Ganesha

[Guest guest]

Today is Vinaayaka Chaturthi, the appearance day of Lord Ganesha, son

of Lord Shiva and the remover of obstacles.

 

I have heard, from time to time, of a tradition of seeing Ganesha as

one of the eternal associates of Vishnu in Vaikuntha. The idea behind

this is that the Ganesha who is worshipped on Earth is an incarnation

of this eternal associate of Vishnu, whom I believe is referred to as

Vishvaksena.

 

However, when I looked in the Puranic Encyclopedia, I

found "Vishvaksena" to be defined as a synonym for Vishnu. No other

mention was made of this "original, spiritual" form of Ganesha.

 

I was therefore wondering if any list members were aware of the

sources of this tradition. Do we have any shaastric evidence, or any

comments by our aachaaryas, describing this eternally liberated

entity of whom Ganesha is an incarnation? I am aware that the Ganesha

story is found in Shiva Puraana, Brahma-vaivarta Puraana, but these I

believe are only in relation to the "material universe" Ganesha.

 

yours,

 

- K

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna Prabhu

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

 

regarding vishvakshena, one epithet refers to the Lord Himself and another to

His commander-in-chief in vaikuntha

who is not elephant-faced but is of 4 handed vishnu like form. this was

confirmed by a sri vaishnava friend who has access to the agamas in this

regard. also he is called senai mudaliyaar in tamil or the commander in chief.

there is also one elephant headed personality in vishnu's army who serves as an

assistant to senai mudaliyaar. this is the personality who is sometimes confused

with lord ganesha.

 

so the obstacle removing potency is there in spiritual world in the form of the

Lord and His entourage and perhaps that potency is reflected materially in the

agency that is controlled by the devata Ganesha in the mundane sphere.

the obstacle removing aspect is done by vaishnavas by worshipping vishvakshena

or lord nrsimha or sudarshan chakra as well as our acharya parampara.

 

 

rgds

r. jai simman

singapore