Tuesday 13 September 2011

Chinthamani Ganapathy

Thevoorcha Shri Chintaamani  is considered to be one of the Ashta Vinayak  shrines of Maharashtra, celebrating eight instances of legends related to Ganesha. The temple at Thevoor, near Pune in Maharashtra State, enshrines the idol of Chinthamani Vinayaka. This temple and the deity relates to the legend of Kapila Rishi and the Chinthamani gem that he had obtained from Shiva.  An east-facing image of Lord Ganesha is enshrined in this temple, which has interesting features such as gold inlays. This temple is closely associated with the Maratha ruler   Madhavrao Peshwa.

It is believed that there were THREE wish fulfilling items in the ancient days. They were, (1) The Kamadhenu  (a cow), (2) Kalpaka Vruksha (Tree) and (3) The Chinthamani (a gem). All these three wish fulfilling items are now believed to be in possession of the Devas.

It is believed that Kapila Rishi had received this gem, called Chinthamani, from Lord Shiva after worshipping him at Talaiaalankaadu near TThanjavur in Tamilnadu. It is believed that he had walked on his head to reach the shrine and hence the Tamil name Talaiaalankaadu (talai - head).

The legend surrounding this temple centers on the Chinthamani gem. Sage Kapila was in possession of a gem by name Chinthamani which was capable of granting one's desires. He was  once visited by a young prince (son of Gunavati and Abhijita) by name Guna. The sage invoked the powers of the gem and created a sumptuous meal for the prince. The prince enamored by the power of the gem, stole it from the sage. A hurt Kapila Rishi prayed to Vinayaka for help. Vinayaka restored the gem from the prince. However the sage refused to accept it. He had developed such a conviction that when Lord Ganesha is Himself available for him, there was no necessity to have gem like Chinthamani. This Chinthamani Gem had also found it way to Devaloka.

 Sage Kapila began to revere Vinayaka as Chinthamani, as wish fulfilling God. “Chintha” means sorrow.  Sage Kapila  through the powers of penance, (Thapo Shakthi), was able to compose a rare Moola Manthra, known as “Chinthamani Ganapathi Moolam.

The Chinthamani Ganapathi Maha Mantra.
 Sage Kapila, composed the Great Manthra on Chinthamani Ganapathi. The Manthra is given below:
               Om Hreem Sreem,
               Chinthamani Ganapathaye Namaha:
               Om Namo Ganesaya
               Om Eeem Chinthamani Chinthithaha:
               Artha Laabha Pooraya Pooraya,
               Lakshmee Aanaya Aanaya,
               Nama Swahaa….. 

 “Hreem”,“Sreem”  and “Eeem”, are the Bheejaksharas,
Thrishtup Chandhaha
Ganapathir Devatha,
Sri Kapila Bhagavan Rishi:

This, in essence is the Moola Manthra of Chinthamani Maha Ganapathi.
The Manthra invokes the Grace of Chinthamani Ganapathi, prays for fulfillment of desires to have all the prosperity, and prays again to bring Goddess Lakshmi, through Grace of Chinthamani Ganapathi.

Upadesha (The initiation)
The Moola Manthra of any specific deity is to be received as Upadesha from a Guru who Himself had undergone the vigorous chanting exercises of the Manthra as had been stipulated by elders. A Manthra is composed using many akshraas (letters) in Sanskrit. It is stipulated that the Manthra is chanted one lakh (one hundred thousand) for every letter contained in that Manthra. In this Chinthamani Ganapathi Maha Manthra, there are about 58 letters, and this means the requirement of minimum chanting of Manthra is 58 lakhs  (5.8 millions) times over a period of stipulated time.

The author feels that it was his destiny and a great privilege to get Upadesha of this great Manthra from his Poojya Gurudev, Dhyani Maharaj Madhusudhan Dasji, a direct disciple of Yogimaharaj,  Babaji (Read the Book “Autobiography of a Yogi” ).

By the grace of Gurudev and Lord Ganapathi, the author had been able to complete the huge task of chanting so many times, the author feels that he has now spiritually acquired “Sidhi.,  He  has also been blessed to be an instrument to impart this Manthra to those who seek to have initiation. The author, who is practicing intense meditation, gets inner intuitive knowledge about the seeker and his sincerity.  He is able to evaluate the seeker as to his sincerity, faith and in his capacity to develop regards and devotion towards his Guru.

The initiation is generally offered on three different counts.

The Manthra can be given for a specific ceremony and rituals that may be undertaken, individually or by a group.

Next is the Individual upadesa, which allows the seeker to chant the Manthra every day as a spiritual sadhana.

The author can also give permission and guidance to a deserving few, who wish to undertake “Anushtana”, a ritual for a specified period which stipulates chanting of the Manthra 1008 times every day, to ward off any calamity, or fulfillment of any specific desires, or to achieve any other specific achievements.
The new seeker should first get himself charged well before he undertakes to impart this Manthra to anybody else. He has to complete “Akshara laksha” within a stipulated time, and then seek His own Guide’s permission before he/she could initiate others. 

Chanting of this great Manthra may not give the desired results, unless this Manthra is received directly from a Guru who had attained sidhi on this Manthra.

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