Traffic for temple.
When Shiv Sena stopped the city from breaking down a temple in the middle of the road, people were surprised. Wouldn't it be for the greater good of the city if people can move freely? Would it not be a better city if traffic got better? If I could save five minutes of travel each day, does it not make sense to tear down a temple? Thoughts like these flooded the minds of people watching an unruly Shiv Sena mob stop the destruction. What people fail to see however, is what role the temple actually plays in every day life of a typical Mumbai-kar.
Praying to Ganesha is a part and parcel of every Mumbai-kar's life.
A twelve year old child stands awkwardly outside of a temple and gazes at the smiling God with an Elephant face and pot-belly. He has a very tough exam ahead of him and he has spent countless nights studying for it. However, he can't help but feel nervous. And so he closes his eyes, joins his palms and prays. A thin smile flickers on his face and he feels at peace as he walks away towards his school, ready for a challenge.
A boy and a girl have waited for four hours in a long line to enter Ganapati's temple and they have not spoken a word. They have decided to spend their lives together and have also decided to tell their parents the next day. Their mind can't do anything besides play them videos of what all could go wrong. As they hold their hands, much to the anger of old aunties behind them, they are unaware that Ganapati has heard them without them even having spoken.
A newly wedded couple go and distribute sweets at the birth of their son, thanks to having prayed incessantly at the feet of Ganesha. A woman has Ganapati bless her new car which he bought from her hard-earned salary. A student flying to US for the first time mutters "Ganapati Bappa Morya" as the plane takes off.
Blurring the line everyday between God and Friend, Ganesha sits happily on this throne, smiling at devotees who come to pray.
He is gifted with flowers and sweets, money and words. He sees people praying for help and thanking Him for having blessed them. He has spent His entire life helping people remove obstacles from their intended path. He feels sad on watching His devotees go through tough times and He eats their grief without even a second thought. Thus sits the Son of Shiva and Parvati, the Remover of Obstacles and everyone's Friend Ganesha.
He is the child created without (Vina) the help of a Man (Nayaka), Vinayaka, who stops Shiva from entering his Mother's cave. He is Ganesha or Ganapati, the leader of Shiva's followers (Ganas). In the Varaha Purana, when Shiva (eyes shut) opened his eyes (Shankara), He laughed and out of the laughter Ganapati was born.
When Shiva tells his Ganas to bring him a head, he tells them to go in the Northern direction. The North is associated with all things auspicious- permanence, immortality, prosperity and wisdom. And so is Ganesha. It is said that when the Ganas went North , they found Airavata (vehicle of Indra, the God who brings rain) and hence brought back it's head. The Ganesh festivals typically are celebrated when the monsoon is on a wane, and his worship is related closely with wealth and fertility.
Our obstacles are a collection of our own demons. Ganapati helps us remove our obstacles by helping us get rid of out own demons.
Ganapati has assumed several forms to destroy evil. Vakratunda(God with curved trunk) rides a lion to kill Matsara. Lambodara (God with a pot belly) rides a rat to kill Krodha, the demon of rage. Vighnaraja (Master of obstacles) rides a serpent to kill Mama, the demon of self-indulgence. Dhumravarna (Smoke-colored God) rides a rat to kill Ahamkara, the demon of arrogance.
Worship of Ganapati is incomplete without understanding what it actually means. When one bows down and prays to Shiva's Son Ganesh, he is killing these demons inside of him. He is praying to Ganesh to help him get rid of these evil qualities within his own soul. No obstacle is ever removed without removing your own vices. And this is how Ganapati helps you remove them. He helps you help yourself.
Be aware and be sure of what your world is, Ganesha says.
In a race with his brother Karthikeya, to circle the entire world, Ganapati teaches every one an important lesson. He simply goes around his Parents once and smiles. This lesson was told wonderfully by Bal Thackerey, "Before worshipping anyone, worship your parents!"
On Akshay Tritiya, Ganapati becomes Sage Vyasa's scribe and writes down the epic Mahabharat without stopping for even a moment. When a great drought plagues South India, people prayed to Ganapati to remove this obstacle. Ganesha asked his Father to tell His disciple Sage Agastya to carry a pitcher of Ganga water south. Ganapati then took the form of a crow and tipped over the pitcher and caused the water of Ganga to flow across South India in the form of River Kaveri.
Stories of Ganesha are many, varied and each teach us a valuable lesson. But there is one lesson which Ganapati teaches us every day and not all of us get that.
Religion is not meant to be frightening, rigid and confusing. Religion is comforting. Religion soothes your soul. Religion gets rid of your confusion and fears. Religion reassures you. Religion guides you. God is your Friend. Be God-loving and not God-fearing.
We treat Ganapati as our Friend, and confide in him all our fears and joys and sorrows. We speak to Him as if we are speaking to a Close Friend.
In Pune, when the winter caught every one off guard, and the city came to chilling standstill, a devotee went and put a woollen sweater and a cap on Ganesha's idol to keep Him warm and comfortable.
In Mumbai, we see Muslims celebrating Ganapati festival, and crying each year when Visarjan day arrives.
Families which fight for the entire year, smile and get together for this time of the year, not because they have to, but because they simply cant do anything else! Lanes, localities, areas, cities come together for no reason whatsoever, simply to celebrate a Good Friend's arrival. And for that we prepare, and for that we prepare well. We donate time, and we donate efforts, we donate creativity. We come together, perform on a stage, express opinions, showcase our talent and make new friends.
In a time when our country dreamed of independence, Ganesha answered our prayers and called all of us together and united us. Worshiping Ganesha goes beyond religion for our country and transcends all reasons.
And that is why when the temple was meant to be broken, the city officials never realized how many people had deeply rooted connections with the place. They ignored the importance of the temple in shaping Mumbai. They ignored their Best Friend.
Every year, people of all castes, religions and culture come together in a wonderful country to celebrate the arrival of their Best Friend. And atheists have no reason to complain here, because our Best Friend takes care of everyone of us. And because people can always say that they do not believe in the existence of God (albeit wrongly), but no one can deny the love of their Best Friend.
When Shiv Sena stopped the city from breaking down a temple in the middle of the road, people were surprised. Wouldn't it be for the greater good of the city if people can move freely? Would it not be a better city if traffic got better? If I could save five minutes of travel each day, does it not make sense to tear down a temple? Thoughts like these flooded the minds of people watching an unruly Shiv Sena mob stop the destruction. What people fail to see however, is what role the temple actually plays in every day life of a typical Mumbai-kar.
Praying to Ganesha is a part and parcel of every Mumbai-kar's life.
A twelve year old child stands awkwardly outside of a temple and gazes at the smiling God with an Elephant face and pot-belly. He has a very tough exam ahead of him and he has spent countless nights studying for it. However, he can't help but feel nervous. And so he closes his eyes, joins his palms and prays. A thin smile flickers on his face and he feels at peace as he walks away towards his school, ready for a challenge.
A boy and a girl have waited for four hours in a long line to enter Ganapati's temple and they have not spoken a word. They have decided to spend their lives together and have also decided to tell their parents the next day. Their mind can't do anything besides play them videos of what all could go wrong. As they hold their hands, much to the anger of old aunties behind them, they are unaware that Ganapati has heard them without them even having spoken.
A newly wedded couple go and distribute sweets at the birth of their son, thanks to having prayed incessantly at the feet of Ganesha. A woman has Ganapati bless her new car which he bought from her hard-earned salary. A student flying to US for the first time mutters "Ganapati Bappa Morya" as the plane takes off.
Blurring the line everyday between God and Friend, Ganesha sits happily on this throne, smiling at devotees who come to pray.
He is gifted with flowers and sweets, money and words. He sees people praying for help and thanking Him for having blessed them. He has spent His entire life helping people remove obstacles from their intended path. He feels sad on watching His devotees go through tough times and He eats their grief without even a second thought. Thus sits the Son of Shiva and Parvati, the Remover of Obstacles and everyone's Friend Ganesha.
He is the child created without (Vina) the help of a Man (Nayaka), Vinayaka, who stops Shiva from entering his Mother's cave. He is Ganesha or Ganapati, the leader of Shiva's followers (Ganas). In the Varaha Purana, when Shiva (eyes shut) opened his eyes (Shankara), He laughed and out of the laughter Ganapati was born.
When Shiva tells his Ganas to bring him a head, he tells them to go in the Northern direction. The North is associated with all things auspicious- permanence, immortality, prosperity and wisdom. And so is Ganesha. It is said that when the Ganas went North , they found Airavata (vehicle of Indra, the God who brings rain) and hence brought back it's head. The Ganesh festivals typically are celebrated when the monsoon is on a wane, and his worship is related closely with wealth and fertility.
Our obstacles are a collection of our own demons. Ganapati helps us remove our obstacles by helping us get rid of out own demons.
Ganapati has assumed several forms to destroy evil. Vakratunda(God with curved trunk) rides a lion to kill Matsara. Lambodara (God with a pot belly) rides a rat to kill Krodha, the demon of rage. Vighnaraja (Master of obstacles) rides a serpent to kill Mama, the demon of self-indulgence. Dhumravarna (Smoke-colored God) rides a rat to kill Ahamkara, the demon of arrogance.
Worship of Ganapati is incomplete without understanding what it actually means. When one bows down and prays to Shiva's Son Ganesh, he is killing these demons inside of him. He is praying to Ganesh to help him get rid of these evil qualities within his own soul. No obstacle is ever removed without removing your own vices. And this is how Ganapati helps you remove them. He helps you help yourself.
Be aware and be sure of what your world is, Ganesha says.
In a race with his brother Karthikeya, to circle the entire world, Ganapati teaches every one an important lesson. He simply goes around his Parents once and smiles. This lesson was told wonderfully by Bal Thackerey, "Before worshipping anyone, worship your parents!"
On Akshay Tritiya, Ganapati becomes Sage Vyasa's scribe and writes down the epic Mahabharat without stopping for even a moment. When a great drought plagues South India, people prayed to Ganapati to remove this obstacle. Ganesha asked his Father to tell His disciple Sage Agastya to carry a pitcher of Ganga water south. Ganapati then took the form of a crow and tipped over the pitcher and caused the water of Ganga to flow across South India in the form of River Kaveri.
Stories of Ganesha are many, varied and each teach us a valuable lesson. But there is one lesson which Ganapati teaches us every day and not all of us get that.
Religion is not meant to be frightening, rigid and confusing. Religion is comforting. Religion soothes your soul. Religion gets rid of your confusion and fears. Religion reassures you. Religion guides you. God is your Friend. Be God-loving and not God-fearing.
We treat Ganapati as our Friend, and confide in him all our fears and joys and sorrows. We speak to Him as if we are speaking to a Close Friend.
In Pune, when the winter caught every one off guard, and the city came to chilling standstill, a devotee went and put a woollen sweater and a cap on Ganesha's idol to keep Him warm and comfortable.
In Mumbai, we see Muslims celebrating Ganapati festival, and crying each year when Visarjan day arrives.
Families which fight for the entire year, smile and get together for this time of the year, not because they have to, but because they simply cant do anything else! Lanes, localities, areas, cities come together for no reason whatsoever, simply to celebrate a Good Friend's arrival. And for that we prepare, and for that we prepare well. We donate time, and we donate efforts, we donate creativity. We come together, perform on a stage, express opinions, showcase our talent and make new friends.
In a time when our country dreamed of independence, Ganesha answered our prayers and called all of us together and united us. Worshiping Ganesha goes beyond religion for our country and transcends all reasons.
And that is why when the temple was meant to be broken, the city officials never realized how many people had deeply rooted connections with the place. They ignored the importance of the temple in shaping Mumbai. They ignored their Best Friend.
Every year, people of all castes, religions and culture come together in a wonderful country to celebrate the arrival of their Best Friend. And atheists have no reason to complain here, because our Best Friend takes care of everyone of us. And because people can always say that they do not believe in the existence of God (albeit wrongly), but no one can deny the love of their Best Friend.
