Sept. 11, 2010 (Bidadi)
This morning the day started for me with meeting more people from US. A big group of people arrived in the ashram for the 10 days program. It's feels like a big family gathering. Last I remember, a big event similar to this with people coming from all over to attend Swami's program was in LA Vedic Temple inauguration in November, 2007.
This morning Swami started the talk by wishing us Happy Ganesh Chaturti. He shared His experience, Ganesh eating the food He offered when He was a kid, gave Him a such a strong vitharka.
Swami explained to us, how Ganesha is a very undemanding God. You can relate with Him in a very simple way. Doesn't need any major rituals and so on. Ganesha can be created just with turmeric or clay. He is so simple too. In India, we can find Ganesha almost in every corner of a street. Ganesha is also most worshipped Hindu God.
Swami also took the time to explain, symbolic representation of Ganesha. The tool that He is holding in the right hand (angkusha) is used to control an elephant. That small tool is good enough to control an elephant. That represent, even a mind as big as elephant can be controled with a small and powerful technique called 'Unclutching'. The tool Ganesha holding in the left hand (paasha) is used to control attachment. In our life thoughts plus attachment it becomes engram. Since Ganesha has control over His attachments, so He doesn't allow the attachment to happen. That represent if we can have control over attachment, engram or engraved memories will not happen in us. Finally, bottom right hand of Ganesha holding a broken tusk, He broke His tusk when He was writing a Mahabarata Poem for Viyaasa, suddenly His pen broke. For not to miss the responsibility He committed to, He spontaneously and courageously broke His tusk and used it to replace the broken pen and continued writing. This represents we need spontaneity and courage to sacrifice in our life. Then the bottom left hand, Ganesha holding (mothaka) one type of Ganesha's favorite Indian dessert. That represent if we have all the qualities of 3 hands - unclutching, ability not to be attached and spontaneous in life with courage to sacrifice will bring sweetness to life.
Ganesha's big belly represents the cosmos, with all the qualities above we will find cosmos is in us, we are cosmos. (these are the words I remembered, without even taking any notes, please listen to Swami's talk directly on YouTube.)
As a humble offerings with deep gratitude, ashram is offering 1008 items naivedhyam to Lord Ganesh for eating the food Swamiji offered when He was a young boy.
Happy Ganesh Chaturthi! May Ganesha destroy and remove all the obstacles in our life.
This morning the day started for me with meeting more people from US. A big group of people arrived in the ashram for the 10 days program. It's feels like a big family gathering. Last I remember, a big event similar to this with people coming from all over to attend Swami's program was in LA Vedic Temple inauguration in November, 2007.
This morning Swami started the talk by wishing us Happy Ganesh Chaturti. He shared His experience, Ganesh eating the food He offered when He was a kid, gave Him a such a strong vitharka.
Swami explained to us, how Ganesha is a very undemanding God. You can relate with Him in a very simple way. Doesn't need any major rituals and so on. Ganesha can be created just with turmeric or clay. He is so simple too. In India, we can find Ganesha almost in every corner of a street. Ganesha is also most worshipped Hindu God.
Swami also took the time to explain, symbolic representation of Ganesha. The tool that He is holding in the right hand (angkusha) is used to control an elephant. That small tool is good enough to control an elephant. That represent, even a mind as big as elephant can be controled with a small and powerful technique called 'Unclutching'. The tool Ganesha holding in the left hand (paasha) is used to control attachment. In our life thoughts plus attachment it becomes engram. Since Ganesha has control over His attachments, so He doesn't allow the attachment to happen. That represent if we can have control over attachment, engram or engraved memories will not happen in us. Finally, bottom right hand of Ganesha holding a broken tusk, He broke His tusk when He was writing a Mahabarata Poem for Viyaasa, suddenly His pen broke. For not to miss the responsibility He committed to, He spontaneously and courageously broke His tusk and used it to replace the broken pen and continued writing. This represents we need spontaneity and courage to sacrifice in our life. Then the bottom left hand, Ganesha holding (mothaka) one type of Ganesha's favorite Indian dessert. That represent if we have all the qualities of 3 hands - unclutching, ability not to be attached and spontaneous in life with courage to sacrifice will bring sweetness to life.
Ganesha's big belly represents the cosmos, with all the qualities above we will find cosmos is in us, we are cosmos. (these are the words I remembered, without even taking any notes, please listen to Swami's talk directly on YouTube.)
As a humble offerings with deep gratitude, ashram is offering 1008 items naivedhyam to Lord Ganesh for eating the food Swamiji offered when He was a young boy.
Happy Ganesh Chaturthi! May Ganesha destroy and remove all the obstacles in our life.
