PLEASE CLICK HERE: GANESA.pdf

 

    Ganesa

HOME PAGE 

 

Bhagavadgita Pages, Chapters 1 to 18

BG01 BG02 BG03 BG04 BG05 BG06 BG07 BG08  BG09 BG10 BG11 BG12 BG13 BG14 BG15 BG16 BG17 BG18

V.Krishnaraj

 

Bananas-Ganesa

 

Ganesa family.jpg

 

 

May 12, 2023

(Verse 1)
Oh Pillaiyar, embodiment of grace
Feasting on rice flakes and Kozhukkattai's embrace
With an appetite so hearty, worries you erase
Difficulties dissolve, leaving no trace

(Chorus)
Pillaiyar Pillaiyar, your greatness shines bright
The sibling of the six-faced Kandan's might
Ever ready to alleviate sorrows with your light
Oh Pillaiyar, you're our guiding light

(Verse 2)
Pillaiyar Pillaiyar, the fire sacrifice's guide
Boons bestowed upon us, far and wide
You are the first and foremost, none can deny
In your presence, all obstacles subside

(Chorus)
Pillaiyar Pillaiyar, your greatness shines bright
The sibling of the six-faced Kandan's might
Ever ready to alleviate sorrows with your light
Oh Pillaiyar, you're our guiding light

(Verse 3)
Seated beneath the mesquite tree, blessings you impart
Expunging our sins, healing every wounded heart
Under the bael tree, you play your divine part
Pillaiyar Pillaiyar, we offer our love and regard

(Chorus)
Pillaiyar Pillaiyar, your greatness shines bright
The sibling of the six-faced Kandan's might
Ever ready to alleviate sorrows with your light
Oh Pillaiyar, you're our guiding light

(Bridge)
With turmeric or even mud, we worship with devotion
Your five-syllable Mantra, a sacred potion
Pillaiyar Pillaiyar, your divine connection
Brings us solace and eternal protection

(Chorus)
Pillaiyar Pillaiyar, your greatness shines bright
The sibling of the six-faced Kandan's might
Ever ready to alleviate sorrows with your light
Oh Pillaiyar, you're our guiding light

(Outro)
Oh Pillaiyar, we sing this song with reverence
In your presence, we find solace and deliverance
Forever grateful for your divine benevolence
Pillaiyar Pillaiyar, you're our eternal essence

05/12/2023   

    Ganesa = Gana + Isa = Troops + leader, superintendent, chief, master....

Gana is commonly translated as attendants. It also stands for class of animate and inanimate entities, flock, multitude, number, series, tribe, troop.... Ganesa is the superintendent of Siva's troops. A troop comprises 27 chariots, 27 elephants, 81 horses, and 135 footmen. He is the leader of Ganas (Ganapati = Gana +Pati).

Ganesa is the first son of Siva and Parvati.  Since Ganesa is the creator and remover of obstacles, he is worshipped at the beginning of any undertaking or any composition. His invocatory Mantra is OM Sri Ganesaya Namah among others.

Vighneswara is the Lord of obstacles. (Vighna +Iswara = obstacles + Lord) and so obstructs our chosen path if our timing is wrong. In his capacity as Vinayaka, He removes the same obstacles and impediments, when He feels success is a certainty. As Siddhidhata, He is Bestower of Success.

Vinayaka is the remover of obstacles.  Ekadanta = the one-tusked; Danta is tooth or tusk. It is cognate with dental.  Gajamukha and Gajanana = the elephant face; Pilliayar = (honorific) son, Ganesa. Lambodara = the pot-bellied.

Ganesa and the West

West is intrigued by Ganesa. They don't know what to make of the Hindu God, Ganesa. Ganesa, according to the students from West, was not present in the Hindu scene prior to the fifth century. He did not figure in Mahabharata, though Hindus are of the belief that Ganesa was the scribe of Mahabharata when Vyasa narrated and dictated the Great Story. Because of his theri-anthropomorphic appearance, the western students are of the opinion that Ganesa was the god of elephant cult. Ganesa might have been the successor to the evil spirits, Vinayakas. One thinks that Ganesa is the Sun-God of the Dravidians and his Vahana (vehicle) the rat stands for darkness, which the sun dissipates. They quote Koomaraswamy saying that Ganesa is the godling related to Yaksas and Nagas. Monier williams says Ganesa and his brother Skanda are the head of tutelary village divinities, offering protection against evil. They attribute the rise of Ganesa to the forefront to the aggressive promotion by his followers and worshippers. Others point to the mention of Ganesa in Vedas, as the one with elephant face and one tusk. Speculations abound as follows. Siva defeated Ganesa the non-Brahmanical, Non-Vedic godling and later conferred Ganesa the honor of the leader of Siva's attendants.  Parallels are drawn to show the simultaneous acceptance of Ganesa in the Brahmanical fold and the assimilation of the tribals in South India into the Varnasrama dharma of Brahmanical Vedic practitioners after the Buddhist and Jain decline.

Ganesa made of scruff

Ganesa, a case of Xenograft Transplantation

  

  One legend says that scruff (dross) from the nape of Parvati's neck was the origin of Ganesa. Parvati was alone in her abode, when Siva went to Kailāsa (abode of snow--Himalayas) which is a mountain in the Himalayan range; Kubera and Siva live in the loftiest peaks north of Manasa Lake. When Siva came back, he tried to force his way past anthropomorphic Ganesa, who would not allow that because his mother was in the bath and he did not know who Siva was. Siva ordered one of his Ganas to cut his head off. Parvati was angry and grief-stricken. Vishnu went searching for a head and found a young elephant, whose head was transplanted on Ganesa's body.  Another legend says that Sani looked at Ganesa and his evil eyes beheaded his head and Vishnu replaced it with the elephant's head. Go to Supplement and look at ChitraRadha's Curse for more details.

A question may be raised: If xenograft was possible then, why did Vishnu not put Ganesa's own severed head back in its place? I guarantee that my statement constitutes no disrespect; Hindu gods invite queries like this from devotees. But that Ganesa carries an elephant head needs an explanation more so than why his own severed head was not put back in its place. We do not know the motive behind the xenograft, while Vishnu had the technical ability to transplant and we have to find an explanation on why he has the elephant head. Life and story of Ganesa according to Hindus have metaphorical significance. Indian Gurus concentrate on the symbolism of the anatomical peculiarities.

Linga Purana and Vinayaka's birth, Chapter105

The origin of  Vighnesvara and Vinayaka (the dispenser and remover of obstacles)

The Devas came to Siva who greeted them with his blessings. The Lord of word and speech addressed Siva saying that the Asuras were causing harm to the Suras (gods) and begged that Siva should throw impediments on the evil ways of Asuras (demons). The trident-bearing Lord of Devas, Siva entered the womb of Uma, the Universal Mother, and emerged as Ganesvara. (The concept of God entering the womb of his spouse without insemination and emerging as a divine being and making his wife his own mother is special in Hindu religion.) Ganesvara is the Master of Ganas, that is Siva.  All Devas and Ganas euologized Siva-Maheśvara, the source of the universe and the glorious remover of miseries of human and worldly existence. Ambika-Uma received with gladness her elephant-faced Lord Gajānana (Gajanana), the creator of the world and the wielder of the trident and noose. Devas and others eulogized and bowed to Mahesa and Ganesa.

    Ganesa the elephant-faced God dances and offers homage to his father and mother. Mahadeva-Siva picks up his son, kisses him on his forehead and says that he took his birth to destroy the Daityas (demons) and bring joy to Adityas (gods) and Brahmins, the Vedic scholars.  Ganesa is endowed with special powers: throwing obstacles to sacrifice by the Daityas; removal of vital breaths from those who are negligent in performing rites, and teaching and study of Vedas; removal of vital breaths from those who do not perform the duties of their castes; treating the worshippers as equal to him; protecting the old, the infirm, the young, and the devotees. Siva says that worship of Siva, Vishnu, or Brahma would commence with the worship of Ganesa. All auspicious rites and rituals would be ineffective unless Ganesa is worshipped first. Siva continues to eulogize Ganesa. "Ganesa is worthy of worship by Brahmins, Ksatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras with the offering of victuals for realizing their siddhis.  Devas (Suras, Adityas, gods) and others would accomplish nothing if they do not offer flowers, fragrance and incense to Ganesa. Brahma, Vishnu, Siva (includes himself) are no exception and if they do not worship you first, you will throw impediments in their path. Ganesa creates impediments in the rites and rituals of Daityas (Demons, Asuras)."

 

exoticindia.com with added text from Veeraswamy Krishnaraj

   

Ganesa dispenses and removes obstacles. Man is essentially a polar animal, two poles being virtue and evil, and in-betweens. He is man and angel on the virtuous side, animal on the other end, and many times somewhere in-between.  Virtue and vice are Adityas (gods) and Daityas (demons). Man is a hybrid, part god and part demon and combination and  permutation thereof. Asuric (demonic) nature and pursuit someday will face obstacle while the reverse is true for the Suric.

    The large elephantine head of Ganesa is symbolic of immense intellect needed to understand Vedanta. Large ears represent constant listening and hearing of Vedanta from the teachers. The trunk represents versatility; it can lift heavy objects, pluck one blade of grass or pick a penny. The tusks stand for the discriminative power of Ganesa, while choosing from the dualities of opposites, right and wrong, love and hate.... Parasurama's axe thrown in anger was adroitly stopped by one of the tusks; the broken tusk is symbolic of transcending dualities. Another source tells that the intact tusk represents the maleness of Siva and the broken tusk the femaleness of Sakti. His humongous mouth, stomach and appetite stand for whopping love of life. A humorous story goes with his large appetite, by which Ganesa humiliated Kubera's vanity. Exoticindia.com

Krishnaraj. Go to Children Eat Free under Supplement.  His large abdomen is symbolic of his ability to stomach the vicissitudes of life and vacillations of others. The victuals at his feet stand for nature's abundance and elements ready to serve and satisfy him. The mouse at the feet looking up to him gnaws at and depletes the merits of a human being and represents desire and its fateful consequences. Ganesa keeps the desire under his control.

    The moon once laughed at him for his rotund corpulent abdomen, ungainly walking, riding on a minute mouse of desire and wrapping his abdomen with the snake. Moon the deified form of intellect received a curse that he would be invisible one day on a periodic basis.

    He has four arms with accouterments and weapons. Axe cuts the attachments, desires,  sorrows and dualities of this world, while the rope pulls the devotee near him. The rice ball represents the reward he gives to his devotees. The fourth hand offers blessing, protection and removal of obstacles.

Padma Purana and Gangeya-Ganesa    

Another legend says that the dross from the nape of the neck of Parvati was thrown into the River Ganges and was swallowed by the elephant-headed goddess Malini, giving birth to five-headed elephant with four arms. Goddess Ganga claimed him as her son; Siva intervened and declared that he was Parvati's son. Siva excised the four heads leaving one head and anointed him as the Remover of obstacles. Other legends will be mentioned in the article elsewhere.  (Two Ganesas, credit: exoticindia.com)

    Obstacle and misery come in three flavors: Exogenous, endogenous, and Theogenous (Adibautika, Adiatmika, and Adidaivika). The word Theo-genous is  coined by me. Ganesa can ward off these miseries.

    Exogenous miseries and obstacles come from the outer world of beings and matter. Lifestyle change can help ameliorate this misery.

    Endogenous miseries and obstacles come from the body, mind and soul; they need mending from proper specialists.

    Theogenous miseries and obstacles are god-sent and include natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis.... They could be part of karmic baggage of an individual.

    He is the Lord of beginnings, the beginning of any task, undertaking or composition; the devotee needs his power of removal of obstacles which may crop up .

    The Hindu stories are regarded by the west as Myth and Mysticism, while Hindus regard them as Truth and Mysticism. Scientist use intelligence, reason, prior knowledge, experience, intuition to arrive at physical truths. Transcendental Truths are beyond the scope and reach of the above faculties, which are of material origin. How can matter understand spirit? It is like the pot trying to figure out the composition of the clay.  The Rishis looked inside rather than outside to find the answers to the questions of the spirit. This is where the eight principles come into play. As the scientist needs training, discipline, and diplomas to perform his work and unravel exoteric truths, a Rishi needs the following to delve into the inner world and explain esoteric Truths.

            (1) Yama (Don’ts): sexual abstinence, ahimsa (noninjury), no lies, no theft, no greed. 

(2) Niyama (Dos): meditation on Brahman or Isvara; mauna (silence); study of Vedas, Upanishads, and moksa-promoting literature; repeating of mantra OM; ascetic practice; clean body and mind; contentment; God-Pleasing actions.

(3) Asana: body positions and postures.

(4) Prānayama: breath control.

     (5) Pratyahara (withdrawal): no contact between senses and objects of senses. This          should come natural to him.

(6) Dharana: concentration and focus of mind on an object or idea.

      (7) Dyana: meditation.

      (8) Samadhi: Convergence, one-pointedness, Subject and object (Yogi) unity.

    Go to TMTM03 for details.

   

Once the Rishi becomes an expert, he receives enlightenment and revelations. Esoteric Truths are rendered understandable to the ordinary people by way of stories, metaphors, analogies....  The contradictions, apparent moral turpitudes and dilemmas, fair and unfair means and the rest in the lives of gods, goddesses, men, plants, animals are embedded in the stories to elucidate the Truth.

   He is married, according to Siva Purana, to Siddhi and Buddhi, the two daughters of Visvarupa; Siddhi (Achievement) gave birth to Ksema (Prosperity) and Buddhi to Labha (Profit).

Ganesa's liberality is glorified here. Excerpt from The Great Liberation page 139 by Woodroffe.

Page 139, The great liberation. About Ganesa. On this verse Tarkalamkara says Tantras observe that shortly after the churning of the ocean the inexhaustible jar of Amrta or nectar was placed in the hands of Ganesa. Whenever any of the Devatas wanted to drink the nectar, Ganesa would pour it out for him. In this way he got no leisure. Once, Ganesa became very tired and some impurity (Mala) came out of his trunk, out of that a man came. Because he came out of the trunk (Sunda) he was called a Saundika or brewer. Ganesa placed the jar of nectar in the hands of this man and granted him the following boon, viz., that as the Devatas churned the ocean after throwing into it drugs and other substances and produced nectar so the brewer and his descendants would put into water different things and churning it would produce nectar which they were to give to other people but never drink it themselves. In the drinking of this no one should make any distinction of caste. If the brewer of the present day make wine from the prescribed articles according to the method laid down in the Tantras then man becomes long lived and free of ailments. Old men imbibing wine become young again.

These are some of the many names of Ganesa

ஆகுரதன் āku-rataṉ  = ākhu-ratha = Bandicoot-rider = Gaṇēša, as riding a bandicoot.

தும்பிமுகன் tumpi-mukaṉ = தும்பி + முகன். Proboscis + Faced = God Gaṇēša;

அங்குசதாரி aṅkucatāri = ankuša-dhārin = wearer of goad.

அங்குசபாணி aṅkuca-pāṇi = Holder of goad.

அங்குசபாசதரன் = Holder of goad.

அத்திமுகத்தோன் atti-mukattōṉ = hasti-mukha = elephant-faced = Ganēša, as elephant-faced.

அம்பிகைதனயன் ampikai-taṉayaṉ = Ambika + son = Gaṇēša, as son of Pārvatī (Ambika);

ஆனைமுகன் āṉai-mukaṉ = elephant-faced = Gaṇēša, as the elephant-faced god.

ஈசன்மைந்தன் īcaṉ-maintaṉ = Lord’s + Son = An appellation used in respect of any one of the sons of Šiva.

ஏகதந்தன் ēka-tantaṉ = one- danta = one-tusked. Gaṇēsa, the one-tusked. Sanskrit Danta and English Dental are cognate.

ஏரம்பன் ērampaṉ = Hēramba = well-versed in maths. Gaṇēša.

ஒருதந்தன் oru-tantaṉ = one-tusked = Gaṇēša, who has only one tusk.

ஒற்றைக்கொம்பன் oṟṟai-k-kompaṉ = one-horned =  Elephant with one tusk. 2. Gaṇēša who has only one tusk, the other one having been broken by him, according to Hindu mythology, to write the epic of the Mahābhārata on Mount Mēru, to the dictation of Vyāsa.

கங்கைபெற்றோன் kaṅkai-peṟṟōṉ = Ganges-Holder = Vignēšvara who, like his father Šiva, has the Ganges in his matted locks.

கசானனன் kacāṉaṉaṉ = Treasurer.

கசானனன் kacāṉaṉaṉ = gaja- ānan = Ganēša, who has the face of an elephant;

கணநாதன் kaṇa-nātaṉ  =  gaṇa-nātha = Hosts + Lord = Chief of Šiva's hosts.

கணபதி kaṇa-pati = gaṇa-pati = Hosts+Chief = Gaṇēša, who is the chief of Šiva's hosts.

கணபதி- விநாயகன் kaṇapati- vināyakaṉ = The Chief of Ganas and Remover of Obstacles.

கணேசன் kaṇēcaṉ = gaṇēša. Gaṇēša, son of Šiva, as the overlord of Šiva's hosts

கயமுகன் kaya-mukaṉ = gaja-mukha = elephant-faced = Gaṇēša, the elephant-headed

சிந்தாமணி: cintā-maṇi  = A mythical gem believed to yield to its possessor everything that is desired = Ganesa, who removes the darkness of ignorance

தொந்திக்கணபதி tonti-k-kaṇapati = Big belly- Lord of hosts = Big-bellied Gaṇēša.

பாசபாணி pāca-pāṇi = Noose-holder = one holding the noose in hand

பிள்ளையார் piḷḷaiyār = பிள்ளை + ஆர் = piḷḷai + ār = son + honorific plural suffix = Son, used honorifically.

போசனப்பிரியன் pōcaṉa-p-piriyaṉ  = food-lover = Gourmand, Epicure, Glutton = God Gaṇēša.

மாமுகவன் mā-mukavaṉ  = big-faced =  Gaṇēša.

மூத்தநயினார் mūtta-nayiṉār  = eldest + son = Gaṇēša, as the eldest son of Šiva.

மூத்தோன் mūttōṉ =  The Eldest = Gaṇēša, as the eldest of Šiva's sons

மூஷிகவாகனன் mūṣika-vākaṉaṉ = Bandicoot + rider = Gaṇēša, as riding the bandicoot.

மோதகப்பிரியன் mōtaka-p-piriyaṉ = A kind of rounded braid of hair on the top of head + Liker.

மோதகப்பிரியன் mōtaka-p-piriyaṉ. mōdaka-priya = Steamed rice + Liker

= Gaṇēša; mōtakam  = mōdaka = Cake of rice-flour made into a ball and boiled or steamed.

யானைமுகவன் yāṉai-mukavaṉ : யானை + முகவன் = Elephant + faced Gaṇēša;

வல்லவைமன் vallavai-maṉ = Vallaivai-husband = Gaṇēša, as the husband of Vallavai;

விக்கினநாயகன் vikkiṉa-nāyakaṉ = Obstacle-Lord = Lord of Obstacles = Gaṇēša.

விக்கின- விநாயகர் vikkiṉa- vināyakar = Obstacle-remover.

விக்கினம் vikkiṉam = vighna (Sanskrit) = Obstacle, impediment, hindrance, difficulty.

விக்கினராசன் vikkiṉa-rācaṉ  =  vighna-rāja = Obstacle-Ruler = Ruler or Lord of obstacles.

Ganesa was victorious over an Asura king Vighna (Obstacle).

விக்கின-விநாசனர் vikkiṉa-vināśanar = Obstacle-destroyer.

விக்கினேசுவரன் vikkiṉēcuvaraṉ = Gaṇēša, as controlling obstacles.

விநாயகன் vināyakaṉ = Vināyaka (Sans) remover = Gaṇēša, as the remover of obstacles.

ஸ்தூலகாயர் = Sthūlakāyar = of big body.

 

Vignesvarar = The Lord of Obstacles.  Vighna is obstacle. Vighnesvara is the Lord of Obstacles; the Controller of obstacles. Vinayaka is the remover of obstacles. 

The first son of Siva and Parvati is Ganesa. He is primordial Being without beginning and end. Pranavam (AUM/OM is the First from which all universes and beings came. Pillaiyar or Ganesa is of the form of Pranavam.  You will see the form of Pranavam when you put together the elephantine face, the ear, (the curved proboscis) and the potbelly.   sivagn5.jpg below

 

 

 

 

Here is a story about worshipping God with the three-eyed Coconut.

Vighnesvara confronted his father Siva and demanded that he sacrifice his head. Whatever that is important to a person, he should sacrifice. Ganesa likes this sacrifice. Here the three-eyed coconut represents the head with three eyes, two physical and the third eye of wisdom and spirituality. The coconut also represents an intact EGO, which upon breaking yields the panacea of coconut water, meaning a person with a shattered ego obtains the nectar of immorality.

Ganesa has the looks of the elephant; the mouse looks the opposite of his body in its size.  The mouse is his ride around town. Though He is big in His body, He abides lightly in the hearts of His devotees.

I heard recently a story about Divinity and gods.

Once upon a time, gods abused their Divinity. Brahma hid the Divinity out of reach of the gods so they would not abuse it again. Brahma brought together an advisory commission, which suggested the possible places to hide Divinity: the bosom of the Earth, the top of the mountain, the depths of the ocean. Brahma was sure that gods would somehow unearth it, dive into the ocean or climb the mountain to reclaim Divinity. Brahma the Exponent of Vedas and the Creator God hid it where no god would look for it--that is hiding it within themselves.  Hinduism says that God is within you. When you recognize God and obtain God realization, you become god (examples: RamakrishnaParamahamsa, RamanaMaharishi...). We came from god and we go back to Him as the salmon goes back to its redd (Spawning area up stream). 

For the gods Divinity is the main asset. For a peacock, its asset is the iridescent tail. What is important for Ganesa is his tusk. He broke it for use as a writing instrument to pen Mahabharata, as Vyasa dictated it. 

The legend says that (Ganesa's mother) Parvati's soldiers faced obstruction from a demon Pandasuran. At that moment, Siva looked at Parvati with rapturous joy. She begot a child with equal joy. The newborn broke all the obstructive devices of the demon and helped his mother vanquish the demon.

He is the manifest god from the beginning. He is the esteemed first child of Parvati and Siva and earned the name Pillaiyar (பிள்ளையார் = Esteemed son, honorific way of addressing a child). Siva, upon his birth, blessed the child saying that henceforth all endeavors would need Ganesa’s blessing.

All undertakings are preceded by worship to Ganesa who removes all the impediments (Vighna). Ganapathi, appointed the chief of all Siva's attendants is the primary god of worship for the followers of Gānapathiyam.

தோப்பிக்கரணம் tōppi-k-karaṇam = Punishment or reverence to god requiring a person to take hold of his ears with his hands and sit and stand alternately.

This activity is done before the idol of Ganesa in temples and at home.

தோப்பி tōppi = by hands. கரணம் karaṇam = ears = holding the ears with the hands or fingers.

Man faces three kinds of miseries: Adhidaivica, Adhibautica and Adhiatmica (Theogenous, Exogenous, and Endogenous). These miseries come from God (The Unknowable), from external sources and from inside the body.  These obstacles impede success in one’s endeavors. A devotee offers his worship to Pillaiyār who wards off all these impediments.

Once as a child Ganesa had Vishnu's discus in his mouth. To retrieve it, Vishnu danced holding his ears by the hands. As he danced, Ganesa laughed and let go of the sharp discus.  

A note of caution. Intellection and exegesis of sacred texts to a certain extent strips away the body of the sacred texts of its essential elements and renders it a dry, humorless and bleached skeleton. It is like delving into the ocean of god and spirit with the intellect as the ship and a salt doll as the diver. RamakrishnaParmahamsa uses this analogy to impress us on the futility of scientific tools to investigate God and spirituality. There is a place in the material domain for science, which has no value in elucidating God. As a worm cannot fathom man, so is the case of man to take a measure of God.  

When Ganesa was born, Siva, as said earlier, ordained that all endeavors are preceded by supplication to Ganesa, without which no act would bear its fruit. Child Ganesa created The Obstructionists (Vighna Ganas = Obstructive Attendants or Obstructionists), who fell at his feet and over whom Ganapathy (Chief of Ganas) wielded power and control.

Man is part god and part demon. Man’s qualities are godly and demonic.   In Hindu mythology the gods and demons are cousins. The six demonic enemies or sins of the human race are lust or desire (Kama), anger (Krodha), greed (Lobha), delusion (Moha), pride (Mada), and envy (Matsarya), which are the six divisions of the army, that is Samsara (life on earth).

    The West gives a list of seven deadly sins: pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth; the seven sins cause spiritual death.

Every day, the good and the bad qualities pull man to their side.

Ganesa carries a three-pronged trident on his hand, with the power and strength to overcome three fundamental qualities of man and matter. They are Sattva, Rajas and Tamas (Virtue, Passion and Darkness). The Yogi (Jesus Christ, Gandhi, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Ramana Maharishi…) are Sattvic; Alexander the great was Rajasic; Hitler was both Rajasic and Tamasic.  Even among Yogis, the better man transcends all these three gunas (traits, modes, qualities).  Water at room temperature is Sattvic; hissing steam is Rajasic; ice cube is Tamasic. Just as the sun is transcendent and shines for the good, the bad, the ugly and the indifferent, the best of men transcends these three qualities and serves humanity.

How is man going to vanquish the six demonic qualities? Vighnesvara carries a noose which binds (ropes in) the demonic qualities.

Padma Purana says that Parvati created Ganesa from the dross she collected from the nape of her neck.  She fashioned an elephant. Parvati comes from Parv and Parvat: the former means parts and the latter means mountain. She has three parts to her: Iccha, Jńāna and Kriya (Will, Knowledge and Action). She is the daughter of the king of mountain and she is Pārvati.

Siva is Prakasa (Light of Consciousness, radiance, self) and Parvati is Vimarsa. They are like cotyledons of a pea in a pod. One without the other does not exist. It is like the rich man and his riches.  Vimarśa: This word comes from the root mrish = to touch, to affect, to cogitate. It is that which is "pounded or handled" (elucidated) by thought, object of reflective thought. Pradhana and Prakrti also convey the meaning "placing in front "; that which is so placed is object. All three terms denote the principle of objectivity.  Prakasa and Vimarsa are Siva’s Consciousness and Sakti’s objects. They are the Heart and Pulsation.  We are made of Siva’s Consciousness and Sakti’s objects, though human consciousness and body are limited. Ultimately we are extensions of Siva through Sakti. We are miniSivas with limitations. Siva, Sakti, beings and matter are one.

AdhiSankara says Brahman and Jivas are one. Brahmam is the ocean; each one of us is water in a teaspoon. The latter came from the ocean and cannot claim the individual egoism. It has to fall back and become the ocean itself. Brahmam is all and we are necessarily Him.

He being the ocean has self-limited his power and became the water in the river, lake, well, vessel, cup, spoon and the many individual embodied souls.  He gave the mind to man and made it possible for him to experience the merit and sin and at the end to become Himself.  Oscillations of the mind keep us bound to Karma and we are not pure to realize we are after all Him. Though we are He, we pray for His grace which helps us to identify with Him. The mind makes us different from Him. The mind from the beginning is recalcitrant and does not identify our souls with the Universal Soul.

Mind is a monkey holding on to the body. He destined the body to die. Man must give up the rotting fruit of a body. Paramatman is the wholesome fruit. Once this is obtained, the monkey gives up the rotten fruit of a body. Bhakti, prayer, and pilgrimage help in this effort. If the mind gives up identifying with the body and the ego, he is Paramatman. We become He or God: That is monism. Once we realize this monism or Advaitam, difficulties, fear, lust, enmity... do not restrain us. What we think is apart from us and causes fear... Mukti or liberation is becoming loose from the bonds. Kailasam or Vaikuntam are not for future attainment. The liberation is here and now. Ether is one and all-pervasive. We are (the little pots with) the ether limited by the pots. When the pots break, we become part of the general Ether. We become Brahmam once the delusive circumscribed Mayic pots break.  Maya keeps us from realization we are Brahmam.  

Siva Purana gives a different strain of a narrative about the origin of Ganesa. There were two celestial maidens, Jaya and Vijaya, who once told Parvati she should have her own Ganas or attendants apart from Siva’s Ganas, to maintain her independence.

Once Mother Parvati was bathing in an indoor pond, with Nandi the sacred bull and the Mount of Siva guarding the entrance. Siva came along and challenged by Nandi, brushed aside Nandi’s pleading objection, entered the pool area and surprised Parvati. From then on, Parvati decided against using Siva’s Ganas or attendants to serve her needs.

Parvati collected dross from the nape of her neck, shaped it like a person and breathed life into it. That is her son Ganesa made of dross. Think of the Christian narrative that God made Adam from dust. Once, Ganesa was guarding the entrance to the pool. Siva walked to the entrance and Ganesa prevented him from entering the gate leading to the pond. Words were exchanged and eventually Siva cut off his head with his trident. Parvati was grief- stricken. Siva attached an elephant’s head in its place and breathed life into Ganesa. That is the elephant-headed Lord of the Ganas.

  

http://www.astropeep.com/mantra/108-names-of-shri-ganeshji-ganpathi-vinayakar/

1 Akhurath One who has Mouse as His Charioteer

2 Alampata Ever Eternal Lord
3 Amit
Incomparable Lord
4 Anantachidrupamayam
Infinite and Consciousness Personified
5 Avaneesh
Lord of the whole World
6 Avighna
Remover of Obstacles
7 Balaganapati
Beloved and Lovable Child
8 Bhalchandra
Moon-Crested Lord
9 Bheema
Huge and Gigantic
10 Bhupati – Lord of the Gods

11 Bhuvanpati – God of the Gods

12 Buddhinath God of Wisdom
13 Buddhipriya
Knowledge Bestower
14 Buddhividhata
God of Knowledge
15 Chaturbhuj
One who has Four Arms
16 Devadeva
Lord of All Lords
17 Devantakanashakarin
Destroyer of Evils And Asuras
18 Devavrata
One who accepts all Penances
19 Devendrashika
Protector of All Gods
20 Dharmik
One who gives Charity
21 Dhoomravarna
Smoke-Hued Lord
22 Durja
Invincible Lord
23 Dvaimatura
One who has two Mothers
24 Ekākshara
He of the Single Syllable
25 Ekadanta
Single-Tusked Lord
26 Ekadrishta
Single-Tusked Lord
27 Eshanputra
Lord Shiva’s Son
28 Gadadhara
One who has The Mace as His Weapon
29 Gajakarna
One who has Eyes like an Elephant
30 Gajanana
Elephant-Faced Lord
31 Gajananeti
Elephant-Faced Lord
32 Gajavakra
Trunk of The Elephant

33 Gajavaktra One who has Mouth like An Elephant
34 Ganadhakshya
Lord of All Ganas (Gods)
35 Ganadhyakshina
Leader of All The Celestial Bodies
36 Ganapati
Lord of All Ganas (Gods)
37 Gaurisuta
The Son of Gauri (Parvati)
38 Gunina
One who is The Master of All Virtues
39 Haridra
One who is Golden Colored
40 Heramba
Mother’s Beloved Son
41 Kapila
Yellowish-Brown Colored
42 Kaveesha
Master of Poets
43 Krti
Lord of Music
44 Kripalu
Merciful Lord
45 Krishapingaksha
Yellowish-Brown Eyed
46 Kshamakaram
The Place of Forgiveness
47 Kshipra
One who is easy to Appease
48 Lambakarna
Large-Eared Lord
49 Lambodara
The Huge Bellied Lord
50 Mahabala
Enormously Strong Lord
51 Mahaganapati
Omnipotent and Supreme Lord
52 Maheshwaram
Lord of The Universe
53 Mangalamurti
All Auspicious Lord
54 Manomay
Winner of Hearts

55 Mrityuanjaya Conqueror of Death
56 Mundakarama
Abode of Happiness
57 Muktidaya
Bestower of Eternal Bliss
 

Wikipedia. Om is the body of Ganesa.

 

58 Musikvahana One who has mouse As charioteer
59 Nadapratithishta
One who Appreciates And Loves Music
60 Namasthetu
Vanquisher of All Evils & Vices & Sins
61 Nandana
Lord Shiva’s Son
62 Nideeshwaram
Giver of Wealth and Treasures
63 Omkara
One who has the Form Of OM
64 Pitambara
One who has Yellow-Colored Body
65 Pramoda
Lord of All Abodes
66 Prathameshwara
First Among All
67 Purush
The Omnipotent Personality
68 Rakta
One who has Red-Colored Body
69 Rudrapriya
Beloved Of Lord Shiva
70 Sarvadevatman
Acceptor of All Celestial Offerings
71 Sarvasiddhanta
Bestower of Skills And Wisdom
72 Sarvatman
Protector of The Universe
73 Shambhavi
The Son of Parvati
74 Shashivarnam
One who has a Moon Like Complexion

75 Shoorpakarna Large-Eared Lord
76 Shuban
All Auspicious Lord
77 Shubhagunakanan
One who is The Master of All Virtues
78 Shweta
One who is as Pure as the White Colour
79 Siddhidhata
Bestower of Success & Accomplishments
80 SiddhipriyaBestower of Wishes and Boons
81 SiddhivinayakaBestower of Success
82 Skandapurvaja
Elder Brother of Skand (Lord Kartik)
83 Sumukha
Auspicious Face
84 Sureshwaram
Lord of All Lords
85 Swaroop
Lover of Beauty
86 Tarun-
Ageless
87 Uddanda
Nemesis of Evils and Vices
88 Umaputra
The Son of Goddess Uma (Parvati)
89 Vakratunda
Curved Trunk Lord
90 Varaganapati
Bestower of Boons
91 Varaprada
Granter of Wishes and Boons
92 Varadavinayaka
Bestower of Success
93 Veeraganapati
Heroic Lord
94 Vidyavaridhi
God of Wisdom
95 Vighnahara
Remover of Obstacles
96 Vignaharta
Demolisher of Obstacles
97 Vighnaraja
Lord of All Hindrances

98 Vighnarajendra Lord of All Obstacles
99 Vighnavinashanaya
Destroyer of All Obstacles & Impediments
100 Vigneshwara
Lord of All Obstacles
101 Vikat
Huge and Gigantic
102 Vinayaka
Lord of All
103 Vishwamukha
Master of The Universe
104 Vishwaraja
King of The World
105 Yagnakaya
Acceptor of All Sacred & Sacrificial Offerings
106 Yashaskaram
Bestower of Fame and Fortune
107 Yashvasin
Beloved and Ever Popular Lord
108 Yogadhipa
The Lord of Meditation

 

 

 

 

 

The Hindus are exposed to their gods even when they are in the wombs, as the parents visit the temples. As (infants and) children, they go to the temples with the parents and relatives and develop devotion to the deities and a habit to visit important temples as they go visiting towns and villages on business, pleasure or pilgrimage.

Ganesa is the Lord of New Beginnings. He is the First One to offer prayer to, before you worship any god. Siva said that about Ganesa, when he made him the chief of Ganas or attendants of Siva. The Gods and Goddesses come next for your worship. Ganesa never allows kukarma (कुकर्मं = wicked deed) to haunt his devotees and prompts them to do sukarma (सुकर्मं = good deed).

When devotees of Ganesa go through difficulties because of the resolving Karma from the past, Vinayaka (Remover of obstacles) confers grace and helps the devotees tolerate them and shows them new paths. This passive part of Prapatti is to surrender to the will of Ganesa (Prapatti  = Taking refuge, as in God). Devotion and Prapatti burn down Karma.  Prapatti is both passive and active.

 The active part of Prapatti is as follows. Prapatti is like a tree. The main trunk is Atma Samarpanam, soul dedication. The others are the branches of the trunk. Without the Main Trunk of Atma Samarpanam, the five branches do not exist. The Vaishnavites and Saivites believe in Active Prapatti, where in the devotee puts in an active effort to earn grace from Siva.

1) Ānukūlya-Saṅkalpa = Firmness to do God-pleasing acts. = இறைவனுக்கு என்றும் அனுகூலமாய் இருக்கும் உறுதி.  2) Prātikūlya-Varjana  = avoidance of God-displeasing acts.= இறைவனுக்கு உகவாத செயல்களில் ஈடுபடாதிருத்தல். 3) Kārpaṇya = Humility from helplessness to resort to other means of salvation. உபாயம் இல்லாத எளிமை. 5) Mahā-viśvāsa  = Great Faith in God. பெருமானிடம் முழுமையான நம்பிக்கை. 5) Goptṛatva-Varaṇa = Request God for protection. இறைவனிடம் காத்திடும்படி கோரும் நிலை. 6) Main Trunk: Ātmanikṣepa = Soul dedication, surrender to God for protection. தன்னை இறைவன் திருவடிகளில் ஒப்படைத்துக் கொள்ளல்.  The last one is the Angi or principal resolution; the other (first)  five are Anga, secondary resolutions of Prapatti. Saranagati is Prapatti in an intense form.

 

 Grace is a reward from Ganesa to a devotee when he worships Him with devotion and prapatti (unconditional surrender to God). With Grace there is a noticeable change for the better in one's life. Grace is reward for your good works; boon is what you asked for and received.  Grace is what you earned; boon is what is given to you.  Grace keeps you closer to God. Grace is work and reward; boon is receiving for no work at all. You earn Grace; you take or receive boon.  

Ganesa: His rotund Abdomen is matter, mind and the world. It is by the Will of Siva, Sakti, Ganesa and Muruga everything moves.  Gravity keeps us grounded and the celestial objects in orbit. Likewise, Love keeps us grounded at home, neighborhood, work, community, nation and the world. See the diagram below.

 

Ganesa is gravity, while Muruga is electromagnetic force-- SivayaSubramuniyaSwami). Gravity proves itself when objects fall to earth.  Electromagnetic energy is the invisible force. Ganesa presides over Asuddha Tattvas down from the 13th Tattva to the 36th. Muruga rules over tattvas in the range from 6th to the 12th (Suddha-Asuddha Tattvas). Siva's own special domain is from the first to the 5th tattvas (Suddha Tattva).

 

Siva- Muruga-Ganesa  Domains

Siva1, Sakti2, Sadasiva 3, Isvara4, Sadvidya5, MayA6, Kala7, Niyati8, Kala9, Vidya10, Raga11, Purusa12 Prakrti Tattva13, Buddhi14, Ahamkara15, Manas16,  hearing--Ears17, touch--Skin18, vision and color--Eyes19 , tasting--Tongue or mouth20, smell--Nose21,  speech-Larynx22, grasp-Hands23, ambulation--Feet24, evacuation--Anus25, procreation-Genitals26, sound27, palpation28, form29, taste30 , odor31,  ether32, air33, fire34, water35, earth36.

http://www.bhagavadgitausa.com.cnchost.com/TATTVAS-36.htm

    Maya sakti as it evolves produces in a cascade fashion all the building blocks of the universe including the soul, attributes, Time, order, knowledge, desire and passion, prakrti, buddhi, ahamkara, manas, hearing, tactile sense, vision and color, tasting, smell, speech, grasp, ambulation, evacuation, procreation, sound, palpation, form, taste, odor, ether, air, fire, water, and earth. Without the above a human cannot be a complete man. This is Pravṛtti, evolution (centrifugal movement). All these products are subject to change or mutation as opposed to immutability of Siva-Sakti. This is the centrifugal force of Siva-Sakti where in all products travel away from the center that is Siva-Sakti. When all these products seek their source (centripetal force), they involute into Sakti; that is Nivṛtti--reabsorption. This is the vision Ramakrishna had of Maya who produced and then swallowed what she produced. In terms of Kundali, all the Tattvas express themselves as she descends from Sahasrara Chakra to Muladhara Chakra (Pravrrti), while she absorbs and internalizes all these expressed Tattvas when the Prana rises from Muladhara to Sahasrara Chakra.

Maya Tattva is the creator of these five limitations and originates from Sakti. When Purusa is free from impurities and realizes Sivaness, the cloud of Maya and its cohorts lift and vanish, and the individual soul receives Grace. The material cause of enjoyment or experience (Bhoga) is Karma; instrumental cause Maya, the efficient cause Mala. (Sivaraman)

Prakrti Tattva13, Buddhi14, Ahamkara15, Manas16,  hearing--Ears17, touch--Skin18, vision and color--Eyes19 , tasting--Tongue or mouth20, smell--Nose21,  speech-Larynx22, grasp-Hands23, ambulation--Feet24, evacuation--Anus25, procreation-Genitals26, sound27, palpation28, form29, taste30 , odor31,  ether32, air33, fire34, water35, earth36.

These entities are the Impure Tattvas with no spiritual connections. They are mere matter. As theTattvas descend down the line they acquire solidity, the Earth being the most solid.

Siva's Consciousness descends to the second tier to become the human consciousness; the third tier are the Tattvas that help him live in this world with his body and bounty of the earth.

 

 

Matter is that which we see and don't see. We know the unseen and invisible Air exists because we know we cannot live without it. We do not see Dark Matter because it does not emit light. The planets and the star are kept together in orbit by gravitational force. The mass determines this centripetal gravitational force. There is not enough visible mass to keep the planets together in orbit and therefore, there must be something more than what we see to exert gravitational force.  This is Dark Matter which amounts to 23% of the universe. Besides this, Dark Energy has the centrifugal force and accounts for expansion of the universe. About 72% accounts for the Dark Energy. The Dark Matter is said to be composed of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). When two particles collide they destroy each other and release an electron and its antimatter equivalent, a positron. The scientists hypothesize the existence of Dark Matter and Dark Energy by their effects.

Air and Dark Matter are invisible. In like manner, God is invisible. The scientists believe that Dark Matter exists because of its effects on gravity. It is a hypothetical situation. Ramakrishna Paramahaṁsa (RKPH) has seen God, though he cannot bring Him in and stand Him before us. RKPH goes beyond hypothesis because he has seen God.

Mudgala Purāṇa speaks of eight forms of Ganesa. --Wikipedia

  1. Vakratunda (Vakratuṇḍa) ("twisting trunk"), first in the series, represents the absolute as the aggregate of all bodies, an embodiment of the form of Brahman. The purpose of this incarnation is to overcome the demon Matsaryāsura (envy, jealousy). His mount (vāhana) is a lion.
  2. Ekadanta ("single tusk") represents the aggregate of all individual souls, an embodiment of the essential nature of Brahman. This incarnation overcomes the demon Madāsura (arrogance, conceit). His mount is a mouse.
  3. Mahodara ("big belly") is a synthesis of both Vakratuṇḍa and Ekadanta. It is the absolute as it enters the creative process. It is an embodiment of the wisdom of Brahman. This incarnation overcomes the demon Mohāsura (delusion, confusion). His mount is a mouse.
  4. Gajavaktra (or Gajānana) ("elephant face") is a counterpart to Mahodara. This incarnation overcomes the demon Lobhāsura (greed). His mount is a mouse.
  5. Lambodara ("pendulous belly") is the first of four incarnations that correspond to the stage where the Purāṇic gods are created. Lambodara corresponds to Śakti, the pure power of Brahman. This incarnation overcomes the demon Krodhāsura (anger). His mount is a mouse.
  6. Vikata (Vikaṭa) ("unusual form", "misshapen") corresponds to Sūrya. He is an embodiment of the illuminating nature of Brahman. This incarnation overcomes the demon Kāmāsura (lust). His mount is a peacock.
  7. Vighnaraja (Vighnarāja) ("king of obstacles"), corresponds to Viṣṇu. He is an embodiment of the preserving nature of Brahman. This incarnation overcomes the demon Mamāsura (possessiveness). His mount is the celestial serpent Śeṣa.
  8. Dhumravarna (Dhūmravarṇa) ("grey color") corresponds to Śiva. He is an embodiment of the destructive nature of Brahman. This incarnation overcomes the demon Abhimanāsura (pride, attachment). His mount is a horse.

 

Envy and jealousy, Arrogance and conceit, delusion and confusion, greed, anger, possessiveness and pride, and attachment are the bane of humanity. Ganesa in his many forms, Vahanas (mounts) and qualities conquers these enemies of mankind. These qualities are called Vikaras (विकारः) = of the mind. 

Ganesa in the North Indian view is married to Buddhi and Siddhi (Discriminating Knowledge and success) and in the South Indian view he is a confirmed celibate. All gods have consorts in a figurative sense, who project the power of the gods. The power of the gods is always of feminine character. When gods want to destroy a demon, they invoke their powers, concentrate them as a feminine energy and grant that energy to Durga to destroy the demons. Again these demons are personified evils in man. Hinduism is full of symbolism. The gods and goddesses carry weapons. They are all powerful, can kill by thought and word and do not really need weapons. To their devotees hardwired in WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get), seeing gods with weapons is reassuring. These weapons carried by gods are used to kill the evil qualities in men.  The divine consorts of gods are their qualities, which take on feminine forms. Gods and Goddesses Are Supreme Consciousness without gender anatomy; they do not sport bodies normally. They appear in human form to their devotees. Buddhi and Siddhi are the Ida and Pingala (left and right) Nadis or channels in Kundalini Chakras. The same Nadis are anthropomorphized in the names of the consorts of Muruga: Valli and Dvayāni.

 

Ganapathi also comes in 32 forms: 1. Sri Bala Ganapathy of crimson color, 2. Sri Taruna Ganapathi of crimson color, 3. Sri Bhakta Ganapathy of white color, 4. Sri Veera Ganapathy of crimson color, 5. Sri Sakti Ganapathy of Vermillion color, 6. Sri Dwija Ganapathy of white color, 7. Sri Siddhi Ganapathy of golden color, 8. Sri Ucchishta Ganapathy of blue color, 9. Sri Vighna Ganapathy of golden color, 10. Sri Kshipa Ganapathy of crimson color, 11

 

This file below can be seen at Ganesa32Aspects.pdf

From Wikipedia

 

Some of the details of the descriptions, such as the colors to be used in meditation upon the form, are taken from the meditation verses and may not correspond exactly to the pictures.

Name
English Meaning
Image

Description
atha dvātriṁshadgaṇapatInāṁ dhyānaṁ || mudgalapurāṇe ||

Bāla Gaṇapati



"Childlike Ganapati"
BAlagaNapati1.bmp.jpg

tatra bālagaṇapatidhyānaṁ
 

karasthakadalīcūta | panasekṣucamodakaṁ | bālasūryanibhaṁ vaṁde ||
devaṁ bālagaṇādhipaṁ || 1 || raktavarṇaḥ

Adorned with a garland of tender flowers, having plantain (banana), mango, jack fruit, sugarcane and sweets (modaka) in His hands and who is effulgent like the rising sun [7] (red color).

Taruṇa Gaṇapati



"Youthful Ganapati"
TaruNagaNapati.bmp.jpg

atha taruṇagaṇapatidhyānaṁ || mudgalapurāṇe ||
 

pāshāṁkushāpūpakapitthajaṁbū |
svadaṁtaśālīkṣumapi svahastaiḥ |
dhatte sadāyastaruṇāruṇābhaḥ |
pāyātsa yuṣmāṁstaruṇogaṇeshaḥ || 2 || raktavarṇaḥ

"Carrying in His hands the noose, hook, rice-cake , guava fruit, rose apple, own (broken) tusk, bunch of corn ears (paddy) and sugarcane and who vividly shines forth with His brilliant youthfulness"[8] (Red Color).

(According to the Mudgala Purana version, kadubu - an edible specific to Lord Ganapati is mentioned instead of rice-cake).

Bhakti Gaṇapati



"Devotee (Devotion) Ganapati"
BhaktagaNapati.JPG

atha bhaktagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE |

nArikELAmrakadaLI |
guDapAyasadhAriNaM |
sharaccaMdrAbhavapuShaM |
bhajE bhaktagaNAdhipaM ||3|| shvEtavarNaH

Described as “ the Lord of His devotees and who shines like the autumn moon, with coconut, mango, plantain (banana), jaggery and sweets in his hands."[9] (White Colour)

Vīra Gaṇapati



"Valiant Ganapati"
VIragaNapati.JPG

atha vIragaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

bhEtALashaktisharakAr^mukacakraKaDga |
KaTvAMgamudgaragadAMkushanAgapAshAn |
shUlaM ca kuMtaparashuM dhvajamudvahaMtaM |
vIraM gaNEshamaruNaM satataM smarAmi ||4 || rakatavarNaH

"Armed with Bhetala, the weapon of power(shakti), arrow, bow, wheel(Chakra or discus), sword, club, hammer, mace, hook, nagapasha (serpent noose), spear, plough, and the shining axe."[10] (Red Colur).

(According to the Mudgala Purana version, flag is mentioned instead of plough).

Śakti Gaṇapati



The "Powerful" Ganapati
Shakti gaNapati.JPG

atha shaktigaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

AliMgya dEvIM haritAMgayaShTiM |
parasparAshliShTakaTipradEshaM |
saMdhyAruNaM pAshasRuNI vahaMtaM |

He is red in colour. He has four arms. His low right hand shows the movement of lack of fear (abhaya); the two others wear the elephant goad and the noose; the last hand, who holds a lemon, embraces the goddess. With the top of his trunk, Shakti Ganapati holds a cake.

Dvija Gaṇapati



"Ganapati the Twice-Born"
Dvija gaNapati.JPG

atha dvijagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

yaM pustukAkShaguNadaMDakamaMDala shrIvidyOtamAnakarabhUShaNa miMduvarNaM |
staMbEramAnanacatuShTayashObhamAnaM |
tvAM yaH smarEddvijagaNAdhipatE sadhanyaH ||6|| shubhravarNaH

He has four heads and four arms. He is white in colour. His hands hold the rosary, the washing pot (kamandalu), the walking-stick of an ascetic or the ritual spoon (sruk) and the manuscript on palm-leaves (pustaka).

Siddhi Gaṇapati



Ganapati bestowing success(Siddhi)
or "The Accomplished Ganapati"
Siddhi gaNapati.JPG

atha siddhagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

pakvacUtaPalapuShpamaMjarI |
mikShudaMDatilamOdakaisvaha |
udvahanvarashumastu tE namashrI samRuddhiyutahEmapiMgaLa ||7|| piMgaLavarNaH

Fond of the sesame cake. He has four arms. He is golden in colour. His hands hold the axe, the noose, the sugar-cane stem and the mango.

Ucçhishṭa Gaṇapati



"Ganapati devouring the remnants of the meal"
UcCiShTa gaNapati.JPG

atha uCiShTagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
 

nIlAbjadADimIvINA |
shAlIguMjAkShasUtrakaM |
dadhaduCCiShTanAmAyaM |
gaNEshaH pAtu mEcakaH |

graMthAMtare |

nArIyOnirasAsvada |
lOlupaM kAmamOhitamiti ||8|| nIlavarNaH

He has six arms. He is blue in colour. His hands show the rosary, the pomegranate, the paddy ear (shalyagra), the nocturnal lotus, the lute (vîna); his sixth hand sometimes bears a guńja berry, embraces the goddess. The Ucchista Ganapati trunk is placed on the goddess's thigh.[citation needed]

Vighna Gaṇapati



Ganapati - "Lord of Obstacles"
Vigna Ganapati.JPG

atha viGnagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

shaMKEkShucApakusumEShukuThArapAsha |
cakrasvadaMtasRuNimaMjarikAshanAdaiH |
pANishritaiH parisamIhitabhUShaNashrI |
viGnEshvarO vijayatE tapanIyagaura H || 9 || svarNavarNaH

He has eight arms. He is golden in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the disc, the arrow-flowers, the hatchet, the conch, the sugar-cane stem, the noose, the elephant goad. With the tip of his trunk, he carries a bunch of flowers (pushapamańjari)

Kshipra Gaṇapati



"Ganapati who is easy to Appease"
or "Quick-acting Ganapati"
KShipra gaNapati.JPG

atha kShipragaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

daMtakalpalatApAsha |
ratnakuMbhAMkushOjvalaM |
baMdhUkakamanIyAbhaM |
dhyAyEtkShipragaNAdhipaM ||10|| raktavarNaH

He has four arms. He is red in colour. His hands show the single tusk, the elephant goad, the creeper of the votive tree (kalpalatâ), the noose. With the end of his trunk, he carries the stone cup full of precious stones (ratnakumbha).

Heramba Gaṇapati



"Mother's Beloved Son" Ganapati
HEraMba gaNapati.JPG

atha hEraMbagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

abhayavaradahastaM pAshadaMtAkShamAlAsRuNiparashudadhAnaM mudgaraM mOdakaM ca |
PalamadhigatasiMhaH paMcamAtaMgavaktrO |
gaNapatiratigauraH pAtu hEraMbanAmA || 11 || gauravarNaH

The five-headed Ganapati riding the lion. He has ten arms. He is dark in colour. His first hand shows the movement of lack of fear (abhaya), the others hold the rosary, the citron, the club, the elephant goad, the noose, the axe, the kadabu cake, the single tusk; his tenth hand shows the movement which bestows boons (varada).

Lakshmī Gaṇapati



"Ganapati the Fortunate"
similar to GoddessLakshmi
Lakshmi gaNapati.JPG

atha lakShmIgaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

bibhrANashshukabIjapUrakamiLanmANikyakuMbhAMkushA |
npApAshaM kalpalatAM ca KaDgavilasajjyOtissudhAnirJaraH |
shyAmEnAttasarOruhENa sahitaM dEvI dvayaM cAMtike |
gaurAMgo varadAnahastasahito lakShmIgaNEshovatAt || 12 || gauravarNaH

Embracing his wives Siddhi (Achievement) and Buddhi (Wisdom). He is white (fair) in colour. He has eight arms. His hands hold a pomegranate, a sword, the creeper of the votive tree, the elephant goad, the parrot, the noose, the jewel pot; his eighth hand bestows boons (varada).

Mahā Gaṇapati



"The Great Ganapati"
MahA gaNapati.jpg

atha mahAgaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE||

hastIMdrAnanamiMducUDamaruNaCAyaM triNEtraM rasAdAshliShTaM priyayA sapadmakarayA svAMkastayA saMtataM|
bIjApUragadEkShukArmukalasaccakrAbjapAshOtphala |
vrIhyagrasvaviShANaratnakalashAnhastair^vahaMtaM bhajE ||13|| raktavarNaH

With a shakti, He has ten hands. He is red in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the pomegranate, the club, the sugar-cane bow, the disc, the conch, the noose, the nocturnal lotus, the paddy ear, the jewels pot.

Vijaya Gaṇapati



"Ganapati the Victorious"
Vijaya gaNapati.bmp.jpg

atha vijayagaNapatidhyAnaM ||mudgalapurANE ||

pAshAMkushasvadaMtAmraPalavAnAKuvAhanaH viGnaM nihaMtu nassarvaM |
raktavarNO vinAyakaH ||14 || raktavarNaH

Riding a rat which trots at a smart pace, He has four arms. He is red in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the mango.

Nṝitya Gaṇapati



"Ganapati the Dancer"
NRutta gaNapti.jpg

atha nRuttagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

pAshAMkushApUpakuThAradaMta caMcatkarAkluptavarAMguLIyakaM |
pItaprabhaM kalpatarOradhastAM |
bhajAmi nRuttOpapadaM gaNEshaM || 15 || pItavarNaH

Dancing under the boon-tree, He has four arms. He is golden in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose, the axe (parashu) or the hatchet (kuthâra). The dhyâna sloka specifies that one of the four hands can show a cake apűpa.

Ūrdhva Gaṇapati



"The Elevated Ganapati"
Urdhva gaNapti.jpg

atha UrdhvagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

kalhArashAlikamalEkShukacApabANa |
daMtaprarOhagadabhRutkanakOjjvalAMgaH |
AliMganOdyatakarO haritAMgayaShTyA |
dEvyA karOtu shubhamUrdhvagaNAdhipomE ||16|| kanakavarNaH

Seated with his Shakti on his left thigh, He has eight arms. He is golden in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the arrow-flower, the daylight lotus, the blue lily (kalhara), the sugar-cane bow, the paddy ear, the club; his last hand claps the goddess. The extremity of his trunk is rolled around the right breast of the goddess.

Ekākshara Gaṇapati



Ganapati identified with "Single Syllable"(gaṃ).
EkAkShara gaNapti.jpg

atha EkAkSharagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

raktO raktAMgarAgAMshukakusumayutastuMdilashcaMdramauLe |
nesatraiyusaktastribhirvAmanakaracaraNo bIjapUraM dadhAnaH |
hastAgrakluptapAshAMkusharadavaradO nAgavaktrOhibhUShO |
dEvaH padmAsanasthO bhavatu suKakarO bhUtaye viGnarAjaH ||17|| raktavarNaH

He has four arms. He is red in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the cakemodaka. Sometimes, he wears, with the extremity of his trunk (bîjapűra).

Vara Gaṇapati



The "Boon-giver" Ganapati
Vara gaNapti.jpg

atha varagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

siMdUrAbhamibhAnanaM triNayanaM hastE ca pAshAMkushau |
bibhrANaM madhumatka pAlamanishaM sAdhviMdumauLiM bhajE ||
puShTyAshliShTatanuM dhvajAgrakarayA padmOllasaddhastayA |
tadyOnyAhitapANimAttavasumatpAtrOllasatpuShkaraM ||18|| raktavaraNaH

With a shakti seated on his left thigh, He has four arms. He is red in colour. His first three hands hold the elephant goad, the skull filled with liquor (madhumatkapâla) and the noose. The fourth hand creeps between the thighs of the goddess who holds a lotus and a banner.

Tryakshara Gaṇapati



Lord "of the Three-lettersA+U+M" Ganapati
TryakSha gaNapati.JPG

atha tryakShagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

gajEMdravadanaM sAkShAccalatkarNaM sacAmaraM |
hEmavarNaM caturbAhuM |
pAshAMkushadharaM varaM |
svadaMtaM dakShiNE hastE |
savyE tvAmraPalaM tathA |
puShkarE mOdakaM caiva |
dhArayaMtaH manusmarEt ||19|| svarNavarNaH

He has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the mango. He holds the cake modaka with the trunk end.

Kshirpra Prasāda Gaṇapati



Ganapati the "Quick-Rewarder"
KShipraprasAda gaNapati.JPG

atha kShipraprasAdagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

dhRutapAshAMkushakalpalatAsvaradashca bIjapUrayutaH |
shashishakalakalitamaulistrilOcanO ruNashca gajavadanaH |
bhUsurabhUShadIptO bRuhadudaraH padma viShvarollasitaH |
viGnapayOdharapavanaH karadhRutakamalassadAstu mE bhUtyai ||20|| aruNavarNaH

He has six arms. He is red in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the lotus, the creeper of the votive tree (kalpalatâ), the noose, the lemon.

Haridrā Gaṇapati



"The curcuma-colored Ganapati".
HaridrA gaNapati.JPG

atha haridrAgaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE||

haridrAbhaM caturbAhuM |
haridrAvadanaM prabhuM |
pAshAMkushadharaM dEvaM |
mOdakaM daMtamEva ca |
bhaktAbhayapradAtAraM |
vaMdE viGnavinAshanaM ||21|| haridrAvarNaH

He has four arms. He is yellow in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the cake modaka

Ekdanta Gaṇapati



"The Single Tusked Ganapati".
EkadaMta gaNapti.JPG

atha EkadaMtagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE|

laMbOdaraM shyAmatanuM gaNEshaM |
kuThAramakSha srajamUrdhva gAtraM |
salaDDukaM daMtamadhaH karAbhyAM |
vAmEtarAbhyAM ca dadhAnamIDE ||22|| shyAmavarNaH

He has four arms. He is blue in colour. His hands hold a large tusk, a rosary, a hatchet (kuthâra) and the small ball of sweets (laddu).

Sṝishṭi Gaṇapati



"Ganapati the Creator",
SRuShTi gaNapati.bmp.jpg

atha sRuShTigaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE||

pAshAMkushasvadaMtAmra|
phalavAnAKuvAhanaH |
viGnaMnihaMtu nashyONa|
ssRuShTi dakShOvinAyakaH ||23|| raktavarNaH

Riding a big rat, He is red in colour. He has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the elephant goad, the noose and the mango.

Uddaṇḍa Gaṇapati



"Ganapati the Unchained",
UddaMDa gaNapati.bmp.jpg

atha uddaMDagaNapatidhyAnaM ||mudgalapurANE ||

kalhArAMbuja bIjapUraka gadAdaMtEkShucApaM sumaM |
bibhrANO maNikuMbhashAli kalashau pAshaM sRuNiM cAbjakaM |
gaurAMgyA rucirAraviMda karayA dEvyA samAliMgita |
shshoNAMgashshubhamAtanOtu bhajatA muddaMDaviGnEshvaraH ||24|| raktavarNaH

With his Shakti seated on his left thigh, He has twelve arms. He is red in colour. His hands hold the single tusk, the club, the nocturnal lotus, the noose, the paddy ear, the elephant goad, the washing pot (kamandalu), the sugar-cane bow, the disc, the daylight lotus, the conch and the pomegranate. His trunk is placed on the top of the goddesse's breast or, sometimes, maintains a jewels pot (manikumbha).

Ṝiṇamochana Gaṇapati



"Ganapati the liberator from depts"
RuNamOcana gaNapati.bmp.jpg

atha RuNamOcanagaNapatidhyAnaM ||mudgalapurANE||

pAshAMkushau daMtajaMbU |
dadhAnaH sphaTikaprabhaH |
raktAMshukO gaNapati |
rmudE syAdRuNamOcakaH ||25|| shvEtavarNaH

Ganapati seated on a large lotus with his Shakti. He removes the impediment. He has four arms. He is white in colour. His first hand show the movement to bestow boons (varada) ; the three others hold the elephant goad, the noose and the bowl of sugared rice (pâyasapâtra).

Ḍhuṇḍhi Gaṇapati



"The Ganapati Sought After"
DhuMDi gaNapati.bmp.jpg

dhuMDigaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

akShamAlAM kuThAraM ca |
ratnapAtraM svadaMtakaM |
dhattE karairviGnarAjO |
dhuMDinAmA mudestu naH ||26|| aucityAdraktavarNaH

He has four arms. His hands hold the single tusk, the rosary (rudrAkSha), the hatchet (kuthâra) (an axe ) and the pot of jewels (ratnapâtra). (Red Color).

Dvimukha Gaṇapati



"Two-faced Ganapati"
DvimuKa gaNapati.bmp.jpg

atha dvimuKagaNapatidhyAnaM | mudgalapurANE |

svadaMtapAshAMkusharatnapAtraM |
karairdadhAnO harinIlagAtraH |
ratnAMshukO ratnakirITamAlI |
bhUtyai sadA bhavatu mE dvimuKO gaNEshaH | hasuruvarNaH

He holds in his hands his own tusk, a noose, a hook and a pot full of gems. His body complexion is greenish blue and he is wearing a red colored robe. A gem studded crown embellishes his head.

Trimukha Gaṇapati



"Three-faced Ganapati"
TrimuKa gaNapati.bmp.jpg

atha trimuKagaNapatidhyAnaM | mudgalapurANe |

shrUmattIkShNa shiKAMkushAkSha varadAndakShE dadhAnaH karaiH |
pAshaMcAmRuta pUrNakuMbhamabhayaM vAmE dadhAnO mudA |
pIThE svarNamayAraviMda vilasatsatkarNikA bhAsure |
svAsInastrimuKaH palAsharucirO nAgAnanaH pAtu naH | raktavarNa |

He has six arms. He carries in two of his right hands very sharp elephant goad, a rudrâksha rosary and is holding another hand in boon bestowing gesture (varada). He carries in two of his left hands a noose, an urn full of celestial nectar (amruta) - ambrosia pot (amritakumbha) and is holding the another hand in gesture of bestowing fearlessness (abhaya). He is seated on shining golden throne with lotus in the center. He has three eyes with elephantine face and he effulgent like the flame of forest flower (bastard teak/butea frondosa). (Red color).

Siṇha Gaṇapati



"The Lion Ganapati".
SiMha gaNapati.bmp.jpg

atha siMhagaNapatidhyAnaM | mudgalapurANE |

vINAM kalpalatAmariM ca varadA dakShE vidhattE karai
vAsamE tAmarasaM ca ratnakalashaM sanmaMjarIM cAbhayaM |
shuMDAdaMDalasanmRugEMdravadanaM shaMKEMdugaurashshubhO |
dIvyadratnanibhAMshukOgaNapatiH pAyadapAyatsa naH ||29|| shvEtavar^NaH


He has eight arms. He is white in colour He is holding in his right hands a vîna (Indian lute), a creeper of votive tree - kalpavRukSha ( Tree which can cure all diseases), a discus and another held in a gesture of granting boons (varada). He is holding in his left hands a lotus, a pot of gems, a flower bunch and another held in a gesture of granting fearlessness (abahaya). He is lion faced with an elephant trunk and shining. His body is shining like a white conch and moon. He is wearing a gem studded shining robe.

Yoga Gaṇapati



"Ganapati the Ascetic".
YOga gaNapati.bmp.jpg

atha yOgagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANe ||

yOgArUDhO yOgapaTTAbhirAmO|
bAlAr^kAbhashcaMdranIlAMshukADhyaH|
pAshEkShvakShAnyOgadaMDaMdadhAnaH|
pAyAnnityaZM yOgaviGnEshvarOnaH ||30|| raktavarNaH

He has four arms. He is red in colour. His legs are surrounded with the meditation girdle (yogapatta). He is engrossed in yoga and is strapped in a yoga posture. He looks beautiful and shines like the rising morning sun. He is adorned with a colored robe which is shining like blue sapphire. His hands hold the rosary, the elbow-rest or the walking-stick (a yoga wand), the noose and the sugar-cane stalk.

Durga Gaṇapati



"Ganapati the Invincible"
similar the GoddessDurgâ.
DurgAgaNa gaNapati.bmp.jpg

atha durgAgaNApatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||
 

taptakAMcanasaMkAsha |
shcaShTahastOmahattanuH |
dIptAMkushaMsharaMcAkShaM |
daMttaMdakShEvahankaraiH |
vAmEpAshaMkArmukaMca |
latAM jaMbUMdadhatkaraiH raktAMshukassadAbhUyA ddurgAgaNapatirmudE ||31|| kanakavarNaH

His body glows like burnished gold (Golden Color). He has eight hands and massive body. He is holding a shining hook (Ankush), an Arrow, a rosary and a tusk with the four hands on the right side. He is holding a noose, a bow, a wish bestowing creeper and Rose Apple (Eugenia Jambolana) with the four hands on the left side. He is dressed in red clothes.

(According to another version, the Arrow is replaced by a noose)

Saṇkaṭahara Gaṇapati



"Ganapati - Dispeller of Troubles".
SaMkaTahara gaNapati.bmp.jpg

atha saMkaTaharagaNapatidhyAnaM || mudgalapurANE ||

bAlArkAruNakAMtirvAmEbAlAMvahannaMkE |
lasadiMdIvarahastAM |
gaurAMgIM ratnashObhADhyAM |
dakShEMkushavaradAnaM |
vAmEpAshaMcapAyasaMpAtraM |
nIlAMshukalasamAnaH |
pIThE padmAruNE tiShThan |
saMkaTaharaNaH pAyAtsaMkaTapUgEdgajAnanO nityaM | raktavarNaH

He has four arms. He is effulgent like the rising red sun (Red in Color). He has his wife (shakti) - who is carrying a beautiful lotus, glowing with radiance and bejeweled - sitting on his left lap. He is carrying in one of his right hand a hook (Ankusha) and with the other bestowing boon(varada). He is carrying in one of his left hand a rope(noose) and with the other a vessel brimming with sweet soup (Payasam). He is seated on a Red Lotus and wearing a blue robe.

(According to another version, the varada gesture and vessel of Payasam is replaced by the broken tusk and the rose-apple fruit.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just as Jesus Christ is son of God, Satguru Sivayasubramuniyaswami regards Ganesa the son of God Siva. The Son is the testimony of the immanence of God being generated eternally. Ganesa reflects the wisdom of His Father and is the repository of the word of God Siva.

  

Om Śrī Gaṇesāya Namaḥ is the Mantra of Gaṇeśa.

Aum Gaṁ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ is the Mūla (or root) Mantra and also Bija or Seed Mantra, because it has the Bija “gam” in it.

Gayatri Mantra of Gaṇeśa as follows.

These Mantras are from the Book Loving Ganesa by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami of Iraivan Temple Hawaii.

ॐ एकदन्ताय विद्महे

वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि

तन्नॊ दन्तिः प्रसॊदयात्

ōm̐ ēkadantāya vidmahē

vakratuṇḍāya dhīmahi

tanno dantiḥ prasodayāt

We devote our thoughts to one-tusked Lord.

We meditate upon Him who has a curved trunk.

May the tusked One guide us on the right path.

Gaapati Upanishad

ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे

वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि

तन्नॊ दन्तिः प्रसॊदयात् 

ōm̐ tatpuruṣāya vidmahē

vakratuṇḍāya dhīmahi

tanno danti prasodayāt

We devote our thoughts to the supreme Person.

We meditate upon Him who has a curved trunk.

May the tusked One guide us on the right path.

Nārāyaṇa Upanishad

ॐ तत् कराताय विद्महे

हस्तिमुखाय धीमहि

तन्नॊ दन्तिः प्रसॊदयात्

ōm̐ tat karātāya vidmahē

hastimukhāya dhīmahi

tanno dantiḥ prasodayāt

We devote our thoughts to that Supreme Person.

We meditate upon Him who has a curved trunk.

May the tusked One guide us on the right path.

Maitrāyaṇi Saṁhitā

 

 

 

Invocation of Ganesa as found in the Book "Deivaththin Kural"

 

Translation from Tamil to English: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj

 

Pillaiyar (பிள்ளையார் = Ganesa) Temples are ubiquitous all over Tamil Nadu. There are Pillaiyar temples with walls, roofs, and domes (Turrets). There are Pillaiyar idols even at the feet of trees, open to the sky and the elements.

Pillaiyar is found on street after street, by the rivers... All over Tamil Nadu, our ubiquitous Pillaiyar confers his blessings to us all. Only in Tamil Nadu, he has the distinction to be addressed Pillaiyar (honorific way of addressing a son) in a loving manner. He is the first son of Siva and Parvati, the Father and Mother of the universe.

Kumaran (குமரன்) is son (பிள்ளை). All over India, Kumaran refers only to the second son of the divine couple Siva and Parvati. He is Kumara-k-Kadavul (குமரக்கடவுள்). We do not address him Kumaranar (குமரனார்), an honorific title. We gave the honorific title only to the elder son of Siva and Parvati.

Pillaiyar is of the form of AUM, from which the universe and beings take origin. His elephantine face and the trunk resemble Pranava (பிரணவம்), OM.

 

Though he appears to be a child, he is in the forefront in making us raise our hands high in adoration of him. Avvaiyar (ஔவையார்) is the great worshiper of Ganapati. She meditated on Vinayaka in Bhru-Madya (புருவமத்தியம்) and composed Vinayagar Akaval (விநாயகர் அகவல்), Avvaiyar's all-embracing Yoga Sastra. If you committed it to memory, you will obtain supreme spiritual knowledge (paramajńāna = பரமஞானம்).

There is a story about Avvaiyar. Sundaramurthy Swamy and Seraman Perumal Nayanar left for Kailasam. They wanted to take Avvaiyar with them. At that moment, she was worshipping Viksesuvarar (விக்சேசுவரர்) and the duo, pressing her to join them, asked her to finish the worship expeditiously.

Avvaiyar: You go the way you chose to go. For your sake, I will not hasten the worship. Vinayaka worship is my Kailasam.

The duo left for Kailasam. Avvaiyar completed the worship observing all the details. At the end, Pillaiyar made his gracious presence visible (பிரசன்னம்) to Avvaiyar, picked her up by the trunk and in one sweep took her to Kailas. Swamy Vignesvar shows that kind of favor to his devotees.

What is the reason for breaking a coconut before Vinayaka Murthi?  Vignesvarar asked his father to sacrifice his head to him. Love of Ganesa comes to the forefront, only when a devotee sacrifices what he regards above all else as precious. Siva created a hard-shelled three-eyed coconut seed in the form of his head, so the devotee can sacrifice it to Ganesa; such a sacrifice is pure Thyakam (giving). 

Tamil Nadu is the only place where the coconut is broken this way. The broken coconut is an entitlement for the children. This truth, I learnt from a child. In 1941, I was in Nagapattinam, observing a vow. In the temple, it was customary to break coconuts by hundreds. The children milled around the coconut breaking area and left no space for breaking the coconuts. The elders admonished the children to stay away from the place, so they could break the coconuts. One child came forward and said, “You break the coconuts for Pillaiyar. What right you have to tell us not to come to where you break the coconuts. 

The broken coconut reminds us of the presence of Amirta Rasa (Ambrosial essence) of coconut water, only when the egocentric skull of the head represented by the coconut is broken.

 

There is no deity more corpulent than Pillaiyar; the head is that of an elephant; the stomach is humongous; the body is huge; he is known as Sthūla Kāyar (ஸ்தூல காயர் = Gross body is huge); he is like a mountain. He is a little child; at this stage, he has to eat a lot relative to his age and size, so he can grow. The body should not be allowed to waste. A sannyasi should not be of a big body; there is no beauty and grace, if a Sannyasi ate a lot, and look big. As a person becomes older and aged, he or she fasts in the night. A child does not do it. The beauty in a child is to be corpulent (chubby) with a paunch. This child-deity shows that a child should be a ‘‘butterball.’

Pillaiyar holds a rice ball in his hand. He looks like an elephant. His mount is a small mouse. Other deities have a bull, a horse, a bird…as the mounts. Though Pillaiyar’s size is inversely proportional to the size of his mount, the greatness and honor of a deity do not proceed from the size of the mount. Because of the greatness of the deity, there is greatness to the mount. Pillaiyar, though huge, remains light in the hearts of his devotees.

Every living thing has a great honor in one of its own organs. Kavari-māṉ (கவரிமான் = Bos grunniens) has its honor in its tail, the peacock in its long, erectile, greenish, iridescent tail. The peacock grooms and protects its tail. The organ of honor for Pillaiyar is his tusk. He sacrificed it in the name of writing Mahabharata with it as a writing instrument for justice, Dharma, learning… Swamy needs no instrument as a special need. He can use anything as an instrument, at the command of his thought. His tusk was the weapon, when he killed an Asura; the same tusk served as a pen for writing Mahabharata.

The objects, which never stops fascinating us, are the moon, the ocean, the elephant… We never get a feeling of surfeit looking at them and enjoy their presence. As we look at his elephantine form, we are immersed in joy; that is bliss; that is Bliss Principle (ஆனந்த தத்துவம்); it is the principle of Insatiable Delight. He was born in bliss.

Pantāsuran was a demon. Parvati attempted to destroy him. Pantasuran deployed obstructive forces, so Parvati could not approach him. Siva looked at Parvati with ecstatic amorousness. Parvati instantly gave birth to the joyful child, Pillaiyar, who smashed all the obstructive weapons and helped her in destroying the demon.  He is the son of Parvati and Paramesvara. He manifested (ஆவிர்ப்பவித்தல்) himself from the original source (மூலம்); that is why we call him Pillaiyar.

When you worship any deity, you have to obtain favor from Vinayaka, so the endeavor would face no obstruction or impediment. Ganapathiyam is the sect that regards Ganesa as the primary god of worship. Mahavishnu was the teacher, advising us to do the tōppi-k-karaṇam (தோப்பிக்கரணம் = Punishment or exercise requiring a person to take hold of his ears with his hands and sit and stand alternately). There is a story behind this.

Pillaiyar, the son-in-law of Vishnu, in an act of play, took away the discus of Vishnu and put it in his mouth. It is impossible to wrest anything from his hands. His strength is immense. Threat of punishment does not work with him. Vishnu thought he could get it back, if it fell from his mouth. Vishnu devised a stratagem. He held his ears with his four hands and danced. Vinayaka rolled over the floor laughing. The discus fell, and Vishnu took possession.

Any endeavor would come to a fruitful conclusion, only when Vignesvara manifests a favorable disposition. Let us worship him, offer Puja and live happily with no impediments.  

 

 

 Feb 2, 2020

Ganesa leads all Gods; He is the First One (முதல்வோன் = Muthalvōṉ). Whatever task is in the offing, he is the first God for (mandatory) worship. He is Muthalvōṉ because he is the older of the two sons of Śiva and Pārvati. Praṇavam (AUM) is the first that exists. Since Vināyakaṉ is the deified form of Praṇavam, He is Muthalvōṉ. Since He is the first receiver of the Fruit of Wisdom from Śiva, He is Muthalvōṉ. Since Gaṇapathy worship is traditional before worship of other Gods, He is Muthalvōṉ. Since He is the chief of the Śiva Gaṇas, He is Muthalvōṉ. He is the Lord of all planets and therefore Muthalvōṉ. Translation by Krishnaraj. Source: Thiruppugazh.org