| Vinayaka Chaturthi Celebrations
at Prasanthi Nilayam
Indian culture believes in the concept of
pantheism - God can be identified with all the forces of nature
and with all natural things. That is why our ancients worshipped
trees. People worship snakes and elephants and our Indian
mythology speaks volumes to testify this fact.
Among the Indian gods and goddesses, Vinayaka
is given the prime place. Vinayaka has an elephant head and
the body of a human. How Vinayaka assumed such a form is explained
in the scriptures. Please read on for details …
Who is Vinayaka?
One who has no Nayaka (master) above him is Vinayaka. He is
the master of all. Hence, we offer our prayers to him before
commencing any activity. He is also called Vighneshwara or
Vighnahartaa, the Lord of and destroyer of obstacles. People
mostly worship Him asking for Siddhi, success in undertakings,
and Buddhi, intelligence. He is also the God of education,
knowledge and wisdom, literature, and the fine arts. The elephant-head
of Ganesha 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 trends
through thick forest imprinting huge foot marks on the track.
One such print can subsume the marks left by other animals,
both wild and tame. It moves majestically through. It is a
path maker, helping others without being aware of it, because
it is its nature.
The essential purpose of the Vinayaka Chaturthi
festival is to teach a person to avoid the company of bad
people and cultivate the company of the good. What does the
term Ganapathi signify? ‘Ga’ means Buddhi or intellect,
‘Na’ means Jnana (Wisdom). ‘Ganapathi’
means one who is the Lord of the intellect and of wisdom.
He is also the Lord of all Ganas (spiritual entities). Ganas
also symbolise the senses. Ganapathi is thus the Lord of the
senses.
Story of Ganesha’s origin
Perhaps the most popular story regarding Ganesha's origin
is the one derived from the Siva Purana. Mother Parvati once
wanted to take an oil bath and created a boy from the wheat
flour She had applied on Her own body, asking him to stand
as a guard outside while She bathed. In the meantime Lord
Siva returned home to find a stranger at His door, preventing
Him from entering. In anger, Siva cut off the boy's head,
upon which Parvati was stricken with great grief. In order
to console Her, Siva sent out His troops (Gana) to fetch the
head of anyone found sleeping with his head pointing to the
north. They found an elephant sleeping thus and brought back
its head. Siva then attached the elephantine head to the body
of the boy and revived him. He named the boy Ganapati or commander
of His troops, and granted Him a boon that anyone would have
to worship Him (Ganesha) before beginning any undertaking.
There is another legend explaining Ganesha’s
origin: Once upon a time there was an Asura (demon) named
Gajasura. He performed a penance. Easwara, pleased with his
penance, offered him as a boon whatever he desired. Easwara
is a deity who is easily propitiated. Hence he is known as
Bhola-Sankara. When he is pleased with a devotee, He gives
the devotee whatever he asks. Sometimes He gets into a ‘difficult’
situation, as in the case of Bhasmasura who was granted by
Siva the boon to turn into ashes anyone on whose head he placed
his palm. Immediately after getting the boon he wanted to
test his power by trying to place his hand on Siva’s
head itself!
What was the boon Siva gave to Gajasura?
The demon desired that fire should go forth from him continuously
so that no one dare approach him. Siva granted him the boon.
Gajasura continued to do penance and Siva used to appear before
him off and on. Once Siva asked him what he wanted. The demon
said: "I want you to dwell in my stomach." Siva
granted the boon and lodged himself in the demon’s stomach.
Siva’s consort Parvathi, searched for Siva everywhere
and could not find Him. As a last resort, she went to her
brother, Vishnu, and appealed to Him to trace the whereabouts
of her husband. The all - knowing assured her; “Don’t
worry, dear sister. Your husband is Bhola - Sankara. He grants
readily whatever boon his devotee prays for, without considering
the consequences. I suspect that he must have got into some
trouble. I shall find out what has happened.”
Vishnu, who is the director of the cosmic
play, staged a small drama. He converted Nandi (Siva’s
bull) into a dancing-bull and led it before Gajasura, while
himself assuming the role of a piper playing music on the
pipe. Gajasura was in ecstasy over the dancing performance
of the bull: He asked the piper (Vishnu) what he wanted. The
piper replied: “Can you give what I ask?” “What
do you take me for? I shall readily give you whatever you
ask.” The piper said: “If that is so, release
from your stomach Siva who is dwelling there.” Gajasura
then realised that the piper was none other than Vishnu Himself,
who alone could know the secret of Siva’s presence inside
his stomach. He fell at the feet of Vishnu, released Siva
from his stomach and prayed to Him for a boon. He said: "I
have been blessed by many boons from you. My last request
is that all should cherish my memory by worshipping my head
after I pass away." Siva thereupon brought His son and
placed Gajasura’s head on him.
Ever since, the tradition has prevailed in
Bharat that, every auspicious function of any kind commences
with worship of Ganapathi. It was the result of Siva’s
boon to Gajasura.
Vinayaka’s Story
Vinayaka Chaturthi function is not complete without the narration
of Vinayaka’s story. It is said that anyone who looks
at the moon on the night of the Ganesh Chaturthi will be falsely
charged with theft or a similar crime. If someone inadvertently
sees the moon on this night, he/she may remedy the situation
by listening to (or reciting) the story of the Syamantaka
jewel.
Briefly, Satrajit, who secured a jewel syamantaka
from Surya, did not part with it even when Krishna the Lord
of Dwaraka, asked for it saying it would be safe with Him.
Prasena, the brother of Satrajit went out hunting wearing
the jewel but was killed by a lion. Jambavan of Ramayana fame
killed the lion and gave it to his son to play with. When
Prasena did not return, Satrajit falsely accused Krishna of
killing Prasena for the sake of the jewel. Krishna, in order
to remove the stain on His reputation, set out in search of
the jewel and found it in Jambavan's cave, with his child.
Jambavan attacked Krishna thinking Him to be an intruder who
had come to take away the jewel. They fought each other for
28 days, when Jambavan, his whole body terribly weakened from
the hammering of Krishna's fists, finally recognised Him as
Rama.
As repentance for his having fought Krishna,
Jambavan gave Krishna the jewel and also his daughter Jambavati
in marriage. Krishna returned to Dwaraka with Jambavati and
the jewel, and returned it Satrajit, who in turn repented
for his false accusation. He promptly offered to give Krishna
the jewel and his daughter Sathyabhama in marriage. Krishna
accepted Satyabhama as His wife but did not accept the jewel.
Vinayaka Chaturthi at Prasanthi Nilayam
This festival is celebrated all over India and even in the
overseas in a grand manner. Huge idols of Vinayaka made of
clay are placed in a Pandal and elaborate Pujas (worship)
are performed every day till the idol is taken for immersion.
In Prasanthi Nilayam too, Vinayaka Chaturthi was celebrated
on 7th September 2005 with all grandeur and exuberance. Devotees
in large numbers had gathered in Sai Kulwant Hall to have
a Darshan of their Lord on this festival day. Bhagawan came
to the Hall for Darshan at 7.55 a.m. and took a full round
of the Hall. At about 8.40 a.m., on Bhagawan’s instruction,
the students sang Ganesha Stotras and group songs. Bhajans
followed soon after that. After Arati, Bhagawan retired to
His abode. In the evening, the devotees were doubly blessed
since Bhagawan came for a full round of the Hall in the car
and then again He went round the Hall blessing the devotees.
One should see the mirthful faces of the devotees and students;
everyone was craning their necks to behold the beautiful form
of the Lord – to treasure this blissful form in their
hearts. After Bhajans, Bhagawan retired for the day. Prasadam
was distributed to everyone both in the morning and evening.
Clothes and Watches Distribution
8th September 2005 was a red-letter day in the
lives of sub-staff rendering service in different departments
of the Ashram, Institute and Schools. In a solemn function
held in Sai Kulwant Hall, they were blessed with clothes and
watches by Bhagawan. If there is cleanliness and order in
the precincts of Prasanthi Nilayam and various institutions,
it is because of this dedicated band, who works tirelessly
day in and day out. It was a pleasant surprise for them, when
Bhagawan after giving Darshan to devotees, went straight and
moved around, collecting letters and speaking before taking
His seat in front of them. What followed was an unforgettable
session. Two seniors from the group offered their gratitude
on behalf of the entire group, speaking about all that Bhagawan
has done for them over the years. The first to address the
audience was a senior worker from the accommodation office,
who addressed the gathering in Telugu. He became nostalgic
recounting the Prasanthi Nilayam of those days and how the
Ashram has expanded and undergone rapid change. He was full
of gratitude to Bhagawan for protecting him through the thick
and thin of his life. One after the other, they came and recounted
their experiences extempore. Simplicity and their infinite
love for Bhagawan were writ large on their faces. Many of
them spoke with moist eyes while expressing their heartfelt
gratitude to Bhagawan. One of them even sang Bhagawan’s
composition “Rama Kodanda Rama
…” melodiously which was well appreciated
by Bhagawan. After the speeches, Bhagawan Himself distributed
clothes and watches to both ladies and gents with His Divine
Hands. At the end, Prasadam was distributed to all of them.
After Bhajans and Arati, Bhagawan left for His Divine Abode.
Students receive the blessings of
Bhagawan before the idols were taken for immersion
On the afternoon of 9th September 2005, students
from the Institute, School, Ashram and Hospitals brought Ganesha
idols in specially decorated vehicles to Sai Kulwant Hall.
The Ganesha idols were taken for immersion on this day. Each
institution was given a slot and the vehicles were neatly
arranged in the Hall. As Bhagawan entered Sai Kulwant Hall,
every institution had two or three representatives holding
fruits and sweets in trays. Bhagawan asked the car to be stopped
near each of them and blessed the students and the items in
the tray.
Words are inadequate to express the ingenuity
and innovativeness of the students. The vehicles were made
of different shapes and sizes like swan-shaped, lotus-shaped,
representing musical instruments, vehicle in the shape of
dove, dolphins making acrobatic dives, in the shape of a Chinese
temple (Pagoda), etc. Some of them were as huge as the height
of Sai Kulwant Hall. After Bhagawan sat in His chair, he asked
the students and staff to circumambulate the Prasanthi Mandir.
As each group passed Bhagawan with their small Ganesh idols,
Swami showered His benedictions on them. Before leaving Sai
Kulwant Hall for immersion, Bhagawan asked the vehicles to
be brought in His view and Arati was performed in front of
each decorated vehicle by the Mandir priest. The students
and staff had another wonderful opportunity to have the Darshan
of Bhagawan in close quarters and receiving His blessings.
As Veda chanting continued in Sai Kulwant Hall, the students
and staff towed away their vehicles, singing Bhajans and chanting
Vedas. The neatly decorated vehicles with Ganesha idols were
then taken out of Prasanthi Nilayam premises for immersion.
Thus, ended the grand celebrations of Vinayaka Chaturthi festival
at Prasanthi Nilayam.
|
