The Vinyaka Principle

Embodiments of Love!

The person who has realised the identity or oneness between the individual and divinity, is deemed a wise man. Festivals celebrated in India have great spiritual import; they are never mere rituals.

Bharatiyas venerate Ganadipa, the son of Parvati with great fervour. Who is Parvati? Who is Ganapathi? Are they in the external world, or a part of human consciousness? Is their relationship simply that of a mother and son? These have to be properly understood.

Ganas refers to the five senses of cognition, and the other five of action and perception, together with mind that is the master of these ten senses -- as it has the ability to enquire -- and the intellect. These twelve are called Ganas. Gha stands for intellect and Gna for vignanam or wisdom. Thus, Ganapathi is the master of intelligence and wisdom. Wise men find these within man and so Ganapathi lives in everyone in the form of intelligence and wisdom.

Hymns invoking his blessings in the Vedas explain that Ganapathi is the master of all energy. He has no other master above him. So he is Vinayaka. Vinayaka refers truly to the non-dual principle of Atma within man. Mind is the master of the senses. Therefore manas, the mind is Indriyas or Indra. Students recite Vedic chants in praise of Indra. Indra does not live in a separate world called Indraloka. Our mind, that is the master of the senses is Indra. Intellect is the master of Indra, and it is the very embodiment of wisdom. It is not the fleeting knowledge, but the constant integrated awareness. It neither diminishes not increases.

It is unfortunate that science is identified with such wisdom. Science pertains to physical knowledge, what is perceived and what can be proved. Students pray to Vinayaka for his blessings in acquiring knowledge and passing examinations. But all they study cannot be considered Vidya or knowledge. Vidya in the true sense of the term has a deep meaning. It is the latent power present in every cell. With this knowledge man is within the grasp of all that happens between birth and death. It is a way of life. One's way of talking, walking, and thinking are all aspects of this education. It is all powerful and all knowing and it conveys everything. This awareness is not fragmentary or fractional knowledge. It is comprehensive and holistic.

So students should not pray to Vinayaka for a pattern of education that ends with acquiring a degree and capable of giving them a way of living, their daily bread. They should pray for Vidya that spreads throughout life. The whole life is Vidya. It ranges from simple experiences like breathing process to the most complex. The one who aspires for this kind of knowledge is the true Vidyarthi. The word Vidya has two roots Vid and Ya. Vid means wisdom, Ya means that. So that which confers wisdom is Vidya. It is not physical knowledge, textual information, science or secular knowledge. It is the wisdom of the spirit, Atmic or spiritual knowledge.

The Bhagavad Gita declares the spiritual knowledge as the most important of all forms of knowledge. To acquire such true knowledge is the end of life. Vinayaka has power to confer it to his devotees. On acquiring it, we will understand that each one of us is not different from Vinayaka, the one who does not have a master above him.

Vinayaka worship has a lot of inner significance. There is a tendency among the people to acquire what they like most and offer to others what they would discard. We offer green grass as food to cows and accept their most nourishing sacred milk that builds our body. This is not the right attitude. As you think so you become. As you sow so you reap. But human beings are oblivious of this basic fact. They end up offering useless things even to God. This can be understood with reference to some of our customs.

When people visit Kasi or Prayag on a pilgrimage they are advised by the holy priests to give up as a sign of their advancement in spirituality and detachment from worldly things, a fruit and a vegetable they like most. But modern men are very polluted in their thinking, and they propose to give up things they don't like, as for example the bitter gourd and guava fruit.

These are positive misinterpretations of the original intentions. Here is a legend to clarify the original intentions. Once Iswara and Parvati were playing dice. Nandi was fixed to act as the referee. In the game Iswara lost; but Nandi gave the result in favour of Iswara. It was difficult for him to concede that his master lost. It was against the grain of his duty to his leader, he thought. Parvati was not convinced with his explanations and cursed him with an incurable disease. Nandi soon realised his folly and begged Parvati to pardon him and suggest a way to atone for his sin. Parvati's motherly heart melted and she counselled him to offer the food he liked most to her son on the occasion of his birthday which happened to be the very next day. She would consider it as sufficient expiation for his sin and Vinayaka would redeem him. Nandi, the bull liked green grass the most and he decided to offer it as a sacrifice to Vinayaka. Vinayaka was mightily pleased with his devotion and sincerity and granted him redemption that he desired most. This is the basis for offering green grass in the worship of Vinayaka. It is the thing that redeemed Nandi from his sin. Modern man has lost the significance of the message and offers to Vinayaka Arka drona and Virushan grass and thumbi, jiladu and maledu and other flowers absolutely useless to him as dear to Vinayaka. This is not the way to propitiate Vinayaka.

Legends also tell us as to how Vinayaka came by his elephant head. Once Gajasura undertook deep penance to propitiate Lord Shiva, who is easy to please by prayer and liberal in granting gifts and boons to his devotees. When Lord Shiva appeared at his prayer, Gajasura begged of him a boon that an unapproachable continuous fire should emanate from his body. Shiva blessed him with the boon. After some time, Gajasura undertook another penance. This time he begged Lord Shiva that he should stay in Gajasura's belly. Ever liberal Shiva conceded his prayer and went to remain in his belly.

Parvati became distraught at his absence and sought her brother Vishnu's help to find her husband. Vishnu, the all knowing and all pervasive assured help. He, the director of the entire universe enacted a drama to work out the release of Shiva. He made Nandi into a bull and marched to the place of Gajasura. As he started playing on the drum, Nandi danced to the tune to the great delight of Gajasura. He wanted to reward the man with whatever he wanted for having conferred on him such a great delight. Vishnu said that Shiva should be sent back. Gajasura soon realised that the man could be none other than Vishnu, the all pervasive. Because the place where Shiva was hid could be known by none else. He fell at his feet and begged the boon that his name should be remembered as the recipient of Shiva's boons and his head should be worshipped. Thus was the elephant's head passed on to Shiva's son, Ganapathi.

All auspicious occasions begin with Vinayaka pooja and the elephant's head is preserved and worshipped throughout the World. There is, however, an inner significance behind this worship of elephant head. It symbolises ideal intelligence. An elephant is mightier than any other animal, even the tiger not excepted. The feet of none of the other animals will be near the size of those of the elephant. It makes its way through the thickest forest. In intelligence it is equally distinguished. It also symbolises gratitude. It never forgets its master under any circumstance. Even at the time of death, it listens to the voice of its master and lifts its head. It would be ready to sacrifice its life for its master. The elephant's life is a life of faith. Without gratitude, intelligence is useless. Man should learn from the elephant to protect those who helped him in his advancement through life.

There are many other valuable suggestions reaching to humanity through the observance of Vinayaka Chaturti festival. On this auspicious day Bharatiyas prepare special types of food to be offered to Vinayaka. Kudumulu, Vundaralu, etc. These preparations do not use ghee or oil. They are cooked not directly but by the use of steam.. Rice flour and jaggery are chief ingredients. Ayurveda speaks of the medicinal qualities of food cooked through steam. Jaggery is useful in rectifying certain deficiencies in the bile and phlegm. Steamed food purifies the blood and improves vision, apart from the fact that it is easily digestible. Even cardiac patients are permitted to take idlies on the second day of their operation. Not so with stuffs like bondas or pakodas. Thus the offerings we make to Vinayaka are positively helpful for our health.

Vinayaka, symbolises health, peace and bliss. Without a proper understanding of these Vinayaka principles, people make small clay images of Vinayaka and worship him with useless grass and flowers. We should offer to him what we like most. That was the ideal set to Nandi by Parvati to propitiate Vinayaka.

Even the fact that Vinayaka has as his vehicle the mouse has symbolism of its own. Vinayaka is described as Musika vahana. Musika or the mouse stands for darkness or ignorance and desires. Thus, Vinayaka symbolises control over ignorance and desires. In fact, he stands for control of abuses and desires, dispelling of ignorance and awakening of spirituality. So Vinayaka stands for sacred qualities that have to be fostered, among human beings.

Chatterji in his talk made a reference to the competition of circumambulating the world that Vinayaka and Subramanya had between them. Vinayaka in this legend symbolises discriminating intelligence. He exercised fundamental discrimination useful for all and never indulged in discrimination that had selfishness as the basis. We can obtain this higher intelligence through the grace of Vinayaka.

There would be no trace of selfishness in such discrimination. In fact, God never has any selfishness. Whatever he says or does, it is for our good. Such is the great love of God. But human beings judge God from their own standpoint - from their own limited understanding and limited love. Therefore, they are always prone to go wrong in their estimate of God's love.

This can be illustrated from the life of Vivekananda. When he was a young boy, one day on the express demand of his mother Sachidevi, he returned from Ramakrishna's Ashram after seeking his permission. His mother sent him to the market on an errand.

As he was returning, it started raining heavily and there was no sign of its coming to an end. He sought shelter, where a fish vending woman and a flower girl were already there. The fisherwoman said that she could never sleep where there was the smell of flowers around. At this the flowergirl took offense and protested that she could easily sleep on a pillow made out of a basket of fish. Vivekananda who listened to the entire conversation, thought over it. He obtained a clarity that there is no absolute good or bad. Persons judge things according to their own temperament and habit.

He was confirmed in this understanding by what followed in the dark hours of the next morning, when he was returning home. He saw a drunkard falling down on the road. Two thieves who passed by that way, considered him as a thief like them who might have grown tired of the night vigil and in a drunken state finding it difficult to walk on the road. Another person who was often afflicted by the falling sickness, considered him as one suffering from a fit. A sanyasi who came there thought of the man on the road as a great soul in meditation, with the least body consciousness. Such a refined soul does not cross one's way everyday, and so he sat near him and started massaging his legs.

Vivekananda who was noticing everything, was thus convinced that man's thoughts colour his vision. He realised that doubting Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was his own mistake and no fault of his Guru. He saluted his mother and sought her permission to return and continue his devout service to his master.

Right from the early period of his teachings, Vivekananda used to maintain that there is nothing wrong with God. An individual's assessment is always coloured by his own thinking. He sees all external objects as reflection of his own inner thoughts. So individual estimates are prone to be defective. It doesn't transcend the limitations. There is no mistake in God. He is beyond all estimates. He has no attributes, or form, he is beyond everything.

Ganapathi is beyond estimates and comparison. Human understanding is limited to human thought. The one who follows the likes, desires and commands of God is the true devotee. Chitti Babu prayed to Swami to bestow on all devotees the blessings of good qualities, strength and virtues. He never said what he is prepared to give. God will give everything we pray for. But we should deserve to receive such blessings. When you go to a bank the cashier is found sitting with a lot of money. But he will give you the money you demand with reference to your credit, not simply on the basis of your cheque. So too regarding our relations with God. We should deposit sacred qualities and then issue a cheque of prayer and receive his blessings as cash. In order to receive sacred things from the hands of God, we should issue the cheque of love.

To present the same idea through another analogy, when we write a letter, we affix the stamp of required value and write the correct address. So with our prayer. We should affix the stamp of faith and write the address of love. Once faith and love are strong the prayer is bound to reach God. Near or far away, distance is no criterion. May be there is some difference in the time of the letter or prayer reaching the destination. So make your love sacred. There should be no trace of pollution in it. If there is any, then the entire love rusts and busts.

Human love at present remains rusted. What is to be done? When a piece of iron lies in mud, dust accumulates and it becomes rusted. To purify it of rust, put it in fire. It will become clean and perfect red hot iron. Mind wallowing in the dust of mean low desires rusts. It has to be tested in the sacred fire of spiritual discipline. only then an individual would experience peace or rest.

A student who undergoes a course of study has to pass several tests before he would be promoted to the next year. Even if the Vice-Chancellor is a loving man, he won't promote anyone without the test. Similarly, before we experience the grace of God, we have to undergo the test. The test of suffering has got to be undergone; it is worth our while even to invite this test of faith in God. We spend a lot of thinking, time and energy on our families, friends and relatives. If a small fraction of our thinking, time and energy is spent on God, infinite good is likely to accrue. We waste a lot of time in acquiring wealth and prosperity, fame and name, and in many useless worldly activities. But we don't spend even a moment on God.

If you think of God even for a second, the strong, powerful gates would open. We must repose full faith in God. Then we will have faith in ourselves. Those who doubt themselves, start doubting God. So let us have faith in ourselves; then we will have faith in God. We should not be carried away by the pomp and show of this life. We should have permanent unwavering faith in God. In the Bible, it is recorded that once a blind man came to Jesus and prayed for the restoration of his vision. Jesus asked him, whether he had faith that Jesus could give him his vision back. The man affirmed that he had come to Jesus only with that strong faith. Then Jesus touched his eyes. Lo! The man got back his vision! Swami will grant us anything if we have strong faith in him. Just as there was the doubting Thomas in the company of Jesus, with every Guru, there are some. Even Swami Vivekananda had doubts on many occasions. In the drama presented recently by the Bal Vikas students of Bengal, we witnessed the relationship between Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa enacted.

Ramakrishna had experienced God. But Vivekananda wanted to test his Guru. Once he kept a few coins under his pillow. The moment the master came to sit there, he felt the pricking of thorns. In order to know the divinity of a noble soul, we should also rise to that height. We see the aeroplane, but not its pilot. If we want to see the pilot, we should board the plane and see him at work. Sitting on the ground, we cannot question the existence of God. Human beings today are down to earth and low. Low aim is crime; look up. Bliss and happiness can be realised when our thinking is high and we look up. That is the mystery of Ganapathi worship.

Ganapathi is the master of all senses. We can master our senses and be always happy and free of obstacles and sufferings by worshipping Ganapathi. But one need not go to the temples to worship Ganapathi. Our body is the temple and the indweller is divine. Vinayaka is our intellect and wisdom. Once they are made strong we will be successful and every desire will be fulfilled. The Vinayaka Gayathri proclaims this greatness of Vinayaka. Man is after many forms, but the energy in all of them is the same. In order to worship energy we cannot relinquish nature or Prakriti. We speak of Lakshminarayana and Sitarama. Rama or Narayana is Purusha. Lakshmi or Sita or Parvati constitutes Prakriti. As manifest in human body, Purusha is not the physical form. It is the indwelling spirit, conscience or awareness. This is the state of bliss or divinity. This Atmic principle is present in everybody. Body and conscience are inseparable. Together they represent the androgynous state - Ardanareeswara or Sivasakthi swaroopa. Body is nature or Prakriti and conscience is Purusha.

God is also described as Akshara swaroopa. Akshara does not refer to the world of letters. It means that which cannot be destroyed. In fact it includes both the perishable and imperishable. Aha means Atma. Kshara is that which can be annihilated. Atma or conscience is imperishable. Kshara is the body that is destructible. Human life is the combination of these two, which in turn is an aspect of divinity.

For realising the divinity in oneself, self-assessment is essential. We must enquire into the true nature of ourselves, and inflict punishments to purify our defects. We are quick to identify defects in others and punish them unsparingly; but we shy away from self-enquiry. The man who does not subject himself to self-assessment and self-punishment has no right to judge others.

Divinity is present within us in the form of conscience. The moment we give up our body attachment we become consciousness. We refer to the divine principle within our body as conscience. Consciousness marks a stage when we transcend body attachment. Both are within human experience. Because of our worldly attachments, desires and illusions our vision is purely worldly. Ganapathi is the master of the senses of perception. The day you have control over the senses, you become Ganapathi. So you don't need a separate elephant trunk for worship. It is very much within you.

In the talk today reference was made to the ability of an elephant to laugh. That is understandable. Every animal communicates its thoughts and feelings through gestures and sounds of its own. When the elephant is pleased it lifts its trunk. This it does, when it comes across someone it likes; others it just ignores. Here is a message to human conduct.

Worship of Ganapathi dates from the Vedic times. It is continued through the Upanishadic times to the modern period. The ten day celebration conducted indicates the control of the ten senses, one each day. But as you proceed in the opposite direction, they become more powerful. Proceed in the easy positive way. If a man expresses hatred towards you, reciprocate a similar hatred, it will result in a quarrel. Instead greet the man with kindness, his hatred will go.

Once the Buddha was explaining the greatness of unity and the miserable and momentary nature of all things in the world. At that time a rakshasa rushed at him with a sword. The Buddha smiled at him and said, "Brother, if you are ready to kill me, I am ready." and he bent down his head. The rakshasa dropped his sword at the strangeness of Buddha's reply. He became a pigeon, a symbol of peace and flew away. Like this, there will be so many tests and you should face them. You should not hate anyone; be friendly with all - with even those whom you don't like. Don't hate anyone who hates you. Don't punish anyone; instead rectify the mistakes committed by him. Then you will be able to develop friendship with him.

Present day students are often found to be depressed and confused. This is mainly due to their lack of faith in themselves and God. If you have strong faith in God, you will easily overcome your depression. A pendulum in a clock oscillates till there is key. So long as there is agitation you will be a slave. The moment it is pacified it will stop, or remove the pendulum itself.

Vinayaka Chaturti is a festival in which we indulge in a ritualistic worship. It serves its own purpose. But you should realise the inner significance of Vinayaka principle. Without understanding the inner significance, if you do the external worship, it would be an exercise in futility. Here you find the image of the lion. It is lifeless; if it were a live lion, you won't be seated here. But the lifeless lion brings to your mind the essential qualities of the lion. Similarly, though thought in itself is lifeless, it proves the live Atmic principle. We should have full knowledge of the living divinity and realise the same.

Vinayaka is an ideal Purusha. He will give an ideal life, i.e. your intelligence. Make proper use of it and do things that would please God. God is pleased when you talk less, don't hate any living creature, don't entertain bad thoughts and don't doubt anybody. When you have eaten the pumpkin, you think that other men too have eaten the same. You have eaten the cucumber, the other man has eaten the mango, each would belch according to the fruit he consumed. Bad or good is not outside, but within you. With the blessings of Vinayaka, dispel the darkness and disorder symbolised by the mushika - the darkness of Agnana. Control your desires. This is what is meant by the expression "Less luggage makes travel a pleasure." Along side worldly knowledge required for a living, spiritual knowledge or Atmic knowledge must be cultivated. When you have both, your life will become sanctified.