Gurudev's talk on Ganesh Chaturti
(Translated from HIS original Hindi talk)
From the viewpoint of Sadhana(spiritual practices), Lord Ganesha is the
ruler of Mooladhara Chakra (Primordial base centre). Adi
Shankaracharya' s description of Lord Ganesha is unique and amazing. The
form of Lord Ganesha that Adi Shankaracharya has projected to us is that
of Parabramha–Supreme Brahman. "Ajam Nirvikalpam Nirakaram Ekam" -
Lord Ganesh is verily the "Parabrahma – Supreme Brahman – Beyond
Birth (Ajam), Beyond Imagination (Nirvikalpam) and Beyond Form
(Nirakaram) and Ekam (Absolute) – the power of consciousness is
Absolute. This power is absolute which is Omnipresent (Sarvavyapi) when
extended and sought to experience towards Mooladhara is Lord Ganesha.
From this perspective, irrespective of the externally depicted form of
Ganesha., like Elephant faced, there is a big secret behind this
depiction – as the Ruler of Knowledge and Education. And Knowledge
and Education for a person can happen only when there is Awareness. When
there is Inertia or lack of awareness - Knowledge, education or progress
in life is not possible. Therefore if you want to awaken this power of
consciousness, then the ruler of this power, Lord Ganesha is to be
invoked. And instead of treating Lord Ganesh as an external power or
outside element, we consider HIM as a centre (Chakra) of our own power.
We pray and meditate on Lord Ganesha by installing Lord Ganesha within
ourselves, at the first or primary chakra (Mooladhara) .
"Dhyanam Nirvishayam" meaning, in meditation there is nothing in our
thoughts – nothing external or useless thoughts anyway but focusing
on no particular deliberate thought. Then we experience a formless yet a
manifest form of Ganesha in our thoughts during the prayer composed
sweetly yet precisely by Adi Shankaracharya,
"Ajam Nirvikalpam Nirakaram Ekam;
Niranandam Anandam Advaita Purnam;
Param Nirgunam Nirvishesham Nireeham;
Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema"
Those who can't experience of the formless, over a period of sustained
experience of manifested form reaches the formless Brahman. In India,
there is this amazing and unique art of reaching formless Paramatma
called Lord Ganesh by repeated worship of the manifest form of Ganesha,
who is Gajavadhana. Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema – worship
that form of Ganesh that is Omnipresent.
"Jagatkaranam Karanam Jnaana Roopam;
Suradhim Sukhadim Gunesham Ganesham;
Jagatvyapinam Vishwavandyam Suresham;
Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema."
This Absolute power which is the very cause of the whole universe from
which everything originated, that which keeps things going, the same
power into which everything would be dissolved, this Causal Absolute
Power is Paramatma (Supreme Soul) Ganesha to whom we prostrate and
worship. Even the study of the cause of the whole universe itself is
supreme knowledge, which is Ganesha embodied – who is the knower and
knowledge Himself. Ganesha thus is Knower, Knowledge and the Goal
itself. We also begin worshipping Ganesha as a Goal which is not a
superior form of worship. Any worship based on external materialistic
object like Goal or aim, means there is not identification with self and
a separation is seen. Therefore Ganesha is the cause as well as the
knowledge of the reasons for that cause, the seer, and the Absolute
– that is the power of Ganesha. These things are not understood by
many of us but Rishis and Munis (Saints) who realized this, created
different kinds of myths and stories for making it easily comprehensible
and thus beneficial to everyone. When we make an Idol of Ganesha, we
infuse life in it (Prana Pratishta) – it means let my life be
infused in Ganesha. Let, the Ganesha manifested within my life force
(Prana) go and get installed in this Idol so that we can play with this
Idol and worship (puja). Puja is a game. If you carefully notice, Puja
is an artful expression of our inner feelings (Bhaav). Thus a devotee
always yearns to play with the God and never desires anything. If a
devotee desires something, then this desire becomes bigger than
devotion. Thus, a devotee desires God itself, to play with God for a
while. The luminescence called God which is formless, beyond imagination
and eternal power embedded within ourselves, is invoked, invited and
infused into Manifest in the form an idol for us devotees to play is
Ganesha Puja. During Prana Pratishta, we state that Ganesha's life power
is my life power and then we pray, "O God! Who is within me always,
please manifest and stay in this Idol for a while because I wish to play
with you. Whatever I have been given is a great favour from you, which I
wish to offer it back to you" So we offer Water, fruits, flowers which
is God's bestowment to us in any case. We are perpetually given sun,
moon which revolves around us which I offer it back in the form of
Camphor lit fire taken round the Idol (Arti). In this manner, a devotee
displays his inner feelings during the act of Puja. After the puja, a
devotee says O Lord! Now you may go back to my heart which is your
abode. This process is called Visarjan. The specific process of
restoring and re-creating the Lord to HIS abode is Visarjan. Kindly go
back to my heart from where you came out to manifest in this idol just
like how we take out the ornaments from the safe during festivals, wear
it and return it back to the safe after the celebrations. This
celebration where an invaluable, precious knowledge and divine power is
manifested for us to play games, enjoy and find fulfillment is Ganesha
Festival. In this manner, after the puja we go and immerse the idol into
water. It is pertinent now to realize that God is not just in the Idol.
He is omnipresent, present everywhere and this power which is given a
form and celebrated is Ganesh Chaturti. These forms of celebrations
helps us in increasing enthusiasm and devotion (gratefulness) in our
life. Sage Narada, who is a symbol of devotion in his Bhakti Sutras
says, "As per Parasharya, displaying interest and enthusiasm in Puja
(worship) is a sign of devotion" Thus, when we perform a worship, it
should not be with anyone or to any person, it is with love and
devotion. Mental Worship (worshipping in our minds) is a better form
than External symbolic worship. As Adi Shankaracharya says, during
mental worship, Non-dual absolute is deemed as Ganesha. And this
Absolute power called Ganapati is the very "Cause of Universe" Jagat
karanam karana jnana roopam, suradhim, sukhadim – The very origin of
happiness (Sukhadim) is in this Absolute power. When each atom of our
being is filled with this power, enthusiasm and happiness just overflows
and bubbles in us. It is not necessarily to show off outside. This
display of enthusiasm, smile or happiness is useless. The inner
blossoming is the Origin of Happiness – the love, enthusiasm and
playfulness emanates from this space. He is the lord of all Qualities
(guna). The absolute power of Self is also the lord of all gunas. We
think that we can obtain good gunas with practice. This is impossible.
We have to start from the premise that "All the good qualities pre-exist
in us. Bad qualities that we possess has been acquired from external
source" With sadhana (Spiritual practices) these bad qualities is
expelled and the good qualities which anyway is our true nature is
unveiled and starts glowing. In Daivartha Sampat Vidayog, Lord Sri
Krishna says, "Arjun, you already have divine qualities is already
within you from the very beginning. So start from this premise that all
good qualities are already in you. These lord of these qualities which
is hidden is Ganapati. So worship Lord Ganesha so that all these good
qualities blossom and prosper in us.
Jagatvyapinam Vishwavandyam Suresham;
Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema
Lord Ganesha, you are omnipresent, your reach extends the whole
universe, who is worshipped by everyone, who is accepted in all the
corners of the world, every country accepts the God as formless, as the
Ruler of qualities, one who is worshipped and greeted across the world,
we worship you the Parabrahma (The Supreme Brahman).
"Gunathithamanam Chidanandaroopam;
Chidabasakam Sarvgam Gyanagamyam;
Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam Paresham;
Parabrahmaroopam Ganesham Bhajema"
Gunathithamanam – One who is beyond intellectual description of
Quality (beyond attributes) Chidanandaroopam, what is the form of Lord
Ganesha? It is Satchitananda roopa (Supreme Blissful form), playfulness,
Blissful form.
Gunathithamanam Chidanandaroopam Chidabasakam Sarvgam Gyanagamyam - only
if we have this Absolute power can Ganapati be experienced. If we have
even an iota of awareness, then we can recognize this. This cannot be
recognized by those from Intellectual level. Chidabasakam Sarvgam
Gyanagamyam – Everywhere you are known and accepted as Knowledge
itself. It is for this reason that Ganapati is considered as Ruler of
Vidya (education) or knowledge. Perform worship of Ganapati before
proceeding to any other worship. Imbibe the essence (Tatva) of Ganesha
into oneself. We have to progress from Tamo guna (Attribute of being at
Gross level) towards Satva guna (Attribute of being at Subtle level).
This is the first phase/part of Worship.
Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam Paresham – what is your form? The form
that Saints and the learned meditate upon which is like formless,
unimaginable Space (Chidakash) is verily you, Lord Ganesha. You are not
an object, nor a person but infinite space. Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam
– You form is that which the Sages have learnt, which is omnipresent
and infinite Space. Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam This is your actual form.
Parabrahmaroopam Ganesham Bhajema, this form of Absolute and Supreme
Brahman, Lord Ganesh, here is me worshipping and praying to you
repeatedly. Therefore, install the Idol in front of you, worship with
infinite love, meditate and experience Lord Ganesha from within. This is
the symbolic essence of Ganesh Chaturti festival, to awaken the Ganesha
Tatva(essence) which is masked inside ourselves.
Jai Gurudev
ruler of Mooladhara Chakra (Primordial base centre). Adi
Shankaracharya' s description of Lord Ganesha is unique and amazing. The
form of Lord Ganesha that Adi Shankaracharya has projected to us is that
of Parabramha–Supreme Brahman. "Ajam Nirvikalpam Nirakaram Ekam" -
Lord Ganesh is verily the "Parabrahma – Supreme Brahman – Beyond
Birth (Ajam), Beyond Imagination (Nirvikalpam) and Beyond Form
(Nirakaram) and Ekam (Absolute) – the power of consciousness is
Absolute. This power is absolute which is Omnipresent (Sarvavyapi) when
extended and sought to experience towards Mooladhara is Lord Ganesha.
From this perspective, irrespective of the externally depicted form of
Ganesha., like Elephant faced, there is a big secret behind this
depiction – as the Ruler of Knowledge and Education. And Knowledge
and Education for a person can happen only when there is Awareness. When
there is Inertia or lack of awareness - Knowledge, education or progress
in life is not possible. Therefore if you want to awaken this power of
consciousness, then the ruler of this power, Lord Ganesha is to be
invoked. And instead of treating Lord Ganesh as an external power or
outside element, we consider HIM as a centre (Chakra) of our own power.
We pray and meditate on Lord Ganesha by installing Lord Ganesha within
ourselves, at the first or primary chakra (Mooladhara) .
"Dhyanam Nirvishayam" meaning, in meditation there is nothing in our
thoughts – nothing external or useless thoughts anyway but focusing
on no particular deliberate thought. Then we experience a formless yet a
manifest form of Ganesha in our thoughts during the prayer composed
sweetly yet precisely by Adi Shankaracharya,
"Ajam Nirvikalpam Nirakaram Ekam;
Niranandam Anandam Advaita Purnam;
Param Nirgunam Nirvishesham Nireeham;
Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema"
Those who can't experience of the formless, over a period of sustained
experience of manifested form reaches the formless Brahman. In India,
there is this amazing and unique art of reaching formless Paramatma
called Lord Ganesh by repeated worship of the manifest form of Ganesha,
who is Gajavadhana. Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema – worship
that form of Ganesh that is Omnipresent.
"Jagatkaranam Karanam Jnaana Roopam;
Suradhim Sukhadim Gunesham Ganesham;
Jagatvyapinam Vishwavandyam Suresham;
Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema."
This Absolute power which is the very cause of the whole universe from
which everything originated, that which keeps things going, the same
power into which everything would be dissolved, this Causal Absolute
Power is Paramatma (Supreme Soul) Ganesha to whom we prostrate and
worship. Even the study of the cause of the whole universe itself is
supreme knowledge, which is Ganesha embodied – who is the knower and
knowledge Himself. Ganesha thus is Knower, Knowledge and the Goal
itself. We also begin worshipping Ganesha as a Goal which is not a
superior form of worship. Any worship based on external materialistic
object like Goal or aim, means there is not identification with self and
a separation is seen. Therefore Ganesha is the cause as well as the
knowledge of the reasons for that cause, the seer, and the Absolute
– that is the power of Ganesha. These things are not understood by
many of us but Rishis and Munis (Saints) who realized this, created
different kinds of myths and stories for making it easily comprehensible
and thus beneficial to everyone. When we make an Idol of Ganesha, we
infuse life in it (Prana Pratishta) – it means let my life be
infused in Ganesha. Let, the Ganesha manifested within my life force
(Prana) go and get installed in this Idol so that we can play with this
Idol and worship (puja). Puja is a game. If you carefully notice, Puja
is an artful expression of our inner feelings (Bhaav). Thus a devotee
always yearns to play with the God and never desires anything. If a
devotee desires something, then this desire becomes bigger than
devotion. Thus, a devotee desires God itself, to play with God for a
while. The luminescence called God which is formless, beyond imagination
and eternal power embedded within ourselves, is invoked, invited and
infused into Manifest in the form an idol for us devotees to play is
Ganesha Puja. During Prana Pratishta, we state that Ganesha's life power
is my life power and then we pray, "O God! Who is within me always,
please manifest and stay in this Idol for a while because I wish to play
with you. Whatever I have been given is a great favour from you, which I
wish to offer it back to you" So we offer Water, fruits, flowers which
is God's bestowment to us in any case. We are perpetually given sun,
moon which revolves around us which I offer it back in the form of
Camphor lit fire taken round the Idol (Arti). In this manner, a devotee
displays his inner feelings during the act of Puja. After the puja, a
devotee says O Lord! Now you may go back to my heart which is your
abode. This process is called Visarjan. The specific process of
restoring and re-creating the Lord to HIS abode is Visarjan. Kindly go
back to my heart from where you came out to manifest in this idol just
like how we take out the ornaments from the safe during festivals, wear
it and return it back to the safe after the celebrations. This
celebration where an invaluable, precious knowledge and divine power is
manifested for us to play games, enjoy and find fulfillment is Ganesha
Festival. In this manner, after the puja we go and immerse the idol into
water. It is pertinent now to realize that God is not just in the Idol.
He is omnipresent, present everywhere and this power which is given a
form and celebrated is Ganesh Chaturti. These forms of celebrations
helps us in increasing enthusiasm and devotion (gratefulness) in our
life. Sage Narada, who is a symbol of devotion in his Bhakti Sutras
says, "As per Parasharya, displaying interest and enthusiasm in Puja
(worship) is a sign of devotion" Thus, when we perform a worship, it
should not be with anyone or to any person, it is with love and
devotion. Mental Worship (worshipping in our minds) is a better form
than External symbolic worship. As Adi Shankaracharya says, during
mental worship, Non-dual absolute is deemed as Ganesha. And this
Absolute power called Ganapati is the very "Cause of Universe" Jagat
karanam karana jnana roopam, suradhim, sukhadim – The very origin of
happiness (Sukhadim) is in this Absolute power. When each atom of our
being is filled with this power, enthusiasm and happiness just overflows
and bubbles in us. It is not necessarily to show off outside. This
display of enthusiasm, smile or happiness is useless. The inner
blossoming is the Origin of Happiness – the love, enthusiasm and
playfulness emanates from this space. He is the lord of all Qualities
(guna). The absolute power of Self is also the lord of all gunas. We
think that we can obtain good gunas with practice. This is impossible.
We have to start from the premise that "All the good qualities pre-exist
in us. Bad qualities that we possess has been acquired from external
source" With sadhana (Spiritual practices) these bad qualities is
expelled and the good qualities which anyway is our true nature is
unveiled and starts glowing. In Daivartha Sampat Vidayog, Lord Sri
Krishna says, "Arjun, you already have divine qualities is already
within you from the very beginning. So start from this premise that all
good qualities are already in you. These lord of these qualities which
is hidden is Ganapati. So worship Lord Ganesha so that all these good
qualities blossom and prosper in us.
Jagatvyapinam Vishwavandyam Suresham;
Parabrahma Roopam Ganesham Bhajema
Lord Ganesha, you are omnipresent, your reach extends the whole
universe, who is worshipped by everyone, who is accepted in all the
corners of the world, every country accepts the God as formless, as the
Ruler of qualities, one who is worshipped and greeted across the world,
we worship you the Parabrahma (The Supreme Brahman).
"Gunathithamanam Chidanandaroopam;
Chidabasakam Sarvgam Gyanagamyam;
Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam Paresham;
Parabrahmaroopam Ganesham Bhajema"
Gunathithamanam – One who is beyond intellectual description of
Quality (beyond attributes) Chidanandaroopam, what is the form of Lord
Ganesha? It is Satchitananda roopa (Supreme Blissful form), playfulness,
Blissful form.
Gunathithamanam Chidanandaroopam Chidabasakam Sarvgam Gyanagamyam - only
if we have this Absolute power can Ganapati be experienced. If we have
even an iota of awareness, then we can recognize this. This cannot be
recognized by those from Intellectual level. Chidabasakam Sarvgam
Gyanagamyam – Everywhere you are known and accepted as Knowledge
itself. It is for this reason that Ganapati is considered as Ruler of
Vidya (education) or knowledge. Perform worship of Ganapati before
proceeding to any other worship. Imbibe the essence (Tatva) of Ganesha
into oneself. We have to progress from Tamo guna (Attribute of being at
Gross level) towards Satva guna (Attribute of being at Subtle level).
This is the first phase/part of Worship.
Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam Paresham – what is your form? The form
that Saints and the learned meditate upon which is like formless,
unimaginable Space (Chidakash) is verily you, Lord Ganesha. You are not
an object, nor a person but infinite space. Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam
– You form is that which the Sages have learnt, which is omnipresent
and infinite Space. Muni Dhyeyam Akasharoopam This is your actual form.
Parabrahmaroopam Ganesham Bhajema, this form of Absolute and Supreme
Brahman, Lord Ganesh, here is me worshipping and praying to you
repeatedly. Therefore, install the Idol in front of you, worship with
infinite love, meditate and experience Lord Ganesha from within. This is
the symbolic essence of Ganesh Chaturti festival, to awaken the Ganesha
Tatva(essence) which is masked inside ourselves.
Jai Gurudev
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