The Vinayaka Principle
The more you rub a piece of sandalwood on a grindstone, the greater the fragrance it emits. As you chew a piece of sugarcane, the more you chew the greater the sweet juice you get from it. As gold is heated more and more 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. Thereby, he stands out as an example to the world. [Telugu Poem]
God is the embodiment of bliss. He is eternal. Every living being originates from bliss, grows in bliss, and merges in bliss. Among the myriad names of God, the foremost is “being-awareness-bliss” or sat-chit-ananda. “Sat” is that sacred thing that does not change in the three worlds and in the three categories of time (past, present, and future). It is permanent. “Chit” means total awareness. When “sat” and “chit” become one, “ananda” or 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: The cosmos is permeated by the Divine.
Failing to recognise this truth and treating the body as the only reality, man distances himself from bliss. Men identify themselves in terms of their profession or nationality. But these are acquired characteristics and not innate to the person 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. The basis of the advaitic (non-dualism) 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 the 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.
Quest for Unity
Today the nation is racked by all kinds of divisions based on religion, language, and region. People should strive to realize the underlying unity in all religions, languages, and regions. People of different faiths call God different names. But all names signify the same God. All of them stress the unity that underlies the apparent diversity.
The Vedanta [Hindu scriptures] indicates four stages in the realization of the divine: perception of the divine (salokya), proximity to the divine (sameepya), experiencing the vision of the divine (saroopya), and merger in the divine (sayujya). The Divine has no form. The Divine assumes the form in which the devotee worships it. However, all forms are His. Truth is God, beauty is God. The unity of truth, goodness, and beauty is “being-awareness-bliss” (sat-chit-ananda). (Swami related a story about Emperor Janaka’s transformation as a Raja-yogi after he learned from sage Yajnavalkya that his present queen was actually his mother in his previous birth. This knowledge immediately made Janaka renounce everything and become a seeker of the Divine. Swami pointed out that while Yajnavalkya hesitated to reply to the king’s persistent query about his previous birth, once he revealed the truth, the king considered it a blessing and became a yogi).
Worship of Lord Ganesha
Today we celebrate the birthday of Ganapati. What is the significance of this term? “Ga” means “buddhi” or the intellect. “Na” means “jnana” or wisdom. “Pati” means “master”. Hence, Ganapati is the master of the intellect and wisdom. Another meaning of the term is “Master of the Ganas” (the hosts 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, but also in many other countries. The worship of Vinayaka has been prevailing from the times of the Rig-veda [ancient scriptures].
The Vinayaka principle protects man from the various hurdles in life and ensures peace and security. Hence, on every auspicious occasion, Vinayaka is worshipped. The devout offer worship to Vinayaka with the well-known prayer beginning with the words, “Suklambara-dharam” (The one who wears a white garment). Vighneshwara [another name for Lord Ganapati] is described as one who is white like the moon, who has four arms (two for giving 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 used this prayer in a devout spirit, the impious misused the words to distort the meaning and make it a prayer to a quadruped that is employed for carrying washed clothes. It is by such misinterpretation that some people have sullied the great culture of Bharat [India] and undermined faith in God.
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 by their physical features. You should be filled with idealism and serve the motherland in a spirit of sacredness, with firm faith in God.
The preciousness of human birth is indicated by the declaration in the Gita that every human being is a spark of the Divine. Everyone should look godward while attending to worldly duties. If you dedicate all actions to God, there will be no obstacles. Good thoughts will lead to good actions, which produce good results. You should seek to earn the love of God and His grace. All other acquisitions are worthless and impermanent.
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, October 1996
