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Ganesha Charanam Parama Pavanam
Dear Lord Ganesha, Son of Lord Shiva
Please hear my prayer:
Grant me the ability to pay attention,
to concentrate
to gain discrimination
and to grow in wisdom;
Kindly remove all obstacles
between me and the LORD;
Kindly remove all obstacles
between me and my loved ones;
Kindly remove all obstacles
between my loved ones and the LORD;
Let us see all as One,
and One as all;
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<&&> |--|--|--|--|--| |__| \__ \
\-- \__|__|__|__|__| |__| \____\
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\---\ |__| |__| \__\ /__/
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/
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:::Vinayaka Worship Ranks First:::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sai sings:
One may have mastered the Vedantic texts
And perfected the art of expounding them;
If his mind is not well-filled with good qualities,
His scholarship is like the crop grown on barren soil.
If you cannot comprehend the Swami in front of you,
And wander in search of God all over-
You are like the man who went in guest of ghee
While having butter in his hand.
Embodiments of Divine Love!
The phenomenal world (Prakriti) is what is directly apparent to Man
and which deludes him. It is an aggregation of objects. In its
natural state, every object is mutable. Such impermanent objects are
incapable of giving enduring bliss (Ananda). The object which gives
you pleasure is transient. The individual who experiences that
pleasure is also impermanent. How can an impermanent being derive
lasting bliss from a perishable object?
It is therefore necessary at the outset to forget the impermanent so
that one may be qualified to experience the eternal and unchanging
Reality.
The entire cosmos is a manifestation of the three gunas: Satva,
Rajas, Thamas. They have been identified with the three colours of
white, red and black. It is impossible for Man to conceive of a
world without these three qualities. It is not possible to find in
Nature a situation in which these three qualities are present in
equal measure. When the Satwic quality is predominant, the Rajasic
and Thamasic qualities are quiescent; when the Rajas quality is
dominant, the other two are subdued. When the thamasic quality is
dominant, Satva and Raja are subdued. It is seldom that all the
three qualities are equally balanced and in harmony with each other.
Likewise in the human body, these three qualities are present in
every limb. It will be clear that these three qualities are manifest
in the physical universe, the human body and in the human mind. The
sacred texts (srutis) have also declared that the universe is made up
of these three qualities.
.........................
:::THREE STATES OF MAN:::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::
With reference to man, there is the view that there are three states:
Prakriti, Avidya and Maya. In course of time, the term Prakriti was
applied to Man's body. In some parts of the country, people grew in
the habit of referring to individuals as `prakriti.' In North Canara,
people say: `My Prakriti is not well', when they want to convey that
their body is not well. `Prakriti' refers to that which is subject to
all kinds of `Vikriti' (distortions and changes). This Prakriti is
the basis of all creation.
The second term is `Avidya'. Avidya means that which is the opposite
of knowledge. Avidya makes one treat what is unreal as real, and what
is real as unreal and thereby deludes him and makes him pursue sensual
pleasures. This Avidya follows Prakriti in the world as a shadow.
Because of that Avidya, Man is unable to recognise his true nature.
Avidya is the cause of Man's inability to comprehend his true form.
As long as Avidya remains, Man can never be free from troubles.
The third term is `Maya'. Maya is the delusion which makes one
imagine the presence of that which is not present. As long as this
state of delusion (bhrama) remains, it is impossible to comprehend the
Brahmam (the Omni-Self).
What is this delusion? Here, for instance, is a rope. But in the
twilight of dusk, one mistakes it for a snake. When a lamp is
brought, it is found that there is only the rope. The snake was never
there and the rope was always there. Only the momentary delusion
caused the appearance of the snake and the absence of thee rope. This
is called Maya. It makes one imagine the presence of what is not
there and not perceive what is really there. To believe in the
existence of that which is non-existent and in the non-existence of
that which is the real truth is the effect of Maya.
It is the combined power of these three- Prakriti, Avidya and Maya-
which accounts for Man forgetting his true nature.
Man often imagines that he has accomplished many things. Presuming
that all that he achieves is due entirely to his own efforts and
abilities, he deludes himself and forges his own bonds. He forgets the
truth that there is a higher power which is the driving force for
action as well as the author of the results thereof. This is the
primary nature of `bhrama' (delusion).
............................
:::THE PRAYER TO VINAYAKA:::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
To get rid of this delusion and enable Man to comprehend his inherent
divine nature, the ancient sages taught a prayer. This prayer is the
one that is addressed to Vinayaka.
Who is Vinayaka? In the sloka beginning with the words,`Suklaambara-
dharam Vishnum', only the form of the deity is described. But there
is another inner meaning for the name Vinayaka. `Suklaambaradharam'
means one who is clad in white. `Vishnum' means he is all-pervading.
`Sasivarnan' means his complexion is grey like that of ash.
`Chathurbhujam' means he has four arms. `Prasannavadanam' means he has
always a pleasing mien. `Sarvavighnopasaanthaye' means for the
removal of all obstacles. `Dhyaayeth', meditate (on him). Vinayaka
is the deity who removes all bad qualities, instills good qualities
and confers peace on the devotee who meditates on him.
This is how the theistic believers interpret this prayer. The
atheists have made a parody of it by construing the prayer as a
description of a donkey which carries white clothes on its back, is
ash-grey in colour, wanders everywhere, has four legs, and has a
bland look.
.........................
:::NO MASTER ABOVE HIM:::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Vinayaka-principle, however, has only one meaning, which is
relevant to everyone irrespective of whether he is a believer or a
non-believer. Vinayaka means that he is totally master of himself.
He has no master above him. He does not depend on anyone. He is also
called Ganapathi. This term means he is the lord of the ganas- a
class of divine entities. This term also means that he is the master
of the intellect and discriminating power in man. He possesses great
intelligence and knowledge. Such knowledge issues from a pure and
sacred mind. This knowledge leads to wisdom (vijnaana). Because he
is the master of Buddhi (intelligence) and Siddhi (wisdom or
realisation), he is described as the Lord of Buddhi and Siddhi.
Buddhi and Siddhi are referred to as the consorts of Vinayka.
The mouse is the vehicle of Vinayaka. What is the inner significance
of the mouse? The mouse is considered as the embodiment of the sense
of smell. The mouse is a symbol of the attachment to worldly
tendencies (vaasanas). It is well known that if you want to catch a
mouse, you place a strong-smelling edible inside the mouse-trap. The
mouse also symbolises the darkness of night. The mouse can see well
in the dark. As Vinayaka's vehicle the mouse signifies an object that
leads Man from darkness to light. The Vinayaka-principle, thus, means
that which removes all the bad qualities, bad practices and bad
thoughts in men and inculcates good qualities, good conduct and good
thoughts.
......................
:::PRATHAMA VANDANA:::
::::::::::::::::::::::
Another name for Vinayaka is "Vighnesware". Easwara is one who is
endowed with every conceivable form of wealth : riches, knowledge,
health, bliss, beauty, etc. Vighneswara is the promoter of all these
forms of wealth and removes all obstacles to their enjoyment. He
confers all these forms of wealth on those who worship him. Vinayaka
ie described as "Prathama Vandana" (the first deity who should be
worshipped). As everyone in the world desires wealth and prosperity,
everyone offers the first place for worship to Vighneswara.
It is only when the finer meanings of various aspects relating to the
Divine are understood that worship can be offered to the Divine
meaningfully. Unfortunately, as only the superficial and worldly
meanings of the scriptural texts are expounded these days, men's
devotion is growing weaker continually. It is essential for everyone
to understand the inner meaning of the Vedantic texts.
One may have immense faith in God. But from time to time, the power
of Maya may undermine this faith. [Bhagavan gave two examples from
the Mahabharata to illustrate how even staunch devotees of Krishna
like Dharmaja and Arjuna displayed hesitancy in acting up to the
advice of Krishna and had to be taught their duty through Bhishma and
Draupadi respectively.]
................................
:::UNWAVERING FAITH ESSENTIAL:::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Faith in God should never waver. In no circumstance should anyone go
against the injunctions of the Divine. Whatever worship one may
offer, however intensely one may meditate, if one transgresses the
commands of the Lord, these devotional practices become futile. The
reason is that the Divine has no selfish objective or aim. It is out
of small-minded selfish motives that people act against the sacred
commands of the Lord. Even small acts of transgression may in due
course assume dangerous proportions.
Like the clouds in the sky which are brought together or dispersed by
the winds, the passage of time brings about for men the union or
separation of associates and happiness or sorrow. Time is the form of
God. It should not be wasted. It is to understand such sacred truths
that festivals like Ganesa Chathurthi are celebrated.
...........................
:::GANESA'S INTELLIGENCE:::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
How did Vinayaka acquire siddhi (supreme powers)? His parents held a
contest for their two sons, Ganesa and Subrahmanya. They said they
will offer their Grace in the form of a fruit to whomever came first in
circumambulating the universe. The younger son Subrahmanya set out
immediately on his peacock to go round the universe. On seeing
Subrahmanya approaching his parents, almost at the end of his trip,
Vinayaka, who had been quietly sitting all the while, got up and went
round the parents and sat down. Parvathi observed that Subrahmanya,
who had taken so much trouble to go round the universe, should be
declared the winner. Parameswara asked Vighneswara what was the inner
significance in going round the parents. Ganesha replies, `The entire
universe is permeated by both of you. The entire creation is a
manifestation of the Siva-Shakti form. It is an act of delusion to
attempt to go round this phenomenal universe. To go round both of you
is the true circumambulation of the cosmos". Then Parvathi exclaimed,
`Yours is the fruit.' Ganesha became Lord of the Divine Hosts
(ganas). Easwara was so much impressed with the supreme intelligence
of Vinayaka that he told him, "All those who wish to worship Me, will
offer their worship first to you."
Such was the grace showered on Vinayaka. What is the reason ?
Ganesha's faith in the Lord and His Omnipresence.
The right path for all people is to develop faith in God and lead
godly lives.
Vighneswara is also regarded as endowed with the wisdom of the
elephant (gaja thelivi). The elephant is noted for its supreme
intelligence. It is also known for its absolute loyalty to its
master. It is ready to sacrifice its life itself for the sake of its
master. The direct proof of this is Sai Githa (Bhagavan's elephant).
Ordinarily hundreds of cars will be passing on the road. Githa will
take no notice of them. But when Swami's car happens to pass that
way, it will instinctively notice it. It will rush to the road
raising its familiar cry. What love for Swami! It will be no
exaggeration if faith is equated with the elephant.
When an elephant moves among the bushes, its path turns into a
regular passage for all animals. It is thus a pace-setter for all
animals.
Vinayaka is a leader for all deities. Faith in Vinayaka should be
developed as the exemplar for all deitIes and he should be worshipped
as the embodiment of Divinity.
[Bhagavan then sang three bhajans: Hey Sivashankara!
Namaami Shankara; Hari bhajana bina- and Subrahmanyam!]
- excerpts from a discourse by Sri Sathya Sai Baba in
the Prasanthi Mandir on September 12, 1991.
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