(VISHWAKSE:NA PU:JA)
VIGHNA NIVA:RAKA CHATHURTTHI
(VISHWAKSE:NA PU:JA)
Priya Bhagavad Bandhus !
Vighna Niva:raka Chathurtthi, popularly called as Vina:yaka Chavithi falls on 10th of September 2002. It is celebrated on the fourth day of the rising moon in the Bha:drapada Month. People worship the 'Gajamukha' to remove all the obstacles and reap success in their endeavour.
In olden days, people used to worship only one form, but, now a days they started worshipping different forms of Ganapathi like Lakshmi Ganapathi, Ganapathi with so many heads and so on. Here, we need to know something. According to our scriptures there are so many Gaja:nana:s! Which Gaja:nana is to be worshipped on this day ? Let us know about a few forms of Gaja:nana.
1) Son of Pa:rvathi, created by her, with the bathing paste is one of the famous Gaja:nana:s who was later appointed as the commander of all the battallions with Lord Siva. Battallions are called Gana:s. Ruler of these Gana:s is called Gane:sa. This Gaja:nana is having only one tusk and he holds the second one in his hand. So this Gane:sa is E:ka Dantha ie., the one having single tusk.
2) There are so many elephant headed and horse headed commanders with 'Sri: Vishwakse:na', who is the supreme controller of Paramapadam, the divine abode of Lord Vishnu. All these elephant headed commanders, it is said, are having two tusks according to Sri: Pa:nchara:thra A:gama scriptures. It is said that there are several hundreds of such Gaja:nana:s in the battallions of Sri Vishwakse:na
3) According to the commentaries of the Ma:ndu:kya
Upanishad, the worship of Lakshmi: Ganapathi is recommended. All
the living beings enjoy life in the three stages viz., awakened, dreaming and
deep sleep. A particular form of Lord Vishnu controls each of these
stages. Realised souls worship that particular form for Siddhi
(Success) while passing through those stages. For the awakened stage, it is said
that Lord Vishnu has to be worshipped in the form of Gaja:nana
ie., with elephant head, along with goddess Lakshmi and that form is
called Lakshmi Ganapathi. This is the form with all the symbols of
Lord Vishnu ie., with U:rdhwa Pundram (Vertical Mark on His
head), Sankham (Conch), Chakram (Divine discus) and
other ornaments decorated in his hands. Ma:ndu:kyo:panishad
describes this form of Vishnu as the one having 19 heads and 7 limbs with
elephant face as the main face.
Click to view in bigger size
So, these are the three different forms of Gaja:nana. It appears that people mostly get confused with all the forms and the subjects.
Basically, everyday has a unique importance according to Ve:dic Scriptures; as most of the westerners observe Father's day on a particular date, Mother's day on a particular date and so on. When a seeker needs success in his efforts and wants to get rid of the obstacles, the fourth day of the Bha:drapada month paves the way. So, if God is worshipped on that day, they will get the ability to solve the problems and they get enriched in their internal and external strenghts. That is why that day is called Vighna Niva:raka Chathurtthi. In short, people started calling Vighna Chathurtthi. As they worship Ganapathi on that day, they started calling it Gane:sa Chathurtthi.
But, who is the remover of obstacles, is the fundamental question. If we want to approach the President of USA then, we have to approach his secretary and similarly, if we want to approach another president or a Prime minister then we have to approach his secretary. There will not be a single secretary to all the presidents or all the VIPs. So also, people according to their faith, believe God in different forms like that of Lord Vishnu, Siva etc. Whoever worship Lord in the form of Siva, they have to approach him through Lord Siva's machinery. Vina:yaka is the one who interceded with Lord Siva's devotees. So, on Vighna Chathurtthi day, devotees of Lord Siva worship his son Gane:sa to remove their obstacles whereas, the devotees who worship Lord in the form of Vishnu have to approach Him through his machinery which is headed by a few Gaja:nana:s and to which Vishwakse:na is the commander in chief. So these devotees worship Vishwakse:na on the Vighna Niva:rana Chathurtthi day.
Some people might argue that on this day, it is only Gaja:nana who has to be worshipped and he is the only one who is the remover of all the obstacles for every one. It is obvious that this statement has to be corrected when we observe the above description.
On this day a special rice preparation is made in which rice is ground to powder and is boiled with water. That cooked powdered rice is made into round balls. They are called 'undra:llu' or 'Kudumulu'. These are offered to Vina:yaka. For Vishwakse:na a sweet is prepared with rice powder, boiling the platelets like preparation in oil. These are called 'Appam' in Telugu.
An interesting story is told by many people. 'Vina:yaka' the son of Pa:rvathi, likes these Kudumulu more. One evening, Vina:yaka ate these Kudumulu to the full of his stomach and going out carrying some of those balls in his hands. Due to the heavy weight, he fell down from over his vehicle, rat. Moon, looked at him and laughed. Vina:yaka got angry with the Moon and gave him a curse that who ever sees the Moon on this day will face a lot of troubles and accusations. Moon pleaded Vina:yaka to forgive him for his mistake. Then, Vina:yaka gave an exception that whoever does Pu:ja to him on that day (4th day of Bhadrapada Month) is exempted from the ill effects of the curse eventhough they inadvertantly see the face of the Moon that night. People say that, it is from that day, Vina:yaka is being worshipped every year, as a remover of the obstacles.
Once, In the open garden, when Lord Krishna is holding the cup of milk in his hands, the image of Moon appeared in the milk. They say that, as Lord Krishna saw the Moon on that day, he has to face the problem with the wrong accusation by the King Sathrajit that he stole the precious Gem called "Syamanthaka Mani". But, there is no relevance of this story to the earlier one. Both are different.
Due to lack of proper understanding and followup from the elders, the two different stories were intelligently mixed up by somebody and started saying that, on listening to this story after doing Ganesh Puja, they will become free from the curse of Vina:yaka and also the obstacles on their path will be removed.
However, after doing the Vighne:swara Pu:ja either in the form of Gaja:nana or Vishwakse:na, the common practice is listening to the story of Lord Krishna in relation to Syamanthaka Mani ( a big jewel) which is mentioned in the 55th chapter of the 10th canto in Sri:mad Bha:gavatham. This story reveals that obstacles may arise to any great person and how anyone with a bold heart and strong will should face the problems and solve them. It is true that everyone will face problems and one has to endeavour to overcome them too. Not only to ordinary people or great people, even to God...! If He Himself comes onto this Earth, He has to face the problems. This story is read on this auspicious occasion of this Pu:ja to recollect and reiterate that with WILL POWER one has to face the problem and Solve it.
To show how God Himself, having incarnated onto this Earth in human form as 'Lord Sri Krishna', has to face the problem and how, he was able to successfully overcome the problem of becoming the victim of accusation, inspite of being not at all connected with the mishap, is remembered on this occasion through the Syamanthaka Mani story. The actual story goes like this ...
Sathrajit pleased the Sun God with his worship and won a wonderful Gem called "Syamanthaka Mani" as boon, which can yield gold every day. Lord Krishna asked him to give him that gem so that he will use it for the good of all. But, Sathrajit refused to do so. From that day, Sathrajit was afraid that Lord Krishna is very adept and will somehow take away that Gem from him. One day, Prasena, brother of Sathrajit took that Gem and went into the forest on a ride and didn't return. Sathrajit immediately got doubt on Krishna. Sathrajit thought that this was the plot of Lord Krishna and he accused Krishna that he only stole the gem by abducting his brother. Lord Krishna having heard of this irrelevant accusition on him, was upset and decided to prove that He did not steal the gem. He went to the forest, searched thoroughly and found that a Lion killed the brother of Sathrajit and took away the Gem. He followed the way of the footprints of the Lion and basing on the dragged marks that went into the cave, Lord Krishna entered into the cave. There, Lord Krishna found a baby playing with the gem. When Krishna tried to take that gem from that baby, "Ja:mbavantha" a very old gigantic and ferocious bear attacked Krishna. Krishna fought with it continuously for 18 days after which, Ja:mbavantha realised that this person is none else than Ra:ma, but, in a different form. Because, no one else can fight with him so long except Lord Na:ra:yana. Ja:mbava:n was pleased to meet Krishna and he handed over the gem to Lord Krishna. Along with it, he also gave his daughter Ja:mbavathi to Lord Krishna in a marriage. Lord Krishna having found the gem came back and returned it to Sathrajit, telling him the actual happening. Sathrajit felt ashamed for having accused Lord Krishna. Sathrajit gave the gem and also his daughter Sathyabha:ma to Lord Krishna. Thus, Lord Krishna faced the problem of fault accusition and proved that any one with will and perseverance can find out a way to overcome the problem.
Lord Krishna did not do the Vina:yaka Pu:ja. Ofcourse, he need not, as, he is the Lord of all. It is natural for anyone to become the victim of some misdeed done by someone else though he /she is not actually related to it. Even in such worst case, how to win over the situation, is shown by Lord Krishna. One should have brevity to face the problem and should search the right thread to solve it. Doing Vishvakse:na Pu:ja will endow us, this ability. Doing that Pu:ja enriches our inner strengths that motivates us to face the situation. This day is ripe to endow such virtues on us.
So, it is good for everyone to do this Pu:ja specially on this day, that is ordained by the Sa:sthra:s, to enrich the strengths to obviate the problems.
At the end, it says that no one need to run away from the problems. All that we need to do is to pursue with perseverence, take the help of God and go ahead solving the problems. Let us march on towards success in all our good endeavours.
The following is the way in which the Pu:ja has to be performed-
1) Dhya:na Slo:kas
1) sukla:mbara
dharam vishnum, sasi varnam chathurbhujam
prasanna vadanam dhya:ye:th, sarva vighno:pasa:nthaye: ||
2) yasyadwirada vakthra:dya:h pa:rishadya:h paras satham
vighnam nighnamthi sathatham vishwakse:nam thama:sraye: ||
3) vishwakse:nam sakala vibudha prowdda sainya:dhi na:dham
mudra: chakre: karathala yuge: sankha dande: dadha:nam
me:gha sya:mam sumani makutam pi:thavasthram subha:ngam
dhya:ye:th de:vam dalitha danujam su:thravathya: same:tham ||
" sapariva:ra:ya su:thra vyathya: same:tha:ya sri:mathe: vishwakse:na:ya namaha
"
2) Na:ma:vali
1. o:m ke:sava:ya
namaha
2. O:m na:ra:yana:ya
namaha
3. o:m ma:dhava:ya
namaha
4. o:m go:vinda:ya
namaha
5. o:m vishnave:
namaha
6 o:m madhusu:dana:ya
namaha
7. o:m thrivikrama:ya
namaha
8. o:m va:mana:ya
namaha
9. o:m sri:dhara:ya
namaha
10. o:m hrushi:ke:sa:ya
namaha
11. o:m padmana:bha:ya
namaha
12. o:m da:mo:dara:ya
namaha
13. o:m va:sude:va:ya
namaha
14. o:m sankarshana:ya
namaha
15. o:m pradyumna:ya
namaha
16. o:m aniruddha:ya
namaha
17. o:m purusho:ththama:ya
namaha
18. o:m adho:kshaja:ya
namaha
19. o:m na:rasimha:ya
namaha
20. o:m achyutha:ya
namaha
21. o:m jana:rdana:ya
namaha
22. o:m upe:ndra:ya
namaha
23. o:m haraye:
namaha
24. o:m sri: krushna:ya
namaha
o:m sri: vishwakse:na:ya
namaha
o:m chathurba:have:
namaha
o:m sankha chakra gada: dhara:ya namaha
o:m srimathe:
namaha
o:m su:thravathi:na:ttha:ya
namaha
o:m gaja:swamukha se:vitha:ya namaha
o:m prasanna vadana:ya
namaha
o:m sa:ntha:ya
namaha
o:m prabha:kara samaprabha:ya namaha
o:m ve:thra pa:naye:
namaha
o:m hrushi:ke:sa:ya
namaha
o:m viswaraksha: para:yana:ya namaha
o:m bhaktha:nthara:ya vidhwamsine: namaha
o:m a:rya:ya
namaha
o:m ama:thya:ya
namaha
o:m krupa:nidhaye:
namaha
o:m sakala vibudha prowdda saina:dhi na:ttha:ya namaha
o:m mudradhara:ya
namaha
o:m danda dhara:ya
namaha
o:m me:gha sya:ma:ya
namaha
o:m sumani makuta:ya
namaha
o:m pi:tha vasthra dhara:ya
namaha
o:m subha:nga:ya
namaha
o:m de:va:ya
namaha
o:m dalitha danuja:ya
namaha
o:m tharjani: hastha:ya
namaha
o:m vighnana:saka:ya
namaha
sapari:va:ra:ya su:thravathya: same:tha:ya sri:mathe: vishwakse:na:ya namaha
sri para:nkusa:ya namaha
sri:mathe: ra:ma:nuja:ya namaha
sri:madvaravaramunaye: namaha
swa:cha:rye:bhyo: namaha
pu:rva:cha:rye:bhyo: namaha
samastha pariva:ra:ya sarva divya mangala vigraha:ya sri:mathe: na:ra:yana:ya
namaha
3) Mangala:sa:sanam
mangala vishnu ru:pa:ya mangalam ve:thra pa:naye:
su:thravathya: same:tha:ya vishwakse:na:ya mangalam ||
tharjani:mudra hastha:ya mangalam sa:ntha ru:pine:
sarva vighna vina:sa:ya se:na:dhyaksha:ya mangalam ||
sri:ranga chandramasam indiraya viharthum
vinyasya viswa chidachin nayana:dhika:ram
yo:nirva hathyanisa manguli mudrayaiva
se:na:nyamanya vimukha:ha thamasis sriya:maha ||
mangala:sa:sana paraih mada:cha:rya puro:gamaihi
sarvaischa pu:rvai ra:cha:ryaihi sathkrutha:ya:sthu mangalam ||
4) Kshama: pra:rdhana
manthra hi:nam kriya:hi:nam bhakthi hi:nam chamu: pathe:
yath pu:jitham maya:de:va paripu:rnam thadasthu the: ||
upacha:ra:pade:se:na krutha:nahara harmaya:
apacha:ra:nima:n sarva:n kshamasva purusho:ththama ||
swasthi praja:bhyaha paripa:la yantha:m
nya:yye:na ma:rge:na mahi:m mahi:sa:ha
go:bhra:hmane:bhyaha subhamasthu nithyam
lo:ka:ssamastha:ha sukhino: bhavanthu ||
ka:le: varshathu parjanyaha prutthivi: sasya sa:lini:
de:so:yam ksho:bha rahitho: bra:mhana:s santhu nirbhaya:ha ||
ka:ve:ri: vardhatha:m ka:le: ka:le: varshathu va:savaha
sri:rangana:ttho: jayathu sri:ranga sri:scha vardhatha:m
ka:ye:na va:cha: manase:ndriyairva: buddhya:thma na:va: prakruthe:s
swabha:va:th
karo:mi yadyath sakalam parasmai na:ra:yana: ye:thi samarpaya:mi
sri:manna:ra:yana: ye:thi samarpaya:mi
sarvam sri: krushna:rpanamasthu
Lord Vishwakse:na is the Commander - in - Chief of all the Gana:s of Lord Vishnu. Whole universe runs at the point of his finger tips. Lord Vishnu never says 'no' to any of the programmes fixed by Vishwakse:na. May Lord Vishwakse:na bless us to be in the service of God.
Here is a funny sloka composed by a poet. The poet says that he is not going to praise Vighne:sa but he is going to prostrate before him. If one praises a land lord, he may give a portion of land, if one praises a millionaire, he may throw a few pennies, So also Vighne:sa, if I praise you, You may give some Vighna:s !!!. So O' my beloved Vighne:sa I am not going to praise you, but, I prostrate to You again and again.
bhu: na:yakam va: dhana na:yakam va:
bhajan bhuvam va: dhaname:thi lo:ke:
thath vighna na:dham na bhaja:mi kinthu
sahasrasah thwa:m pranama:mi nithyam
Enjoy Vina:yaka Chathurtthi !
Jai Srimannarayana !