Doubts and Discussions from the Ramayan - Page 101

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

It is true that Vinayaka is worshiped at the start of every yagna or worship. In fact, Lord Ganesha is invoked before any new venture. The legends say that he was blessed so by Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha was created by Devi Parvati to guard the entrance to her chambers and was given instructions to let no one inside. Lord Ganesha follwed her orders implicitly and even refused to let Lord Shiva inside. In a battle that followed, Lord Shiva beheaded Ganesha. Parvati Devi, was aghast and angered on learnning what had happened. She wanted her son back. Hence, an elephant's head was fitted to Lord Ganesha and he was blessed that he would be the first and foremost among the deities of worship. Any new venture or worship or ceremony will be succesful if Lord Ganesha is invoked and worshiped satisfactorily. I have also read that Lord Vinayaka is worshiped as the embodiment of the Pranava.

I think Vishvaksena and Vinayaga are different.

Vishvaksena, as Deepa said, is Lord Vishnu's general. He is the commander - in - chief of Lord Vishnu's army. Even today, a ritual exists in the temples - that Vishvaksena inspects the preparations and routes of any ceremony or festival conducted for Lord Vishnu.

An excerpt from the 'Srivari Brahmotsavam:'

Preparation for Brahmotsavam starts with a suddhi Karyakramam on the preceding Tuesday. The garbha gruha and other shrines are cleaned with a paste of sandal wood, camphor, saffron and other spices, a ritual known as kovil alwar Thirumanjanam. The day prior to Dhvaja-arobanam Vishvakesena, Vishnu's commander, in the company of Ananta, Garuda and Sudarsana, was taken to the Vasanta mandapam, wherein a little quantity of earth was collected with Bhusuktam etc, mantras and brought on an elephant to the temple and with it the Ankurarpana rite was done by sowing navadhanya seeds for germination in decorated palikas (earthen plates). In this procession Vishvaksena inspects the correctness of all the arrangements made for the festival. After the procession Vishvaksena is honoured by an Asthanam in Tirumala-raya mandapam. Then he goes to Ankurarpana mandapam with Ananta, Garuda and Sudarsana and they stay there during Brahmotsavam period.

The idol of Vishvaksena (Tirumala):



Some say that Vishvaksena is depicted with an elephant's head but I haven't found a source for this information.

The reason I doubted the mention of Lord Ganesha and Lord Skanda was this. In the translations I read the book starts with a praise to Maharishi Valmiki follwed by a praise of Lord Ram. If Lord Ganesh is mentioned, it was done so before the start of the translation. I haven't read the original as such but I have read only the translation of the Valmiki Ramayan. Neither have I read of Lord Ganesha being invoked before the Putrakameshti Yagna, the marriage of Ram and his brothers or before Lord Ram's coronation. I may be wrong, if so please correct me.

I have read a story (long back - again I do not know the source of this one) of how a deva (I think it was Jayanta, but not sure) was to be married to a lovely damsel and the devas were impatient to finish the ceremony (fearing that Mahishasura will carry the girl off before the ceremony). Hence, they skipped the ritual of invoking Lord Ganesha. A small image of Lord Ganesha is moulded with turmeric paste and is worshipped before the marriage ceremony starts. The marriage was interrupted and the bride was carried away and the bridegroom was imprisoned. (This even takes place after Lord Ganesha was blessed by Lord Shiva to be the foremost among the deities of worship.) And Devarishi Narad says that it was a result of skipping the ritual due to Lord Ganesha.

I thought that invoking Lord Ganesha in the phala shruti could have been added later on by the ones who were handing it down to the future generations.

I am still not sure of the timeline of the events of Lord Ganesha and Lord Skanda's life. Since they were mentioned quite a lot in the Mahabharat, I thought that the events in their life must have happened along the Krita and Tretha Yugas.

🤔

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

😲 This thread has become a goldie before me??? 😲

Originally posted by: _LalithaJanaki_

😆Don't worry, you'll become a Goldie in no time!👍🏼

Originally posted by: sam1903

well i hope before it become if Rockerz u cross that level...

Originally posted by: S_rocha

One more doubt, Ram is God if it is so why didn't he recognized maarich in deer avtar. Why he'd been fooled by Maarich. A god been fooled by a mere Ashur. Why didn't he recognised Maarich in disguise in the form of deer. If he would have recognised the whole of Sita abduction, distruction due to war and Sita further bannishment could had been avoided. But it surprise me being GOD he was fooled by an ashura

Originally posted by: ananyacool

Vibs, You should spam a lil bit, now on😉😆

I suggest this from my experience 😉

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

You're welcome. Glad to hear that our explanations helped.

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Thanks friends. Would definitely try to do so. 😊

I'm relatively free these days. I'll be fully active for a while. 😃