Om Shri Siddhivinayakaya Namah: Siddhivinayak mantra, meaning and how to chant

What this mantra is

“Om Shri Siddhivinayakaya Namah” is a nama-mantra, a name-mantra: a single name of a deity placed between Om and “namah” (I bow). It is the same pattern as “Om Namah Shivaya” or “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah”. It is used in Ganesha puja when offerings are made, and on its own for japa, repeating it on a mala.

Siddhivinayak is a name of Ganesha: Vinayaka, the remover of obstacles, as the giver of siddhi, success and accomplishment. In Maharashtra the name is traditionally given to images of Ganesha whose trunk turns to the right, such as the Siddhivinayak of Siddhatek, one of the eight Ashtavinayak shrines, and the Shri Siddhivinayak temple at Prabhadevi in Mumbai, first built in 1801 and today one of India's most visited temples. The mantra itself belongs to no single temple.

Word by word

• Om: the sacred syllable with which mantras begin.
• Shri: a word of honour: revered, auspicious.
• Siddhi: success, accomplishment, a task brought to completion.
• Vinayakaya: to Vinayaka, “the one with no leader above him” or “the one who removes”, a name of Ganesha. The ending “-aya” means “to”.
• Namah: I bow; salutation.

How to chant it, step by step

No special items are needed. Eleven times take under a minute; a full mala of 108 takes about ten minutes.

1. Wash your hands and face and sit on a clean mat, facing east or north if you can, before a picture or murti of Ganesha.
2. If you like, offer a diya, a red flower, a few blades of durva grass and a modak or laddoo.
3. Take a mala of 108 beads (rudraksha, sandalwood or tulsi) in the right hand and move one bead with each repetition, not crossing the larger head bead (sumeru).
4. Chant “Om Shri Siddhivinayakaya Namah” clearly, aloud, softly or in the mind, keeping the image of Ganesha before you.
5. At the end, sit quietly for a moment and fold your hands. You may close with the Ganesh aarti.

Tuesdays and Sankashti Chaturthi (the fourth day after the full moon) are the traditional days for Ganesha, and a Sankashti that falls on a Tuesday (Angaraki) is held especially dear; Vinayaka Chaturthi and Ganesh Chaturthi too. Many people also chant it before starting something new: a journey, a business, an exam.

Questions

How many times should it be chanted?

There is no fixed rule. 11 or 21 is common for daily practice, and 108 (one mala) for a full round. A few repetitions with attention are better than many in a hurry.

Is “Om Siddhivinayakaya Namah” the same mantra?

Yes. “Shri” is a word of respect; some books print the name with it, some without. Both are correct.

Do I need to visit the Mumbai temple or be initiated?

No. It is a simple name-mantra that anyone can chant at home. The Prabhadevi temple is a famous place of Siddhivinayak worship, but the mantra is not tied to it.

Why is a right-turned trunk special?

In Maharashtrian tradition a Ganesha with the trunk turned to his right is considered especially powerful and is worshipped with more care; such images are often called Siddhivinayak. Most home images have the trunk turned to the left, and they are just as fit for this mantra.