Morning Gratitude Meditation Series
October 27 - November 24, 2022
Weekdays | 7:00 - 7:30 AM (virtual only)
$45 for the series
Join Gurdeep for 20 days of meditation. Every weekday from October 27 through Thanksgiving, Gurdeep will virtually lead a morning Japa Mala Meditation honoring four Yogic Deities: Ganesha, Saraswati, Sita and Lalita Tripura Sundari.
Japa Meditation uses the tool of Mantra. In Sanskrit, 'manas' translates to mind, and 'tra' translates to tool, so the mantra is a tool for stilling the mind of incessant thinking. Mantras can also be felt energetically as a sonic form or vibration of the Deity in question. The Sanskrit language is designed in a way that each letter is a sonic vibration, therefore, it’s less important to know the translated meaning of the Mantra, but rather how to pronounce and chant the Mantra correctly.
Ganesha
Sanskrit: ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Ganesha or Ganapathi is the well-loved elephant headed God of the Hindu pantheon. Ganesh is known as the son of the God Shiva and the Goddess Parvati. One of the most well-known mythical stories about Ganesha, is that he was created by Parvati using clay to protect her. Shiva became jealous of Ganesha, and beheaded. Shiva then replaced Ganesha's original head with that of an elephant. Ganesha is also worshipped by Jains and Buddhists.
Ganesha is widely known as the remover of all obstacles, and the God of new beginnings. In Hindu religious rites, ceremonies usually begin with an invocation and honoring of Ganesha. He usually is depicted as being pot-bellied, has one tusk broken, and four arms that often hold a noose called a pasam, an elephant goad, and dish of Indian sweets, laddus. His appetite for these sweets is legendary and offerings of them are often left at his shrine. The noose or pasam, is a triple twine weapon. The three twines are said to represent arrogance, illusion (maya) and ignorance, which are overcome through contemplation on Ganesha.
The mantra we are going to chant for the first week is dedicated to the God Ganesha.
Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha
It can be translated as “My salutations to Lord Ganesha.” This mantra is from the Ganapati Upanishad, a long Sanskrit writing from the Vedas all about and in adoration of Ganesha.
Om is thought to constitute the divine in the form of sound. It is the universal sound where its utterance is considered the sound of creation itself.
Gam is a beej or seed mantra, for Ganesha or Ganapati. In Tantrik tradition, the beej mantra or seed sound has a vibrational quality to it which embodies the essence of the God or Goddess. This is the part that invokes the actual energy of Ganesha.
Ganapataye is an alternative name for Ganesha.
An interesting fact about Japa meditation and chanting classical mantras, is that the length of the exhale whilst chanting the mantra, is roughly six seconds, the ideal exhalation length for optimal well-being. The sound vibration produced by the mantra, will resonate through the body, the subtle body, and the atmosphere of the space you are in. If you have an image or murti (statue) of Ganesha, you could place an offering near it; typical offerings are: sweets, red flowers, sandoor (red vermillion powder) or anything offered with love.
Saraswati
Sanskrit: सरस्वती
The Goddess Saraswati is revered as the Goddess of Knowledge; she governs learning, insight, music, sound, speech, wisdom and language. Saraswati is known as the creator of the Sanskrit Language where every letter and every word has a specific vibrational quality which makes it a Holy language. It is said that her Being vibrated the Mantra OM, which is the primordial sound of creation, from which everything is manifested. Even though all Indian Goddesses are the creative force of Shakti, Saraswati embodies creative Flow. She is the inspiration behind all creativity within us; poetry, music, writing and learning.
Saraswati’s vehicle is a swan, she is usually depicted wearing a white Sari and playing a Veena (a type of Indian Lute). Her name means ‘the flowing one’ and as such governs rivers and is associated with the Moon.
Mantra: OM Aim Saraswatiyai Namaha
Meaning: I bow to the Goddess of Speech Saraswati
Aim is a beej or seed mantra for Saraswati.
In Tantrik tradition, the beej mantra or seed sound has a vibrational quality to it which embodies the essence of the God or Goddess. This is the part that invokes the actual energy of Saraswati; the Shakti of Wisdom and Insight.
You might consider a mala, a book, a poem or a white feather or white flowers, as offerings to Saraswati on your altar.
Sita
Sanskrit: सीता
The Goddess Sita is the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, Ramayana. She is the daughter of Bhumi Devi, the Earth (Sita’s name means ‘furrow’), she is the consort of Rama (an avatar of the god Vishnu), and is regarded as a form of the Goddess Lakshmi. The Festival of Diwali centers around the tale of Rama & Sita. She is also the chief goddess of Rama-centric Hindu traditions. Sita is known for her dedication, self-sacrifice, courage, and purity; the Goddess of Devotion, fidelity, unconditional love and surrendering to the Divine.
Sita is revered in the tradition of Bhakti Yoga, alongside her husband Rama and in kirtan, you will often hear the mantra Sita-Ram chanted with great devotion.
Mantra: OM Sita-Ram Namaha
Meaning: OM reverent Greetings to the Goddess Sita
You might consider wild flowers, or anything from the earth as offerings to Sita.
Lalita Tripura Sundari
Tripura Sundari written in Sanskrit: त्रिपुर सुन्दरी is worshiped in the Shakta Sri Vidya tradition of Hinduism as the principal aspect of the supreme Goddess Mahadevi. Her name means ‘The charming beauty of the three worlds’. Lalita Tripura Sundari, is described as the ultimate Shakti (Power) of the Universe, or the Supreme Consciousness in the sacred text the Tripura Upanishad. In one aspect, she is depicted as growing from the Sri Chakra (Yantra) in the form of Kameshvari, and hence is ‘born’ from Herself or self-emergent, as the Sri Chakra is the geometric form of the Goddess herself.
Lalita Tripura Sundari is the Goddess of Desire (Kama) and Erotic Spirituality; she is the Force of Kundalini Shakti and embodies radical freedom of the Shakti of Creativity.
Mantra: OM Hrim Parashakti Sundari Namaha
Reverent Greetings to the Supreme Goddess Lalita Tripura Sundari
You might consider red flowers, red silk, vermillion powder, anything golden as offerings for Lalita Tripura Sundari.
About Gurdeep:
Gurdeep is a Marblehead based yoga teacher specializing in flow, restorative and gentle yoga. She graduated from The Yoga Loft Teacher Training Program in 2017 under Larisa Forman and Vito Politano. She studied Restorative Yoga with Jillian Pransky in NY. Her teachings are deeply rooted in tradition with a modern day understanding of anatomy, physical fitness and alignment. Gurdeep believes strongly in incorporating meditation and breath work in her teachings, creating a full experience for the body and the soul. Gurdeep is a Reiki Master Teacher and Intuitive Medium with a deep connection to spiritual practice. Creating a holistic approach, Gurdeep brings a healing intention to all of her sharings - yoga, reiki and mediumship.
Gurdeep is dedicated to serving, by facilitating every individual’s personal healing journey and evolution.
Workshop Refund Policy:
Full payment is required to reserve a space in workshops. All workshops are non-refundable. Due to limited space and high demand for some workshops we have a 24 hour cancelation policy. Cancelations made more than 24 hours in advance will be issued studio credit. No credit will be given for cancelations made less than 24 hours.