Ganapati Tattva and his Vahana (vehicle) Rahasya as a Rat

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Dear devotees,

 

Here is an article by me which i would like to share with you.

 

Before the creation of the universe, there is only Parama Purusha which is of

the form of Non-objective Bliss and which is the Absolute State of

Existence,Knowledge and Bliss. This is also called Nirguna Nirupadhika Parama

Tattva which is non-different from Avyakta Agni (Undifferentiated and

Indivisible Agni)/ Parama Purusha. This is also the Supreme Purusha of the

Universe.

 

This Avykta Agni / Nirupadhika Paramatma / Shuddha Chaitanya Swarupa during the

process of creation become " One with Maya " . This Paramatma Swarupa with Maya is

Maya Upadhika Paramatma ie., Parama Purusha along with Maya as a medium creates

the Universe. This Maya is of the form of three qualities ie., Sattva,Rajas,

Tamas. This Maya Upadhika Paramatma is called " Maya Sabala Para Brahma " .

This Maya Upadhika Parambrahma otherwise called Maya Sabala Brahma is called

" Maha Ganapati " . The three qualities of Maya ie., Sattva, Rajas and Tamas along

with its Iccha, Kriya and Jnana Saktis are the three Ganas used as the medium of

creation. Since, this Maya which is under the control of Parama Purusha, He is

called Gana-Pati. In tantric lipi, these three Gunas / Qualities / Saktis are

denoted by `Vakra Tunda " or " Curved Trunk of the Elephant " . Moreover, this Maya

Upadhika Purusha sports in very subtle space inside the heart cave (Hridaya

Guha) which is called " Dahara Akasa " . This Dahara Akasa is called " Gagana " . The

first alphabet " G " is taken from

this Gagana. Nada, Bindu, Kala is added to it for Mantra Anushtana. This becomes

" GAM'. This becomes the Bija Mantra of Ganapati. It is this Ganapati, which is

of the form of " Maya Upadhika Parambrahma " which sports in the Hridaya Guha /

Hridaya Padma / Hridaya Akasa in the form of Chit.

 

The Vahana of any Diety denotes the Subtle Nature of the Devata. It is through

the Vahana only one has to know the subtle nature of the Devata. The Garuda,

Vrishabha, Peacock, Gardhabha (Donkey), Lion, Owl, Hamsa etc. vehicles for the

respective devatas Vishnu, Siva, Subrahmanya, Sitala Devi, Durga,Lakshmi,

Saraswati denote the subtle aspects of the respective deities.

 

Now, the Mushaka Vahana denotes the Dahara Akasa in the Hridaya Guha. The

Mushaka vahana / Rat Vehicle is the Dahara Akasa Swarupa. Mushaka is derived

from dhatu " Musha – Steye " . " Musha " means the " Rahasya / Highly Secret " . " Steye "

denotes to steel. Mantra Drashtas to make it more secret from the ordinary

common people, hid the syllable " KHA " and instead put " KA " in MUSHAKA " . " Kha' is

the Akasa Bija that denotes the Akasa in Hridaya Guha. This Mushaka

which is a Rat is having the habit of stealing of rice grains and other eatables

from house without the knowledge of householder. Hence, for the Upasaka, this

Mushaka also steals the Agami, Prarabdha and Sanchita Karma Traya without the

knowledge of Upasaka. This is the " Stealing " Tattva. Mushaka is also called

" Akhu " . " A " here denotes very subtle and small. Kha is again Akasa. Akha is very

subtle akasa or the space in the Hridaya Padma. The Vowel `U' in " Akhu " denotes

the 5th position in the 16 vowels " A, Aa, E, Ee, U……Am, Ah). Chandogya Upanishad

says that there 5 secret holes (Randra / Bila) in the Hridaya Guha. So, the Akhu

denotes these 5 subtle holes / randras in the Hridaya Akasa.

 

So, in a Nut Shell, this Mushaka / Rat denotes the Hridaya Akasa / Very Subtle

Space in the Heart. And, Ganapati riding over it implies that he sports in the

Hridaya Guha along with Maya having 3 Saktis as Iccha, Kriya and Jnana. These 3

Saktis are the three Ganas for Creation, Preservation and Destruction of the

Universe. Since, Ganapati is Mayopadhika Brahma in the Dahara Akasa having full

control over these Saktis, he is called " Ganapati " . The Vakra Tunda or the

Curved Trunk is the Tantric Lipi denoting the Iccha, Kriya and Jnana Sakti

Ganas. Since, he sports in Hridaya Guha / the Subtle Space of Hridaya Guha,

these Hridaya Guha Akasa is denoted with the Bija " GAM'. The entire Ganapati

Swarupa or Tattva is hidden in this GAM bija. The Mantra Drashta of this Tattva

is " Ganaka " Rishi.

 

This Ganapati is also called " Brahmanaspati " . Brahamanaam Patih iti

Brahmanaspati. Brahma is also called the Veda and Vaak Swarupa. Since, he is the

creator of entire veda vangmaya (vedic literature), he is called Brahmanaspati.

This entire Vedic Riks, Mantras that are of the forms of Matrikas. These

Matrikas are also called Ganas (Gana denotes Samooha - " a Group " ). Since, he is

the Master and Inspirer of all these Group of Matrika Varna Maala which is in

the form of Veda Mantras, Chandas (Vedic Metre), he is called " Brahmanaspati " .

This Brahmanspati is also called Brihaspati (Deva Guru). Brihaspati is so called

because it is " Brihati + Pati " . Brihati is the

Vaak (Speech). Hence, Brihaspati is the Lord of Speech which resides in the

Mouth.

 

Now, the Ganapati at Mooladhara Chakra is the reflection of the Maya Upadhika

Ganapati at Dahara Akasa at Hridaya Guha. Here, he is of the form of Nada

Swarupa / Brahmanaspati Swarupa. Entire Cosmos is the emanation of Nada (Sound)

which has 4 stages of evolution in the form of Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama,

Vaikhari originate from Mooladhara Chakra. These 4 Nada Avasthas are called

Ganas of Nada (Nada Samooha). Shining in the form of Brahmanaspati / Brihaspati

at Mooladhara, he controls these entire 4 Nada Ganas and hence, he is called

Gana-Pati.

 

As this entire Cosmos is his Creation in the form of Vaak which is of the form

of Beautiful Poetry, He is called the `Great Poet among all the Poets " (Kavim

Kavinaam…). As he is the Eldest among all the Devas, he is called " Jyesta

Rajah " . As he is the Lord of Vaak (Speech), he is called " Brahmanaspatih " .

 

Please refer the Ganapati Suktam of Rig Veda:

 

" Gananaam Tva Ganapatim Havamahe… Kavim Kavinaam Upmasra Vastavam.. Jyesta

Rajam.. Brahmanaam Brahmanaspatah Aa Nah Srunvan Utibhih Seeda Saadhanam "

 

Since, this Ganapati is highly sublime, supreme and can only be felt which is

beyond senses (A-sparsha), he is called " Ucchista Ganapati " . Upasakas of this

form of Ganapati are Gaudapada, Adi Sankara, Acharyas of Sringeri Peeta,

Chidanandanatha, Sri Bhaskararaya. In recent times, Dravida Rajeswara Sastrigal

of Kasi was the greatest exponent of this form Upasana.

 

Given below is the interpretation of Kaavyakanta Ganapati Muni who is an

incarnation of Ganaka Rishi for readers' information.

 

This Avykta Agni / Nirupadhika Paramatma / Shuddha Chaitanya Swarupa as

mentioned above which is otherwise called Para Siva takes two forms during the

process of creation. The first form is Nada Rupa at Mooladhara which is of the

form of Ganapati / Brahmanaspati / Vaak Pati. He is Jyesta Putra.

 

The Second Form being Tejo Rupa (Agni Swarupa). This Tejo Rupa Siva is

Subramanya Swarupa. He is Kanishta Putrah. This Tejo Rupa Siva Putra Kartikeya

assumes the form of Vaisvanara Agni and permeates in Six Chakras (Shat Chakras).

This Shat Chakra Rupa Tejo Maya Agni has become Shan (6) Mukkha (Faced)

Subramanya. The vahana / vehicle of Shanmukha is Peacock which is called

" Shikhi " in Sanskrit. This implies that Subramanya is the presiding deity of

Agni.

 

With regards,

Sriram