Jai Ganesha !!!!

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Lord Ganesha

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

The last traces of winter were eliminated last week when the spring rains drenched the crusty earth, injecting life into the lassitude roots thus releasing them from the clasps of their 3 month slumber.  The pungent aroma of earth wafted by the halcyon breeze enchanted the creatures to dance to the symphony of joy in anticipation of the entrée of succulence.

 

As much as we find ourselves happy within this jubilant period, there are many who see life as leaving a rancid, repulsive and repugnant taste in their mouth. Swollen with despondency, it’s the sincere devotees who label God as a sadist who is merrily entertained by the pain, grief and suffering of them who have invested so much of time in His worship. Going to bed and arising with tears at their futile efforts in seizing joy in their efforts, they become decrepit and take on the morbid outlook of life.

 

Ekam Sat Vipraha, Baudhi Vedanti - There is only one truth, the seers refer to it by various names. In its unrelenting pursuit of taking the seeker across the ocean of samsara; Hindu Dharma through the crystalline revelations of the great rishis has been able to present the incorporeal satchidananda into personal deities or forms  with special qualities and attributes that the seeker will identify with and relate to in order to  appease the troubled mind or need.

 

Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha
Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva, Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa

O Lord Ganesha of Large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns,

Please makes all my work free of obstacles, always.

 

Here is an exit offered to those who find themselves being beguiled by the world. Shri Ganesha is a deity of the Hindu pantheon who is revered, praised and worshiped by all for His ability to remove obstacles before any task. For one who has a preliminary understanding of Ganesha, He becomes the alchemy by which your woes shall disappear. Such is His ability that He is placed at the zenith in terms of hierarchy to ensure that any task undertaken results in completion and auspiciousness, devoid of obstacles.

 

The iconography of this most propitiated Lord is quite unique and highly captivating even amongst children. Thus through this physical magnetization, progressive enquiry will lead one to discover the profound underlying philosophy and relevance of Ganesha in our quest to an ethereal live, as sweet as the modakas held in His hand.

 

Essentially He is the embodiment of intellect developed through learning (huge ears), one pointed mind and focus (one tusk, small eyes), discrimination(trunk) and the abnormally large head on an average body epitomises the importance of the intellect in all that we do.

 

One does not need to be a rocket scientist to understand the fundamental principles of planning, thinking and analysing a task before we undertake it. In all aspects of life we see that planning is the initial step to ensure that every possible variable is thought of so that the desired result is achieved, hence the term “went according to plan” is used to illustrate that an idea was successfully transformed to the desired result. However when things do not go according to plan, the mind often starts to run riot and orchestrates a coup upon the intellect placing the ego at the helm of power and decision making. The ego’s faithful cabinet of desires (lust, greed, hatred, envy, anger) start to undo all the good that has been done by the intellect.

 

At the base of Ganesha you will find a mouse which is eating the modaka which is meant for the Lord - this symbolises that desires start to erode the gains made by the seeker. The Mythology also draws our attention to the incident where Lord Shiva beheads Ganesha, when as a centurion to His mothers abode fails to recognise His father and denies Him entry. The beheading results because the ego rises so much that one becomes ignorant of the Lord. Since the ego is fuelled in the mind situated in the head, this incident represents the slaying of the ego. Replacing it with intellect or wisdom is symbolised by the head of the elephant as explained above. Hence, Ganesha sitting on the mouse and using it as His vehicle, shows that the intellect and wisdom must have the ego or mind under control at all times.

 

For those who are sincere devotees of the Lord and feel despondent at the way life is hurling lemons at you - fear not! It is the Lord Himself in the form of Vigneswara (Lord of obstacles) who has placed these before you out of compassion and mercy for you to ensure that your journey to liberation is fast and definite.

 

I am reminded instantly here of the parable Sri Ramakrishna explains in the Gospel:

 

In a certain village there lived a weaver. He was a very pious soul. Everyone trusted him and loved him. He used to sell his goods in the market-place. When a customer asked him the price of a piece of cloth, the weaver would say: 'By the will of Rama the price of the yarn is one rupee and the labour four annas; by the will of Rama the profit is two annas. The price of the cloth, by the will of Rama, is one rupee and six annas.'

 

 Such was the people's faith in the weaver that the customer would at once pay the price and take the cloth. The weaver was a real devotee of God. After finishing his supper in the evening, he would spend long hours in the worship hall meditating on God and chanting His name and glories. Now, late one night the weaver couldn't get to sleep. He was sitting in the worship hall, smoking now and then, when a band of robbers happened to pass that way. They wanted a man to carry their goods and said to the weaver, 'Come with us.' They led him off by the hand. After committing a robbery in a house, they put a load of things on the weaver's head, commanding him to carry them. Suddenly the police arrived and the robbers ran away. But the weaver, with his load, was arrested. He was kept in the lock-up for the night. Next day he was brought before the magistrate for trial. The villagers learnt what had happened and came to court. They said to the magistrate, 'Your Honour, this man could never commit a robbery.' Thereupon the magistrate asked the weaver to make his statement.

"The weaver said: 'Your Honour, by the will of Rama I finished my meal at night. Then by the will of Rama I was sitting in the worship hall. It was quite late at night by the will of Rama. By the will of Rama I had been thinking of God and chanting His name and glories, when by the will of Rama a band of robbers passed that way. By the will of Rama they dragged me with them; by the will of Rama they committed a robbery in a house; and by the will of Rama they put a load on my head. Just then, by the will of Rama the police arrived, and by the will of Rama I was arrested. Then by the will of Rama the police kept me in the lock-up for the night, and this morning by the will of Rama I have been brought before Your Honour.' The magistrate realised that the weaver was a pious man and ordered his release. On his way home the weaver said to his friends, 'By the will of Rama I have been released.'

 

In the four arms of Lord Ganesha you will find an axe, rope, abaya mudra (hand in blessing position), and a plate of modakas. The all merciful Lord says to us: make your intellect the controller of your being, using all spiritual knowledge and practices, axe away all desires, and practice intense faith to bind yourself to the Lord. Then remove all fear knowing that He is in control of your life and actions. Then a place of sweetness (modaka) awaits you.  Festering in negativity will bring no good. Immerse yourself in this divine love, focused and intent on victory. Take every challenge and make it an opportunity for success.

 

On the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi, I sincerely pray that the grace of Mudalvana (one who is first worshipped) is upon all and may victory be yours.

 

With love and prayers always 

Yogan