Why and How You Must Worship Ganesha

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Why and How You Must Worship Ganesha

Hasthasya Bhooshanam DaanamKanthasya Bhooshanam SathyamSrothrasya Bhooshanam

SaasthramBhooshanaihi Kim PrayojanamCharity is the ornament for hands.Truth is

the ornament for speech.Hearing the scriptures is the ornament for ears.Where

is the need for other ornaments?

 

EMBODIMENTS OF LOVE!

There is no greater experience than the feeling that one is Atma (Aham Ethath).

Aham (I) is defined as Atma, the Self. The word "Ethath" means "all these". It

covers all the objects in the Universe which are physical and subtle and also

the Sun, Moon, stars and planets. It signifies that you are not the physical

body. You say "my body" which implies that you are not the body. What is this

body constituted of? It is a combination of the five elements (Pancha bhootas),

five Vital Airs (Pancha Pranas) and the five sheaths (Pancha Kosas). The entire

universe is the body of the Supreme Lord. It consists of all the moving and

static things. It is deemed to be superior Wisdom (Jnana) when you say "I am

not the body".

DRISYA AND DRASHTA

One should be extremely fortunate to realise this. Whatever you see in the

external world is "Drisya" (that which is seen). The Sun, Moon, stars, the five

elements which constituents of the universe are all "Drisya". You are seeing

your body too as you see other things. So the body is also "Drisya", that which

is seen by you. Who is then the seer? The seer is "Drashtra". The body is the

object and you are the seer. Without a seer there is no question of anything

being "seen". Some people talk about "Soonya" or emptiness or nothingness.

Unless this has been seen, how can they talk about 'Soonya'? Knowledge of the

seer and the seen is the great message of Ganapathi, whose advent we are

celebrating today. 'Ga' means Buddhi or intelligence. 'Na' means Vijnana or

wisdom. 'Pathi' means master. So, Ganapathi is the master of all knowledge,

intellegence and wisdom. There is also another significant meaning for the

word, that He is the

Leader of all the 'Ganas' who are celestial beings. He is also called

'Vinayaka', which term means that he is one who has no master above him. He is

the Supreme Master. He is beyond the mindless state. One who has stilled the

mind cannot have any master.

Without understanding this truth, we think of the physical form of Vinayaka with

the elephant head and human body. Whenever people want to commence any

undertaking or start learning music or the find arts or any branch of

knowledge, they first offer worship to Vinayaka.

SIDDHI AND BUDDI

He is also called Lambodara, which means 'Guardian of Wealth' (Lakshmi

Swaroopa). Here Lakshmi represents all wealth and prosperity and not only

Dhanam (money) for which there is a separate deity called Dhanalakshmi, one of

the eight Lakshmis. Here wealth means Sukha (pleasure) and Ananda (bliss). What

is the use of having all other things when one has no pleasure or bliss?

Ganapathi is the one who gives us spiritual potency and endows us with Supreme

Intelligence.

These two are termed as Siddhi and Buddhi respectively. Siddhi and Buddhi are

described as his two consorts. As he is the Adhipathi or Master of Sidhi and

Buddhi, he is regarded as their husband in mundane terms. Vinayaka has no

desire and hence there is no need for Him to have wife and children. He is

worshipped by people in this country since very ancient times. There is

historic evidence that the worship of Vinayaka has been in vogue even in other

countries such as Thailand, Japan, Germany and U.K.

Adoration of Vinayaka as a principal deity (Prathama Vandana) has been mentioned

in the Vedas. Ganapathi Thathwa finds a place in the Vedas and Upanishads.

Reference to Him is made in the Gayatri also. He is the one who instil purity

in the body, and fearlessnes in the mind. It is said: "Thannoa Dantah

Prachodayaath", giving importance to his tusk.

Some people, out of ignorance, comment upon the big animal form of this Master

Deity and question how one with such a huge form can ride on a small mouse

(Mooshika) which is depicted as His vehicle. "Mooshika" is symbolic of the

darkness of ignorance, while Ganesha signifies the effulgence of Wisdom that

dispels the darkness of ignorance.

STEAM-COOKED OFFERING

Even the offering that is made to Ganesha has great significance because it is

prepared with gram flour and jaggery or pepper and enclosed in an outer

covering made from flour paste and then cooked in steam without using oil. This

is supposed to be a healthy and delicious food item according to the Ayurvedic

system. Modern doctors also recognize the importance of such steam-cooked idlis

(Rice cakes) which they recommend as post operative diet for patients as it is

easily digestible. Jaggery too has the property of controlling gas formation

and this food item gives relief from eye troubles and prevents gastric

disorders.

In the ancient traditional mode of observing these festivals, great emphasis was

laid on good health as the pre-requisite for spiritual pursuits with a healthy

mind. For achieving the four goals of human life, Dharma, Artha, Kama and

Moksha, (Righteousness, Wealth, Desire, Liberation), one should have basically

a healthy body. If you want to earn wealth by righteous means and cherish

desires which lead to liberation, you should have sound health.

Vinayaka is also called Vigneshwara as he removes all obstacles coming in the

way of devotees who pray to Him sincerely. He is worshipped by students with

books so that all that is contained in the books may get into their heads.

Now-a-days people are only after money (Dhanam). Whatever scholarship one may

attain, whatever power and position one may enjoy, one cannot be happy without

the peace of mind that is got by pure devotion. One may have immense physical

strength, one may pursue the path of meditation and penance, one may acquire

profound knowledge, but all these attainments will be of no avail unless one

acquires knowledge of the eternal - Sathyam, Jnanam, Anantham, Brahmam.

THE ELEPHANT SYMBOL

The symbolic significance of Ganesha's elephant head has to be properly

understood. The elephant has profound intelligence. For example, yesterday Sai

Geetha, (Bhagavan's elephant) came running when it heart the sound of Swami's

car approaching. Though many cars were following Swami's Car, Sai-Geetha could

unmistakably identify Swami's car from an uncanny recognition of the sound of

the car. That is why it is termed "Gaja Thelivi' (elephantine intelligence).

One having a sharp brain is described as having the intelligence of an

elephant. It has "Medha Sakthi' Moreover, the elephant has large ears and it

can hear even minute sounds. Sravanam or hearing the glory of the Lord is the

first step in spiritual Sadhana for which ears should be sharp. After hearing

one has to ruminate over this and put it into practice (which are termed as

Sravana, Manana and Nidhidhyasana). The elephant takes the praise and blame

equally (Dooshana and

Bhooshana). When it hears something bad, it moves its body this way and that way

and shakes off the unwanted things while it retains good things quietly.

Only Vinayaka teaches the lessons that are essential for mankind. You should not

stop with installing the idol and doing Pooja for a few days. You should make

efforts to become a Nayaka or Master over yourself. You have the nine-fold path

of devotion. Sravanam (Hearing) Keerthanam (Singing His glory),

vishnornamasmaranam (thinking of and chanting the name) Paada Sevanam (Serving

at his feet), Vandanam (Obeisance) Archanam (Worship) Daasyam (Serving Him as a

servant serves the Master), Sakhyam (befriending God), Athmanivedanam

(surrendering body, mind and soul). The elephant signifies combining of the

first and the last, that is, Sravanam and Athmanivedanam, so that all the other

paths in between are covered fully.

When a man is born he does not have round his neck any necklace of pearls or

gems or any possessions. But he is endowed by Brahma with the garland of the

effects of his past actions, good or bad, which hangs invisibly around his

neck. If you do good you will enjoy good results and if you are bad you will

not escape suffering the consequences thereof.

THE LESSONS OF SACRIFICE

The teachings of Vinayaka is one of sacrifice. You may not heed the contents of

the Puranas, but you should not miss the vital principles which they convey to

mankind.

When Vinayaka was writing the Mahabharata to the dictation of Sage Vyasa, the

latter laid down the condition that Vinayaka should go on writing non-stop

whatever Vyasa said. But Vinayaka also stipulated a condition that Vyasa should

never stop his dictation but should go on without a break. While he was writing,

Vinayaka's pen broke and he did not hesitate to break one of his tusks to use it

as a pen. That is why he is called Ekadantha or one with a single tusk. This is

a shining example of the spirit of sacrifice that Vinayaka exhibited for the

welfare of humanity. That is why the Vedas proclaim that it is only by

sacrifice one can attain immortality.

Love and sacrifice (Prema and Thyaga) constitute Bhakti (devotion to God). There

is nothing superior to this. Athma Jnana (Knowledge of the Self) is essential.

This was the main teaching of Adi Sankara throughout his life, as He was

preaching and following the Vedic dictum: Ekaathma Sarvabhoota - Antharathma".

"Ekam Sath Vipraa Bahudha Vadanthi" ("The one Atma is present in all beings."

"The one Truth is described in many ways by the wise.") He was also preaching

that Jnana or Wisdom was nothing but "Adwaitha Darsana" (Vision of

Non-duality). But, during his last days, Sankara realised that Bhakti was

greater than Jnana. In his famous "Bhaja Govindam", Adi Sankara emphasises that

only the path of devotion will help you to get over the cycle of birth and

death.

THE GREATNESS OF BHAKTI

There is no path superior to that of Bhakti. Bhakti does not mean doing pooja,

bhajans, going on pilgrimage to holy shrines etc. Bhakti means diverting the

pure and unsullied mind towards God. People do not know the real meaning of

"Prema" (Love). The love you have for other beings is only temporary. God is

the only one that is eternal. Love of God is Bhakti. All other love may be

termed as Anuraga, which results in bondage, while Love of God leads to

liberation.

One may raise a question whether it is possible for everyone to realise the goal

through the love of God. One may not achieve this instantaneously, but can do so

progressing step by step. By Bhajans and other forms of worship one may advance

towards the goal of final emancipation. There is no meaning in saying that one

is searching for God. It is God who is searching for a true devotee. This is as

true today as it was in the past. God is neglectd by people when He is easily

attained. What is easily obtained at home is not relished so much as what you

get outside, though it is not wholesome. In olden days, people going on

pilgrimage to Tirupathi used to climb the hills step by step chanting the name

"Govinda, Govinda" as they climbed each step. Thus the pilgrimate was performed

with sincere devotion and Namasmarana. But, these days people go by buses an

cars, gossiping all the while, and indulging in unholy pursuits. The tonsure

ceremony in which one shaves his head completely and offers his hair to the Lord

of Tirupathi signifies your giving up your Thamo-Guna (ignorance and lethargy)

which is symbolised by the hair on the head. The hair is black. Giving up the

hair indicates giving up Thamo Guna. You have to assimilate Sathwa Guna.

All acts of worship have a spiritual significance. Now-a-days, people do not

understand their inner significance, but give up not only their hair but also

waste a lot of money and return home without being any the wiser for the trip.

You may install idols and worship them. But do not forget the inner significance

of all worship. All external activities are necessary only to help you to get

into the spirit of non-duality and experience unity and diversity. Love and

sacrifice are very important. Where there is pure, unsullied, selfless, sacred

and sublime love there is no fear at all. Giving and not getting is the

underlying principle of Spiritual Sadhana. Your heart is full of love, but you

are using it only for selfish purposes and diverting it towards God. God is in

the heart and not in the head. The heart is (premamayam) full of love. One

these festivals days, you should remember that God is one, and all religions

uphold the same principle of "One God, who is omnipresent." You should not have

contempt for any religion, as each is a pathway to God. Fostering love towards

your fellow-beings, receive the noble love of the Divine. This is the goal of

life.

With Sai love from Sai brothers - ''

Courtesy: http://www.geocities.com/sai_ram108/omgan.htm

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