Ganesha Sādhanā
Sādhanā , literally means "a means of accomplishing something". Yoga Sutras of Patanjali defines sādhanā in relation to abhyāsa and kriyā: Sādhanā is a discipline undertaken in the pursuit of a goal. Abhyāsa is repeated practice performed with observation and reflection. Kriyā, or action, also implies perfect execution with study and investigation. Therefore, sādhanā, abhyāsa, and kriyā all mean one and the same thing. A sādhaka, or practitioner, is one who skillfully applies...mind and intelligence in practice towards a spiritual goal
Punaranic saying "Kalau Chandi Vinayakau" (Chandi and Ganapathi save one in Kaliyuga) – the phrase Kalau Chandi Vinayaka refers to the importance of handling Rahu and Ketu during Kali Yuga through the worship of Chandi and Vinayaka. It also means that in Kali yuga Chandi & Ganapati upasana give quick results.
Ganesha Sādhanā will enable us to connect to the energy of Ganesh and bring his blessings into our life. Ganesha is known as विघ्ननायक. He is both the vighnakarta and vighnaharta. His sadhana helps in removing the obstacles from our lifes. The blessings of Ganesh lead to higher knowledge, strength, health and success. Ganesha is “prathama pujya” that is whenever there is any spiritual activity, or we start some new venture we need to worship Ganesha in the beggining to remove the obstacles and give us success in our undertaking.
Ganesha is the vaak devata. Ganapati is akasha abhimani devata and hence vaak or shabha is guna of Akaasha. If one is looking to get vyakaran siddhi , or say shabda shastra siddhi then Ganesha Sādhanā is a must . Without the knowledge of words one can know nothing in this world, thus to read and understand Ganesha anugraha is must.
The devotee who decides to take up Ganesha Sādhanā must first learn the Atharvashirsha and its meaning. The Atharvashirsha is an Upanishad that celebrates Ganesha as the embodiment of the ultimate Brahman. It is the most important Sanskrit text among devotees of Ganesha [ganapatya clan]. The entire text is written over the entrance to the temple hall in the Astavinayak Ganesha shrine at Ranjangaon.
गणेश अथर्वशीर्ष / गणपति अथर्वशीर्ष
ॐ नमस्ते गणपतये
त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षम तत्वमसि त्वमेव केवलं कर्तासी
त्वमेव केवलं धर्तासी त्वमेव केवलं हर्तासी
त्वमेव स्रवं खल्विदं ब्रह्मासि
तवं सर्वदात्मासी नित्यं ||१||
Om Namaste Ganapataye
Tvameva Pratyaksham Tatvamasi Tvamev Kevalam Kartasi
Tvamev Kevalam Dhartasi Tvamev Kevlam Hartasi
Tvamev Sarvam Khalvidam Bramhasi Tvam Sakshadatmasi Nityam || 1 ||
वृतं वाच्मि सत्यम वाच्मि ||२||
Rritam Vachmi Satyam Vachmi || 2 ||
अव त्वं माम अव वक्तारं
अव श्रोतारम अव दातारम
अव धातारं अवनुचानाम्वशिष्यं
अव पस्चातात अव पुरस्तात
अवो उत्तरातात अव दक्शिनातात
अव चोर्द्वातात अव धरातात
