Ganesh Chaturthi ETV
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Ganesh Chaturthi as telecast on ETV Dattamaata – September 9 , 2013
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatye Namaha
Sripada vallabha Nrushimha saraswati Sri Guru Dattatreyaya namaha
'Vinayaka Chaturthi' - just hearing these words gives us a lot of joy and we forget all our sorrows. This festival is celebrated in every Indian home. Not just India, many other countries too have tradition of celebrating Ganapati festival. That is why, not just Indians, but people of all countries are very excited about this Ganapati festival. Students worship Lord Ganesha, seeking His blessings for their proper education. Traders and politicians also worship Lord Ganapati and seek His blessings before starting any new task.
The festival of Lord Ganesha, who blesses us with a broad-mindedness, large-heartedness and fine intellect (wisdom), has arrived today. We are celebrating it joyfully. Swami enters into our hardened intellect and drives away its sluggishness and dullness. He then blesses us with fresh and new energy, enthusiasm and ability. He is also granting victory to everyone based on the task which he/she has set out to execute. This is why, everyone right from children to the aged, should worship Lord Ganesha every single day. Before beginning every new task, He is to be thought of and worshipped.
Everyone is aware that our Lord Ganapati is an ardent devotee of His parents. In other words, He has limitless love and devotion towards them. Through His actions, many a time He has taught us that we should lovingly look after our parents, satisfy their needs, worship them and not cause them any sorrow. By worshipping His parents, Lord Ganapati has become Adi pujya (eligible for receiving the first worship).
Swamiji, in His divya nama sankeertana, worships this Lord Ganesha as 'Vakratunda and Prathamavandya.' His curved trunk (vakratunda) preaches that recitation (japam) of 'omkara' (pranava mantra) should be done. His curved trunk is in the form of Omkaara. His huge stomach (mahodara) is said to be the house within which innumerable universes (brahmandam) are contained. Just by seeing His idol/ form we can understand that He is Parabrahma.
He is the Ishwara for this entire creation encompassing everything beginning from space (akasha). He is ganadhishwara. He is Ganapati. He is Sumukha. He is easily reachable by the devotees. This Lord is immensely pleased with just the prathama vandana (worship/ salutation that is offered in the beginning of worship) that is offered by the devotees. He grants the ashta siddhis (8 super natural accomplishments) to those who worship him with garika (grass). With full faith and devotion, we should pray to this Vighnaraja, Vighneshwara to bless us with a good intellect (buddhi).
He is worshipped today with all different types of leaves. This is to seek the prosperity/ safety of this nature (prakriti). When the nature is at peace, it will rain abundantly. In this way all are inter-connected. Ganapati is the essence of this nature.
Why do we seek good buddhi? When the intellect is good, then the accomplishments will come automatically. It is a well known fact that through good buddhi, children can imbibe good traits and good behaviour. With this their future will be bright. Parents too will love and respect the children. Parents also feel that with good buddhi, children will turn out to be useful and will look after them with love during their old age. In turn, the entire family will be peaceful and joyful. The entire society can be reformed and rendered prosperous. The root to attain all this is 'good buddhi.' Ganapati showers this good buddhi. That is why, we should never forget Him and should eternally praise him as 'siddhidhoota, buddhinaatha, siddhinaayaka'. He is the Lord of mooladhara chakra (first chakra). Standing as the foundation/ root (mulam) for every task and every reason, He showers victory on to his devotees. Everyone should therefore worship this great God today and obtain His blessings.
He should be worshipped with the recitation of the following names-
OM Gananjayāya namaha
Om Ganapataye namaha
Om Herambāya namaha
Om Dharaneedharāya namaha
Om Mahāganapataye namaha
Om Lakshapradāya namaha
Om Kshipra prasādanāya namaha
Om Amogha siddhaye namaha
Om Amitāya namaha
Om Mantrāya namaha
Om Chintāmanaye namaha
Om Nidhaye namaha
Om Sumangalāya namaha
Om Beejāya namaha
Om āshāpoorakāya namaha
Om Varadāya namaha
Om Shivāya namaha
Om Kāshyapāya namaha
Om Vandanāya nandanāya namaha
Om Vāchāsidhāya namaha
Om Dundivināyakāya namaha
Those who think of Him with these 21 names, will not be subjected to ill-repute. They will be blessed with good knowledge, reputation and wealth.
May everyone be blessed with a good buddhi with Varasiddhi Vinayaka’s grace. May every heart be filled with purity and peace. May all this chaos, lack of peace and turbulence be wiped away from this world and it be rendered peaceful.
Om shanti shanti shanti.
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla