Question about Ganesh for Swamiji or anyone who can answer

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

 

I have recently been asked why Ganesha is always the first to be

invited to the puja. I tried to give an explanation, because I

remember Swamiji talking about this, but my response was not very

satisfying to me or to the person who asked me because he asked me to

bring the question to Swamiji as he would like a more complete answer

about this. I am pretty sure that Nanda or Parvati or someone in the

group will likely be able to answer this question, without bothering

Swamiji with it. But if not, please ask him ... I would like to

remember myself, as well as pass the information onto the person who

asked me about this.

Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji , Jai Ganesha ~ Linda

[Guest guest]

Dear Linda,

 

Namaste!

 

I believe that Lord Shiva gave Lord Ganesh the boon that He would be

the first to be worshipped before any undertaking or task. This is

after the elephant's head was affixed on Lord Ganesh.

 

Om Gam Ganapathayae Namaha!

 

Jai Maa!

 

srini

 

 

, nierika wrote:

>

> Dear friends,

>

> I have recently been asked why Ganesha is always the first to be

invited to

> the puja. I tried to give an explanation, because I remember

Swamiji talking

> about this, but my response was not very satisfying to me or to

the person who

> asked me because he asked me to bring the question to Swamiji as

he would

> like a more complete answer about this. I am pretty sure that

Nanda or Parvati

> or someone in the group will likely be able to answer this

question, without

> bothering Swamiji with it. But if not, please ask him ... I would

like to

> remember myself, as well as pass the information onto the person

who asked me

> about this.

> Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji , Jai Ganesha ~ Linda

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste friends!

Our priest told us that Ganesha is the first to be invited because he is the

remover of obstacles of any form so therefore can remove any negativity.

Also, Ganesha is the "gateway" to the other deities. He is the closest to

our plane of exsistance, and the easiest to get to know. From knowing

Ganesha, one is lead deeper. (Ganesha is our family deity, and is a

favorite of children!)

That is the explanation our priest gives us. The question came up at the

Temple one day. It is a simple answer, and it makes sense to me!

Namaste!

Parvatasundari

 

>nierika

>

>

> Re: Question about Ganesh for Swamiji or anyone who

>can answer

>Sat, 11 Mar 2006 12:26:06 EST

>

>Dear friends,

>

>I have recently been asked why Ganesha is always the first to be invited to

>the puja. I tried to give an explanation, because I remember Swamiji

>talking

>about this, but my response was not very satisfying to me or to the person

>who

> asked me because he asked me to bring the question to Swamiji as he would

>like a more complete answer about this. I am pretty sure that Nanda or

>Parvati

>or someone in the group will likely be able to answer this question,

>without

>bothering Swamiji with it. But if not, please ask him ... I would like to

>remember myself, as well as pass the information onto the person who asked

>me

>about this.

>Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji , Jai Ganesha ~ Linda

[Guest guest]

, "Denise Covarrubias"

<warajahuira wrote:

>

> Namaste friends!

> Our priest told us that Ganesha is the first to be invited because

he is the

> remover of obstacles of any form so therefore can remove any

negativity.

> Also, Ganesha is the "gateway" to the other deities. He is the

closest to

> our plane of exsistance, and the easiest to get to know. From

knowing

> Ganesha, one is lead deeper. (Ganesha is our family deity, and is

a

> favorite of children!)

> That is the explanation our priest gives us. The question came up

at the

> Temple one day. It is a simple answer, and it makes sense to me!

> Namaste!

> Parvatasundari

>

>

> >nierika

> >

> >

> > Re: Question about Ganesh for Swamiji or

anyone who

> >can answer

> >Sat, 11 Mar 2006 12:26:06 EST

> >

> >Dear friends,

> >

> >I have recently been asked why Ganesha is always the first to be

invited to

> >the puja. I tried to give an explanation, because I remember

Swamiji

> >talking

> >about this, but my response was not very satisfying to me or to

the person

> >who

> > asked me because he asked me to bring the question to Swamiji

as he would

> >like a more complete answer about this. I am pretty sure that

Nanda or

> >Parvati

> >or someone in the group will likely be able to answer this

question,

> >without

> >bothering Swamiji with it. But if not, please ask him ... I would

like to

> >remember myself, as well as pass the information onto the person

who asked

> >me

> >about this.

> >Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji , Jai Ganesha ~ Linda

>

Linda, Om Shri Ganshaya Namaga, Om Shri Gurudevaya,

 

I find Hundu cosmology very fasinating to me. I love the idea that

we have deities who are connected, in some way to our own

livelyhood, in that we participate with the cosmos on relative

terms. I believe, we have the knowledge within to claify and to

reciprocate these values with one another in the life course, and

especially, in the course of Dharma, and how can this be understand.

For me this is very near and dear to me heart. My personal

experience as a I witness the spiritual life, tells me of how Ganesh

and Shiva and other diven entities relate to my own life as a

Westererner; a Roman Catholic, and former Benedictine monk at that.

Oh God, I hope the Bishops don't get a hold of this note I'm

writing...he, he, he! I can feel the fire already!

Well, my own sense of identity tells me that human beings are

cosmic in nature. But, for me I have had to try to figure, what

that means in my "Western" theology,and mind set, as to the question

at hand. I see that there is a cosmic conection on the level of

physiology.

Shiva, apparently is connected to the "third eye" in regards to

vision, intuition, etc. Ganesha, the obstacle remover. In my lack

of Hindu cosmolgical terms, I have to use Western terms. I believe

that Ganesha, as remover of obsticle of intuitive blindness, etc, as

it were, acts as a remover of ignorance to what we wish to

understand, who resides at the "door way" to consciousness.

Now, this is what my personal experiences tell me. I see both Lord

Ganesh and Lord Shiva, and Lord Vishnu in my minds eye, and have to

wait and see what does this mean to me.

As a prayerful "hermit" whether i pray in English, Sanskrit, or mind

talk, how ever I pray or don't, my good karma has brought me to the

forefront of this experiential and existential "cosmic door"

mentioned above. Now, as to how to understand what is being seen is

one thing, and what is integrated is another. I love the spiritual

life, no matter what dress it wears. So, each part of the

physiology has a big part and connection to our own unfoldment at

the level of consciousness. Our own cultural anthropology will speak

to the nature as to how we do unfold this process that will help to

connecct us in participating with the divine presence in our own

mundane world.

So, in Christian theologial reference I'll use a phrase that speaks

to the nature of consciousness affecting physiology and the dynamics

of that consciousness on the spiritual path, whatever that path

maybe interpreted; could be Greek to me, or Latin, or Devanagaru

(Sanskrit)... "What is above will also be below..." and, "In my

Father's house, there are many Mansions" John 14: 1-3.

Now, I'm really hungry, and need to eat something.

But, what I'm saying is that we are connected to the cosmic on the

level of the physiology, and sometimes, we don't understand what we

see and how to comprehend a deep dosmic wuestion is sometimes a

difficult one at that. So, in the cultural we experience can make a

big difference toward that comprhension ona relative level.

Ganesh and Shiva are still there, nevertheless, even if we can;t see

them. So, to the question, as to Ganesha being first, I thing this

is the reason. Swamiji and Mataji would know and can give a more

elloquent answer than I.

So, on that note Breakfast calls. I'm a late eater! Happy

camping...

 

Edward