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Path to gbirls
News Letter
ஷேத்திர(வயல்)வ ழரீ முன்னேஸ்வரம், Kshethra Vinayaka Temple, hot mail; kshethravinayakasayahoo.
Author: B.S.Sarma, Kshethra Vinayaka T. Sri Sankar Publ September 2008
 

விநாயகள் ஆலயம், சிலாபம், இலங்கை.
Sri Munneswaran, Chilaw, Sri Lanka. com: m un meswara Insī: van hoo.com
emple, Sri Munneswaram, Chilaw,Sri Lanka. ications
செப்தெம்பர்

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Path to Dharma
September 4 ஷேத்திர(வயல்)விநாயகள் ஆல Kshethra Vinayaka Temple,
Author: B.S.Sarma, Kshethra Vinayaka Temp
This news letter solely contains the questions and an month August 15" September 2008, at this temų
1. Explain the position of Lord Ganesha in veda most important 12 namavali (auspicious name technical teminology?
i. Ganesha in the Vedas
Ganesha or Ganapati is called Vighneshvara or Vighn, Devotees always worship Him requesting for success ( Lord of and destroyer of obstacles is always worshipp He is considered the God of education, knowledge and
VakratulNDa mahAkAya sUryakoTisamaprabha NirvighnaM kurume deva sarvakarveshhu sarvadA
Oh! Ganapati, One with a curved trunk, a large body, a Oh God, always make all my undertakings free from (
Ganesha is also one of the six main Gods the worship the other five are Vishnu, Siva, Devi (Sakthi), Skanda in the Ganesha puja are given below;
Rig Veda contains the following verses (R^ich's) in pr: Brahmanaspati (Brihaspati), and, sometimes with Indr
| gaNAnAn.htvA gaNapatiM havAmahe kavim kavInA. jyeshh TharAjaM brahmaNAn. h brahmaNaspata A na
We appeal to You, Oh Ganapati of the Ganas Who ar wisest among the wise, Who abound in treasure beyon our prayers, come with Your blessings and assurances
ni shhu sIlda gaNapate gaNeshhu tvAmAhurvipratam, na R^ite tvat.h kriyate kinchanAre mahAimarka M m

தர்ம நெறி 2008 செப்தெம்பர் யம்,ரீ முன்னேஸ்வரம், சிலாபம், இலங்கை. Sri Munneswaram, Chilaw,Sri Lanka .
ple,Sri Munneswaram, Chilaw,Sri Lanka.
swers of the discussions held on the full moon day of the ple grounds with the devotees which will be useful to all.
, the philosophical significance and the meaning of the es)in a simple manner without using sophisticated
ahartaa, the Lord of and destroyer of obstacles. siddhi) in undertakings, and intelligence (buddhi)
ed at the begening of any new venture is commenced.
wisdom, literature, and all the fine arts.
and a brilliance equal to a crore (10 million) suns! obstacles
characterized by Adhi Sankaraacharya swamigal; and Surya(Sun).The Vedic hymns normally chanted
aise of Ganapati. Ganapati is identified with a or Maghavan, Agni and even Rudra.
m upamashravastamaM|| thshR^iNivannUtibhiH sIda SAdanaM
(Rig Veda 2.23.1)
e Brahmanaspati of the brahmas (prayers), the d all measure, the most brilliant one. Do listen to of protection into our home, and be seated.
aM kavInAM aghavan.h chitramarcha ||
(Rig Veda 10.112.9)

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Sit down among the Ganas (troops or worshippers), Exclusive of You nothing could be done anywhere. . our immense and honoured hymns.
Both these R^ik's (verses) are part of the Ganesha sc contents of the Ganesha sooktha, according to the ce and other famous places is as follows in sequence:
Rig Veda Mandala 8, Sooktha 8l,
Mandala 10 sooktha 11. Mandala 2, sooktha 23,
Another sooktha that is usually recited is the Brah from different parts of the Rg Veda. This p Sequence:
Rig Veda Mandala 1 sooktha 18 F Mandala 1 Sooktha 40 Mandala 2 sooktha 23 Mandala 2 sooktha 24 Mandala 2 sooktha 25 Mandala 2 sooktha 26 Mandala 7 sooktha 97 Mandala 7 Sooktha 97 Mandala 10 Sooktha 1 Mandala 10 sooktha l
The principal significant hymn linked to Ganesha up This amazing upanishad seeks to compare
namaste gaNapataye | tvameva pratyakshhaM ta
Translation: Salutations to You Ganapati. You a
utterance) tat tvam asi".
Shri upanishhadbrahmayogin's interpretation is g
AUM laMoNYkaaralakshhyvaturvaruupaM te tub namo . astu, aavayoraikyamastvityarthaH || yadvaa la M iti muulaadhaarabilijaM muulaadha yadoN'^kaaraarthagaNapatitattivaM lakaaravaac
tasmai lakaaravaachyamuulaadhaarasadanaaya gaNa tvameva shrotraadi pratyakshhaM pratikaraNa yachchaitanyalM vartate tattvamasi sarvaniyant

Oh Ganapati, the Supreme sage among the sages. Accept with honor, Oh wealthy One (dhanav An.h),
oktha that is usually recited during the rituals. The remony of panch Ayatana pUjA manual of Sringeri,
R^ik's 1-9, 2 R^ik's 9-10, R^ik 1.
manaspati sооktha, a collection of 62 R^iks selected articular sooktha consists of the following R^iks in
{\iks 1-5, , R^iks 1-8, , R^iks 1-19, , R^iks 1-16, , R^iks 1-5, , R^iks 1-4, , R^ik 3, , R^ik 9, 55, R^iks 2-3, 28, R^ik 11
pasana is the Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad.
Ganeshavidya with Brahmavidya.
t.h tvaM asi |
re indeed the perceptible representation of (the Vedic
iven as follows:
hyaMgaNapataye
arasya gaNapatisadanativaat.h || hyapaarthivaa Msha muulaadhaare vibhaati
pataye namo . astviti | M tattadvishhayapravR^ittinivR^ittinimittatayaa aa . asiityarthaH

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I offer obeisances to You Ganapati who are of Omkara syllable.May there be complete identit who are the Ganapati-tattva, the meaning of the Your abode. This muulaadhaara is indicated by of the elemental earth standing for the muulaac and control their respective activity and withdr. and the controller of all.
tvamevasarvaMkhalv
Translation : You are the all pervading reality, Vedic utterance, "sarvam khalvidam brahma."
Sri Upanishad Brahma Yogi interpreted this upanis pundit or commentator on all the 108 upanishads. recited text amongst devotees of Ganesha.
The upanishads like the Ganeshapurvatapini, the G usually not considered as one of the upanishads be
ii. Philosophical Significance of Ganesha's for
The Mudgala Purana explains elephantine head ar
tvaMpadaMnarashcha tatpadaMgajashcha eta gaNeshadehaHpratyakshhabrahmAtmakatvAt. h
Ganesha's human body representing "tvam", His their joining together signifies the nondifference o Thus, the body of Ganesha is the visible representa "tattvam asi."
Some scholars are of the view that Ganesha's heac Body below the neck represents mAyA, the princi association with the world is characterized by the
Ganesha's large winnowing baskets like ears, show Just as one uses a winnowing basket to separate gr must use discrimination (knowledge,budhdhi or vi (mAyA) in day to day life. Here the grains stand fi mAyA. Hence Lord Ganesha's ears signifies that to be achieved by taking resort to shravaNa or hea guidance of a appropriate Guru will lead to proper The vehicle of Lord GaNapati is rat, although the GaNapati), peacock as the vehicle in various texts.
The Mudgala Purana. Shoes the significance of th Which is explained as below,

the form of the turiya (fourth state), indicated by the y between You and me. Or, my obeisances to You
Omkara, who abide in the Muulaadhaara (chakra) as the laM, the seed-syllable ilhaara. You guide the organs such as that of hearing, awal from activity. You are the inner consciousness
vidaMIbrahmAsi |
the Brahman You are the representation of the
shad This Yogi is said to have been the only The GaNapati atharva shirsha is the most commonly
ianeshottaratapini, and the Heramba upanishads; are longs to the category of immense 108 upanishads.
ld human body of Lord Ganesha's as given below in:
yorabhedAltmako 1 (Mudgala Purana)
elephantine countenance representing "tat" and f"tvam" (You) and "tat" (Brahman). ation of the highest reality, Brahman, realized from
i symbolizes Atman the Highest Reality, while the ple theory of phenomenal survival. The Atman's supposition of mind and speech.
v the philosophical significance as follows; ains from dust and other unwanted materials, one veka) to separate the real (Brahman) from the unreal or Brahman and the unwanted materials symbolizes such discrimination between Brahman and mAyA is ring. Learning the religious scriptures under the
discrimination and realization. Of Brahman re are rare references to the lion (Heramba
e rat (muushhaka) as the vehicle of Ganesha.

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Ishvara Hisarvabhoktaa cha choravattatra saMsthita sa eva muushhakaHprokto manujaanaaMprachaal maayayaa guuDharuupa H san. h bhogaan. h bhuN^k
Lord (Ganesha) resides everywhere and in all things a muushhaka because He maneuver unnoticed like a thi phenomena.
A Ganesha Stotra from the Narada Purana
nArada uvAca: Narada said:
praNamvashiras A deva Mgaur IputraMvinAyakaM bhaktAvaasaM smaren. h inityaMAyuH kAmArthasid
One should bow the head and offer obeisance before t devotees, and remember Him always for the purpose (
(prosperity).
prathamaMvakratu NDaM cha ekadantaM dvitlyaka tR^it IyaMkR^ishhNapi.ngAkshhaMgajavaktiraMchu
Twelve names of Ganesha are mentioned. first the name Vakratunda, One with a curved trunk, second ekadanta, the single-tusked One, third Krishnapingaksha,the black and red-eyed One, fourth gajavaktra, the God with the face of an elephan
lambodaraMpanchama M cha shhashh ThaMvika Ta saptamaMvighnarAjaM cha dhUmravarNaM tathAs
fifth lambodara, the God with a large belly, sixth Vikata,the gigantic One, seventh vighnaraja, the Lord (and destroyer) of obstacles, eighth dhumravarna, the smoky-colored God,
navamaMbhAlachandra M cha dashamaMtu vinAya ekAdashaMgaNapatiMdvAdashaM tugajAnanaM
ninth bhalachandra, One whose forehead is adorned tenth, vinayaka, the great leader (of Shiva's army), eleventh, ganapati, the lord of (Siva's) gaNas, and twelfth gajanana, the elephant-faced One.
divadashaitani nAmAni trisandhyaMyaHpaThen, h na cha vighnabhayaMtasya sarvasiddhikaraM prab

H akaH te hi choravat. h || || (Mudgala Purana)
nd experiences everything. He is called 2f, concealed by maayaa, and experiences all
dhaye || 1 ||
he son of Gauri, Vinayaka, whose abode is the of obtaining longevity, and desired objects
aturthakaM|| 2 ||
t,
meva cha || hhTamaM || 3 ||
ikaM ||
| 4 ||
by the moon,
naraH | ho || 5 ||

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Anyone who chants these twelve names during the (morning twilight, noon, evening twilight), will not any obstacles, and will achieve all successes, O Lol
vidyArthI labhate vidyAM dhanArthI labhate dhana putrArth I labhate putrAn. h mokshhArth I labhate ga
One who desires knowledge (vidy A) gets it; one w wealth gets it; one who desires children will get the who desires moksha attains it.
japedh gaNapatistotraMshhalDbhir. h mAsai Hpha saMvatsareNa siddhi M cha labhate nAtra saMshay
One gets desired results if this Ganapatistotra is ch everyday for six months; a complete Success is con indisputably, at the earlist
ashhTabhyo brAhmaNebhyashcha likhitvA yaHsar tasya vidyA bhavet.h sarvA gaNeshasya prasAdata
iti nAradapurANe sanka TanAshanagaNeshastotram
Anyone who writes this stotra and presents it to eig the grace of Lord Ganesha.
The form of Lord Ganesh shows the ideals of perfecti philosophical concepts of profound spiritual significan
The lord, whose form is AUM. Ganesha is also def Ganesha is considered the bodily incarnation of the phenomenal world (Vishvadhara, Jagadoddhara).
The large head of an elephant symbolizes fidelity, wisd must possess to attain perfection in life.
The wide mouth of Lord Ganesha represents the natura
The large ears denote wisdom, ability to listen to peopl signify the importance of listening in order to assimila indicate that when God is known, all knowledge is kno one who possesses a great capacity to listen to others and
The curved trunk indicates the intellectual potent discrimination between real and unreal. The trunk of needle off the ground. Likewise, the human mind mu external world and yet delicate enough to explore the su
The two tusks on either side protruding from the mo

three sandhyas
experience rd (Ganesha)!
aM atiM|| 6 ||
ho desires
m; one
laM labhet.h || »aH || 7 ||
anted fident
narpayet.h H || 8 ||
sampUrNaM||
ht devotees, will obtain all kinds of knowledge, by
on as conceived by Hindu sages and illustrates some
CC,
ined as (Aumkara), that is "having the form of Aum entire Cosmos. He who is at the base of the entire
om, understanding, anda discriminating intellect that one
l human desire to take pleasure in life in the world.
e who seek help and to reflect on spiritual truths. They ite ideas. Ears are used to gain knowledge. The large ears wn, and the large ears signify that a perfect person is the
assimilate ideas.
|alities which manifest themselves in the faculty of the Lord Ganesha can uproot huge trees and yet lift a ust be strong enough to face the ups and downs of the btle realms of the inner World.
outh denote the two aspects of the human personality,

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wisdom and emotion. The unbroken tusk indicates Ga emotion. The broken tusk of Ganesha, as described a "break through" the illusions of duality and conveys to attain perfection.
An elephant normally has two tusks. The mind also fre the excellent and the expedient, fact and fantasy, whic mind must nevertheless become determinate.
The eyes of the elephant are said to possess natural c bigger than what they really are. Thus the elephant "bigger and bigger" in wealth and wisdom, he should one's pride and attain humility. The left side of the boc side symbolizes reason and knowledge.
The position of his legs (The right foot dangling over indicates the importance of living and participating in ability to live a successful life in the world without
overcome emotions. The four arms of Ganesha repre mind (Manas), intellect (Buddhi), ego (Ahamkara) represents the pure consciousness - the Atman - which
An axe in the upper left hand is a symbol of the retrer this axe Ganesha can both strike and repel obstacles." and truth.
A lotus (padma), in the upper right hand symbolizes attain spiritual perfection, one should relieve onesel enables one to live in the world without being affe. water but is not affected by it but is not affected by the
The lower left hand holds a whip, symbol of the force God. The whip conveys that worldly attachments and
The lower right hand (turned towards the devotee) is always blesses His devotees. It is a pose of blessing, 1
Ganesha's pot belly contains infinite universes. It sigr Ganesha to Swallow the sorrows (capacity to face all Universe and protect the world.
The human body possesses a human heart, which Ganesha's body is usually portrayed wearing red an truthfulness. Red symbolizes the activity in the w performs all duties in the world, with purity, peace, an A mouse symbolizes the ego that can nibble all that is of Ganesha indicates that a perfect person is one who Laddus, but not consuming them, denotes that a purif affected by worldly temptations. The mouse is also th one's ego in order that wisdom shines forth.
According to one interpretation, Ganesha's divine veh talent and intelligence. It symbolizes minute inve

inesha's ability to overcome all forms of dualism and bove, stands primarily for his ability to overcome or the idea that one must conquer emotions with wisdom
'quently proposes two alternatives: the good and the bad, h mislead and endanger it. In order to do anything, the
leceptiveness that allows them to perceive objects to be eyes symbolize the idea that even if an individual gets perceive others to be bigger than Him; that is, surrender ily of the Lord Ganesha symbolizes emotion and the right
the left foot, one resting on the ground and one raised) the material World as well as in the spiritual world; the being of the world, utilizing knowledge and reason to sent the four inner attributes of the subtle body, that is: , and conditioned conscience (Chitta). Lord Ganesha
enables these four attributes to function in us.
chment of all desires, bearer of pain and suffering. With The axe is also to prod man to the path of righteousness
the highest goal of human evolution, that in order to f of worldly attachments and conquer emotions. This cted by earthly temptations, just as a lotus remains in
mud from which it springs.
that ties the devout person to the eternal beatitude of desires should be got rid of.
shown in a blessing pose, which signifies that Ganesha "efuge and protection (abhaya).
lifies the bounty of nature and equanimity; the ability of pleasant and unpleasant experiences of the world) of the
is a symbol of kindness and compassion towards all. i yellow clothes. Yellow symbolizes purity, peace and orld. These are the qualities of a perfect person who di truthfulness.
good and noble in a person. A mouse sitting near the feet ) has conquered his (or her) ego. A mouse gazing at the ied or controlled ego can live in the world without being he vehicle of Ganesha, signifying that one must control
nicle, the mouse or “mooshikam represents wisdom, stigation of a cryptic subject. A mouse leads a

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clandestine life below the ground. Thus it is also a syr fears light and knowledge. As the vehicle of Lord Ga alert and illuminate our inner-selves with the light ofk
Some interpret this, to say that the mouse (Mushika desires, and the pride of the individual. Ganesha, rid slave) of these tendencies, indicating the power that t the mind. Moreover, the mouse (extremely voracious with his eyes turned toward Ganesha while lie tightly expecting an order from Ganesha. This repr subordinated to the superior faculty of the intell Ganesha and does not approach the food unless it
Lastly it is a very evocative presentation of how hum huge physical, mental and intellectual prowess conc well be carried by a very small (compared to the size ( In the north of India, on the other hand, Ganesha is ofte Buddhi (intellect) and Siddhi (spiritual power). Ganes and art) and Lakshmi (goddess of luck and prosperit him who has discovered his own internal divinity prosperity and success which accompany those who h
Representations of Shri Ganesha are based on thousa the figure of an elephant-headed god. In India, the st thus have never been claimed to be exact replicat physical entity but a higher spiritual being, and mor as an ideal. Hindu deities are seen to be accessed throl
2. Explain the prayer of Vinayaka (devo by Saint Thirumoolar in his Thirumanthi
1. Praises To God.
Adoration to the Holy Feet enshrined in The Feet of His whose arms are five, Whose face has the Elephant's majesty Whose single tusk rivals the cresent m Who is the darling child of Nandi And who is widom pure and overflowing
In Praise of God - The One is He, the Two His sweet Grace In three He stood.in all the Four withnessed The five He conquered,the Six He filled The Seven Worlds pervades,manifests the Eig And so remains
I. The One-The Uncreated Eternal Be
2. The Two-Siva and Sakthi. Sakthi
grace on the Jivas.
3. The Three-Triads are many:
a) Primal Sakthi evolves into threes (knowledge), and Kriya (action).

mbol of ignorance that is dominant in darkness and nesha, a mouse teaches us to remain always on the nowledge.
or Akhu) represents the ego, the mind with all of its ing atop the mouse, becomes the master (and not the he intellect and the discriminative faculties have over by nature) is often depicted next to a plate of sweets holds on to a morsel of food between his paws, as if esents the mind which has been completely ect, the mind under strict supervision, which fixes has permission.
ble and modest one should be. Ganesha inspite of his lucts and carries himself so lightly that lie can very of Ganesha) and insignificant being-the mouse. 'n portrayed as married to the two daughters of Brahma: sha is accompanied by Saraswathi (goddess of culture y), symbolizing that these qualities always accompany . Symbolically this represents the fact that wealth, ave the qualities of wisdom, prudence, and patience.
inds of years of religious symbolism that resulted in atues are impressions of symbolic significance and ions of a living figure. Ganesha is seen not as a is, or statue-representations, act as signifiers of him ugh points of symbolic focus known as mortis.
tional Thevara devotional song). Praises ToGod
my Consciousness
OO
ht
ing-Sivam. is the dynamic aspect of static Sivam. She confers
ubsidiary Sakthis: Ichacha (desire), .Jnana

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b) The three Gods: Brahma or Aya (o and Siva or Rudra (of dissolution) c) The three primal gums: Rajas, T d) The entire creation represented by e) The three theological categories I 4) The Four
a) The four Vedas: Reg, Yajur, Sama, A. b) The tour steps to God-realization: 5) The Five
a) The five senses. b) The five acts: creation, preservation 6) The Six
a) The six schools of philosophy. b) The six adhvas or steps to final real (sуllable), kalai (light), tathvam (princ c) The six adharas or plexuses (chakras iv) anahatha, v) vishudhi, vi) ajgna 7. The Seven
a) The Seven Higher worlds -
i) Bhooloka, ii) Bhoovarloka iii) Su vii) Janarloka(Sivaloka). b) The seven Lower worlds
i) Atala, ii) Vitala, iii) Sutala, iv)'' c) Seven Islands (sapta dweepa)
i) Shalmal dweepa, iii) Kusha dw v) Pushkara dweepa, vi) Jambu d) The seventh chakra - Sahasra loca 8. The Eight-Preservation through
i) earth, ii) water, iii) fire, iv)
Explain the Essentials of Buddhism? The Essentials of Buddhism are briefly given
Four Noble Truths r.
1. Suffering exists 2. Suffering arises from attachment to desires 3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire 4. Freedom from suffering is possible by pract Noble Eightfold Path Three Qualities Eightfold Path Wisdom (panna) Right View
Right Thought Morality (sila) Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood Meditation (samadhi) Right Effort
Right Mindfulness Right Contemplation Three Characteristics of Existence
1. Transiency (anicca) 2. Sorrow (dukkha)

foreation) Vishnu or Mal(of preservation),
hamas, and Sathwa. the three genders he,she and it. Pathi, pasu and pasam
dharvnana. Charya,Kriya, Yoga and Jnana.
, dissolution obfuscation, and liberation.
ization: padam (sound), ezhuthu (letter), manthrarn iples of matter), and bhuvanam (world). ): i) mooladhara, ii) swadhishtana, iii) Manipooraka,
Ivarloka, iv) Makarloka, v) Thapoloka, vi) Sathyaloka,
Talaatala, v) Mahatala, vi) Raasaatala, vii) Paataala
Veepa, iii) Krauncha dweepa, iv) Shaka dweepa, dweepa, vii) Lavana dweepa
ted in the cranium.
air, v) sky, vi) sun, vii)moon viii) Jeeva.
below
CC3SS icing the Eightfold Path

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3. Selflessness (anatta) Hindrances
1. Sensuous lust 2. Aversion and ill will 3. Sloth and torpor 4. Restlessness and worry 5. Sceptical doubt Factors of Enlightenment
1. MimdfulneSS 2. Investigation 3. Energy 4. Rapture 5. Tranquillity 6. Concentration 7. Equanimity

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