Ganesha

Ganesha. श्री गणेशाय नम :

Things we know and do not know about Ganesha.

பிள்ளையார்  - அறிந்ததும்  அறியாததும் .

Before we start any new venture or anything in day to day life, we are in the habit of praying to Lord Ganesha. His other name is Vighneshwara  विघ्नेश्वर | विघ्न means obstacle.  He is the Lord of all obstacles.  विघ्नानां  ईश्वर:  He has overall control of all the obstacles in the world.  Here He can work in two ways.  One is to playfully create an obstacle, and the other important one is to remove any obstacles which are created by anyone else.  Ganesha or Pillaiyar is normally portrayed as a playful child who is also very powerful, brilliant, and the epitome of wisdom.  He is capable of sanctioning his devotees whatever they want, playfully and effortlessly.  His eyes will always be smiling!  He can give a mischievous look but still smile!

Here he shows that it is important to smile with one's eyes! Only when the smile reaches the eyes the smile is complete! Otherwise, it will only be a plastic smile!  So lesson number one is when we smile, we should put our heart behind the smile to reach the eyes and make the recipient comfortable and happy!
This, Ganesha teaches by practical demonstration without talking!

The next lesson also is demonstrated without talking!  Let us recall the face of Lord Ganesha.  He is portrayed as an elephant-faced God. Baby elephants look lovely and mischievous!  Even when they walk, there is a grace about their gait. The special and important point to be noted about an elephant is that it does not show its mouth to anyone unnecessarily as other animals do! The elephant's mouth is naturally and always covered by its beautiful Trunk! In Tamil, this is what we say:

பெரியவர்களிடம்  பேசும்போது மரியாதையாக பேச வேண்டும் . அதை சைகையால்  எப்படி காண்பிப்பது என்றால்  " கை கட்டி வாய் பொத்தி  நின்று பேசவேண்டும். பிள்ளையார் இதை செய்து காண்பிக்கிறார்.

தும்பிக்கை  ஆண்டவன் is one of the names given to Ganesha.  The trunk is called Thumbikkai, and it is considered as a hand as in the word thumbi kai -  Kai means hand. He always closes his mouth with his hand! Even while eating, the elephant takes the food by hand and puts inside the mouth instead of opening the mouth widely for others to see! Only man eats the food, taking it by hand and putting it in his mouth, and among animals, only the elephant does this. No other animal can do this. At all other times, the elephant closes its mouth by hand, which is considered a symbol of respect to others!

We should learn from the above that we should not open our mouth unnecessarily and use it sparingly, whether it is to talk or to eat!  One organ was given two functions, namely, Talk and Eat. Do both of these 50-50  to be healthy and respected. We can keep both the body and mind healthy by this habit and avoid unnecessary controversy! . This is lesson number Two.

The third lesson again is shown by Pillaiyar through his face. Elephants have huge ears.  The huge ears denote that by both ears, one should hear and listen more.  Two ears for one function, namely श्रवणं, which occupies the first place in the nine types of Bhakti/devotion. नवविध  भक्ति |  By hearing and listening, one can develop patience and understanding, which is a healthy trend and an essential factor in life.  So, in short, without talking, Ganesha teaches us to talk less and listen more.

All these are shown by demonstration and not by words! Like his Father Lord Shiva, who in the form of Dakshinamurthy  ( दक्षिणामूर्ति ) taught his disciples as a Mouna guru मौन गुरु  (a silent teacher), the son also followed suit by silent teaching!

So let us pray to Lord Ganesha and try to achieve what He taught and remove all obstacles in whatever venture we want to enter.

For more slokas and how He justifies his name as Vighneshwara with two short stories, wait for the next post!