Ganesha in Nectar of Devotion

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees,

 

I found the following remarks in Nectar of Devotion, chapter 8, page

71:

 

"One should begin the worship of the demigod Ganapati, who drives

away all impediments in the execution of the devotional service. In

the Brahma-samhita it is stated that Ganapati worships the lotus

feet of Lord Nrsimhadeva and in that way has become auspicious for

the devotees in clearing out all impediments. Therefore, all

devotees should worship Ganapati."

 

I am confused as to why we find this statement in Srila Rupa

Gosvami's writings. According to BG, worship of "anya-devataas"

is "avidhi-puurvakam," done in an improper way. Besides which, I

don't see any examples of Ganesha worship in ISKCON temples that I

have visited. And anyway, if Lord Ganesha worships Lord Narasimha to

get the power to remove all obstacles, then why not simply worship

Lord Narasimha?

 

Clarifications would be appreciated.

 

ys,

 

- K

[Guest guest]

On Sun, 31 Mar 2002, krishnasusarla wrote:

> "One should begin the worship of the demigod Ganapati, who drives

> away all impediments in the execution of the devotional service. In

> the Brahma-samhita it is stated that Ganapati worships the lotus

> feet of Lord Nrsimhadeva and in that way has become auspicious for

> the devotees in clearing out all impediments. Therefore, all

> devotees should worship Ganapati."

> I am confused as to why we find this statement in Srila Rupa

> Gosvami's writings. According to BG, worship of "anya-devataas"

> is "avidhi-puurvakam," done in an improper way. Besides which, I

> don't see any examples of Ganesha worship in ISKCON temples that I

> have visited. And anyway, if Lord Ganesha worships Lord Narasimha to

> get the power to remove all obstacles, then why not simply worship

> Lord Narasimha?

> Clarifications would be appreciated.

 

The passage in question actually appears in Jiva Gosvami's

Durga-sangamani commentary on Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, but it's rather

clipped; he simply says, "vighnezam apUjayitvA," i.e., "[one shouldn't do

puja] without having worshipped Vighnesa, the lord of obstacles."

 

According to the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam, 11.27.29, Jiva

Gosvami acknowledges a Vaikuntha deity by the name Ganesa, who among

others usually known as demigods, appears in that text itself (Vinayaka).

Most demigods have transcendental counterparts in Vaikuntha, as this material

world is but a perverse reflection of the real world. If I recall correctly,

earlier editions of the Nectar of Devotion thus advised devotees to

worship "Vaikuntha deities like Ganesa" in the same context, as mentioned

in Prabhupada's purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam. 7.5.23-4. It would thus

seem that this Vighnesa is the one also found even above the doorways of

many Radha-Krsna temples of Vrindavana. He is certainly a great Vaisnava.

 

Conversely, as seen in a conversation with Srila Prabhupada on

June 27, 1973 in Navadvipa, Prabhupada's godbrother B.R. Sridhara Maharaja

regards the material Ganesha as the opposition leader of the mundane realm,

or "vi-nayaka," because he leads ordinary people on into mundane entanglements

by removing obstacles to their sensual pursuits. For this reason, he is also

called Ganesa (lord of the masses). He is the primary regulator of the

valve of so-called material auspiciousness. It would seem that this is

the Ganesa who seeks the mercy of Narasimha as mentioned in Brahma-samhita.

He is Siva's son.

 

However, it is still striking that Srila Prabhupada doesn't often

make such a distinction between the "spiritual" and "material" Ganesas.

We also know that one should respect even worldly demigods (and all others

too), as per Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's personal example and teachings. The

demigods are also bonafide representatives of the Lord's authority; it seems

possible that Srila Prabhupada wanted to emphasize this qualitative oneness.

Whether in devi-dhama (i.e., the material world) or Hari-dhama (i.e.,

Vaikuntha), most of us stand only to benefit from the blessings of such

august personalities. Any of them can remove our obstacles.

 

That said, as far as I know, Srila Prabhupada uniformly discouraged

the worship of Ganesa whenever his followers suggested this to him--possibly

because there is no vidhi for Gaudiya Vaisnavas to do so, while people would

also likely just take it as mundane devata-puja. As Srila Prabhupada more

often said, Ganesa-puja just isn't necessary; his advice above seems more

intended to emohasize the general principle, that one should approach the

Lord through the mercy of His confidential servants.

 

MDd