Vishwaksena

[KALKI]

Vighna Niva:raka Chathurtthi !
All our festivals have great significance each, in its own dimension and parameter, only for the well being of the society. They constantly remind us the glory of our great culture and inspire us to live in Peace and Harmony with the Nature and also with the Natural Forces. On the 4th day (chathurtthi) of the waxing moon in the month of Bha:drapadam (usually during september) Gane:sa Puja is performed in almost all the parts of Bharath. People join together and celebrate this auspicious occasion with family members, relatives and friends. This festival falls on August 27th this year.
People worship Him for success in their endeavour and for removing all the obstacles. Basically, every day has a unique importance according to Vedic Scriptures; as most of the westerners observe fathers day on a particular date, mother's day on another date so on. When a seeker needs success in his efforts and wants to get rid of the obstacles the fourth day of the Bhadrapada month paves the way says the scriptures. So God Supreme is worshipped on that day, to have the ability to solve the problems and get enriched in strength. That is why this day is called Vighna Niva:rana Chathurtthi. As many people worship Ganapathi on that day, they started naming it Gane:sh Chathurtthi.
Battallions are called Gana:s. Ruler of these Gana:s is called Gane:sa or Ganapathi. Gaja:nana means the one who has elephant face.
People worship God in different forms like that of Vishnu, Siva etc. Worshippers of Lord Vishnu worship Sri Vishwakse:na who is the Gane:sa or Gana Na:yaka (or Ganapathi ), the commander-in-chief of Lord Vishnu's battallions called Kumuda Gana:s. Ganana:yaka is one of the names of Vishwakse:na. The name Vishnu in the famous sloka below, is also one of the names of Vishwakse:na only.

sukla:mbaradharam vishnum sasi varnam chathurbhujam
prasanna vadanam dhya:ye:th sarva vighnoasa:nthaye: ||

It is said in our scriptures that, under the command of Vishwakse:na there are hundreds of elephant headed commanders having two tusks. The sloka

yasya dwirada vakthra:dya:h pa:rishadya:h parassatham
vighnam nighnanthi sathatham vishwakse:nam tham a:sraye: ||

reveals this fact. These Gaja:nana:s keep themselves always alert in removing the obstacles.

Who ever worship the form of Lord Siva, they approach Him through Lord Siva's machinery. Vina:yaka is the one who interceded with Lord Siva's devotees. So on this day, devotees of Lord Siva worship his son Vina:yaka (one with elephant face and one tusk) who is Gane:sa (or Ganesh or Ganapathi), the leader of Lord Siva's (Pramadha) Ganas.

Some people might argue that on this day it is only Vina:yaka, the son of Pa:rvathi has to be worshipped and he is the only one who is the remover of all the obstacles for every one. It is obvious from the above slo:ka:s that this notion has to be corrected.
After doing Ganapathi Pu:ja in the form of Vina:yaka or Vishwakse:na, the common practice that every body does is listening to the story of Lord Krishna in relation to Syamanthaka Mani ( a big unique jewel) which is mentioned in the 55th chapter of 10th canto in Srimad Bha:gavatham.
Thus, it is clear about whom to worship and celebrate this festival. For more details you can read further.

People say that one should not see Moon on this day and if they happen to see him without doing Vina:yaka Pu:ja, even by accident, then, they have to face many false allegations/accusations. Some people didn't know or didn't understand why this Krishna's story has to be remembered here. So, they started relating that Krishna accidentally saw Moon in his milk on this day and hence he has to face the false allegation / accusation that he stole the Syamanthaka Mani. But, there is NO evidence or any mention of such an event relation in any Pura:na:s or in our original scriptures. This story has nothing to do with Ganesh Puja. Ganesh Puja is celebrated to pray for the removal of obstacles to one's endeavour. Then, WHY remembering this story is recommended as a tradition on this day, is the question ?
The blame or accusation may be of any magnitude and may it be on any person, if it is a false accusation then the person should not give up or weep for that and succumb to the allegation or lose heart in noble pursuit. One should then pool up the courage and remain with bold heart, go ahead with the solutions, which ultimately lead that person to success. "sathyame:va jayathe:" - Ultimately only Truth Wins. This is what Lord Krishna's story of Syamanthaka Mani reveals us. To emphasize this fact and make people face the obstacles boldly whence, the remover of obstacles does the job, this story is to be remembered on this occasion of praying the remover of obstacles.
This story also reveals that, obstacles may arise even to great persons, how anyone with a bold heart and strong will can face the problems and solve them. At the end it says no one need to run away from the problems. All that we need to do is to pursue with perseverence, be hooked to God in the heart and go ahead with the solutions resolving the problems.
When we worship a form, we ought to respect all its rules and subjects. Though there are so many forms of God, You worship one that you were blessed with, respecting all the rules and its subjects. Thus, worship Him the Supreme, through that form with pure devotion.
Do you know, according to our scriptures there are so many Gaja:nana:s. Let us know the three popular forms of Gaja:nana:s.

1) Vina:yaka, Son of Pa:rvathi, the consort of Lord Siva is a Gaja:nana(elephant faced one). He was created by Pa:rvathi with the bathing paste. That Vina:yaka was later appointed as the commander of all the battallions of Lord Siva. He is having only one tusk, holding the second one in the hand. So he is also called " E:ka dantha ".
2) There are so many elephant headed and horse headed commanders under the command of Vishwakse:na who is the supreme controller of Paramapadam, the divine abode of Lord Vishnu. They all have U:rdhwa Pundram(vertical mark). All these elephant headed commanders, it is said are having two tusks. There are several hundreds of such Gaja:nana:s always alert in removing the hurdles.
3) According to Ma:ndu:kyoanishad, the worship of Lakshmi: Ganapathi is recommended daily, where this Gaja:nana is none else than Lord Vishnu Himself. In this form there will be 19 faces of which the main face is that of an elephant. Many details were given in the Upanishad. We human beings be in any one of the three stages viz., awakened, dreaming and deep sleep. A particular form of Lord Vishnu controls each stage. Realised souls worship that particular form for Siddhi during those stages. For the awakened state 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 Lakshmi Ganapathi as recommended by the Upanishad. In this form, Lord Vishnu will have U:rdhwa Pundram (vertical mark on his head) Sankham (divine conch), Chakram (divine discus) and other ornaments decorated in his hands.

Now we know that there are many Gaja:nana:s and which form should we worship and why.

On this Bha:drapad Sukla Chathurtthi day people worship Gaja:nana with fresh lotuses, honeyed fragrant flowers, greeny shoots and leafy stems of various medicinal plants and trees brought from pure forest shrubs. They use Maize candles, sugarcane, banyans, unhybrid & natural sweet juicy fruits etc., to worship God.
The function in a nut shell enlightens us that we shouldn't disrespect or ill treat animals, plants and trees. We should also worship them with an attitude realising that they are also different forms put in His service.