Loving Ganesha: Chapter 9 - Master of the Word -- Brihaspatih

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Namaste all,

 

Here is chapter nine of Loving Ganesha, from

http://www.himalayanacademy.com/books/lg/lg_ch-09.html I'm going to be away

again for the best part of a week and so will be unable to post Loving Ganesha

during this time. However, I will begin to post the remaining chapters once I

return. In the mean time, should you wish to read on, please remember that the

book can be found at

http://www.himalayanacademy.com/books/lg/lg_table_of_contents.html

 

 

Om Shanti,

 

Neil

 

 

 

 

Brihaspatih

Master ofthe Word

>From Tattvaloka, February-March, 1990

N THE PRIMORDIAL THROB, ADYA SPANDA, THE Tantra says, inhere a series of

vibrations that take the form of sound, nada. This is the word, the Word

Eternal, Nityavak of the Veda, which itself became all the worlds. Vak descends

for the purpose of creation, with Her four cosmic steps. The Veda says that all

speech is measured out in four steps or planes, impelled by the mind, and these

are known to the knowers of Brahman. The Þrst three are cryptic, hidden in

secrecy, while the fourth step is human speech, that is, the ordinary word.

These four steps, or aspects, are: sthula, the physical substance of matter;

sukshma, the vital life force supporting and circumferencing it; karana, the

causal, the mind principle; and mahakarana, the great causal, the high

Supernal, where abides the Word with all the original rhythm. And these again

correspond to the four states of consciousness: jagrat, the waking state;

svapna, the dream state; sushupti, deep sleep; and turiya, the fourth

condition, that which is beyond these three.

The tantrikas, while admitting the principle of the division, apply it for

practical purposes, dealing with the subject from a psycho-physical and

psycho-spiritual point of view. Naturally, therefore, since the subtle centers

play a vital part in their yoga, they locate the vak of the states in the

nervous system. They name it para, pasyanti, madhyama and vaikhari. The first

and the supreme force -- the primordial para-vak -- is beyond the ordinary

reality. It is unmanifest but turned towards manifestation. It is the great

causal mahakarana, and as such its center is at the base of the spinal column

that supports the nervous system. This bottom is muladhara, the root center of

the physical being. Next is pasyanti vak, the word that perceives; and this is

the causal, located in the navel center. Then is madhyama vak, the middle, the

word in the intermediate, subtle region between the navel and the throat, which

is the region for the expression of speech, called vaikhari vak. Ganapati as

Brahmanaspati is the Master of the Word, the Lord of Satya Mantra. And so, the

Tantra conceives Him as having His abode in the muladhara of beings, from where

speech originates in the form of paravak.

It is said in the Veda that Brahmanaspati descends deep down into the

inconscient waters to bring about in creation something stable and solid. In

the macrocosm, His whole process of creation starts from the bottom. His action

applies equally to the microcosm. In the microcosm, in the human being, there

are different planes and parts of being which are governed by conscious centers

and sources of the dynamic powers of the being, which again act as focal points

for the consciousness to operate. These centers, picturesquely described as

chakras (wheels of power), or padmas (lotuses) ready to unfold, are situated in

the subtle body and are arranged one above the other in an ascending series from

the lowest physical to the highest mind center and spiritual center. The lowest

physical is represented by the bottom-most center, muladhara, and Ganapati

operates from there as the unmanifest word.

There is an ancient Tamil classic known as Vinayaka Ahaval, attributed to

Auvaiyar, which is in praise of Ganapati. Fittingly, it starts with the words

sitak kalabhach chentamarippum padachilambu pala isai pada, which means,

superficially, "the various notes raised by the anklets adorning the lotus feet

of the Lord, which are as cool as sandalpaste." The cool sandal gandha is the

measure, tanmatra, of the earth element, prithivi tattva, and sentamarai is the

red lotus. Obviously, the muladhara center is indicated, which is known as the

kulam, where the earth element, the lowest physical, abides. Similarly, by

padachilambu is indicated the quarter of speech, paravak. At the outset of

itself, the ancient Tamil classic praises Ganapati as the form of paravak,

having his abode in muladhara.

In the muladhara is the potential energy picturesquely represented as the

sleeping serpent power kundalini shakti. There is a fire there, which in its

gross form is jatharagni, the physical fire, the fire that cooks all food,

digests it and transforms it to sustain the physical organism. The other form

is vaishvanara, the soul in the heart of every being, the jiva, the Self, the

Skanda of the Puranas. Still another form is the vaidyuta, electric energy,

from which speech arises, thereby representing Ganapati. When Ganapati becomes

active in the muladhara, when His grace is felt, the kundalini shakti wakes up,

the fire shoots up its flames, opening the centre at the summit and filling the

whole system with a downpour of nectar-like bliss. Then one is able to realize

the Godhead in the mantra and know the sign of the Lord in the conscious mind

-- Sattattil sadashivam katti, cittattil Sivalingam katti, as the Tamil classic

says.

Many are the powers and personalities of Ganapati. The universe is created in

the form of groups (ganas), and for each gana there is a Ganapati, collective

head. Thus, there are innumerable Gananathas and Vinayakas. At least in the

Mahashodha Nyasa, in the Shakta Tantra, there are as many Ganeshas as there are

matrikaksharas, letters of the alphabet, that is, 51. Ganapati in the form of an

infant, Bala, indicates possibilities of growth and future unfoldment for the

aspirant. Ganapati as a dancer points to dynamic, harmonious activity geared

towards progress.

 

 

Loving Ganesha by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

 

Web sites: http://www.hindu.org/ & http://www.himalayanacademy.com/

email: contact (AT) hindu (DOT) org

Himalayan Academy Kauai's Hindu Monastery107 Kaholalele RoadKapaa, HI 96746-9304

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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