The birth of Ganesha
One day Goddess Parvati was at home on Mt.Kailash preparing for a
bath. As she didn’t want to be disturbed, she told Nandi, her husband Shiva’s
Bull, to guard the door and let no one pass. Nandi faithfully took his post,
intending to carry out Parvati’s wishes. But, when Shiva came home and
naturally wanted to come inside, Nandi had to let him pass, being loyal first
to Shiva. Parvati was angry at this slight, but even more than this, at the
fact that she had no one as loyal to Herself as Nandi was to Shiva. So, taking
the turmeric paste (for bathing) from her body and breathing life into it, she
created Ganesha, declaring him to be her own loyal son.
The next time Parvati wished to bathe, she posted Ganesha on guard
duty at the door. In due course, Shiva came home, only to find this strange boy
telling him he couldn’t enter his own house! Furious, Shiva ordered his army to
destroy the boy, but they all failed! Such power did Ganesha possess, being the
son of Devi Herself!
This surprised Shiva. Seeing that this was no ordinary boy, the
usually peaceful Shiva decided he would have to fight him, and in his divine
fury severed Ganesha’s head, killing him instantly. When Parvati learned of
this, she was so enraged and insulted that she decided to destroy the entire
Creation! Lord Brahma, being the Creator, naturally had his issues with this,
and pleaded that she reconsider her drastic plan. She said she would, but only
if two conditions were met: one, that Ganesha be brought back to life, and two,
that he be forever worshipped before all the other gods.
Shiva, having cooled down by this time, and realizing his mistake,
agreed to Parvati’s conditions. He sent Brahma out with orders to bring back
the head of the first creature he crosses that is laying with its head facing
North. Brahma soon returned with the head of a strong and powerful elephant,
which Shiva placed onto Ganesha’s body. Breathing new life into him, he
declared Ganesha to be his own son as well, and gave him the status of being
foremost among the gods, and leader of all the ganas (classes of beings),
Ganapati.
Meaning of the story of Ganesh
At first glance, this story just seems like a nice tale that we
might tell our children, or a myth without any real substance. But, it’s true
mystical meaning is veiled. It is explained thus:
Parvati is a form of Devi, the Parashakti (Supreme Energy). In the
human body She resides in the Muladhara chakra as the Kundalini shakti. It is
said that when we purify ourselves, ridding ourselves of the impurities that
bind us, then the Lord automatically comes. This is why Shiva, the Supreme
Lord, came unannounced as Parvati was bathing.
Nandi, Shiva’s bull, who Parvati first sent to guard the door
represents the divine temperment. Nandi is so devoted to Shiva that his every
thought is directed to Him, and he is able to easily recognize the Lord when He
arrives. This shows that the attitude of the spiritual aspirant is what gains
access to Devi’s (the kundalini shakti’s) abode. One must first develop this
attitude of the devotee before hoping to become qualified for the highest
treasure of spiritual attainment, which Devi alone grants.
After Nandi permitted Shiva to enter, Parvati took the
turmeric paste from Her own body, and with it created Ganesha.. Yellow is
the color associated with the Muladhara chakra, where the kundalini resides,
and Ganesha is the deity who guards this chakra. Devi needed to create Ganesha,
who represents the earthbound awareness, as a shield to protect the divine
secret from unripe minds. It is when this awareness begins to turn away from
things of the world, and toward the Divine, as Nandi had, that the great secret
is revealed.
Shiva is the Lord and Supreme Teacher. Ganesha here represents the
ego-bound Jiva. When the Lord comes, the Jiva, surrounded as it is with the
murky cloud of ego, usually doesn’t recognize Him, and maybe even ends up
arguing or fighting with Him! Therefore, it is the duty of the Lord, in the
form of the Guru, to cut off the head of our ego! So powerful is this ego
however, that at first the Guru’s instructions may not work, as Shiva’s armies
failed to subdue Ganesha. It often requires a tougher approach, but, eventually
the compassionate Guru, in His wisdom finds a way.
Devi threatened to destroy the whole Creation after learning of
Ganesha’s demise. This indicates that when the ego thus dies, the liberated
Jiva loses interest in its temporary physical vehicle, the body, and begins to
merge into the Supreme. The physical world is here represented by Devi. This
impermanent and changeable creation is a form of Devi, to which this body
belongs; the unchanging Absolute is Shiva, to which belongs the Soul. When the
ego dies, the external world, which depends on the ego for its existence,
disappears along with it. It is said that if we want to know the secrets of
this world, which is a manifestation of Devi, then we must first receive the
blessings of Ganesha.
Shiva restoring life to Ganesha, and replacing his head with an
elephant’s, means that before we can leave the body, the Lord first replaces
our small ego with a “big”, or universal ego. This doesn’t mean that we become
more egoistic. On the contrary, we no longer identify with the limited
individual self, but rather with the large universal Self. In this way, our
life is renewed, becoming one that can truly benefit Creation. It is however
only a functional ego, like the one Krishna and Buddha kept. It is like a thin
string tying the liberated Consciousness to our world, solely for our benefit.
Ganesha is given dominion over the Ganas, which is a general term
denoting all classes of beings, ranging from insects, animals and humans to the
subtle and celestial beings. These various beings all contribute to the
government of the Creation; everything from natural forces like storms and
earthquakes, to the elemental qualities like fire and water, to functioning of
the body’s organs and processes. If we don’t honor the Ganas, then our every
action is a form of thievery, as it is unsanctioned. Therefore, instead of
propitiating each Gana in order to receive their blessings, we bow to their
Lord, Sri Ganesha. By receiving His grace, we receive the grace of all. He
removes any potential obstacles and enables our endeavors to succeed.
Such is the greatness of Sri Ganesha! Jai Ganesha!
No comments:
Post a Comment