Ganesha Is The Presiding
Deity Over Intelligence And Obstacles
"Vighneshwara
is the deity presiding over the intelligence. He endows devotees with purity of intellect and power of discrimination between right
and wrong and between permanent and the transient. Mundane pleasures are
momentary and fleeting. Your aim must be to seek that spiritual bliss which is
enduring and unchanging and which transcends the pleasures of earth and
heaven." Sai Baba, SS, 10/89, p. 262
"He is called Vighneshwara, because he is regarded as the presiding
deity'over obstacles. As Yama is the presiding deity for births and deaths, the
grace ofGanapati removes all obstacles." Sai Baba, SS, 10/89, p. 263
Worship Of Ganesha
"Ganapati has been described as 'Aprameya', transcendent and
all-encompassing. Hence, he can be worshipped in any manner." Sai Baba,
SS, 9/97, p. 239
"The Vinayaka Principle symbolizes 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" Sai Baba, SS, 9/97, p.
238
"Shuklaambara-Dharam" Prayer
"The devout offer worship to Vinayaka with a well known prayer, beginning
with the words 'Shuklaambara-dharam' (The one who wears a white garment).
Vigneshwara is described as one who is white like the moon, who has four arms
(two for giving worldly protection and two for spiritual benediction), who has
ever-pleasing countenance and to whom obeisance is offered for removing all
obstacles. While the pious used this prayer in a devout spirit, the impious
misused the words to distort the meaning and make it a prayer to a quadruped,
which is employed for carrying clothes. It is by such misinterpretation that
some people have sullied the great culture of Bharat and undermined the faith
in God." Sai Baba, SS, 10/96, p. 274
Positive Effects Of
Vinayaka Worship
The Vinayaka Principle protects man from various hurdles in life and ensures
peace and security. Hence, on every auspicious occasion Vinayaka is
worshipped." Saiiffaba, SS, 10/96, p. 274
"Students worship Ganesha for success in academic studies and for
developing into good scholars." Sai Baba, SS, 9/97, p. 236
"Students like to worship Ganapati. They pray to Ganesha to confer on them
Buddhi (intelligence) and Siddhi (the capacity to realise their
aspirations)." Sai Baba, SS, 12/92. p. 224
The Inner Meaning Of The
Ten-Day Worship Of Ganesha
"Realise that you have a conscience that is your guide and consciousness
which represents your divinity. Ganapati, who presides over the (ten) senses
(five senses of perception and five senses of action), 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 sense organs (Indriyas). 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 demon with his love and
transformed him" Sai Baba, SS, 9/97, p. 241
What is the meaning
of the name Ganapati? Where are the Ganas? What is their form? When you
investigate this, you find that five organs of perception and five organs of
action (Jnaanendriyas and Karmendriyas) are the Ganas. The mind is the master
of these ten organs. Buddhi (or intellect) is the discriminating faculty above
the mind. The ten senses, the mind and intellect together constitute the Ganas.
In the word' Gana',' Ga' stands for Buddhi (intellect). 'Na' means 'Vijnaana'
(higher knowledge or wisdom). Ganapati is the Lord of the intellect and the
higher knowledge. The question may be asked: Are the intellect and the higher
knowledge present in the external world or are they to be found within man? The
answer is that he is present within each human being. There is no need to seek
him in the outside world. Ganapati dwells in every human being in the form of
intellect and wisdom.
When Ganapati is described
as 'Parvati Tanaya' (son of Parvati), who is this Parvati? Parvati signifies
'Prithvi'. Mother Earth. Everyone is a child of Mother Earth. The meaning of
'Parvati Tanaya' (son of Parvati) is that Ganapati, who is the Lord of Ganas,
is the son of Parvati, who symbolizes Shakti (Divine Energy)." Sai Baba,
SS, 9/97, p. 235