Significanse of Ganesh Chaturdhi

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Ganesh Chaturthi

Since Ganesha leads, when Gods are invoked, installed and

adored, this festival leads the long line of festivals for other

forms of God: Navarathri, Deepavali, Sankranthi, Sivarathri etc. The

duty this day is to contemplate on the universal and eternal truth

embodied in Ganesha and worships him with purity and faith, praying

for the grace, which can prevent lapses and promote progress in all

efforts to achieve the highest goal.

The elephant-head of Ganesha is a symbol of intelligence,

discrimination, and wisdom. The elephant is ever alert and eminently

conscious of its surroundings. Its memory is strong and deep. It

trends through thick forest imprinting huge footmarks on the track.

One such print can subsume the marks left by other animals, both wild

and tame. It moves majestically through. It is a path maker, helping

others without being aware of it, because it is its nature. Ganesha

guides. He is the Lord of obstacles, causing them when needed and

also helping men to over come them.

There is astronomical support also for the Ganesha festival,

celebrated on the fourth day of the bright half of the Bhadrapada

month. Constellation with the appearance of the elephant head is

brightly visible on this very night.

Ganesha is the embodiment of intelligence (Buddhi) and achievement

(Siddhi). He was approached by sage Vyasa with a prayer to write down

the Mahabharatha even as he composed the hundreds of thousands of its

verses! Ganesha agreed immediately, He brooked no delay, even to

secure writing too, he broke his pointed tusk and was ready to start.

The essential purpose of the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival is

to teach a person to avoid the company of bad people and cultivate

the company of the good. What does the term Ganapathi signify? `Ga'

means Buddhi or intellect, `Na' means Jnana (Wisdom). `Ganapathi'

means one who is the Lord of the intellect and of wisdom. He is also

the Lord of all Ganas (spiritual entities). Gunas also symbolize the

senses. Ganapathi is thus the Lord of the senses. " Vigath nayakah

Vinayakaha " (Vinayaka is one who is without a master above him).

On this day, students place books in front of the Ganesha

idol and offer worship. They pray to the deity to illumine their

minds. Hence, Ganesha is known as `Buddhi Pradaayaka', one who grants

intelligence. No one should regard Ganesha as uncouth because of his

elephant head and his immense belly. Vinayaka is a deity who

encompasses the Universe within himself. He is a deity of infinite

Potency. Hence holy days like Vinayaka Chaturthi should be celebrated

only to remind ourselves of sacred truths and to sanctify our minds

and time accordingly. They should not be treated as holidays for

feasting and merry making.

Bharathiya's festivals are pregnant with spiritual

significance. Unfortunately, Bharathiyas today give importance to

only externals rituals and observances, ignoring their inner meaning

and eternal values.

" Parvathi thanaya Ganaadhipa " -

`Oh son of Parvathi! Lord of the Ganas'. In these terms the Vedas

extolled Ganapathi. Who is this Parvathi? Who is her son? What is the

relationship between mother and son? Few Bharathiyas care to inquire

into these questions. The Vedas proclaimed, " Oh Ganaadhipa! " Who are

these `Ganas'? Are they celestial hosts or demonic (Asura) beings?

They are celestial beings. Where are they? Are they wandering in the

external world or are they present subtly in human beings. He

(Vighneswara) is called Ganaadhipathi because he is the Supreme Lord

of the Ganas. The Ganas are the embodiment of the organs of

perception (Jnanendriyas) and of action (Karmendriyas). The mind is

the master of these ten senses. The presiding deity of the mind is

called Indra, as he is the Lord of the Indriyas (the senses). The

master over the mind is the Intellect (Buddhi).

What does the name " Ganapathi " signify? `Ga' means Buddhi (or

intellect), Na means Vignaana (wisdom). As Vighneswara is the Lord of

the Intellect and Wisdom, he is called " Ganapathi " .

· It follows from this that what are called Ganas are parts of

the human body. The individual (Vyakti) is a part of creation

(Srishti). Hence, Divinity, of which the cosmos is a projection, is

immanent in the human being. " Vigath nayakah Vinayakah " (Vinayaka has

no master over him " ). This means that Vinayaka is a totally

autonomous and independent deity. He has no Lord above him. In the

world, any individual or authority has someone superior above him.

But Vinayaka has no overlord.

The worship of Vinayaka has been in existence from times

immemorial in Bharath. The Rig Veda, the Narayanopanishad and the

Thaithriya Upanishad have passages referring to Vinayaka. It is

embedded also in a -

 

Gayatri mantra :

Thathpurushaya Vidmahe,

Vakratundaaya Dheemahi,

Thanno Danthi Prochodayaath.

 

This mantra indicates that Vinayaka's Divinity is glorified in this

Gayatri mantra. Hence, Ganapathi signifies an all-pervading Divine

potency.

· In everyday parlance, Ganapathi is described as son of

Parvathi. Parvathi represents Prakriti (Nature). Man is a child of

nature. Hence, every human being is a Vinayaka. He is a spark of the

Divine Siva-Sakthi, the union of the Lord and nature. Everything in

the world has emanated from Nature (Prakriti). All things are aspects

of Nature. It is to reveal this sacred truth that holy festivals are

observed.

· How does it happen that Vinayaka has the head of an elephant

and has a mouse, as his Vehicle? The mouse is called `Mooshika' (in

Sanskrit). It is a sign of night, which signifies darkness. The mouse

is a symbol of darkness. Because Vinayaka has control over darkness,

he is described as the rider on a Mooshika. He is the one who dispels

darkness and shed light on the world.

The mouse (Mooshika) is also a symbol of the sense of smell. The

mouse moves about following the direction of the smell (Vaasana) .

Vinayaka is the one who has the mastery over vaasanas, that is

desires and ignorance (represented by " Mooshika " ).

What is meant by describing the mouse ( " Mooshika " ) as the vehicle of

Vinayaka? It means that Vinayaka rides on the Mooshika, representing

desires (vaasanas) and ignorance (darkness).

Vinayaka is one who drives away all sorrows, difficulties

and miseries. He is the enemy of all obstacles. He will not allow any

obstacle to come in the way. He is the destroyer of obstacles. He

confers happiness and peace (on his devotees). He is the master of

all those powers (Buddhi and Siddhi). What is this Siddhi? When there

is purity of mind, you achieve peace (which is Siddhi). Vinayaka is

thus the Lord of Buddhi and Siddhi (the Intellect and Self-

Realisation). Hence, every human being should acquire control over

the mind.

Vinayaka is the Lord of all learning (Vidya). Does learning

mean bookish scholarship? No. Everything pertaining to cosmos is

included in the term learning (Vidya). Walking, talking, laughing,

sitting, eating, strolling, thinking - every kind of activity is

related learning. Today, learning is identified with acquisition of

information. But apart from the knowledge of the physical world, we

have many other kinds of knowledge relating to chemistry, the fine

arts and other skills.

Vinayaka is the master of every kind of knowledge.

Learning is related to the intellect (Buddhi). It is not mere

scholarship. Familiarity with book is not knowledge. One's entire

life is a continuous process of learning. Any process of inquiry is

related to learning. But, basically our inquire should be concerned

with finding out what is transient and what is permanent. This is

true knowledge.

Students worship Vinayaka with zeal. Vinayaka is not the one

who merely comes to the aid of those who read their books. He helps

everyone at every step in life's journey. He is readily accessible.

He is pleased with an offering of Arka flowers. It is said that

anyone who eats these flowers will become insane. Such flowers are

offered to Vinayaka. Vinayaka is also worshipped with an offering of

green grass.

What is the inner meaning of these kinds of offerings? It

means that earlier Vinayaka used to be worshipped even by animals.

His face is that of an elephant. His vehicle is a mouse. These are

symbols from animal kingdom. They indicate that Vinayaka is

worshipped even by birds and beasts.

Vinayaka is thus worshipped by all beings and is Lord over all

beings. He does not belong to one country or one nation or one period

of time. He is related to all places and all times.

Vinayaka is the Lord of life. Man should learn to shed

selfishness and cultivate love of the Supreme Self. This is the inner

truth about Vinayaka. Vinayaka should not be considered as merely an

elephant-headed deity riding on a mouse.

There is a mythological story which reveals how the practice

of offering fresh green grass to Ganapathi during the Vinayaka

Chathurthi festival originated.

Once, the story goes, Parvathi and Parameswara were playing a game of

dice with Nandiswara (Parameswara's vehicle, the bully as the

umpire) . Although Iswara lost the game, Nandi declared Him as the

winner. Enraged at this unfair decision Parvathi cursed Nandi that he

would be afflicted with an incurable disease. Nandi, seeking

Parvathi's forgiveness, explained that he gave the verdict in

Parameswara's favour because the latter was his master and his duty

as a servant was to serve him. Parvathi relented and said that Nandi

would be freed from the curse if he offered to her son Ganapathi what

was most relished by Nandi. Nandi pondered for a moment and declared

that what he loved most as a bull was fresh green grass. He would

offer that to Ganapathi. That was how the practice of including fresh

green grass among the offerings made to Ganapathi during festival

occasions came into vogue.

Ganapathi accepts as offerings many things which we consider

useless and trivial. One of the names of Vinayaka is " Arkadronapriya "

(one who loves thummi(Dronapushpi) and jilledi flowers(Arka) -

flowers which are usually not valued by people). Other offerings to

Vinayaka include a special kind of grass(Two kinds of Durva ,sweta

durva and Krishna durva). There is a story relating to this.

Once upon a time there was an Asura (demon) named Gajasura.

He performed a penance. Iswara, pleased with his penance, offered him

as a boon whatever he desired. Iswara is a deity who is easily

propitiated. Hence he is known as Bhola-Sankara. When he is pleased

with a devotee, He gives the devotee whatever he asks. Sometimes He

gets into a difficult situation, as in the case of Bhasmasura who was

granted by Siva the boon to turn into ashes anyone on whose head he

placed his palm. Immediately after getting the boon he wanted to test

his power by trying to place his hand on Siva's head itself!

What was the boon Siva gave to Gajasura? The demon desired

that fire should go forth from him continuously so that no one dare

approach him. Siva granted him the boon. Gajasura continued to do

penance and Siva used to appear before him off and on. Once Siva

asked him what he wanted. The demon said: " I want you to dwell in my

stomach. " Siva granted the boon and lodged himself in the demon's

stomach. Siva's consort Parvathi, searched for Siva everywhere and

could not find Him. As a last resort, she went to her brother,

Vishnu, and appealed to Him to trace the whereabouts of her husband.

The all - knowing assured her; " don't worry, dear sister. Your

husband is Bhola - Sankara. He grants readily whatever boon his

devotee prays for, without considering the consequences. I suspect

that he must have got into some trouble. I shall find out what has

happened. "

Vishnu, who is the director of the cosmic play, staged a small

drama. He converted Nandi (Siva's bull) into a dancing-bull and led

it before Gajasura, while himself assuming the role of a piper

playing music on the pipe. Gajasura was in ecstasy over the dancing

performance of the bull: He asked the piper (Vishnu) what he wanted.

The piper replied: " Can you give what I ask? " " What do you take me

for? I shall readily give you whatever you ask. " The piper said: " If

that is so, release from your stomach Siva who is dwelling there. "

Gajasura then realised that the piper was none other than Vishnu

Himself, who alone could know the secret of Siva's presence inside

his stomach. He fell at the feet of Vishnu, released Siva from his

stomach and prayed to Him for a boon. He said: " I have been blessed

by many boons from you. My last request is that all should cherish my

memory by worshipping my head after I pass away. " Siva thereupon

brought His son and placed Gajasura's head on him.

Ever since, the tradition has prevailed in Bharath that, every

auspicious function of any kind commences with worship of Ganapathi.

It was the result of Siva's boon to Gajasura.

What is the inner significance of worshipping the elephant-

faced deity? The elephant is a symbol of might and magnitude. The

elephant's foot is larger than that of any other animal. The elephant

can make its way through the densest jungle. In this way, it

signifies the quality of a leader who shows the way for others. The

elephant is highly intelligent. The elephant is also known for its

fidelity and gratitude. In any circumstance it will not forget its

master. Even in its last moments, if it hears the voice of its master

it will open its eyes and look for him. It will sacrifice its life

for its master. These are the lessons man should learn from the

elephant. Intelligence without gratitude is valueless. Every man

should be grateful to those who have helped him.

There are some inner secrets that should be noted in the

worship of Ganesha. Bharathiyas make some special offerings to

Ganesha as food offerings. These preparations are made entirely by

using steam instead of heat from a burning stove. Combining rice

flour with jaggery and til seeds, balls are prepared which are cooked

in steam. In Ayurveda this edible is accorded a high place for its

curative properties. The jaggery in the edible is a remedy for

various ailments. The til seeds serve to purify the arteries. It also

helps to improve the vision. The inner meaning of all this is that

the food offerings to Ganesha have health giving properties. It

should be noted that edibles cooked in steam are easy to digest.

The Vinayaka Principle, symbolises health, bliss, peace,

wisdom, prosperity and many other things. Unfortunately this truth is

not recognised by most people. People are content to offer some kind

of mechanical worship to any odd figure made of clay and add to the

pollution around them.

What should be offered to God are things which will please Him. This

is what Parvathi enjoined on Nandiswara. She told him: " Offer to My

son what will please him and what is most pleasing to you. "

The Vinayaka festival is designed to celebrate the offer of such

pleasing things to Ganesa.

Another notable fact about Vinayaka is His Vehicle, the mouse

(Mooshika). What does the mouse represent? It represents darkness,

which is the symbol of ignorance. The mouse moves about in the dark.

Ganapathi is regarded as controlling the darkness of ignorance.

The mouse is also known for its strong sense of smell (vasana). Based

on the smell emanating from an object, the mouse finds its way to it.

The inner significance of vasana in relation to humanity is the

heritage of `vasanas' which they bring from their previous lives.

These vasanas (inherited tendencies) account for the actions of human

beings in their present lives. They also signify desires. Without

recognising this underlying significance of Vinayaka's mastery over

ignorance and desires, people merely wonder how a large being like

Vinayaka could ride on a tiny creature like a mouse.

Vinayaka signifies the triumph of wisdom over ignorance and of ego-

lessness over desires.

If you want to lead a life of happiness, free from troubles

and difficulties, you have to pray to Ganapathi, the remover of all

obstacles. There is no need to go to an temple. Vigneswara dwells in

each and every one of you as your Buddhi (Intelligence) and Vijnana

(Wisdom). When you make proper use of your inherent intelligence and

wisdom, you will be successful in life. Realise that you have a

conscience that is your guide and consciousness which represents your

divinity. Ganapathi, who presides over the senses, should be your

guide in acquiring mastery over the senses. There is an inner meaning

in worshipping Ganapathi for ten days. The idea is that each day

should be dedicated to acquiring control over one the sense organs

(Indriyas).