Anna used to teach Hatha Yoga and meditation in a New York City yoga center. ‘I thought of including a sloka reading into the practice, but often I would stop upon a little reflection. Americans get easily confused if god has (is imparted with) numerous names. How to explain this aspect of Indian philosophy to Americans?’, she asked the philosopher Diani.
Diani: In the west, the Almighty is referred to by only one word, ‘god’. In India, god has many names. That does not mean there are so many gods. In truth, god is only one. The varied names refer to god’s distinct characteristics, rather attributes. Ganesa – His name means: Remover of difficulties (obstacles) in life. In a forest, an elephant (like a big earthmover) removes obstructions in its path and proceeds ahead without any fear or distraction. Thus, the elephant head of Ganesa signifies the following: He, too efficiently removes all insurmountable barriers in a devotee’s life. Praying to Ganesa means, we pray to invoke (certain specific) god’s qualities: His compassionate commitment to a devotee, His unwavering willingness to ease His aspirant’s earthly problems by eliminating prickly obstructions in ones path. Even now (since times immemorial) that is how we pray to Ganesa. (Ganesa in special situations also introduces difficulties into a project; when such a project may do more harm than good)
Anna: Why pray to Ganesa only? Isn’t it enough if we pray just to god?
D: For executing (the three universal tasks) creation, sustenance, and dissolution (cf. destruction), many types of energies are needed. Have you ever observed closely at big organizations (corporations or governing bodies)? Have you looked at their organizational structures, directories? Who heads what department, what section? Who oversees whom, etc.? For running this entire cosmos (universe) with all its myriad worlds, we need many divisions and subdivisions. In this, there are many worlds, different levels of living (sentience?), and many kinds of living beings.
A: Generally, while reading (reciting) slokas, mantras, what kind of energy is invoked? What do they propitiate? What (benevolent) actions?
D: Knowledge (= Sarada), Prosperity (= Lakshmi), Love ( = Krishna), Victory ( = Durga), Fate ( = Brahma), Compassion ( = Siva), Fearlessness ( = Hanuman), Protection ( = Parvati, Vishnu), Equanimity = Dakshinamurti.
A: When we pray to these embodiments of qualities, do we get that energy (quality)?
D: That is the intent. By uttering that name (quality/characteristic), by reciting that stotra, by singing that song (hymn), we can open (tune) our channel to receive that energy. There is a possibility – whatever we meditate upon, it (i.e., that energy) becomes ours.
A: If we are truly (evidently) that ultimate (transcendent) reality, isn’t it enough if we just pray to ourselves?
D: We do pray to ourselves, we worship ourselves. But not in a proper way. Look how we worship our bodies. How we drape our bodies in expensive clothes. Attach costly ornaments (jewels), how we spread the body with scented creams, cold creams, talcum powders – look at such things we indulge. See, how we feed it (body) with rich food. See, how we lay the body on soft comfortable beds – notice how we treat the human body. If we feel that we are doing all this (treatments, services) to the (internally dwelling) god, if we feel our body as a form (envelope, embodiment) of god, a representation of god, then these indulgences (or gentle services) in our body upkeep – this itself will transform into a great spiritual pursuit (instrument)!
A: By uttering all these attributes (energies), by reciting prayers (stotras), can we receive, can we obtain definite help or do we just stay (trapped) in that emotional euphoria (feeling)?
D: I heard about a lady, a lady without any college education (3). She computed the product of two thirteen digit numbers in half a minute. On top of it, she produced a perfectly correct answer. When asked how she got such an extraordinary talent, she said it was due to Ganesa’s blessing. I say: This evidence is incontrovertible and specific.
1. For the meaning, see one of my earlier blogs: http://tenneti-rao.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/06/prayer-to-vinayaka-suklambaradharam.htm
2. Meaning of this sloka will be given in a future post.
3. Reference to Shakuntala Devi, the famous Indian mathematician.
[Translator’s Note: This is taken from an excerpt of Neelamraju’s Notebook (a Telugu work). I pay my sincere heartfelt thanks to the writer(s). Deliberately, I have added extra comments and explanations for the benefit of an aspirant. For every aspirant (patient), ‘time is of essence’, there is no extra time, life is fleeting very fast. Sri Seshendra Swami would often say and exhort: “Do not sleep, Yama is lurking in the shadows, He will come and take you away. Just hold on to the feet of Siva, do not forget for a moment even. Get up, get up now, it’s urgent.” Though I am confident of the fidelity of translation, I can only hope – that no distortions have crept into the original words of Diani. Often, minor misunderstandings will vanish upon careful inner examination and meditation.
When I come across a person or youth, estranged from his ancient (organic) roots, traditions, or culture – I feel saddened. That is why, all the masters proclaim: Even the urge to meditate can only happen when there is ‘grace’ (or remnants of past good karma). Whether it is yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, or religion – there is so much precious material in the hidden treasures of Sanatana Dharma. It is a pity, if the modern seeker just blindly searches under “the false search-lights of modernity” – like the proverbial drunken fellow looking for his lost car keys beneath street lights. Only a sober, humble mind can see the truth. And one must remember always this – I (or you) am not the first seeker. There were many great souls before and there would be many more in future. To all, I pay my humble respects and bow to them all.]
Copyright 2012