in humming)

6. Third Eye Chakra – U ( u as in uber)

7. Crown Chakra – Om (aum)

You can chant each mantra while lying down or by sitting in a cross legged meditation pose. You can focus on a particular chakra and chant its specific seed mantra repetitively in one sitting or do all seven in succession one after the other. These mantras are very powerful even when they are chanted silently.

The expansion of the mind from the “I” into the all encompassing cosmic energy is a wondrous transformation. Let us all lead each other through this divine journey with unconditional love, light and joy!

by Sohini Trehan
Mind Body Green

the Crooked path of Life reveals blessings in the lesson...

This is the story of Astavakra, his beautiful journey from within the womb to becoming a young man... He illuminates the power of steadfast faith, triumphs over ridicule, humble gratitude and love for ones parents.

Once upon a time long long time ago or maybe not so long along; for this is a story within your own story for today....

When Astavakra's mother became pregnant she had this desire is wanting her child to be wise and knowledgeable in the Vedas, her husband taught the Vedas, So she sat in her husbands lessons listening to the chanting Vedic mantras,

The belief was that if an expectant mother exposed herself to the spiritual teachings the child in the worm hears them and gathers the knowledge and becomes insightful.

So while his mother was pregnant his father was reading the verses from the Rig Veda, (a collection India's oldest and most sacred hymns),  and he would wriggle or move whenever his father pronounced something wrong. Astavakra father became annoyed and cursed Astavakra before the boy was even born. so Astavakra's name is eight - (Asta,) crooked - (Vakra,)  angles of limbs. 

Astavakrasana lights up my whole being...

Despite his fathers quick temper  and curse Astavakra remained a faithful and dutiful son and very wise in the Vedas Scriptures. When Astavakra was 12 his father lost a priestly debate and was banished to the watery realm of Varuna, the lord of death. Although the journey was long and would have taken a great deal of effort and persistence Astavakra travelled to the King's court in order to challenge the man who would beat his father at the Priestly debate. 

The journey Astavakra made was long, the journey was hard and still he kept going, he was ridiculed for his shape and the people at the court when he arrived just laughed at him. But then Astavakra opened his mouth and began to speak, Everyone soon discovered that he was deeply insightful and wise in the scriptures even though he was only a boy...Astavakra challenged the priest to a debate and triumphed, winning his father's freedom and the people who once mocked him became his disciples.. The beautiful ending is when  Astavakra bathed in the river  by Varuna he walked out and all of his limbs were straight...Ahh the boons offered by the gods t otiose deserved...

Astavakra's story illustrates the human tendency to judge things by their appearance rather than the true essence. The crooked shapes I like to think as the different perspectives that we may need to embrace or even let go of. 

For the yogi on their Sadhana it illustrates the power of steadfast faith, that the journey might be long, it might be hard, there may be challenges to overcome but if you stay rooted in yr essence with your goal in mind, you just need to seek the blessing is the lesson.

Astavakrasana pose may seem very difficult but it isn't once you know the technique.  It is trying to teach you that even when things seem or appear extremely convoluted if you know how to arrange them or you begin to look differently, then your situation might not be as hard or crooked as it looks.  

• Have you found this in your own life?  

• Have you had a problem that you just don't know how to work it out? 

• Have you've been feeling disjointed and may need to change your perspective? 

• Do you need to remould the path in your life?

This posture is about teaching you to work less, to soften, it's more about the knowledge than effort. It's not a pose in which you fight, the Bhava, the feeling evoked is more the sense of freedom and accomplishment. 

So next time you're trying to practise Astavakra, pause, remember Astavakra Journey, is it related to your own journey  in life...  

• Do you judge people or situations by their appearances? 

• How does your own appearance shape your views on yourself?

• What do you need to do, feel or let go of to have more faith? 

• Can you trust your inner knowledge to show you the way on the crooked path of life? hope you enjoyed the story and feel empowered to overcome the physical obstacles and connect to the illuminated power within to persevere in practising this beautiful asana ~ Astavakrasana

Namaste 
Michelle
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk 

ps - Join me for more stories of the myths of yoga on my retreat weekend 21-22 September in London... you'll be exploring the inner landscape of your own body, mind and heart... here's the details Urban weekend Yoga Retreat or book now info@yogarelax.co.uk