விநாயகரின் 32 வடிவங்கள் - 29 - ஸிம்ஹ கணபதி .. Simha Ganapati
Vanakkam Subbu
29. ஸிம்ஹ கணபதி .. Simha Ganapati
Sinha Ganapati is fearless as he rides and holds lions to signify strength and boldness. He also carries a kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling tree) sprig, the vina, a lotus blossom, flower bouquet and a pot of jewels.
Significance of Simha Ganapati
Simha Ganapati is regarded as the 29th among the 32 different forms of Ganapati. ‘Simha’ means a lion and the Lord seated on this magnificent animal is called ‘Simha Ganapati.’ In this form, Ganesha rides on a mighty, fearless and formidable lion, and thus transmits power and confidence to the devotees. He is fair-complexioned and unique, having eight hands, and holding the stringed instrument Veena, a sprig of the wish-fulfilling divine tree Kalpa Vriksha, a blossoming lotus, a bouquet of flowers, a pot of jewels known as Ratna Kumbha and a discus in six of them. While he is holding the boon-granting Varada mudra in his main right hand, his principal left hand sports Abhaya mudra, offering protection to the devotees. In some cases, he is also depicted as having a composite face of a lion and an elephant and holding a mini-icon of the lion in one of his hands.
While this form is worshipped at many places, this Lord can be seen in the idol form in the temple at Pandharpur, near the town of Sholapur in the state of Maharashtra. The star Sadhayam, also known as Shatabhisha Nakshatra, is said to be related to Simha Ganapati.
Significance of Worshipping Simha Ganapati
Simha Ganapati is a potent aspect of the Lord, and is believed to provide the devotees with good strength to fight negative forces and evil, offer protection to them against all hazards and inimical elements, bestow them with success and make them victorious.
Mantra for Simha Ganapati
The mantra, which reads as under in Sanskrit, describes his wonderful form, sings his glory, seeks his blessings and prays to the Lord seeking protection from dangers and adversities.
வீணாம் கல்பலதாம் அரிஞ்ச வரதம்
தக்ஷே விதத்தே கரை:
வாமே தாமரஸஞ்ச ரத்நகலசம்
ஸந்மஞ்ஜரீ சாபயம்
ஸூண்டாதண்டலஸந் ம்ருகேந்த்ரவதந:
ஸங்கேந்துகௌர: ஸூப:
தீவ்யத் ரத்ந நிபாம்ஸூகோ கணபதி:
பாயாதபாயாத் ஸந:
வீணை, கற்பகக்கொடி, ஸிம்ஹம், வரதம் ஆகியவை வலக்கரங்களிலும், தாமரை, ரத்ந கலசம், மலர்க்கொத்து, அபய முத்திரை ஆகியவை இடக்கரங்களிலும் தாங்கி, தடி போன்ற துதிக்கையுடன் விளங்குகின்ற ம்ருகேந்த்ர முகம் கொண்ட, சங்கு போன்ற (வெண்ணிறமுடைய) சந்த்ரனைத் தரித்த, உயர்வான ரத்நம் போன்ற ப்ரகாசமான ஆடையை அணிந்தவரான ஸிம்ஹ கணபதியை முறையோடு எப்போதும் துதிக்கிறேன்.
(Ganesa with the lion head)
Veenaam kalpa lathaam arincha varadam dakshe vidathe karai,
Vame thamarasamcha rathna kalasam sanmanjari chabhayam,
Shunda danda lasath mrugendra vadana sankhendu giwara shubha,
Dheevyath rathna nibhamsuko Ganapathi payadapayath sanaha.
Let me protected from all dangers, by the Ganapathi who shines like gems, Who holds on his right hand veena, wish giving creeper and protection to even enemies, Who holds on his left hand a pot of gems, a bouquet of flowers and sign of protection, Who shines like a white conch and a moon and is lion faced along with elephant trunk.
Chanting the Simha Ganapati mantra with faith, can be an effective means of propitiating the powerful Lord.
