Ganesh Charthuthi -- 2

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Ganesha Chaturthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada

Shukla Chaturti, the day is specially sacred to Lord Ganesha. The

worship of Ganesha continues till Ananta Chaturdasi (Bhadrapada

Shukla 14th). The festivities continue for full ten days. Thereafter

the highly decorated image made of clay, is carried in big

processions and immersed in sea, river or well.

 

Ganesha is presented as the son of Siva & Parvati. During one of his

birthdays, His mother, Shakti Parvati, cooked for Him twenty-one

types of delicious food and a lot of sweet porridge. Ganesha ate so

much that even His big belly could not contain it. Mounting His

little mouse, he embarked on His nightly rounds. His mouse suddenly

stumbled upon seeing a huge snake. To adjust His belly, Ganesha put

the snake on as a belt around His stomach.

 

All of a sudden, He heard

laughter emanating form the sky. He looked up and saw the moon

mocking Him. Ganesha infuriated, broke off one of His tusks and

hurled it at the moon. The moon hid himself behind the clouds,

immediately Ganesha pronounced a curse on Him saying, "Let no one

look at your face on my birthday."

 

The symbology behind the mouse and snake and Ganesha's big belly and

its relationship to the moon on His birthday is highly philosophic.

The whole cosmos is likely the belly of God. Shakti Parvati is the

primordial energy. The seven lokas above, seven lokas below and seven

oceans, are inside the cosmic belly of Ganesha, held together by the

cosmic energy kundalini symbolized as a huge snake which Ganesha ties

around Him. The mouse is nothing but our ego. Ganesha, using the

mouse as a vehicle, exemplifies the need to control our ego. One who

has controlled the ego has Ganesha consciousness or God-

consciousness.

 

Ganesha is the God who can protect His devotees from any vigna or

obstacle, and hence the name vigneshwara. He is also known as

Ganapati, the head of the Ganas. He is the God of Knowledge and is

invoked at the beginning of any religious function, be it a marriage;

the teaching of alphabets to a child or the festival in a temple. It

is believed that for the fulfillment of one's desires, His blessing

is absolutely necessary.

 

Lord Vinayaka is the Supreme Reality, who is bountiful, eternal and

the endower of joy and glory to those who worship Him. He is pure

Consciousness and Liberates devotees karmas. He is extolled as one

Who brings well-being to the entire Universe, destroying all evil

forces ever effulgent and who manisfest the different Divinities.

 

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