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Vedanta Section

Symbolism in Hinduism:

The objective of the seers of Sanatan Dharma with their reverential Vedanta philosophy and magnanimous package of religion was to help create positive, holistic, inspired, dynamic and above all loving & sensitive personalities. Whoever has such a personality is a blessing for both himself and the world around. Whether it is the very philosophy, the values, traditions or the very Gods, all unwaveringly focus on this great goal. Hinduism reveals various divine manifestations of one God, the so called Devatas. At times these unique forms of various devatas all the more reveals the thrust and priorities of these seers. This is specially true for the various human-animal forms. Such forms maybe accepted without any question by the majority of people, but these more often raises eyebrows in thoughtful people, and this is what they are initially meant for, to invoke inquisitiveness regarding some implied meanings. Basically the forms of Ganeshji, Hanumanji, Narsimha etc symbolize something. This Art of Symbolism had been perfected by the Rishi's is a profound way. Swami Chinmayanandaji in his book on Symbolism in Hinduism says that these idols are 'Word-Paintings' of the Sages. He says that:

"Melody carved in stone is sculpture. Sculpture in melody is music. In colors it becomes painting. Sculptured music, painted in words, is the highest in literature, and this medium of word painting has been choosen by the poet-seer, Vyasa, to describe the Indescribable, in his Puranas."

Lord Ganesh, the most loved form amongst all the panorama of various Hindu deities, symbolizes unique qualities with each of his form. We shall briefly take up between the lines messages in these articles. To begin with lets see what his Narrow Eyes symbolize.  

Eyes of Ganeshji: 

The eyes of Bhagwan Ganeshji are small, with a seemingly narrowed look, yet whoever has looked into them knows that they are so peaceful and loving. No wonder this huge giant of an animal becomes such a friend of man. These eyes give an indication of someone who is trying to focus on something. Whenever we try to understand something attentively then we invariably squirm our eyes a bit, and then with these narrowed eyes we focus all our faculties, including our mind and intellect, on the subject. Such unwavering, focused eyes thus stand for the quality of attention or concentration, and the peace within reveals their selflessness and confidence.

Narrow Eyes stand for Attentiveness:

Capacity to focus our attention properly on any given thing is such an important quality that it wont be an exaggeration to say that it alone is the doorway to all kind of knowledge, prosperity and success. The sages declare that basically there are no problems in the world, there is neither any grief, sorrow nor are there any kinds of limitations. Once we 'see' these then alone there is seeking, pain, sorrow, grief and all its subsequent effects. We basically do not know something and it is this ignorance alone which makes us imagine various things and the things get endlessly complicated. Such declarations give us hope that no matter how grave a problem appears to be it is sustained only by some ignorance on our part. One needs to believe fully that no matter how terrible and painful a disease or situation is there is a solution for it. Always believe that there is a solution for every problem, there is a medicine for every disease. We just need to go deep into the problem and give our best shot to try to understand it properly and if need be even look around with an open, focused and an inquisitive mind. Real education is to help us get such a positive and focused mind. It is one of the best qualities which can be acquired by anyone. With such a mind we can rest assured that there will be no problems whatsoever so such people in their life, but just situations, which need to be appreciated properly.

Attention is Dharana:

It is wrong to think that the real joy is in acquiring some special fruits of action, whether they are got by inheritance, gift or even by any other foul means. A person who has not worked hard to acquire his or her wealth takes no time to fritter it away and in the process do more harm to ourself. Real joy is in the hard work wherein we try to face, understand and subsequently handle a challenge. All this requires a confident and a focused mind, which is symbolized by these unique eyes of Lord Ganesa. No wonder Maharshi Patanjali in his famous Ashtanga Yoga, the eight fold limbs of Yoga, gives an important place to Dharana, as the sixth limb of Yoga, after Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama and Pratyahara. After Dharana comes the Dhyana and Samadhi. The implication is clear, till we have this beautiful quality we will not succeed in our Meditation too. However, it is not only for the spiritual goals for which this quality is a blessing, but it is equally a great blessing for one & all in any stage of their life. A student requires this to get knowledge, a businessman requires it to workout and deal with the market field challenges, a warrior requires it to prepare a fool-proof strategy to defeat the ill-intentions of the enemy, a politician require astute planning to handle the complicated problems of his society or country etc. We need to have great value for this quality, and it is only when a value becomes truly valuable to us, then only we start thinking, praying and working for it.

Dharana is not Trataka:

Attention may be symbolized by a physical organ, the eyes, but it is not a physical process, it is more of a quality of our mind. Capacity to physically focus our attention on something is called Trataka, however it is different from Dharana. Trataka is capacity to focus our eyes on something for a given period of time without even batting an eyelid. Ganeshji's eyes are not like this, they dont have the harshness of a mind which has been focused more by the brute power or will; they rather symbolize the focus of mind. Like when we face a challenge, then we sit back and go into the various aspects of the problem and deliberate on it. This is the quality which we are talking about. This is something which needs to be refined and polished, so that it becomes an intrinsic part of our personality and is available to us effortlessly in all our situations of life.

Tips to inculcate Attentiveness:

We all have this quality in some form or the other, all what is required is to polish and refine it further. That which helps us to polish it further are:

- Company of intelligent people or books. Regularly study inspiring literature and scriptures like Gita and Upanishads.

- Boldly taking up of our problems and before taking help trying to solve it yourself, to the extent possible. Let taking up some challenge or the other be something which turns you on.

- Never believe that any problem is intractable, rather believe that every problem comes with its own solution, we just need to discover it.

- Dont ever pray to God to solve your problems, but do wish and pray to have the necessary strength and intelligence to solve them yourself.

- Dont aim for a life of comforts and complacency, but look forward to a life of challenges, wherein you remain busy in any given field of your interest and go higher and higher in that field. Compete not with others but work to manifest your latent potential, and aim to go even beyond that.

- Have good health and healthy lifestyle.

- Practice Meditation and have profound devotion for God. Japa too is a great sadhana to practice regularly, wherein it is not the mere physical mantra which is repeated but implies retention of blessed awareness of God.

- Be alone with yourself for sometime everyday, and occasionally go to the woods and valleys.

- Have a great inspiring Role Model.

These few tips will definitely help you to acquire this great quality of attention. Then you will have taken the right message from Ganeshji. 

Quote

"Anything you could ever want or be you already have and are."

David Russell

Story

The highly articulated mythology of Hinduism presents many stories which explain the manner in which Ganesha obtained his elephant head; often the origin of this particular attribute is to be found in the same anecdotes which tell about his birth. And many of the these same stories reveal the origins of the enormous popularity of his cult.

Decapitated and reanimated by Shiva:

The most well-known story is probably the one taken from the Shiva Purana. Once, while his mother Parvati wanted to bathe, there were no attendants around to guard her and stop anyone from accidentally entering the house. Hence she created a boy's idol out of turmeric paste which she prepared to cleanse her body (turmeric was used for its anti-septic and cooling properties) and infused life into it, and thus Ganesha was born. Parvati ordered Ganesha not to allow anyone to enter the house and Ganesha obediently followed his mother's orders. After a while Shiva returned from outside and as he tried to enter the house, Ganesha stopped him. Shiva was infuriated at this strange little boy who dared to challenge him. He told Ganesha that he was Parvati's husband, and demanded that Ganesha let him go in. But Ganesha would not hear any person's word other than his dear mother's.

Shiva lost his patience and had a fierce battle with Ganesha. At last he severed Ganesha's head with his Trishula (trident). When Parvati came out and saw her son's lifeless body, she was very angry and sad. She demanded that Shiva restore Ganesha's life at once. Unfortunately, Shiva's Trishula was so powerful that it had hurled Ganesha's head very far off. All attempts to find the head were in vain. As a last resort, Shiva approached Brahma who suggested that he replace Ganesha's head with the first living being that came his way which lay with its head facing north. Shiva then sent his celestial armies (Gana) to find and take the head of whatever creature they happened to find asleep with its head facing north. They found an elephant which slept in this manner and decapitated it, attaching the elephant's head to Ganesha's body and bringing him back to life. From then on, he was called Ganapathi, or head of the celestial armies and was to be worshipped by everyone before beginning any activity.

Shiva and Gajasura:

Another story regarding the origins of Ganesha and his elephant head narrates that, once, there existed an Asura (demon) with all the characteristics of an elephant, called Gajasura, who was undergoing a penitence (or tapas). Shiva, satisfied by this austerity, decided to grant him, as a reward, whatever gift he desired. The demon wished that he could emanate fire continually from his own body so that no one could ever dare to approach him. The Lord granted him his request. Gajasura continued his penitence and Shiva, who appeared in front of him from time to time, asked him once again what he desired. The demon responded: "I desire that You inhabit my stomach."

Shiva granted even this request and he took up residence in the demon's stomach. In fact, Shiva is also known as Bhola Shankara because he is a deity easily propitiated; when he is satisfied with a devotee he grants him whatever he desires, and this, from time to time, generates particularly intricate situations. It was for this reason that Parvati, his wife, sought him everywhere without results. As a last recourse, she went to her brother Vishnu, asking him to find her husband. He, who knows everything, reassured her: "Don't worry, dear sister, your husband is Bhola Shankara and promptly grants to his devotees whatever they ask of him, without regard for the consequences; for this reason, I think he has gotten himself into some trouble. I will find out what has happened."

Then Vishnu, the omniscient director of the cosmic game, staged a small comedy. He trasformed Nandi (the bull of Shiva) into a dancing bull and conducted him in front of Gajasura, assuming, at the same time, the appearance of a flutist. The enchanting performance of the bull sent the demon into ecstasies, and he asked the flutist to tell him what he desired. The musical Vishnu responded: "Can you give me that which I ask?" Gajasura replied: "Who do you take me for? I can immediately give you whatever you ask."

The flutist then said: "If that's so, liberate Shiva from your stomach." Gajasura understood then that this must have been no other than Vishnu himself, the only one who could have known that secret and he threw himself at his feet. Having liberated Shiva, he asked him for one last gift: "I have been blessed by you with many gifts; my last request is that everyone remember me adoring my head when I am dead." Shiva then brought his own son there and substitued his head with that of Gajasura. From then on, in India, the tradition is that any action, in order to prosper, must begin with the adoration of Ganesha. This is the result of the gift of Shiva to Gajasura.

The Gaze of Shani:

A less well-known story from the Brahma Vaivarta Purana narrates a different version of Ganesha's birth. On the insistence of Shiva, Parvati fasted for a year (punyaka vrata) to propitiate Vishnu so that he would grant her a son. Lord Krishna, after the completion of the sacrifice, announced that he would incarnate himself as her son in every kalpa (eon). Accordingly, Krishna was born to Parvati as a charming infant. This event was celebrated with great enthusiasm and all the gods were invited to take a look at the baby. However Shani (Saturn), the son of Surya, hesitated to look at the baby since Shani's gaze is said to be harmful. However Parvati insisted that he look at the baby, which Shani did, and immediately the infant's head fell off and flew to Goloka. Seeing Shiva and Parvati grief stricken, Vishnu mounted on Garuda, his divine eagle, and rushed to the banks of the Pushpa-Bhadra river, from where he brought back the head of a young elephant. The head of the elephant was joined with the headless body of Parvati's son, thus reviving him. The infant was named Ganesha and all the Gods blessed Ganesha and wished Him power and prosperity.

Other Versions:

Another tale of Ganesha's birth relates to an incident in which Shiva slew Aditya, the son of a sage. Shiva restored life to the dead boy, but this could not pacify the outraged sage Kashyapa, who was one of the seven great Rishis. Kashyap cursed Shiva and declared that Shiva's son would lose his head. When this happened, the head of Indra's elephant was used to replace it.Still another tale states that on one occasion, the used bath-water of Parvati was thrown into the Ganges and this water was drunk by the elephant-headed Goddess Malini, who gave birth to a baby with four arms and five elephant heads. The river goddess Ganga claimed him as her son, but Shiva declared him to be Parvati's son, reduced his five heads to one and enthroned him as the Controller of Obstacles (Vigneshwara).

Quote

"Nobody will believe in you unless you believe in yourself."

Liberace

Letter Section

Quote

"The longest journey is the journey inward."

Dag Hammarskjold

Mission News

Earlier Programs

Imp Dates

Important Dates in September 2008

Hindu Festival Calender

Forthcoming Programs

VMission Programs Calender

Poojya Guruji's Talk at AMA : 

Poojya Guruji has been invited at the annual Talk series of Ahmedabad management Association at Ahmedabad.

He will be deliver his talk on 3rd Sept, on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, on the topic of Symbolism of Ganeshji and getting right lessons from him to make our lives more positive. 

Gyana Yagna, Dehradun : 

Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a four days Gyana Yagna at Dehradun from 12th to 15th Sept. She will conduct discourses on Kaivalya Upanishad.

Gita Gyana Yagna, Lucknow : 

Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a week long Gita Gyana Yagna at Hariom Mandir, Lucknow from 16th to 22nd Sept.

The subject matter of the discourses will be Vaitathya Prakarana of Mandukya Upanishad in the morning session and Gita chapter 8 in the evening. 

Gita Gyana Yagna, Mhow : 

Poojya Swamini Samatanandaji will conduct a three days Gita Gyana Yagna at Gita Bhavan, Mhow from 26th to 28th Sept.

The subject matter of the discourses will be "Sattwic Jeevan". 

Gita Gyana Yagna, Jodhpur : 

Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a three days Gita Gyana Yagna at Jodhpur from 1st to 3rd Oct. Her discourses will be organized at two different places. At one place she will conduct discourses on the 20 Values as revealed in the 13th chapter of Gita, and the Stitha Pragnya section of Gita at the other.

Discourses at Sojatcity : 

Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a two days Satsang at Chetangiri Ashram at Sojatcity, in Rajasthan on 4th & 5th Oct.

Gita Gyana Yagna, Secunderabad : 

Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a three days Gita Gyana Yagna at Secunderabad from 16 to 18 Oct. The subject matter of the discourses will be the 17th chapter of Gita.

Gita Gyana Yagna, Dahisar : 

Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a five days Gita Gyana Yagna at Dahisar, Mumbai from 4th to 8th Nov. 3-9 Dec - GGY Bhavnagar

Gita Gyana Yagna, Ahmedabad : 

Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a week long Gita Gyana Yagna at Ramkrishna Kendra at Maninagar, Ahmedabad from 17th to 23rd Nov.

Gita Gyana Yagna, Bhavnagar : 

Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a week long Gita Gyana Yagna at Bhavnagar from 3rd to 9th Dec.

Gita Gyana Yagna, Vadodara : 

Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a five days Gita Gyana Yagna at Vadodara from 10th to 14th Dec.

Gita Jayanti, Indore : 

Gita Jayanti will be celebrated by Poojya Guruji and other Ashram Mahatmas at Indore on 9th Dec.

Gita Gyana Yagna, Mumbai : 

Poojya Guruji will conduct a five days Gita Gita Gyana Yagna at National College, Bandra, Mumbai from 17th to 21st Dec 2008.

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. Om Tat Sat .