Nizamabad: DECEMBER 22-24, 2012

Glory of Ganesha: The Remover of Obstacles

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji arrived to a rapturous welcome to Nizamabad on December 22, 2012. Arriving at Sri Lalita Devi Ashramam Aalayam, the Jagadguru inaugurated the Goshala at the Aalayam premises. The Jagadguru then had Darshan of Goddess Lalita Parameshwari and gave an Anugraha Bhashanam to bless the devotees.

In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru remembered his first visit to Nizamabad in 1985. The Jagadguru said that the devotion of Sri Veleti Sudhakara Sharma, who has been engaged in a number of Dharmic activities, has brought him to Nizamabad again. The Jagadguru also recounted that Sri Sharma had visited Sringeri many times to invite the Jagadguru to Nizamabad.

The Jagadguru stated that the Shastras declare – तेन विना तृणमपि न चलति – Not even a blade of grass moves without God’s will. Hence it is necessary to be devoted to God and obtain His Grace. At the same time, in our tradition and culture, we look upon the Guru as verily God, for it is the Guru who removes our doubts, our ignorance and paves way for us to attain Jnana. Hence our lives become purposeful by obtaining the Grace of God and Guru. The Jagadguru ended the Anugraha Bhashanam by mentioning that Sri Sudhakara Sharma has instilled this Guru Bhakti and Bhagavad Bhakti in his followers and arranged pilgrimages to Sringeri for everyone to have Darshan of the Jagadguru.

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Prathishta Kumbhabhisheka of Sri Lakshmi Ganapati & Glory of Ganesha Discourse

On December 23rd, the Jagadguru performed the Prathishta Kumbhabhisheka of Sri Lakshmi Ganapati at Borgam in Nizamabad.

In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru said that belief in the existence of God has been a fundamental tenet of our culture since time immemorial. This is evident because, even when a child undertakes Aksharabhyasa, its first venture into learning the alphabet, it has been a tradition to remember God first by writing words such as “नमः शिवाय”. This belief in the existence of God is so strong in our tradition that even someone who went to give a talk to prove that God does not exist, first went to a Ganapati temple to pray for the success of his endeavor!!

It can be easily realized that life is a mixture of joy and suffering that repeat one after the other – सुखस्यानन्तरं दुःखं दुःखस्यानन्तरं सुखं. Hence no one can be said to be free from suffering that results from one problem or the other. Just when we realize that one issue or problem has been fixed, another one arises. Even a millionaire is not free from problems. How can these issues and problems be resolved? Only by securing the grace of God.

To call this belief in the existence of God, a myth, is foolishness. However even such an atheist has a number of other beliefs, that he feels are rational and true, but are beyond explanation and direct proofs. One must realize that if one does not have faith in God, one is only fooling himself. However, one doesn’t stop there, one even imposes his ideas on others and also brings about the downfall of others – स्वयं नष्टः परान् नाशयति.

Hence one must not think about doubting the existence of God even in a dream. God is ever-present and is omnipresent. If God gave Prahlada Darshan from a pillar, it was to prove His omnipresence. What better example do we need for understanding God’s omnipresence?

It must be realized that Srimad Bhagavatam, Ramayanam, Mahabharatam are there to teach us good, to teach us our tradition and culture. They are not mere stories – they actually occurred.

We must remember that we need not worship God for others to praise us. Puja is to be performed with the sole intention of pleasing God – अनेन भगवान् तृप्यतु. It is imperative to realize that there is but one God. People perform Surya Namaskara. Is the Sun to whom Namaskara is done by people at Nizamabad different from the Sun to whom Namaskara is done by people in Delhi? Do we differentiate between the Sun seen at Nizamabad and Delhi? Just as we don’t do so, we must realize that God is one, but is worshipped in many names and forms.

Of these forms, the form of Sri Mahaganapati is one. Sri Mahaganapati is revered for removing obstacles that prevent us from being successful in our endeavors. The Ganesha Puranam extols Lord Mahaganapati and recounts His life, such as the killing of demons like Gajasura and His gracing devotees. Ravana had performed Tapas towards Lord Shiva, and received one of the Atmalingas from the Lord and was proceeding towards Lanka to consecrate it. At the request of the Devas, Lord Ganesha played a lila, and ensured that the Atmalinga did not reach Lanka, and instead became consecrated in what is now Gokarna. Our Puranas also mention Lord Ganesha as being the instrument for scribing the Mahabharata comprising of one lakh verses, as Veda Vyasa dictated it.

Every village or town in India has at least one temple. However there is no village or town that does not have a shrine for Lord Ganapati. Such is our faith towards Lord Mahaganapati!

The Jagadguru expressed joy at having consecrated Lord Lakshmi Ganapati at Nizamabad and had special words of blessings for Sri Arun Kumar, who, although not wealthy, had ensured that the temple was beautifully constructed.

On 24th December, the Jagadguru graced the Poornahuti of Sahasra Modaka Ganapati Homa done at the Ashramam Aalayam for the welfare of humanity.