In this world, everybody has a master, but Ganapati has none. He is a master unto himself. This is the birthday of the Master of Masters. Ganapati is also called Mushika Vahana (one who has a mouse as his vehicle). You may wonder how a small Mushika can carry on its back a hefty personality like Vinayaka. Here Mushika does not mean a mere mouse. It symbolises the darkness of ignorance because it is in darkness that the mouse moves about. Hence, Mushika Vahana is one who subdues ignorance and dispels darkness. It is only when we understand the inner significance of the Vinayaka principle that we will be able to celebrate Vinayaka Chaturthi properly. (SSS Vol.35)
Ganapati, who presides over the senses, should be your guide in acquiring mastery over the senses. There is an inner meaning in worshipping Ganapati for ten days. The idea is that each day should be dedicated to acquiring control over one of the Indriyas (sense organs).
Students and devotees should realise that control of the senses is quite simple. What is necessary is not to encourage negative feelings when they arise, but to adopt positive attitudes. For instance, Buddha confronted the anger of a demon with his love and transformed him.
Many students today are subject to depression and are confused in mind. The reason for this is their weakness owing to lack of self-confidence. When them is total faith in God them will be no room for depression.
Students! There is need for observing festivals like Vinayaka Chaturthi for external satisfaction, but what is more important is to realise the inner significance of Vinayaka worship which is likely to have lasting effect. The worship of inanimate idols should lead to contemplation on the subtle spiritual entity represented by the idol. This is the process by which realisation of the Atma (Self) takes place.
Realise and act on the basis that the living Divinity is within you, Ganapati represents the ideal person who is guided by intelligence and wisdom. Engage yourself in acts which will please the Divine such as moderation in speech, giving up ill-will and hatred and eschewing all bad thoughts and restraint on desires By combining spiritual practices with academic studies make your life fruitful. (SSS Vol.30)
People worship Vinayaka by offering garika (a kind of white grass). What is the origin of this worship? Once Parvati and Parameshvara were engaged in a game of dice. Nandi was asked to be the adjudicator. Nandi declared Ishvara to be the winner each time. Mother Parvati thought that Nandi was biased in Ishvara’s favour. She became furious and pronounced a curse on Nandi that he should suffer from indigestion. At once Nandi fell at her feet and prayed, ‘Mother, I have not cheated you, nor did I show any favouritism towards Ishvara. I have been highly impartial in my judgement. It is because of the power of His will that Ishvara emerged victorious each time. Ishvara’s sankalpa is vajra sankalpa (His will is bound to succeed). Hence, I seek your pardon and pray that I may be freed from the curse.’
Parvati at once took pity on him and said, ‘Nandi! On the fourth day of the month of Bhadrapada, you worship Vinayaka with garika (white grass). You will be freed from indigestion when you partake of the grass offered to Vinayaka.’
People who maintain pet dogs know this well. When they leave them in the lawns, the dogs search for white grass and eat it. What is the reason for this? The white grass is beneficial to their digestive system. Hence, we see that the offering made to Vinayaka ensures good health to one and all. Since times of yore, people believed that Vinayaka conferred His grace on those who worshipped Him on the fourth day of Bhadrapada month. (SSS Vol.35, pp. 240-242)
How to pray?
In praying to Ganapati, you should not ask for trivial things like passing examinations or getting jobs. You should pray only, ‘Oh Vighneshvara! Please see that there are no obstacles in what I want to accomplish. I am worshipping you for this purpose.’ (SSS Vol.31, p. 245)
The Sastras, which are texts supplementary to the Vedas, declare that God resides wherever six excellences are evident: Enthusiasm (utsaha) determination (sahasam) courage (dhairya) good sense (sadbuddhi) strength (Shakti) and adventure (parakrama). The inaugural prayer of man has to be directed to God (Ganapati) to gain these six gifts which can purify consciousness and reveal the Atma. One has to undertake the discovery of one’s Atmic core, with bravery in the heart. This is no exercise for cowards. Wicked persons, waverers in faith, doubting hearts, woeful countenances, are destined to go through life as rogis (sick persons) and not yogis (dwellers in Atma).
This is the distinguishing mark that separates the wise (jnani) from the unwise (ajnani). Krishna spoke, laughing with an outburst of joy. Arjuna listened while overpowered by sorrow. The jnani is always full of joy, he laughs. The ajnani is afflicted with sorrow, he weeps. (SSVahini, pp. 224-225)
Today, few people understand the true spirit of the Ganapati Tattva (Principle). They are concerned with the outer forms and ignore the inner esoteric meaning.
Hence, today students worship Vinayaka with zeal. Vinayaka is not the one who merely comes to the aid of those who read their books. He helps everyone at every step in life’s journey. He is really accessible. He is pleased with the offering of flowers of no value. Ganapati accepts as offerings many things which men consider useless and trivial. One of the names of Vinayaka is ‘Arkadronapriya.’ (one who loves thummi and jilledi) It is said that anyone who eats these flowers will become insane. Such flowers are also offered to Vinayaka. Vinayaka is also worshipped with an offering of green grass.
What is the inner meaning of these kinds of offerings? It means that earlier Vinayaka used to be worshipped even by animals. His face is that of an elephant. His vehicle is mouse. These are symbols from the animal kingdom. They indicate that Vinayaka is worshipped even by birds and beasts.
Vinayaka is thus worshipped by all beings and is Lord over all beings. He does not belong to one country or one nation or one period of tome. He is related to all places and all times. (S.S. October
Every Festival is celebrated by various culinary preparations. For Vinayaka Chaturdasi, these preparations are of a special kind. The edible offerings to Vinayaka are totally free from oily substances. Vinayaka is offered only items cooked through steam. What is the reason? According to the science of Ayurveda (the ancient Indian System of medicine, food cooked through steam is easily digested.
Moreover, the Vinayaka festival, which is celebrated in the month of Bhaadrapada, falls in a month when sesame and jaggery come to the market after harvest. The sesame seeds are powered and mixed with rice flour and jaggery and cooked in balls which are offered as ‘Naivedyam’ to Vinayaka. Jaggery (gur) is a cure for several ailments relating to phlegm and bile. The sesame seeds have the power to cleanse the lungs and improve the vision. These balls of sesame and jiggery are thus noted for their medicinal properties for curing both external and internal ailments.
The significance of this offering is: During the month of Bhaadrapada, the farmers bring home the harvest of til seeds. Til seeds have medicinal properties for curing lung and eye diseases. When the til seeds and pulses are cooked by steam, the preparation becomes easily digestible. In offering such food to the deity two purposes are served. The offerings are tasty and wholesome (giving pleasure and promoting good health). These were the reasons for the observance of various festivals by our ancients. (SSS Vol.25)
The ancient Bharatiyas never indulged in meaningless practices. Every festival has an inner spiritual significance. Every word they spoke, every step they moved, every food they consumed had spiritual significance. (SSS Vol.28)
It is only when a man is pure that the intelligence blossoms. It is only with the blossoming of intelligence that Siddhi (the spiritual goal) is attained. Vinayaka presides over Buddhi and Siddhi (the intellect and spiritual realisation). Siddhi signifies the realisation of Wisdom. The scriptures say that Siddhi and Buddhi are the consorts of Vinayaka and Kshema and Ananda are his two sons. Siddhi and Buddhi symbolise the powers of attraction of Ganapati. (SSS Vol.25)
Significance of steam-cooked offering
In connection with the Ganesha festival, Prasadam (food offering) is dedicated to the deity in the form of Kudumulu and Undrallu. (SSS Vol.25) What are the kinds of edibles that should be offered to the deity? Even the offering that is made to Ganesha has great significance because it is prepared with gram flour and jaggery or pepper and enclosed in an outer covering made form flour paste and then cooked in steam without using oil. This is supposed to be a healthy and delicious food item according to the Ayurvedic system. Modern doctors also recognise the importance of such steam-cooked idlis (rice cakes) which they recommend as post-operative diet for patients as it is easily digestible, Jaggery too has the property of controlling gas formation and this food item gives relief from eye troubles and prevents gastric disorders.
The jaggery in the edible is a remedy for various ailments. The til seeds serve to purify the arteries. It also helps to improve the vision. The til seeds serve to keep down the bad effect of phlegm, bile, and wind in the body. The inner meaning of all this is that the food offerings to Ganesha have health giving properties. It should be noted that edibles cooked in steam are easy to digest. In the Super Speciality Hospital, steam-cooked idlis (rice cakes) are offered to heart patients the very next day after surgery. Oily preparations are not given. Idlis are given because they are easily digested.
In the ancient traditional mode of observing these festivals, great emphasis was laid on good health as the pre-requisite for spiritual pursuits with a healthy mind. For achieving the four goals of human life---Dharma, Artha, Kaama and Moksha (Righteousness, Wealth, Desire and Liberation)-- one should have basically a healthy body. If you want to earn wealth by righteous means and cherish desires which lead to liberation, you should have sound health. (SSS Vol.27)
All offerings to Vinayaka are free from the use of oil in their preparation. In the offering, there is no trace of any cooking oil. Hence, the offerings are called oil-less edibles.
What is the significance of such preparations? It is found that oil-less edibles are easily digestible. All these preparations are intended to promote health and are not designed to propitiate the Divine. The energy derived from these edibles is conducive to the promotion of longevity. (SSS Vol.31, pp. 240-241)
We have learnt how to worship Vinayaka, but we do not recognise His inner principle. This will make everyone of us an ideal person. Students worship Vinayaka more on this day, as it will improve their memory and intelligence. Music concerts begin with a prayer to Vinayaka. But because of the effects of the age of Kali, we have forgotten this fact. For the misfortunes
of the day, the root cause lies in the neglect of the worship of Vinayaka. (SSS Vol.33, p. 233)
The Vinayaka Principle, in short, symbolises health, bliss, peace, wisdom, prosperity, and many other things. Unfortunately this truth is not recognised by most people. People are content to offer some kind of mechanical worship to any odd figure made of clay and add to the pollution around them. What should be offered to God are things which will please Him. This is what Parvati enjoined on Nandishvara. She told him: ‘Offer to my son what will please him and what is most pleasing to you.’ The Vinayaka festival is designed to celebrate the offer of such pleasing things to Ganesha. (SSS Vol.30)
One who partakes of such food will be free from blood pressure and blood sugar and will always enjoy sound health and happiness. Food preparations, which are cooked on fire with oil content, are harmful to jataragni (digestive fire). Such food gives rise to various diseases. One can lead a long, happy and healthy life, if one avoids food with oil content.
Vinayaka has a pot-belly but he has perfect health as he partakes of steam-cooked food without oil content. Vinayaka is also called Vighneshvara (remover of obstacles). No obstacle can come in the way of one who prays to Vinayaka. Worship of Vinayaka confers success in spiritual as well as worldly endeavours. God grants happiness at two levels, pravritti (outward) and Nivritti (inward).
Pravritti is related to physical body and Nivritti to intellect. The former undergoes change with the passage of time, whereas the latter remains unchanged. Hence, one should try to reduce body attachment with proper food and habits.
Excessive intake of food results in obesity and, consequently, heart will be subjected to greater strain to pump blood. Blood travels a distance of 12,000 miles in the body with each heartbeat. With increase in obesity, the circulation of blood and, consequently, the functioning of the heart will be impaired. (SSS Vol.35, pp. 240-242)
Hence, one should exercise control over one’s food habits. In fact that is what Vinayaka does.