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Hindu mythology has rich abundance
of legends that are told and retold so many times that
one forgets which is the original, which is myth and which
a mere figment of fantasy. But the flavour of hearing
them narrated by elders and ardent devotees continues
to hold folks spellbound in its permeating aroma of divinity.
The Gods, Goddesses, smaller Deities and Demigods worshipped
by the Hindus, is awesome just in sheer number, and each
one of the Divinity has His or Her prowess extolled in
basic simmple foklore. A child in a Hindu family grows
up amidst such folklore and delights in the eternal victory
of the good over evil. No wonder that as one grows up,
one goes to town on the religious bandwagon.
Hindu mythology would be bereft of all its charm if we
do not bring Lord Ganesha into any discourse. Is
it not true that begining of any activity auspicious,
and of worship, is essentially with the invocation of
the Elephant headed Lord Ganesha? The Lord who
is the remover of all obstacles. The Lord who paves way
to success. Ganesha Chaturthi always brings in
its wake the aura of festivity and joy. Of commencing
new businesses, and ventures, and a spate of new activities.
Born out of the dirt of Parvathi's body, Ganesha
as an fine lad is said to have gaurded His house upon
instruction from His mother, from anyone entering. The
boy, not recognizing Shiva as His father refused Him entry.
An enraged Shiva who did not recognize. His own child
started fierce battle with the support of Deva Ganas,
and ultimately Nandi beheaded the beautiful
lad. Hearing Parvathi's lamentations Shiva realized
His mistake and tried His best to locate the head of the
boy, but in vain. The Lord then decided to put the first
head He came across which happened to be that of an elephant,
and thus restored the boy's life. The anguished mother
sought and was assuaged through a boon that Ganesha
should be considered by all as the eternal remover
of obtstacles, and hence the first worship should be made
to Him before it is made to any other manifestation of
divinity. Thus Ganesha is also known as Vigneswara,
the remover of all obtacles.
In India there are hundreds of temples for Vigneswara
and every Shivite temple would invariable
have a shrine for Vigneswara. Ganesha the elephant
faced God is one of the most popularly worshipped forms
of divinity - as a remover of obstacles and the embodiment
of good luck, in the Indian system of beliefs and practices.
How we wish we could gain His Grace and by a virtual flourish
of an invisible magic wand wish our fears and worries
away! May Vigneswara the remover of all impediments,
bestow on us the ability to overcome our difficulties,
the compassion to understand others.
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