The First Three Sadhanas for a New Sadhak — Guru, Ganpati, then Batuk Bhairav

For what reasons do people come into the field of sadhana, and does the reason matter?

The speaker lists tantric attack, trouble from enemies, debt and loans, some difficulty of health, and quarrel and strife in the family — or simply the wish to do sadhana. Whatever the reason, he says, coming into the field of sadhana is the very best of things; the series addresses how to begin when no guru has been obtained.

The speaker says the series has been discussing how a new sadhak should make the auspicious beginning of his sadhana. Whatever the reason for wanting to come into the field of sadhana, he says — you are troubled by tantric attack, troubled by enemies, by debt on account of a loan, by some difficulty in your health, by quarrel and strife in the family, or by whatever cause you are distressed — or simply that it is your wish to do sadhana: this, he says, is the most excellent thing of all. And if you have come into the field of sadhana and have not obtained a Guru, then how are we to begin? That, he says, is precisely what this discussion is about.

What is the first thing a sadhak must learn before any sadhana at all?

The speaker says the first discussion was about the moment we sit down at the place of sadhana — in what manner we will sit and what vidhi-vidhan we will perform. This, he says, will be compulsory before every sadhana, and it is basic material for all sadhaks and sadhikas.

First, the speaker says, there was discussion of the sadhana seat: when we sit down at the place, in what manner we will sit and what vidhi-vidhan we will perform. This, he says, will be compulsory before every single sadhana. It is basic — it is for all sadhaks and sadhikas alike.

Which sadhana comes first for someone with no direct guru?

The first sadhana we will do, the speaker says, is the guru sadhana. If you have no direct guru and have not obtained diksha, the earlier video discussed which form is the most excellent: all deities are the guru form, but there is one avatar and one form that exists chiefly for the sake of the guru.

Second, the speaker says, it was discussed that the first sadhana we perform will be the guru sadhana. In the guru form, which form's sadhana is to be done — if you have no direct guru and Diksha is not obtained, then which form will be the most excellent? What is the most excellent? All the deities' forms are the guru form, he says, but there is one avatar, one form, which is chiefly for the sake of the guru alone. That is what was discussed.

Ganpati sadhana follows the guru's: 56 Vinayaks, sixteen Vinayaks, and a separate Ganapati for every parampara, vidya and mahavidya.

After that sadhana is completed and the dev diksha vidhan is done — the guru sadhana finished first — the second sadhana will be Ganpati's. The speaker says Ganpati has many forms: 56 Vinayaks are held, sixteen Vinayaks are held, and in kula parampara every parampara, every vidya, mahavidya and upa-mahavidya has its own separate Ganapati.

After that, the speaker says — when that sadhana is completed, the Dev Deeksha vidhan is done and the guru's sadhana is first finished — then the second sadhana will be the sadhana of Ganpati ji. Ganpati ji's sadhana is to be done. Now Ganpati ji has many forms. 56 Vinayaks are held, sixteen Vinayaks are held, and when you go into parampara, into kula parampara, then every parampara, every vidya, every Mahavidyas and every upa-mahavidya has its own separate Ganapatis. An entire tantra of theirs is developed independently, he says, and independently their whole mandal sadhana takes place. The upasana of their upa-mahavidyas, of their shaktis and of their anga vidyas is all performed.

Which Ganpati practice should a new sadhak take up, and what does it give?

The speaker says a new sadhak should, with eyes closed, take up as his first sadhana for Ganpati the Sankat Nashan Ganapati Stotram given in the Narada Purana. Doing it gives not only Ganpati's kripa, the accumulation of tapobal and the destruction of prarabdha, but also — as stated within it — the fulfilment of the kamana for which it is recited.

But when you are a new sadhak, the speaker says, then with your eyes closed the first sadhana you should do for the sake of Bhagwan Ganpati is the Sankat Nashan Stotra — the Sankat Nashan Ganapati Stotram given in the NaradaA celestial sage and recurring listener/questioner figure across Puranic literature. Purana. By doing this sadhana, he says, not only will Ganpati ji's kripa be obtained, not only will your Tapo-bala accumulate, not only will your PrarabdhaThe portion of destiny already set in motion by past actions — spiritual practice and good deeds can lessen its severity, but not eliminate it. be destroyed — along with all that, it is given in it that the kamana for the sake of which you recite it will also be fulfilled.

What happens to a sadhak who begins a special sadhana without doing Ganpati first?

The speaker says that without the kripa of Mahaganapati, or of some one form of Vinayak taken as refuge, no special success comes in the field of sadhana and many obstacles arise. Specifically: much laziness, sleep, torpor, thoughts that never steady, concentration that keeps breaking, and uchchatan beginning. These vighnas, he says, belong to the Vinayak forms, and they connect directly with the muladhara.

Know this, the speaker says: without the kripa of Mahaganapati ji, or until you take refuge in some one form of Bhagwan Vinayak and perform his sadhana, puja and seva, you will not obtain any special success in the field of sadhana, and a great many vighnas and obstacles will come. See what sadhaks do, he says — they will take up some specific sadhana and perform no Ganesha anushthan at the outset. Then what troubles will they have? First, much laziness will come to them, sleep will come, torpor will come, the thoughts will never be steady, concentration will keep breaking completely, and along with it Uchchatan will begin. All these vighnas and obstacles, he says, are connected with Bhagwan Maha Ganapati ji, or with all the forms of Bhagwan Vinayak. They give the obstruction. And this has a straightforward connection with our Muladhara, he says — because of the asana on which we sit, the place where our body establishes contact with the asana is the first station, the first chakra, and that very place is Bhagwan Ganpati's first station, which is the muladhara.

When should the Sankat Nashan Ganapati Stotram anushthan be performed?

The speaker says that until we do Ganpati's puja, seva and sadhana and obtain his kripa, our anushthan will not be completed without obstacles. So the first anushthan is of the Sankat Nashan Ganapati Stotram — and it is most excellent if performed from Chaturthi tithi through to Chaturdashi tithi, in any paksha of any month.

Until we perform his puja and seva, until we complete his sadhana, until we obtain his kripa, the speaker says, our anushthan will not be able to be completed without vighna and obstacle — difficulties will keep coming. So that all these troubles do not come, and so that the kripa of our chief deity is obtained as quickly as possible, we should certainly perform the seva, puja and anushthan of Bhagwan Ganpati ji. The first anushthan performed, then, will be of the Sankat Nashan Ganapati Stotram. In it, he says, if you perform the sadhana from Chaturthi tithi through to Chaturdashi tithi, in any paksha of any month, that is the most excellent.

What can be done when there is no money even for the puja materials?

Where distress, calamity and financial trouble are very great and there is no money even for dhoop, deep, flowers and prasad, the speaker says the most excellent vidhan is to do only his japa and to write daily the root stotra of the twelve names — first Vakratundam, second Gam, on up to the twelfth name. He says Ganpati then very quickly opens the paths of wealth, and paths open too for relief from debt and loans; the phalashruti, he notes, states six months of continuous practice.

Or, the speaker says, if the distress is very great — troubles, calamities and financial problems very many, and you do not even have the arrangement of money for the sadhana ahead, since after all money is needed even to buy dhoop, deep, flowers, prasad and the rest — then in such a state there is another way. Only his Japa, and the writing of the root stotra of his twelve names: first Vakratundam, second Gam, and so on up to the twelfth name — writing that root stotra daily. This, he says, is the most excellent vidhan, by which Bhagwan Ganpati does kripa and very quickly opens the paths of wealth. If there is debt, if there is a loan, then a path opens for its clearing too. But see, he says, in the phalashruti it is written: on doing it continuously for six months. So this work you are to do daily, and thereby strengthen your financial condition and your bodily and mental condition.

The kripa of the guru mandal comes first, then that of the Ganpati Vinayak mandal, and only then does one move towards Bhairav.

Having obtained the kripa of the guru mandal, the speaker says, you then have to obtain the kripa of the Ganpati Vinayak mandal. Once the guru and Ganpati sadhanas are complete, one moves on towards Bhairav ji.

You have obtained the kripa of the Guru Mandala, the speaker says; then you have to obtain the kripa of the Ganpati Vinayak mandal. When the sadhana of the guru and of Ganpati ji is complete, then after that we move ahead towards Bhairav ji.

Bhairav comes third, and the fear that his worship brings bhoot-pret must be cleared before the Batuk Bhairav sadhana is taken up.

The third sadhana will be Bhairav ji's. The speaker names Batuk Bhairav, Kaal Bhairav, Bhoot Bhairav, Mahabhairav, Shamshan Bhairav, Mahakal Bhairav and the Bhairavs of all the Shakti Peeths — the forms are many. He asks listeners first to clear the fear that worshipping Bhairav will bring bhoot-pret; then, for the safety and completeness of their sadhana, they should certainly do the Batuk Bhairav sadhana.

The third sadhana, the speaker says, will be Bhairava ji's. Bhairav ji too has many forms: Batuk Bhairava, Kaal Bhairava, Bhoot Bhairav, Mahabhairav, Shamshan Bhairav, Mahakal Bhairav, and the Bhairavs of all the Shakti Peeths — so the forms of Bhairav ji are many. Clear the concept — the fear you hold that worshipping Bhairav ji will bring Bhoot Badha and Preta. Clear all those subjects first. And for the safety of your sadhana, for its completeness, you should certainly perform the sadhana of Bhairav ji, in which the sadhana of Bhagwan Batuk Bhairav ji is to be done.

What is the full order a new sadhak should follow?

The speaker sums it up: a new sadhak, after first learning the necessary vidhi-vidhan, should first do the guru sadhana, then again the Ganpati sadhana, and after that the Bhairav sadhana — the Batuk Bhairav sadhana. All three, he says, should certainly be done.

That is to say, the speaker sums up, a new sadhak should first of all, after learning the necessary vidhi-vidhan, first perform the guru sadhana, then again the Ganpati sadhana, and after that the sadhana of Bhairav ji — the sadhana of Batuk Bhairav ji. All of these, he says, should certainly be done.

How the wick lies, which way its mouth faces, where the lamp is placed, and what to do when the puja place is not in the Ishan corner.

He lists: how the lamp is to be lit, how the wick will lie in the lamp, in which direction its mouth will face, where to place it after lighting, and how the lamp is to be lit when the puja place in the house is not in the Ishan corner but somewhere else. Videos on all these are on the channel, and he says he will try to share the links in this video's description.

Now, the speaker says, how the lamp is to be lit; how the wick will lie in the lamp; in which direction its mouth will be; after lighting it, in which direction it should be placed; and if the place of puja in our house is not in the Ishan corner but somewhere else, then how the lamp will be lit there — and so on and so forth. All these various kinds of questions are very necessary for basic sadhaks, he says, and videos relating to all of them will also be found on the channel. He will try to share the link in this video's description too, so that your whole concept stays clear and no mistake is made by you. Proceed in the field of sadhana in this manner, he says. Those who are new sadhaks have to keep these subjects in view very particularly, and have to learn them. In further videos more vidhans will be told in detail; stay connected and walk along, and whatever your questions may be, put them whenever there is a live, and the attempt will be to answer them and remove your doubt.