Vughna Nivaraka Chaturthi in Sriramnagar

[Guest guest]

Jai Srimannarayana!

 

Today Sri Vishwaksena Aradhana has been done with full pomp and devotion in the

Kodandarama temple in the Jiva Premises of Sriramanagar in the divine presence

of Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamy and Ahobila

Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamy. With HH's blessings I could attend the function today. By

10:30 am the Agama priests started the thirumanjanam to Lord Vishwaksena

chanting the hymns as a part of aradhana. He looked magnificent draped in a thin

white dhoti under the veil of milk, curds, juices, sandal water, ghee, honey

etc. A thulasi mala adorned him. The red rose petals stuck liberally all over

his divine body gave the impression of gem studded ornaments. Swamiji’s chanting

of Neera:ttam was soft, love-laden and devotion filled. After the abhishekam

the priests were engaged in the Lord’s decoration Meanwhile Ahobila Ramanuja

jeeyar Swamy spoke on the importance of this day. He said:

 

‘We do not want any obstacles in our way, whatever may be the work,

whichever field we are in. So we pray to Vishvaksena to remove the

obstacles.’

 

Later HH narrated the story of Vighneswara. He is the commander in chief of the

army of God Siva. One who worships him naturally has to go to his appointed

chief who eliminates the obstructions. So they pray to him. He is ‘eka dantha’

(has one tusk), Gaja:nana (having an elephant’s face),Ganapathi (leader of the

forces), Vinayaka (head of the forces), Lambodara (a big stomach). Since an

elephant is a ‘sa:kha:hari’ eats the branches of trees, he is worshipped with

different leaves and fruits.

Some days have a special power like the ekadasi, dwadasi, vijayadasami etc.

Likewise this day is empowered to grant us with our wish if we pray to lord to

remove the ‘vighnas’ (obstacles). While people who worship Siva pray to his

chief commander Ganapathi, devotees of Lord Vishnu pray to Vishwaksena the Chief

commander under Lord Srimannarayana.

Vishvaksena - Vishva means – 'the whole' and Sena means 'the followers or

attendants'. Vishvaksena is the one who manages the whole lot of followers. He

is the one who can eliminate our obstacles.

 

‘sukla:mbaradharam vishnum sasivarnam chaturbhujam

 

Prasannavadanam dhya:ye:th sarva vighnopa sa:nthaye:’

 

He is a chaturbhuja, showing his right fore finger, holding a cane in his left

hand, clad in a white cloth, fair like the moon, with pleasant looks.

He is also all pervading because he takes care of each and everything of this

whole universe.

 

In sthothrarathnam , Ya:muna says, ‘thvadi:ya bhuktho:jghitha se:sha

bho:jina:’

 

Vishwakse:na always takes the ‘se:shaprasadam’ofLord Srimannarayana.

 

‘thwaya: nisrushta a:thma bhare:na’- he has the responsibility of

administering both ‘Vibhutis’ given by You.

 

Thus Vishwaksena bears the whole responsibility which he carries on with utmost

devotion and commitment and there never occurs any disapproval from the Lord for

any of his decisions. Sri Pancharathra Agama and Vaikhanasa Agamas regard him

so. Today is the day when those who want to get rid of the obstacles pray to the

ONE who can remove them. This day we have to pray to him to give us the mental

strength and strong will to solve and remove the hindrances. Our actions which

are responsible for the hurdles have to be wiped off. This Chaturthi is the

special day we have to pray to the god who

has the power to remove our hurdles and grant us with success.

 

Vishvaksena’s subordinates are all of elephant faces with two tusks. So they are

offered ‘undrallu’ and Vishvaksena is offered ‘appalu’ in the naivedyam.

 

There are three types of elephant faced celestials – Siva’s parivaram with

single tusks under the leadership of Gajanana, Vishvaksena’s parivaram with two

tusks and u:rthva pundras.

 

Upanishads mention about a particular form of Narayana who has to be

contemplated on while in the ‘jagratha avastha’ (waking time) . He has an

elephant face (with two tusks) in the middle with nine different faces on either

side. He has Sri Mahalakshmi on his side. He has altogether 19 faces with

‘u:rthvapundras’ He is called ‘Lakshmi Ganapathi’.

 

Whoever takes birth on this earth has to face problems and hurdles. Life means

hurdles. Even Lord Krishna had to face it. He faced it and solved the issue with

determination. This is ‘Samanthakamani upa:khyanam’. HH told us the story of

Lord Krishna:

Sathrajit getting Samanthakamani that gave him gold everyday, how his brother

Prasena wore it and disappeared with it, how all the people suspected Sri

Krishna, how he went to the forest, followed the leads and went into the den

where Jambavan was having the ‘mani’, how Lord Krishna fought for 27days and got

the gem and his daughter Jambavathy as bonus and returned the mani to Sathrajit

and got rid of the accusation. Sathrajit ashamed for doubting innocent Krishna

and offered his daughter Sathyabhama in marriage and the Samanthaka mani as a

gift to him.

 

So we need to remember the story this day and pray to Vishvaksena to give us the

strength to remove the hurdles that come in our way and move forward. We should

never sit folding our hands doing nothing. We have to work hard and strive

sincerely to reach the goal. HH blessed all the devotees present in the puja to

receive the grace of Vishvaksena.

 

We all had thirtha goshti followed by a tasty prasada goshti in the temple.

Later HH did mangalasasanams to the sponsors.

 

Thus ended today's ‘vighna nivaraka Chaturthi’celebrations.

 

Jai Srimannarayana to you all!

 

Ramanujamma Mudumbai.