Significance of Ganesha worship

18 September 1985, Ganesh Chaturthi, Prasanthi Nilayam

Professor Kasturi's English.

1

No one knows all that has to be known. There is none who knows nothing of anything. Many there are, knowing something of some things. alone knows everything of all things.

2

THE five-element body of man equipped with five senses has as its life-breath the five-lettered formula, enshrined in the section of the "". It is a basic which means "that which can save, when meditated upon." Every has a seedsound () which precedes it and provides it with additional potency. Sound emanated first through the will of God. So the is fundamental for the and its efficacy. The is sanctified by the or by the texts. The for the five-lettered is the Vedic sound, .

3

The sound arouses energising vibrations is how A, U and M are jointly pronounced. Each of these letters is devoid of spiritual force but, together, they arouse energising vibrations. '' in the means 'to '. '' is That which confers good fortune, wealth, prosperity and happiness. have commented on this formula and explained it in various ways. They have interpreted as indicating , the God who has (the Bull) as (vehicle). They take ma as the pointer to another Name of , (wearing a garland of flowers) and as (the Sun which when it dawns on earth unfolds the Lotus of the Hearts of Beings etc). Each one allows his imagination to lead him along.

4

But, the formula contains a more universal and abstract concept. It has to be pronounced always with . The (prostration) is for which is denoted as having the attribute (being the source of peace, prosperity and success, of in short). The process of worship is best described by in the he has rendered in Telugu.

5

speaks of "" (worshipping with the hands). By 'hand', he means, the 'five-fingered', representing the five-lettered . is the five-element-lord and so He has all the power and wealth the five can yield to man who is himself a composite of the five!

6

The assert, " " (Oneself is the person known as son). One repeats himself in the son. is therefore Himself expressing certain aspects of on certain occasions for certain purposes. means the leader of groups. too means the same.

7

The elephant head is the symbol' of wisdom The elephant-head of 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 treads through the thick forest imprinting huge foot marks on the track. One such print can subsume the marks left by scores of other animus, both wild and tame. It moves majestically through thick jungles; its very passage blazes trail for other animus to go through. It is a patmaker, helping others without being aware of it, because it is its nature. guides the stars, the communities of men and their homes. He is Lord of Obstacles, causing them when needed and helping men to overcome them, when that boon will promote the well-being of the supplicant.

8

There is astronomical support also for the festival, celebrated on the fourth day of the bright half of month. A constellation with the appearance of the elephant-head becomes brightly visible on this very night.

9

is the embodiment of (intelligence) and (achievement). He was approached by Sage with a prayer to write down the , even as he composed the hundreds of thousands of its verses! agreed immediately; He brooked no delay, even to secure a writing tool: He broke his sharp-pointed tusk and was ready to start!

10

Lessons that teaches men can teach many a lesson to man. That is the reason for His being adored by people of all ages and professions. Take the problem of food. invites most endearingly, and delights in offering Him sweet satwic items of food - coconut kernal, sweet fruits of various types, steam-cooked rolls and balls of etc. The elephant feeds on grass, sugar cane, bamboo-shoots, and twigs and leaves of the banyan tree. Devotees offer , while worshipping, leaves, grass blades and flowers gathered from meadows and valleys. , the Elephant-headed, is adored as the source of Love, Faith, Intelligence, Guidance and Grace.

11

Take into consideration another role assigned to . When is moved to supreme ecstasy and it is expressed as the Cosmic Dance of , , Master of Tune and Time, leads other Gods, marks time on the (drum). No wonder, the Gods are pleased when is offered to even before any of them is propitiated.

12

Man is bound by three tendencies. The first is (the longing to possess). When that longing fails, (anger) raises its hood. When the desire is fulfilled and the thing is gained the third tendency, (greed) overtakes him. If one's desire is beneficial, the Divine will shower Grace. has no desire, no anger, no greed. His Grace is available for all who seek good and godly goals. Look at the vehicle which He has chosen, the mouse! The mouse is a creature that is led, even to destruction, by (the smell of things). Men are all victims of (Preferences and predilections stamped on our minds during the past lives). smothers and suppresses the which mis-direct man and create misfortune.

13

Since the mouse has been honoured so, it shares the worship offered to . Association with Gods, as vehicles, ornaments, accessories or servants of Gods, endows objects, animals and men with specially sacred status. Elephants, Lions, Eagles, Snakes, Primates - all these and many more have been divinised thus.

14

This day is festival Day. Since leads when gods are invoked, installed and adored, this Festival leads the long line of festivals 'for other forms of God - , , , . The duty this Day is to contemplate on the Universal and Eternal Truth embodied in and worship Him with purity and faith, praying for the Grace which can prevent lapses and promote progress in all efforts to achieve the highest goal.