Whole-hearted, dedicated offering done without any trace of selfishness is bound to yield reciprocal action from the Divine. Lavishly praising the collective effort to make the preceding day’s “Ganesha Immersion” ceremony a grand success, Bhagawan exhorted the students to celebrate all festivals in cognizance with the underlying principles of the same.
Elucidating on the Vinayaka Principle, in a Divine Discourse delivered on the 26th Aug evening, a day after the Immersion of Ganesha Idols, Bhagawan reiterated His often repeated version of Lord Vinayaka that Vinayaka was the One without an Over Lord.
Hailing Bharat as a sacred land that has given birth to many saints, seers and sages, while stressing on the greater importance of understanding the Vinayaka Principle, Bhagawan said, Vinayaka has no master and He is the master of all.
Divulging deep into the Vinayaka Principle, Bhagawan chose to speak about the deity’s food habits. Vinayaka takes simple food made out of nine grains, well grinded, soft, sans oil content, made out of steam, made into balls known as “Kudumulu” or “Undrallu”.
Vinayaka has two children, Vidya (knowledge) and Buddhi (Intellect)…they always associate with Him wishing for success to Vinayaka. His two wives are Devanayaki and Valli who also partake the same food, being always in His company.
His commands are conveyed in the state of silence. His walking and footsteps are so soft and tender. However, He manifests wherever you pray and desire. As He is the leader and Master of everyone, He is given the befitting title, Vinayaka.
Talking about the Vinayaka worship that is considered widely confined within India, Bhagawan said, anyone can offer their prayers irrespective of their nationality. But, we consider Vinayaka to be limited to Bharat alone; In fact He is the Master for the whole of the Universe and hence one can experience Vinayaka in various ways wherever he is, in whichever country he belongs to. He will be able to atone all his sins by praying to Him. Vinayaka is present in everyone in the form of breath. It is utter foolishness to limit Vinayaka, with a universal appeal, to an idol made up of clay and offer worship to Him.
Expounding on the significance of “immersion” of Vinayaka Idols during Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations, Bhagawan continued, …such Vinayaka is brought here and later immersed in Chitravati by students. The Idols that are immersed get mixed up with water and when water spreads in water it spreads everywhere. Thus the immersion of Vinayaka Idols signifies the spreading of the Vinayaka principle everywhere.
Referring to Vinayaka’s children, stressing on the greater importance of mutual love and care and adoration towards one’s own parents, Bhagawan said citing Vinayaka as a perfect example: Vinayaka never stays away from His children; His sole property is His children. Therefore, it is most essential for every man to consider one’s own children as his sole property. One should not forget his father and mother; All our intellect and intelligence are because of our parents.
Calling Vinayaka as the one who has been there right from the beginning of creation, Bhagawan emphatically reiterated that, if one has no vinayaka in his life, he has no Nayaka or Leader in his life. Vinayaka is the Master of our lives.
Further elucidating on the mysterious Vinayaka Principle, Bhagawan continued: Vinayaka does not command anything orally; He has a trunk. This trunk accommodates everything…all actions, inhalation, exhalation, eating and drinking are done by the trunk. Upon deep investigation we would understand the Universal Vinayaka Principle. Vinayaka has been there from the beginning of Creation. Before any new venture and even before we start eating, we pray to Vinayaka and it is very essential on the part of a Bharatiya to adhere to this practice. All over Bharat we come across number of temples and installation for Vinayaka worship. Bharatiyas offer their first prayer to Vinayaka before commencing any activity. Our students as well do the same offering first prayer to Vinayaka.
Referring to offering of worship to Vinayaka, He said, one need to worship Him all days and one should not restrict these worship to some particular day alone. Worshipping Him on Chaviti, the fourth day is a meritorious action.
Coming back to the food habits of the Lord without an Over Lord, Bhagawan said: He has got a very big stomach. The big stomach is full of air and nothing else. We often extol Him singing that He has a very big stomach. In fact He does not accept from everyone;He moves all over and many will be offering, but He does not accept from all. During Vinayaka Chaviti people make preparations of many kind; Vinayaka does not expect any such preparation from us; He enjoys air alone; air is His life and is His nature….air symbolizes life.
Vinayaka means He is the leader of our lives. All our lives are under His control. If this control is not exercised it would lead to “Vinashana” or destruction. Because of Vinayaka, there is no annihilation. Thus, Vinayaka is everywhere. Whether we know it or not, experience or not, Vinayaka is with us always. Vinayaka represents the very process of breathing.
On the mysterious connection between Vinayaka and the breathing exercise, Pranayama, Bhagawan enlightened the students explaining the principle in simple words. “Breathing in” and “Breathing out” process contains the Soham Principle. “Breathing in” is Pooraka and “Breathing out” is Rechaka and the mid process, retention is known as “Kumbhaka”. “Breathing in” and “Breathing out” should of same duration which again should match with “Retention”. Pranayama or breathing exercise consists of these three states, Pooraka, Rechaka and Kumbhaka. When all the three states synchronise with equal duration, meditation becomes a possibility. The entire breathing process happens as per the Will of God.
Referring to Vinayaka’s pristine touch to sanctify anything and everything that He comes in contact with, Bhagawan said, once Vinayaka walks over, all footprints get erased. The elephant faced God that He is, Bhagawan said, Once Vinayaka walks over all footprints gets erased, said Bhagawan referring to Vinayaka’s pristine touch to sanctify anything and everything that He comes in contact with. Talking about the elephant faced God, Bhagawan said, elephant is very special, unique and makes great impact even through its sound which silences even barking dogs. Coming back to the practice of taking out procession of Vinayaka Idols for immersion He said, ….such mighty Vinayaka, having universal appeal, is made simple in the form of an idol and we make Him to sit on a chariot to take Him in a procession.
Divine Principle is all pervasive and unlimited. Birth and death applies to the physical form alone; one who is beyond the physical frame has no birth and death. Brahma is formless. Brahma is the very breath, inhalation and exhalation. Brahmam and Aum have neither a beginning nor any end. Basing on the breathing principle, that which has a beginning is bound to have an end. But, Divinity has no beginning and cannot be annihilated. Only with unity one will be able to understand God. Unity in diversity is true Brahman.
It is only our imagination that makes idols and call it by various names of Gods.. Idols of Krishna were made out of the paintings of Ravi Varma who himself had not seen Krishna anytime. It was his imagination, after going through various descriptions that manifested in the form of paintings. No one has seen the full manifestation of God, echoed Bhagawan.
Ending His Divine Discourse that lasted for full forty minutes, Bhagawan said, He was extremely happy with the spirit with which the immersion ceremony was conducted on the previous day by the students of the educational institutions. Without the actual spirit monitoring the same, one cannot understand the Divinity. Calling Vinayaka as the One and only Leader, the all pervading Master, Bhagawan exhorted everyone to celebrate all festivity in full cognizance with the underlying principle of the same.
We-Nayaka…He is the Only Leader…concluded Bhagawan singing the Bhajan Vinayaka…Vinayaka…Vighna Vinashaka Vinayaka…” This was followed by two more Vinayaka Bhajans by students before Arathi was offered.
(copyright with SSSST-Publications Division, Prasanthi Nilayam)
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