1 Sep 2011 - QA 1

Q: Guruji, Please speak on Ganeshotsav.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The correct way of celebrating Ganeshotsav is to go inward in meditation as Ganapati resides in our mooladhara (base chakra). Yogis meditate on Ganapati.
In Ganapati Atharvashirsha it is described very beautifully, ‘Ganapati, where are you, how are you? You are in front of me, behind me, to the right of me, to the left of me, above me and below me. You are everywhere around me! You are in the form of the sky, water, earth and air. You always reside within my mooladhara chakra and in the hearts of the yogis.’
In meditating on these mantras you will experience that there is nothing but Ganapati within, and outside of us and in every particle resides that energy.

Shankaracharya described Ganapati beautifully, ‘Ajam nirvikalpam’ – That energy which was never born, you are unwavering stillness (nirvikalpa samaadhi). ‘Niraakaar mekam’ – although we worship you in form, you are without form.
Niraanandam aananda advaita poornam, param nirgunam nirvishesham nireeham, para bramha roopam Ganesham bhajema – You are in the form of the parambramha; I am beginning to drown (dissolve) in you.