Vinayaka Worship Ranks First

In the following discourse given on the auspicious day of Ganesha Chaturthi, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai delineates the real meaning behind the worship of Ganesha, also referred to as Vinayaka and Vighneshwara. He exhorts us to pray with full understanding of what Ganesha stands for: Faith, supreme wisdom, and values. 

One may have mastered the pedantic texts
And perfected the art of expounding them;
If his mind is not well filled with good qualities,
His scholarship is like the crop grown on barren soil.

If you cannot comprehend the Swami in front of you
And wander in search of God all over,
You are like the man who went in quest of ghee [clarified butter]
While having butter in his hand.

Embodiments of Divine Love! The phenomenal world is what is directly apparent  to man, and which deludes him. It is an aggregation of objects. In its natural state, every object is mutable. Such impermanent objects are incapable of giving enduring bliss. The object that gives you pleasure is transient. The individual who experiences that pleasure is also impermanent. How can an impermanent being derive lasting bliss from a perishable object?

It is, therefore, necessary at the outset to forget the impermanent so that one may be qualified to experience the eternal and unchanging reality.

The entire cosmos is a manifestation of the three gunas [qualities]: satwa [good,sublime], rajas [exuberant, ambitious], and tamas [slothful]. They have been identified with the three colors: white, red, and black respectively. It is impossible for man to conceive of a world without these three qualities. It is not possible to find in nature a situation in which these three qualities are present in equal measure. When the satwic quality is predominant, the rajasic  and tamasic qualities are quiescent. When the rajasic quality is dominant, the other two are subdued. When the tamasic quality is dominant, satwa and rajas are subdued. It is seldom that all the three qualities are equally balanced and in harmony with each other.

Likewise, these three qualities are present in every limb of the human body. Indeed, these three qualities are present in the physical universe, the human body, and the human mind. The sacred texts have also declared that the universe is made up of these three qualities.

Three states of man

It is generally accepted that man operates in three states: prakriti [nature], avidya [ignorance], and maya [illusion]. Over time, the term prakriti was applied to man’s body. In some parts of India, people habitually refer to individuals as prakriti. In north Karnataka, people say “My prakriti is not well” when they mean that their body is not well. Prakriti refers to that which is subject to all kinds of vikrit (distortions and changes). This prakriti is the basis of all creation.

The second term is avidya. Avidya means that which is the opposite of know-ledge. Avidya makes one treat what is unreal as real, and what is real as unreal, thus deluding him into pursuing sensual pleasures. This avidya follows prakriti in the world like a shadow. Because of this ignorance, man is unable to recognize his true nature. Avidya, hence, is the cause of man’s inability to comprehend his true form. As long as avidya remains, man can never be free from troubles.

The third term is maya. Maya is the delusion that makes one imagine the presence of that which is not present. As long as this state of delusion (bhrama) remains, it is impossible to comprehend the Brahmam (the Omni-self).

What is this delusion? Here, for instance, is a rope. But in the twilight of dusk, one mistakes it for a snake. In a lamp’s light, it is found to be just a rope. The snake was never there, whereas the rope was always there. Only the momentary delusion caused the appearance of the snake and the absence of the rope. This is called maya. It makes one imagine the presence of what is not there while not perceiving what is really there. Maya makes one believe in the existence of that which is non-existent, and in the non-existence of that which is the real truth. The combined power of these three—prakriti, avidya, and maya—makes man forget his true nature.

Man often imagines that he has accomplished many things. Presuming that all that he achieves are entirely due to his own efforts and abilities, he deludes himself and forges his own bonds. He for-gets the truth that there is a higher power that is the driving force for action as well as the author of the results thereof. This is the primary nature of bhrama (delusion).

The prayer to Vinayaka

To get rid of this delusion and enable man to comprehend his inherent divine nature, the ancient sages taught a prayer. This prayer is addressed to Vinayaka.

Who is Vinayaka? In the sloka [verse] beginning with the words, Shuklaam-baradharam Vishnum, only the form of the deity is described. But there is another inner meaning for the name Vinayaka. Shuklaambaradharam means one who is clad in white. Vishnum means: He is all-pervading. Shashi varnam means His complexion is grey like that of ash. Chatur bhujam means He has four arms. Prasanna vadanam means, He always has a pleasing mien. Sarvavighnopasantaye means for the remo-val of all obstacles. Dhyayet means: meditate (on Him). Thus, Vinayaka is the deity who removes all bad qualities, instills good qualities, and confers peace on the devotee who meditates on Him.

This is how the theistic believers interpret this prayer. The atheists have made a parody of it by construing the prayer as a description of a donkey, which carries white clothes on its back, is ash-grey in color, wanders everywhere, has four legs, and has a bland look.

No master above Him

The Vinayaka-principle, however, has only one meaning. Vinayaka means One who is totally a master of Himself. He has no master above Him, and He does not depend on anyone. He is also called Ganapati. This term means He is the Lord of the ganas—a class of divine entities. This term also means that He is the master of the intellect and discriminating power in man. He possesses great intelligence and knowledge. Such knowledge issues from a pure and sacred mind. This knowledge leads to wisdom. Because He is the master of buddhi (intelligence) and siddhi (wisdom or realization), He is described as the Lord of buddhi and siddhi. Buddhi and Siddhi are referred to as the consorts of Vinayaka.

The mouse is the vehicle of Vinayaka. What is the inner significance of the mouse? It is well-known that you have to trap a mouse by attracting it to a strong-smelling edible. The mouse also symbolizes the darkness of night. The mouse can see well in the dark. As Vinayaka’s vehicle, the mouse signifies an object that leads man from darkness to light. The Vinayaka-principle, thus, means that which removes all the bad qualities, bad practices and bad thoughts in men and inculcates good qualities, good conduct, and good thoughts.

The first deity

Another name for Vinayaka is Vighneshwara. Easwara [God] is one who is endowed with every conceivable form of wealth: riches, knowledge, health, bliss, beauty, etc. Vighneshwara is the promoter of all these forms of wealth, and remover of all obstacles in the enjoyment of the same. He confers all these forms of wealth on those who worship him. Vinayaka is described as prathama vandana (the first deity who should be worshipped). As everyone in the world desires wealth and prosperity, everyone offers the first place for worship to Vighneshwara.

It is only when the inner meanings of various aspects relating to the Divine are understood that worship can be offered to the Divine meaningfully. Unfortunately, as only the superficial and worldly meanings of the scriptural texts are expounded these days, man’s devotion is continually weakening. It is essential for everyone to understand the inner meaning of the Vedantic texts.

One may have immense faith in God. But from time to time, the power of maya may undermine this faith. (Here, Bhagavan gave two examples from the Mahabharata to illustrate how even staunch devotees of Krishna like Dharmaja and Arjuna [the Pandava brothers of Mahabharata] hesitated to act upon Krishna’s advice, and they had to be taught through the examples set by Bhishma and Draupadi [Pandavas’ uncle and wife])

Unwavering faith essential

Faith in God should never waver. In no circumstance should anyone go against the injunctions of the Divine. Whatever worship one may offer, however intensely one may meditate, if one transgresses the commands of the Lord, these devotional practices become futile. The reason is that the Divine has no selfish objective or aim. It is out of small-minded selfish motives that people act against the sacred commands of the Lord. Even small acts of transgression may in due course assume dangerous proportions.

Like the clouds in the sky that are brought together or dispersed by the winds, the passage of time brings about the union or separation of associates, and happiness or sorrow. Time is the form of God. It should not be wasted. It is to understand such sacred truths that festivals like Ganesha Chaturthi are celebrated.

Ganesha’s intelligence

How did Vinayaka acquire siddhi? His parents held a contest for their two sons—Ganesha and Subrahmanya. They said they would offer their grace in the form of a fruit to the one who went around the universe. The younger son, Subrahmanya, set out immediately on his peacock to go around the universe. On seeing Subrahmanya approaching his parents at the end of his trip, Vinayaka, who had been quietly sitting all the while, got up and went round the parents and sat down. Parvati observed that Subrahmanya, who had taken so much trouble to go round the universe, should be declared the winner.

Lord Shiva asked Vighneshwara to explain the inner significance of going around his parents. Ganesha replied: “The entire universe is permeated by both of you. The entire creation is a manifestation of the Siva-Shakti form. It is an act of delusion to attempt to go around this phenomenal universe. To go around both of you is the true circumambulation of the cosmos.” Then Parvati exclaimed: “Yours is the fruit.” Ganesha became the Lord of the divine hosts (ganas). Impressed with the supreme intelligence of Vinayaka, Easwara [Shiva] blessed him thus, “All those who wish to worship Me, will worship you first.”

Such was the grace showered on Vinayaka. What is the reason? It is Ganesha’s faith in the Lord and His omnipresence. The right path for all people is to develop faith in God and lead godly lives.

Vighneshwara is also regarded as one endowed with the wisdom of the elephant. The elephant is noted for its supreme intelligence. It is also known for its absolute loyalty to its master. It is ready to sacrifice even its life for its master. The direct proof of this is Sai Geetha (Bhagavan’s elephant). Ordinarily, even when hundreds of cars are passing by, Sai Geetha will take no notice of them. But when Swami’s car happens to pass by, it will instinctively rush to the road, raising its familiar cry. What love for Swami! It will be no exaggeration if faith were to be equated with the elephant.

When an elephant moves among the bushes, its path turns into a regular pass-age for all animals. It is thus a pace–setter for all animals.

Vinayaka is a leader for all deities. Faith in Vinayaka should be developed and he should be worshipped as the embodiment of Divinity.

Source: Sanathana Sarathi, October 1991