Finding Nemo

Sri Krishna is probably the most loved figure and beloved god for many. Sri Krishna’s disciples can be found all over the world and their devotion is unmatched. Srimad Vallabhacharya’s Pushtimarg, ISKCON, BAPS, and every other sect has been preaching the love for Sri Krishna and spreading his stories everyday.  Sri Krishna is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and a complete human in every aspect. He is one who is aware of his being, yet indulges in the activities of the human life. He is the one who despises the social restrictions yet upholds the ways of the principles. He is the one who teaches us to transform with time and always remember to do what is right. He is who teaches us that one must perform their duties and inaction is not a solution.  We recently celebrated the same love for Krishna in form of Govardhan Pooja & Annakoot. In our capacity to explain the one who is beyond all expletives, we humbly try to portray five different forms of love t...

कोदंड संभाले राम ने आज फिर शर साधा है। सामने अश्रुपूरित रावण ने आज एक विनती कह डाली है। विनिर्बन्ध, विनय, विवेकी, शील, दयालु, नम्र, स्नेही, आशान्वित, धैर्य और निगृह यह सभी गुण तो तुम्हारे थे राम। क्रोध, लोभ, मोह काम, ईर्ष्या, दम्भ, भय, दुःख द्वेष, आवेश गुण, अवगुण सभी हैं यह मेरे। बहिन का प्रतिशोध लेने को, कुल का उद्धार करने को, अनेकानेक असुरों को मुक्ति दिलाने को, अधर्म की राह चुनी मैंने। मायावी तो मैं था हे राम , अकेला मैं अनेक बन, मचाता था कोहराम। फिर आज क्या हो गया? एक ही हूँ मैं, पर अनेक हैं राम? फिर यह कैसे हुआ राम? एक से अनेक तुम कब हुए? मायावी तुम कब बने? रूप है राम का, कार्य हैं रावण के? यह कैसे हो गया राम? उठाओ तीर, भेद दो मेरा ह्रदय, काट दो मेरे हाथ मेरे सर, जला दो मुझे एक बार फिर। पर, बोलो तो, अपने अंदर का रावण कब मारोगे? लोभ, मोह, काम को कब तुम अंकुश लगाओगे? स्वार्थाचार को कब तुम आग लगाओगे? अंतःरावण को मिटा सको तुम, सदाचार की अग्नि में जल सको तुम, सद्भाव का ज्ञान समझ सको तुम, सत्यपरायणता का पालन कर सको तुम, तो, ...

The series cannot be completed without mentioning the reach of Lord Ganesha to cultures outside of India. In this last post for this year’s series, I shall try to present some more lesser known facts about the spread of the Lord Ganesha’s influence in Indian and non Indian cultures. During the early medieval period, both Jains and Buddhists incorporated Ganesh into their pantheon. The Ganesha cult thus travelled with the Mahayana Buddhism to distant lands, including Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Tibet, China, Mongolia and Japan. Ganesha’s worship spread in all the regions rapidly. Manjangan ( Ganesha ) temple in  Bali ,  Indonesia Ganesha in Ta Prohm, Angkor For the Jains, Ganesha appears to have taken over certain functions of Kubera. The earliest reference to Ganesha in Jainism is in the Abhidhanacintamani of Hemachandra. It refers to several appelations of Lord Ganesha such as Herama, Ganavgnesa and Vinayaka and visualizes him as elephant headed, po...

Just like the various stories of Ganesha’s playfulness the stories of his marriage are also a subject of fascination. While there are scholars who believe Ganesha to be a brahmachari, there are others who believe he has two wives – Riddhi (or Buddhi) and Siddhi and also has sons from them – Shubha and Kshema (or Labha).   In one of the stories that builds the case for his stay at the Kailasha, Parvati requested Shiva to marry the two sons – Ganesha and Karthikeya before returning to meditation. Shiva agreed on the condition – one who goes around the universe three times first shall get married first. Karthikeya with a slender form and a peacock as his ride immediately went of the task. Ganesha with his potbelly and a rat as his ride did not flinch. Karthikeya felt bad for his brother in his thoughts while travelling. Meanwhile, Ganesha mounted the rat and encircled his parents thrice and explained that to him they were the universe. Satisfied by Ganesha’s explanation, Shiva...

Lord Ganesha has been the subject for fascination of many over the time. Be it any period, any region or even religion his distinct form – elephant head and pot belly has attracted innumerable stories. Compared to other gods who are usually seen as handsome and well built, Lord Ganesha has always been a representation of accumulation. He has been associated with wisdom and knowledge – the two features that grant him fluidity even in moments of distress. There are so many stories linked to Lord Ganesha displaying his prowess over others – even Lord Shiva and Vishnu. There are stories in the Ganpatya texts and Ganapati Purana that are full of Ganesha’s playfulness and supremacy over others. One such story goes like this – Once Ganesha passed by the Kshirasagar – the abode of Lord Vishnu. Being a kid, he was fascinated by the ocean of milk. He decided to drink it and used his trunk to suck it all. Such was the force that he drank everything including Lakshmi, Sheshnag, Brahma an...

We have all heard so many names for Lord Ganesha. Each name signifies the form and a particular characteristic of the god. Some times, the god is referred to by a name that connects with the culture and the mindset of the people. Hence the demographics of the devotees plays an important role in naming the god himself who is above and beyond the divisions of the human mind. This is mostly done for the sole reason of being able to connect with him and internalize him within ourselves. A small synopsis of 108 names of Ganesha and their meaning is thus provided below to be able to understand a little more -  Akhurath: One who has mouse as his charioteer Alampata : Ever eternal lord Amit : Incomparable lord Anantachidrupamayam: Infinite and consciousness   personified Avaneesh: Lord of the whole world Avighna: Remover of obstacles Balaganapati: Beloved and lovable child Bhalchandra: Moon-crested lord Bheema: Huge and Gigantic Bhudhividhata: God of knowledge ...

There have been multiple rather innumerable incarnations of Lord Ganesha. However, as per the GaneshaPurana, there is an important incarnation in every epoch. In the Treta yuga or the golden age, Ganesha is known to be golden-hued and ten-armed mounted on a lion. In the Dwayapa yuga associated with silver, Ganesha appeared as white-colored and six-armed riding a peacock.  In the copper age or the Dwapara yuga which is the cosmic age prior to the present Kaliyuga, Ganesha defeated the red demon Sindura. The copious outpouring of blood turned the elephant headed deity red, daubed with the essence of Sindura.  The fourth manifestation that is yet to come in this present Kaliyuga or iron age. The form of Ganesha, expected to return as a black two-armed horse rider to destroy the confusion, terrorism, negativity and all dark powers. His name will be Dhumraketu.  Despite his many names and forms, Ganesha is regarded above all as an asp...