“ He is white robed, all pervading, of the color of the moon, has four shoulders, has gentle and soft face and the one who wards off all obstacles and impediments” This is how the first popular sloka describes Lord Vinayaka! He is the Lord who has no “Nayaka”! He is Nayaka himself! All the Gods are wary of Vinayaka! He is the first God that has to be propitiated if one wants success in his endeavors. Lord Siva too had to recognize the significance of Vinayaka during his fight against the demons of Tripura! Ravana had to lose the “Atmalinga” granted to him because of the wiles of Lord Vinayaka! Any puja or worship has to begin with Vighneswara worship for its successful completion! Different stories describe the birth or origin of Vinayaka. Sri Lalita .Sahasra Nama Stotra points out that Sri Mata created Ganeswara by her look at the face of Her Lord Kameswara! “Kameswara mukhaloka kalpita Sri Gneswarayai”! Many Puranas have different versions of the Lord's origin and birth!
According to Ganapati Adharvana Sirsha He is above “all the three Gunas- Satwa, Rajas and Tamas; he transcends the three states- jagrat, swapna and Sushupti! He is also far above the three types of bodies- Sthula, Sukshma and Karana! He transcends the stages of Time- Past, Present and the Future! He is present in the Mooladhara Chakra of all of us! He is the embodiment of the three types of energy-- IcchaSakthi, Kriya Sakthi and Jnana Sakthi! The Yogi's meditate on you always! You are the personification of the Trimurtis, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara! You are the Lord of the three worlds! Fire- Agni, Vayu-Wind, the sun and the moon are under your control Entire Creation is within you! You are all pervading!” “GAM” is the Bijakshara of Ganapati. If the Pranava OM is joined to the syllable “GAM” and chanted, Lord Ganapathy is sure to present Himself before the Upasakas! The Lord has a single tusk, four shoulders; a rope in one hand, and ankusa in another. The other two hands present Abhaya and Varada mudras'! He has the flag of the mouse! He is red in color, has a pot belly, winnow ears and wears red dress! His body is fully smeared with red sandal paste! Devotees worship Him with red flowers! He is compassionate to his devotees. He is the very cause for the creation of the universe! He has no Death! He is the form of the BRAHMAN and is said to be present long before creation itself!!
Lord Vinayaka has taken a number of avatars and has different names for every form! “Mudgala Purana” mentions thirty two forms of Ganapati whose detailed descriptions are found in the Sivanidhii portion of 19th century Kannada “Sri Tattvanidhi.” Nanjangud Temple and Chamarajanagar in Mysore have sculptural representations of these forms! Each of the thirty two forms have a dhyana sloka describing the attributes of each form! First sixteen forms of Ganapati are popularly worshipped as “ Shodasa Ganapathi” The thirteenth “Maha Ganapathi” is specially worshipped. The tantric sect is devoted to Sakthi Ganapathi, Ucchista Ganapati and Lakshmi Ganapathi. Herambha Ganapathi is very popular in Nepal.
The names of the thirty two avatars of Gnapathi are listed below: 1 Bala Ganapathi 2 Tharuna Ganapathi (young) 3 Bhakti Ganpathi 4 Vira Ganapathi 5 Sakthi Gnapathi 6 Dwija Ganapathi 7 Siddhi Ganapathi 8 Ucchista Ganapati 9 Vighna Ganapati 10 Kshipra Ganapathi 11 Herambha Ganapati (mother's beloved son) 12 Lakshmi Ganapathi 13 Maha Ganapathi 14 Vijaya Ganapathi 15 Nritya Ganapati 16 Urdhwa Ganapati (elevated) 17 Ekakshara Ganapati 18 Vara Ganapathi 19 Trayakshara Ganapati ( Lord of three letters A U M) 20 Kshipra Prasda Ganapathi 21Haridra Gnapathi (made of turmeric powder) 22 Ekadanta Ganpathi- with single tusk 23 Srishti Ganapathi--in charge of creation 24 Uddanda Ganapathi ( unchained) 25 Rinamochana Ganapathi- remover of all debts 26 Dhundi Ganapathi--sought after 27 Dwimukha Ganapathi- two faced 28 Trimukha Ganapathi--with three faces 29 Simha Ganapathi (lion) 30 Yoga Ganapthi (ascetic) 31 Durga Ganapathi--Invincible and 32 Sankatahara Ganapathi--dispeller of all impediments and sorrows!
Vinayaka chathurti is celebrated all over India and has become almost a national festival! In many places it is celebrated for ten days in a gala festive mood! Vinayaka welcomes you at every street corner! He is popular as every individual wants His grace to overcome the obstacles in this mortal world! Poets and Saints have sung his glory in their compositions which are sung by musicians even today! Saint Purandara Dasa, Saint Thyagaraja, Sri Muthuswamy DIkshitar and many others have extolled the greatness of Lord Vinayaka in no uncertain terms in their compositions! “Vatapi Ganapatim bhajeham” and Sri MahaGanapatim” are just two popular songs loved by people! On this day of Vinayaka Chathurti, let us pray and worship the Lord for our progress and prosperity as well as that of our Nation! May Mother India revert to the path of Dharma and be free from the canker of Corruption and other vices!
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