Opening Session 40-Day Ganesa Mantra Sādhana (Live)

Namaste!

Welcome everyone!

Feel free to say hi in the chat.

Let's start by chanting together the Sahana Vavadhu Mantra.

I have copied the words into the chat.

You can either sing along or just listen.

I'm so glad you found the time to join and start this 40-day Ganesha Mantra Satana together.

So for those who have joined while we were chanting,

The mantra we have just chanted asks that we be protected and nourished together and that our practice be filled with strength and light and that no division arise between us as we practice together.

I'm really so happy that you are here beginning this journey of sound,

Devotion and transformation together.

So this is our first gathering of the 40-day Ganesha Mantra Satana,

A sacred rhythm of daily chanting and weekly connection.

Over the next seven weeks we will meet here live every Sunday,

Each time deepening our understanding and experience of one simple yet powerful mantra.

If you've never done a Satana before,

Let me just explain.

It simply means a period of dedicated spiritual practice,

Something you do every day with steadiness,

Intention and heart.

It's not about perfection,

It's about showing up again and again and in the case of a Mantra Satana,

Letting the sound do its work.

In a Mantra Satana,

Each time you chant,

You are planting a seed in consciousness.

Day by day that seed begins to take root,

Bringing more clarity,

Focus and gentle strength from within.

So whether this is your very first time chanting or you already have a practice,

You are exactly where you need to be.

Your voice,

Your breath,

Your presence,

That's all you need.

So for today,

Since it is the first session,

Let's take a few moments to look at how this 40-day practice works.

Each day you will chant the mantra for yourself,

Ideally at the same time and in the same place.

This helps build a steady rhythm in your practice.

However,

You can also chant it any time of the day or night and truly you can chant almost everywhere.

Quietly in your mind while walking or before sleep,

You could even chant it sitting in a bus or in a train commuting.

But I recommend to have your dedicated space where you chant it as a daily practice.

So decide how much time per day you want to dedicate to the mantra.

Traditionally you would chant it 108 times per day.

And to do so you can use a mala with 108 beads or if you don't have one,

You can also just take 108 beans or small stones and move one for each repetition of the mantra.

If you don't want to count or use a mala or beans or whatever to move,

You can also simply set a timer,

Usually for 20 or 30 minutes.

But if you'd like to start with only 5 or 10 minutes per day,

That is fine too.

So you decide how much time feels realistic for you right now.

Of course the effects of the sadhana tend to deepen with the longer daily practice.

But it's always better at least you chant the mantra once per day.

And if you can do more,

You do more.

And also if you don't want to chant with a mala or a timer,

You can simply sing along with one of the recordings I've prepared for you.

There is this playlist that I've shared and some of you have already saved.

All the audio tracks that I have already prepared and the ones that I continue to prepare during the 40 days will be gathered in this playlist.

And there are also mantra tracks to sing along.

So you can just sing on your own with your mala,

With a timer or you can use the tanpura drone sound or you can use a chanting track and you sing along.

Also important to mention,

Please,

Please let go of any expectations.

You don't need to achieve anything here.

Of course we wish to achieve a few things,

But try to let it go and simply show up each day gently and trust the process.

Then also if you enjoy reflecting,

Keep a small journal nearby.

After chanting or perhaps later in the evening or the next morning you might want to write a few lines.

Just noting how you feel,

What has shifted,

What remained and over time you will begin to see subtle patterns like more focus or more clarity,

More ease and perhaps also a softer way of meeting yourself.

And there are also tracks where I guide you through these reflections.

You can also find the tracks in the playlist.

Also I recommend creating a small sound space for you.

So you might use one of the tanpura drone tracks as a steady background or you can accompany yourself with a tanpura or a harmonium if you play one of these instruments.

Or of course you can simply enjoy the silence and your natural voice so whatever feels most supportive.

You find the tanpura tracks or you find some tanpura tracks also in the playlist.

There are also apps that you will be able to find with some tanpura sounds and you can listen to those.

They help you dive deeper into the sounds of the mantra.

So if you have any questions about any of these things just write them in the chat.

I tried to cover many points but it's session 1 and there are 6 more to follow but if there are any important pressing questions please feel free to either write them now in the chat or you can also join the Power of Mantra group here on Insight Timer.

There you will receive daily reflections and small reminders and you can share your experience or ask questions during the 40 days.

And also please remember if you miss a day don't worry.

You make the rules.

Traditionally if you miss a day you will start again from day 1 but it's up to you whether you want to start from day 1 or you want to use 1 or 2 of the skip days.

Since we are meeting 7 times we have 42 days so you have 2 skip days if you want.

Let me just have a look at the chat.

Yes,

We will cover the effects of the mantra.

However,

In the tradition that I have been taught the mantras it's the sound itself that holds the meaning and the effect.

So it's one of the next points that we will do that we go through the words of the mantra and I give a simple translation but I believe that the effects and the meaning of the mantra in Sanskrit come from the birds and the sounds of the mantra itself.

This is also a reason why over the next few sessions I will always give hints on how to pronounce the mantra because you can deepen the practice and the effect of the practice when you pronounce it the right way.

Yes,

Suggestions for harmonium chords or drone bass.

Today we will chant in C so if you want to just have the key of C in your harmonium or on your tanpura but then when you practice for yourself you can choose the key that feels most suitable for you.

That's also the reason why I have four different tanpura tracks in the playlist.

Is it the same mantra for 40 days?

Yes,

It is.

We will be chanting Aum Gam Ganga Pataye Namaha at least for three weeks and then you will have the option to add a few Bija mantras into the mantra so it becomes longer but the base mantra is Aum Gam Ganga Pataye Namaha 108 times every day for 40 days unless you decide to chant it just 21 times or less.

Yeah.

So,

Let's now turn to the heart of our practice,

The mantra itself but if there are more questions,

Please feel free to ask.

I try to cover all the points but if you have other questions,

Feel free to ask.

The mantra we will work with throughout this sadhana is Aum Gam Ganga Pataye Namaha.

Let's say it slowly together once or twice.

Aum Gam Ganga Pataye Namaha.

Once more.

Aum Gam Ganga Pataye Namaha.

Beautiful.

This is a traditional invocation to Ganesha and Ganesha is the energy that removes obstacles.

It's also the energy that brings clarity,

Wisdom and a joyful steadiness of heart.

Each word in this mantra holds meaning but more important than the translation is the vibration itself.

In Sanskrit,

Sound carries the essence what it names.

So,

The sound is the meaning.

So,

Let's explore it together.

The mantra starts with Aum,

The primordial sound representing creation,

Preservation and transformation.

It opens the space and connects us to the universal vibration.

The second word is Gam,

The beecha or seed sound of Ganesha and it is pronounced softly with a gentle nasal resonance at the end.

Gam.

Let it vibrate at the base of your throat and also at the base of your spine or in the pelvic area,

Steady,

Grounded and calm.

Then the main word of the mantra is Ganga Pataye meaning Tukanga Patti,

Which is another name of Ganesha.

So,

Ganesha is also the lord of all categories,

The one who helps us bring order into chaos.

And then the last word is Namaha,

A simple powerful word of reverence.

It means I bow or I offer myself.

So,

When we say Namaha,

We release the control and we surrender into trust.

So,

When we chant the whole mantra Aum Gam Ganga Pataye Namaha we align ourselves with the energy that clears the path ahead that gives clarity and courage to move forward.

So,

Let's just take a short moment of stillness.

Take a comfortable breath.

You can place a hand on your heart or over your belly.

Just connect with yourself after all those informations.

Take a moment to absorb.

Just connect.

So,

Let's continue.

For today's session,

We will chant Aum Gam Ganga Pataye Namaha for about 15 to 20 minutes.

And we will be chanting in call and response.

That means you can first listen and then repeat the mantra after me.

And for the first few rounds,

We will repeat together and then I just play the harmonium and you repeat on your own.

And after a while,

We might go over to unison chant.

So,

We chant together each time.

But if you need a pause,

Feel free to just go back to call and response.

So,

Just chanting aloud every second time.

We will stay in the key of C,

Which is a warm grounding tone.

And,

Yeah,

Let me just play the sound of C.

So,

You can find a pitch that feels natural in your own voice.

And there's no need to match me exactly.

Just settle where your body resonates most easily.

The melody will stay simple and repeating,

Like a soft circle of sound.

And this steady rhythm helps the mind drop into stillness,

Although we are chanting aloud.

So,

The mantra becomes both breath and heartbeat,

A gentle rhythmic meditation.

So,

Before we begin chanting,

Let's take a moment to set an intention for this 40-day journey.

Let me just take another sip of water that gives you some time to find a comfortable position and also get everything you need.

If you have a mala,

Get your mala.

If you have a tanpura or a tanpura drone sound,

Get your tanpura sound.

If you have a harmonium or another instrument that you wish to play in C,

You can get that instrument and create your own sound carpet to chant into.

Beautiful.

So,

I invite you to take a comfortable seat.

You can close your eyes if that feels right.

Sit upright yet relaxed and allow your breath to flow naturally.

You might place one or both hands over your heart and gently connect to what's alive within you.

Feel your breath moving gently beneath your hands.

Now ask yourself,

Why am I here?

What do I wish to invite or transform through this practice?

There's no need to force an answer.

Simply allow a feeling,

A word or an image to arise.

Let it rest quietly in your heart.

Why am I here?

What do I wish to invite or transform through this practice?

This intention will accompany you through the coming days as a quiet thread woven into your mantra.

Take a gentle breath in and a soft,

Slow exhale.

Now let's begin with Aum Gam Ganga Pataye Namaha in call and response.

Listen first.

Perhaps a quiet hum inside or a sense of stillness in the heart as inner resonance,

As breath,

As peace.

Let's sit for a moment in the after sounds of the mantra.

When you feel ready,

Take a few slow,

Grounding breaths.

You can continue sitting and meditating with closed eyes or you can open your eyes gently.

Take a moment to notice how you feel right now.

Notice the after vibration in your body.

That quiet that follows the sound.

The space that opens once the mantra becomes silent.

If you'd like,

You can share a few words in the chat.

How the chanting was for you.

If there is any part of the mantra that resonated strongly.

Maybe you simply feel calm and peaceful and grounded yet energized at the same time.

You can also ask any questions.

Sometimes people notice that the sound settles in a certain part of the body.

Maybe in the heart,

The belly or even behind the eyes.

Each experience is unique.

Just observe without judging.

And if you didn't feel much today,

That's also perfectly fine.

This is only the first step of our 40-day journey.

The mantra gently works in its own time.

So before we close together with the Purnam Mantra,

Let's take a quick look at what's coming up next.

So our next live session,

Session number two,

Is in one week.

Let me share the card for session two in the chat so that you can sign up.

If you are in a similar time zone as I am,

You might want to join tomorrow's chanting circle.

It's at 7 a.

M.

Central European Time.

I will dedicate my chanting circles to Ganesha Mantras or Ganesha Bhicha Mantras.

And on Monday we will be chanting 108 times GAM,

The Bhicha Mantra of Ganesha.

And then on Friday we will be chanting AUM,

GAM,

GANGA,

PADAYI,

NAMAHA together as part of the Friday morning chanting circle.

So again,

7 a.

M.

Central European Time.

So if you can,

You can join those,

But you don't need those sessions.

So the official seven sessions are on Sunday,

Same time as today.

And you can also look out for the reflection tracks.

So there is already one track.

Let me just share the name,

But you can also find it in the playlist.

The track is a free track and it's called Day One Reflection for your 40-Day Mantra Sadhana.

So if you like to do some journaling,

Writing about your Day One and your intention,

You can listen to this track.

And you can also watch out for another reflection track.

It will come out tomorrow.

It's called Daily Reflections for your 40-Day Mantra Sadhana.

All the tracks that are released,

I add them into the playlist.

So the easiest way to find them is to save the playlist.

And if you want to practice tomorrow or on your own,

You can use the Tanpura Drone tracks as a sound carpet.

They are also in the playlist.

There are four.

One in the key of A.

One A sharp.

One B.

And one in C.

Today we have chanted in the key of C.

And if you don't want to chant all alone on your own,

You can chant along with one of the tracks that has already been released.

Let me just share the name as well.

You can find it in the playlist as well.

So it's called Morning Chant Ganesha Mantra for Clarity and New Beginnings.

And it's 21 repetitions.

So that's a very good place to start.

And if you want to do 108 repetitions,

You can just listen to this track several times or you just continue on your own.

And in the coming days,

There should also be a few tracks with 108 repetitions.

So just watch out for those.

And there will also be one or two with 21 repetitions without any intro or outro so that you can just listen to it on repeat so you can chant along as long as you wish.

So are there any more questions?

Is there anything else you need to know to continue with your mantra sadhana?

So just try to stick to the practice every day.

And if you fall out of the practice,

Then the session number two that we have together is a great opportunity to step into the routine again and also everyone please make use of the Power of Mantra group because it is so helpful.

I know that from other chanting sadhanas that I've guided.

We always had a WhatsApp group and then we were sharing and motivating each other and that's so helpful.

And my hope is that on Inside Timer we can do the same with this,

The Power of Mantra group.

So you can just post Yes,

Day 1.

Done,

Day 2.

I'm still in,

Day 3.

Yay!

We also need to have a little bit of fun.

And also if you miss a day you can just post it there and of course also if you have any questions and also share how you're feeling,

What's coming up.

Of course always just sharing what you wish to share because everybody can read it but it's just a place where you could share whatever you like to share and then also,

Yeah,

Very often things happen that resonate with us and it helps us to continue practicing every day.

Yeah,

So if there are no more questions let's close our first session with the Mantra of Wholeness the Purnam Mantra from the Isha Upanishad.

Let me just type the words of the mantra in the chat.

We will do two rounds of the mantra.

So the mantra reminds us that everything in existence is already complete.

That nothing is missing and that peace arises when we remember our wholeness.

So let's take a comfortable seat again.

You can close your eyes and place a hand or both hands on your chest.

Let's remember that everything is whole that we have everything that we need.

Let's start with one OM and then two rounds of the mantra and then we close with OM Shanti,

Shanti,

Shanti.

You can join in or just listen.

Let's start with OM.

Join the group.

Save the playlist and enjoy chanting the mantra until we see each other again.

If you don't follow me yet,

Give me a follow.

And of course if you are willing to donate to support what I'm doing here on Insight Timer I'm grateful for your support.

But if for whatever reason you don't want to do that just pay it forward and do something nice and good for somebody else.

A random act of kindness.

Or you can also support me by listening to my tracks and share the word about the mantra practice that we are doing.

So thank you again so much for joining.

Thank you for the hearts.

I'm looking forward to chanting again together soon.

Namaste.