Various types of mantra

In  this  section  let  us  take  some  examples  of  mantras  and  discuss  the  meaning  and
methods of japa.
Ganesha
One mantra for Lord Ganesha is “Om gam Ganapataye namaha”
The  meaning  of  this  is:  I  salute  to  or  surrender  to  Lord  Ganapati.  Om and  gam are
bija’s. Om is called the pranava or the bija for the Brahman. And gam is the bija for
Lord  Ganapati.  Lord  Ganapati means  the  Lord  of  all  forces  governing  the  universe.
Ganapati has  lot  of  other  names.  In  Hindu  tradition  every  God  and  Goddess  has
innumerable names and most of those names are the same or similar. The reason for this
peculiar phenomenon is that all Hindu Gods and Goddesses have nirguna Brahman as
the basis. Hence there is no conflict in all these worships and upasanas.
Namaha means surrender or salute. For this reason generally namaha is associated with
the  bringing  of  both  palms together in  front of the  heart,  reverentially and the  head is
bowed a bit. This particular gesture means that the head, which indicates ego, is brought
down.  Hands,  which  are  normally  separate,  indicate  the  variegated  world  and  their
bringing together indicates the unity underlying the diversity. This done in  front of the
heart indicates that the unity is in ones own heart. Whenever one says “I did it” or “It’s
me” then  one  points  out at  his  heart area. Also  sometimes in the tradition  “sashtanga
pranam” is done along with the japa of namaha. Sashtanga pranam means a surrender,
which is well done with all eight limbs. The individual prostrates before the deity or the
symbol in which he is invoking the divine. This  prostration is done with all the major
eight limbs touching the ground. The major eight limbs are the forehead, the mouth, the
hands, the chest, the abdomen, the thighs, the  feet and the mind. This indicates a total
surrender.  Surrender  in  reality  is  not  physical  but  it  is  more  an  attitude and  a  deep
feeling born out of an understanding of the limitations of the individual before the total
and thus praying  for the intervention of the total in  furthering the understanding in the
individual.
Again coming  back to the mantra under discussion, it has 9 letters and purasharna of
this mantra for mantra siddhi or accomplishing the results of the mantra is to be done as
stated above in points 6 & 7 of japa of mantra chanting section.
Another mantra for “Ganesha” is “Vakra Tundaya Hum” & “Om Hrim Grim Hrim”