Chapter 318 - The mode of worshipping Gaṇapati, accomplishing all things

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1-2. The Viśvarūpa (syllable) should be raised and placed above the Tejas. Then the Narasiṃha and Kṛtānta are placed below one below the other. The praṇava (oṃ) should be placed below that and the Udaka below that. The Aṃśumat that remains in the Viśvamūrti, the letter of the throat and lip region and the praṇava (oṃ) (should be below that).

3. The first four letters should end with obeisance. It should then be coupled as before with the aṅgamantras adding also the syllables of Sūrya and Viśvarūpa, the cause.

4. The syllable oṃ should be raised first and the luminous form without a second one should be repeated. The Ghoraghoratara (terrible one) (should be repeated). That form should then be remembered.

5-6. After having made the caṭa sound twice, the (syllable) om should be repeated. Then one has to repeat twice ‘burn’ and then twice ‘vama’. After having stated ‘kill’ twice, one should repeat hūṃ phaṭ at the end. This would be the mantra of the weapon for (lord) Aghora. I shall describe the gāyatrī (mantra) (sacred to the same deity) now—“We know the true self of (lord) Maheśa. We meditate on the supreme god. May that auspicious god kindle our (mind) to that.” This gāyatrī (mantra) is capable of accomplishing all things.

7-14. One has to worship (lord) Gaṇa (Gaṇapati) when one sets on a journey or in battle etc. for prosperity. One has to draw (the figure of a lotus having three petals inside a triangle on a fourth part of a square place divided into twelve chambers. On its back (back of the lotus) steps and pathway (should be drawn) having (the mark of) a horse on (each) petal. There should be silken cloth for footrest together with eight lotuses having three petals. The platform should be made above that measuring a fourth part. (The figure) should have a door containing (a figure of) a lotus. The side door from the chamber should be made pale. The circle drawn with doors and side-doors would destroy obstacles. The central lotus should be red. The lotuses outside that should (also be red). The pathway should be made white. The doors (should be coloured) as one wishes. The pericarp as well as the filaments would be yellow in colour. This circle is known as destroying obstacles. (Lord) Gaṇapati should be worshipped. The first name would be that of (lord) Śiva together with Indra and others. The head is struck with Tatpuruṣa. Oṃ is the first (syllable) with obeisance at the end.

15. (The gods) Gaja (elephant), Gajaśīrṣa (elephant-headed), Gāṅgeya (son of Gaṅgā), Gaṇanāyaka (lord of the Gaṇas), Trirāvartta (turned round thrice), Gaganaga (one who travels in the sky), Gopati (a leader) (should be worshipped) in the first row.

16-22. Vicitrāṃśa (one possessing strange characteristics), Mahākāya (one having a big body), Lamboṣṭa (having a hanging lip), Lambakarṇaka (one having drooping ears), Lambodara (big-bellied), Mahābhāga (very fortunate one), Vikṛta (having strange appearance), Pārvatīpriya (one who is dear to Pārvatī), Bhayāvaha (frightening), Bhadra (auspicious), Bhagaṇa (the cluster of asterisms), Bhayasūdana (one that destroys fear) are the twelve (to be worshipped) on the ten rows. Devatrāsa (frightening the celestials) (should be worshipped) on the west. Mahānāda (one having a great sound), Bhāsvara (one having lustre), Vighnarāja (lord of obstacles), Gaṇādhipa (lord of the Gaṇas), Udbhaṭa (the pre-eminent one), Svanābha (self-originating), Caṇḍa (wrathful), Mahāśuṇḍa (one having a big trunk), Bhīmaka (the terrible), Manmatha (captivating the mind), Madhusūda (the destroyer of Madhu), Sundara (beautiful one), and Bhāvapuṣṭaka (one that nourishes one’s thoughts) (should be worshipped). (Lord) Brahmeśvara (lord of Brahmā), Brāhma, Manovṛtti (mental attitude), Saṃlaya (well-absorbed), Laya (absorption), Dūtyapriya (fond of being a messenger), Laulya (extremely desirous), Vikarṇa (having a strange ear), Vatsala(affectionate), Kṛtānta (the destroyer) and Kāladaṇḍa (death) (should be worshipped) on the north. A sacrificial pitcher should be worshipped as before. The mantra should be repeated ten thousand times. Oblation should be done one tenth of that number. When the other (mantras) are repeated oblations should be made ten times. After having performed the final oblation, one should do the consecration. One would accomplish everything. A person should honour the preceptor by (giving) land, cows, horse, elephant, clothes and other articles.