Understanding Sankalpa Mantra for Prayer and Worship

In the practice of prayer and worship, particularly in Hinduism, the 'Sankalpa Mantra' serves as a powerful tool for focusing the mind and aligning intentions towards the divine. This article delves into the significance, composition, and practice of Sankalpa Mantra, with a specific emphasis on its role in the Ganesh Gayatri Mantra and its alignment with the teachings from the Bhagavad Gita.

Introduction to Sankalpa Mantra

A Sankalpa Mantra is a profound statement of intention that is recited before prayer or worship. It serves as a mental affirming that helps to clear the mind and focus the intentions on a particular purpose or goal. The primary purpose of Sankalpa Mantra is to ensure that the practitioner is fully prepared and mentally engaged in the ritual they are about to perform.

The Ganesh Gayatri Mantra

The Ganesh Gayatri Mantra is a powerful invocation to Lord Ganesha, who is revered as the remover of obstacles and the bestower of wisdom, knowledge, and success. This mantra is widely used in Hindu rituals and ceremonies to seek blessings and divine assistance in overcoming obstacles and guiding the path towards spiritual growth and enlightenment.

Saying Your Name and Personal Details

Before beginning the prayer, it is customary to recite details about oneself, including the following:

Your full name (including the father's name and surname) Date of birth Place of birth and current city and area Caste and Gotra (if known)

These personal details help to connect the individual deeply with the divine, facilitating a more meaningful and personal connection during the prayer.

Formulation of Sankalpa Mantra

The Sankalpa Mantra is not overly complex. A simple and effective Sankalpa could be:

SatvaGrahana: Yam ca Nama Samvatsare AyanaDakshinaya/ Uttaráyana MasaMasa Fortnighta Packedhaa Dominionserialize Thithi Starus Narakshatrathen

This elaborated Sankalpa covers various details including the name of the year (solar and lunar), season, month, fortnight, and star, ensuring that the mind is fully clear and focused on the intended prayer or action.

Alignment with the Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most revered texts in Hinduism, emphasizes the importance of performing rituals with the right intentions and without attachments to the results. Bhagavad Prityartham (for the sake of Bhagavan's pleasure) is a phrase used to make the intention purely for the Lord's blessings, devoid of personal desires.

Bhagavad Gita 17.11 states:

sattvā-k?tya? sa sādhunā duryōdanas tu dārakam

sattvāk?ta? ?re??ham also in afable tone, icky is sattvāk?tya? or 17.11
?aphalākank?ī
(sattvāk?ta?)

According to Shri Krishna, a Sattvic Yajna (ritual performed with detachment) should be 'aphalākank?ī'— meaning without attachment to the results. This aligns with the essence of the Sankalpa Mantra, which is to state that the desired outcome is already a blessing from the divine.

Simple Sankalpa Mantra

A simple Sankalpa for every Japa/Pooja can be:

Ganapathi Dhyanam:

Shuklam Baradaram Vishnum Sasi Varnam Chatur Bhujamn
Prasanna Vadanan Dyayet Sarva Vignroma Santhaye

Pranayama:

Om Bhoo… Om Bhuva … Ogum Suva… Om Maha… Om Jana … Om Thapa … Ogum Sathyam …n Om Tatsa vithur varenyam Bargo devasya dhi mahi dhiyo yona prachodayathn Om Apa … Jyothi rasa … Amrutham brahma … Bhoorbuvasuvarom ……

This mantra involves touching the ears three times with the phrase Om.

Sankalpam:

Mamo partha samastha durithakshaya dwara
For removing all problems and pains in life
Sri Parameshwara Preethyartham or Sri Narayana Preethyartham – for Vaishnava for making Lord Parameshwara happy or Narayana Happy
Sri Parvathi Prasada Sidhyartham for blessings of Goddess Parvathi…
You can add other Gods too as above.
Asmaham Sakudumbanam for our family
Shemasya Dhairyasya Dhairya Vijaya Ayur Arogya Iswarya Abhivrithyartham Kalyana Prapyaartham Sakala Vasikaranart...

These Sankalpa Mantras are intended to aid in the preparation and focus of the mind before engaging in prayer or worship, ensuring that the intentions are pure and focused on divine blessings and spiritual growth.

Conclusion

The Sankalpa Mantra is a vital component of Hindu prayers and rituals, serving as a mental affirmation that helps to connect the individual with the divine. By reciting the Ganesh Gayatri Mantra and formulating a well-crafted Sankalpa, one can align their intentions with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, ensuring a deeper and more meaningful experience in prayer and worship.