The Vinayaka Principle
In this candid discourse delivered on an auspicious Vinayaka Chaturathi celebration in the ‘90s, Bhagavan Baba emphasizes the urgent need to cognize that we are divine beings and act accordingly.
Embodiments of love! When you rub a piece of sandalwood on the grindstone, the more you rub it, the greater is the fragrance it emits. As you chew a piece of sugarcane, the more you chew, the greater is the sweet juice you get from it. As gold is increasingly heated in the crucible, it acquires greater brilliance, getting rid of all impurities. A noble being displays his good qualities however much he might be subjected to trials and tribulations; as a result, he stands out as an example to the world.
God is the embodiment of bliss. He is eternal. Every living being originates from bliss, grows on bliss, and merges in bliss.
Among the myriad names of God, the foremost is sat–chit–ananda (being-awareness-bliss). Sat is that sacred thing that does not change in the three worlds and in the three categories of time (past, present, future). It is permanent. Chit means total awareness. When sat and chit become one, ananda (bliss) is realized. Hence, the Divine is described as sat-chit-ananda. This principle is all-pervasive. It is present in all. The scriptures declare: “Sarvam vishnumayam jagat”—The cosmos is permeated by the Divine. Failing to recognize this truth and treating the body as the only reality, man distances himself from bliss. Men identify themselves in terms of their professions or nationality. But all these are acquired characteristics and not innate to the persons concerned. Essentially, everyone is an embodiment of the atma (the self). All the other aspects are transient. To identify yourself with the body is to mistake the dwelling for the indweller. When the truth is investigated in this manner, spirituality will become apparent.
Atmic principle resides in all
The basis of the advaitic (non-dual) doctrine is the spiritual oneness of the entire cosmos. It is the spirit that is common to all beings. The spirit is the source and ultimate destination of all beings.
The atmic principle resides in the heart of every being. Hence, there is no need to go in search of God. You are the Divine.
Today, the nation is racked by divisions of all kinds based on religion, language, and region. However, people should strive to realize the underlying unity of all religions, languages, and regions. God is called by different names by people of different faiths. But all names signify the same God. All of them stress the unity that underlies the apparent diversity.
Vedanta (Hindu philosophy) indicates the four stages in realization of the Divine as: Salokya (perception of the Divine), sameepya (proximity to the Divine), saroopya (experiencing the vision of the Divine), and sayujya (merger in the Divine). The Divine as such has no form. Whatever the form through which the devotee worships the Divine, the Divine assumes that form for the devotee. However, all forms are His. “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram.” Truth is God; Goodness is God; Beauty is God The unity of truth, goodness, and beauty is sat–chit–ananda.
Emperor Janaka’s (Sita’s father) transformation as a raja-yogi (a royalty who is also a realized soul) took place after he learnt from Yajnavalkya (an ascetic in Janaka’s court) that his present queen was indeed his mother in his previous birth. This knowledge immediately made Janaka renounce everything and become a seeker of the Divine. While Yajnavalkya was reticent to reveal the truth about the king’s previous birth, the king considered it a blessing and became a yogi.
Worship of Vinayaka
Today we celebrate the birthday of Ganapati (a Hindu form of Divinity). What is the significance of this term? Ga means buddhi (intellect); Na means vijnana (wisdom); Pati means master. Hence, Ganapati is the master of both intellect and wisdom. Another meaning of the term is that He is the master of the ganas (host of spirits). The name ‘Vinayaka’ means one who has no leader above him.
Before we commence any activity, we offer prayers to Vinayaka so that the action may be successful without any impediments. Vinayaka is worshipped not only in Bharat (India) but in many other countries as well. The worship of Vinayaka has prevailed from the times of the Rig-Veda (one of the vedas—scriptures).
The Vinayaka principle protects man from the various hurdles in life and ensures peace and security. Hence, Vinayaka is worshipped on every auspicious occasion.
The devout offer worship to Vinayaka with the well-known prayer beginning with the words, Shuklambara-dharam (The one who wears a white garment). Vighneshwara (Lord of removing obstacles) is described as one who is white like the moon, has four arms (two to give worldly protection and two for spiritual benediction), who has an ever-pleasing countenance, and to whom obeisance is offered for removing all obstacles. While the pious have used this prayer in a devout spirit, the impious have misused the words to distort the meaning and make it a prayer to a quadruped that is employed to carry laundered clothes. Such misinterpretations have sullied the great culture of Bharat and undermined faith in God.
Fill your hearts with love
Students! Instead of filling your minds with scriptural knowledge, it is enough if you fill your hearts with love. One ounce of practice is worth tons of spiritual knowledge. Today, men should show their humanness in action, and not merely through their physical features. Students should be filled with idealism, and serve the motherland in a sacred spirit, with firm faith in God.
The [Bhagavad] Gita (a Hindu scripture), when it calls every human being a spark of the Divine, affirms that human birth is precious. Everyone should look Godward even while attending to worldly duties. When you dedicate all actions to God, there will be no obstacles. Good thoughts will lead to good actions that in turn produce good results.
Students! You should seek to earn the love of God and His grace. All other acquisitions are worthless and impermanent.
Source: Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 29
