Ganesha
From:
Divine Discourses of Bhagavân Srî
Sathya Sai Baba
Place: Prasanthi Nilayam
Bhajan:
Ganesha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha /
MP3
Ganesha
Sharanam, Sharanam Ganesha (4x)
Saisha Sharanam, Sharanam Saisha (4x)
Ganesha,
Lord of the Gana's, we seek Your help and
protection.
Lord Sai, You are our refuge and
shelter
Ganesha:
Lord of the Gana's. He is de first son of
Shiva and Parvati. The Lord of
wisdom and He removes all obstacles.
Gana's: Shiva's army of demi-gods, led
by Ganesha. They are symbols of the
senses, who have to serve their master (God,
the higher consciousness).
Sharanam: protection, help, refuge;
place of shelter, shrine.
Saisha, Saishvara: Lord
Sai
Vinayaka
or Ganesh or Ganapathi or
Vighneswara all indicate the
Elephant-God, who is popular among young and
old, and who is worshipped as the very first
deity, before regularly beginning any ceremony
or samskar, any yaga of
yajna, any vow or fast or pilgrimage. He
is the Lord of the ganas or divine
forces, inside and outside the human body; He is
the Lord, who masters and overwhelms vighna
or obstacle, however imminent or eminent.
This is the natural effect of the fact that
Ganapathi is the God of Intelligence,
vidya or buddhi.
Another name
for Vinayaka is 'Vighneswara'.
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 is described as
"Prathama Vandana" (the first deity who
should be worshiped). As everyone in the world
desires wealth and prosperity, everyone offers
the first place for worship to
Vighneswara.
Ganapathi
is a God revered in Tantric lore, and also, by
various Vedic mantras. The
elephant is proverbially the most intelligent
among the mammals and it is vegetarian,
indicating its
sathwic
nature. Ganapathi has the head of the elephant,
for, it indicates the Intelligence through which
obstacles in the path of achievement, secular as
well as spiritual can be overcome. There is a
popular verse, used on most occasions when
Ganapathi is invoked. It mentions various
attributes of this God:
Suklambaradharam
(wearing white vesture) is the
first.
This is the symbol of purity, for, ambara
means also the sky (space, ether), the
akasa of the heart. Ganapathi is pure,
having universal love and compassion.
Vishnu
is the second
attribute, ascribed to Him.
Vishnu
means that He is present everywhere, at all
times. Sasivarnam
is the third
adjective used. Of the complexion of ash, or
Vibhuti, that is to say, glowing with
spiritual splendor, with the majesty of
spiritual attainments, achievements and
potentialities. These are also called
Vibhutis, for, in the Gîtâ,
we find Krishna saying,
'wherever you see Power, Glory, Majesty
(Vibhuti), know that it is Mine'!
[see:
BG : 10-41]
Ganesha is bathed in His Divine Glory;
that is the significance of the attribute
Sasivarnam.
Chathurbhuja
(four-handed) is the next
fourth
denotation. This means that apart from the two
visible hands, He has two invisible hands, that
are available for the two divine uses of:
1. Blessing the devotee and
2. Guarding him from danger.
The last
fifth
of the descriptive word is
Prasannavadanam
(of bright countenance). The countenance depicts
the inner calm, happiness and balance, inner
grace and mercy, the consciousness of strength
and sovereignty.
What is the
esoteric meaning of Ganesha's elephant
head? The elephant is noted for its acute
intelligence. Ganesha's elephant head
symbolizes sharpness of intellect and the
highest power of discrimination. Because of the
purity of his intellect, Vinayaka is
also called the giver of buddhi
(intellect). He responds to the prayers of
devotees and hence is known as Siddhi
Vinayaka (the Vinayaka who grants
what is sought).
In a forest,
when an elephant moves through the jungle, it
clears the way for others to follow. Likewise,
by invoking Ganesha, the path is cleared
for our undertakings. The elephant's foot is so
large that when it moves it can stamp out the
footprints of any other animal. Here, again, the
symbolic meaning is that all obstacles in the
way will be removed when Ganesha is
accorded the place of honor. The journey of life
is made smoother and happier by the grace of
Ganesha.
Vighneswara
is also regarded as one endowed with the wisdom
of the elephant. The elephant is noted for its
supreme intelligence. it is also known for its
absolute loyalty to its master. The direct proof
of this is Sai Githa (Bhagavan's
elephant). Ordinarily hundreds of cars will be
passing on the road. Sai Githa will take
no notice of them. But when Swami's car
happens to pass that way, she will instinctively
notice it, She will rush to the road raising her
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 pacesetter for all animals.
The mouse
is Ganesha's vehicle. The mouse is a
clever and lively creature. As a symbol it means
that we should be clever and diligent in our
actions. The mouse also symbolizes the darkness
of the 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.
Without
intelligent discrimination, no skill or strength
can be profitably used. One must know how fire,
for example, or the electric current has to be
used and how far one can deal with it as an
instrument for our needs. The senses of man are
also like fire; they have to be kept under
constant vigilance and control.
No worship can
succeed unless the heart is pure and the senses
are mastered. Ganesha is the God who
helps overcome obstacles; but, He will create
obstacles when good endeavor is obstructed by
bad influences; He will clear the path for the
sincere sadhaka.
He is Prasannavadanam
(of
bright countenance), of beneficial looks, when
you pray to Him for good ends; but, He will not
be that when you seek His help for nefarious
stratagems! He is Pranava-Swarupa, the
Om personified; so He is auspiciousness
itself.
Vinayaka
is a leader for all deities. Faith in
Vinayaka should be developed as the
exemplar for all deities and He should be
worshiped as the embodiment of
Divinity.
Ganesh
Gayatri
Om
Eka Dantaya Vidmahe
Vakra Thundaya Dhemahi
Thannoh Dhantih Prachodhayath
Om Shanti ... Shanti ... Shanti
Realizing
that Elephant-faced One,
with one tusk is God;
Meditate on the One Who has a curved trunk;
May He enlighten our
intellect.