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Meaning, sources and more prayers: sanatanbodh.in/en/prayers/om-gam-ganapataye-namah/
“Om Gam Ganapataye Namah” is a well-known mantra of Lord Ganesha, in which ‘gam’ is Ganesha’s seed syllable (bija). The mantra appears in the Ganapati Atharvashirsha, which explains that the seed is formed from ‘ga’, ‘a’ and the nasal anusvara. By tradition it is chanted at the start of any task or puja, on Wednesdays and on Ganesh Chaturthi.
On the source: the part of the Ganapati Atharvashirsha called the ‘Ganesha Vidya’ explains how the mantra is formed: first the first letter of ‘gana’ (ga), then the first of the letters (a), then the anusvara; this makes ‘gam’. At the end of the same part it names the seer of this vidya as Ganaka, the metre as Nichrid Gayatri and the deity as Ganapati, and then gives “Om Gam Ganapataye Namah”. Editions number this part differently (7 in some, 9 in others), so no number is given here.
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Frequently asked questions
What does ‘gam’ mean?
‘Gam’ is the seed syllable (bija) of Ganesha. According to the Ganapati Atharvashirsha it is formed from ‘ga’, ‘a’ and the anusvara.
Which text is this mantra from?
The Ganapati Atharvashirsha (Ganapati Upanishad), at the end of the part called the ‘Ganesha Vidya’. There its seer is named as Ganaka, its metre as Nichrid Gayatri and its deity as Ganapati.
When is it chanted?
By tradition at the start of a new task, a journey or a puja, on Wednesdays, on Sankashti Chaturthi and on Ganesh Chaturthi. Many people chant it 108 times; the number is a custom.
Sources
- Ganapati Atharvashirsha, the ‘Ganesha Vidya’ passage (texts on sanskritdocuments.org and greenmesg.org)
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Text checked against: sanskritdocuments.org, greenmesg.org
