Lambodara Panchamamch, Shhashtha Vikatamevach |
Saptamam Vighnaraajamch, Dhumravarnam Tathaashtamam || 3 ||
In his all swarupas think him fifth as Lambodara mean god with large belly, sixth as Vikatameva mean the God with gigantic/gross swarupa, Seventh as Vighnaraajam mean the one who is lord of all the obstacles , eighth as Dhumravarna mean the one with smoky colored.
Lambodara was born to overcome the demon krodha-asura. When the ocean was churned, and the asuras and devas quarelled about the nectar, Vishnu took the form of Mohini and Lord Shiva also took a form. Out of this encounter was born the demon krodha-asura. Krodha is anger. One has to control anger at all times. What is the cause of anger ? A feeling of inferiority/superiority. When all that exists is her manifestation, who should be I against ? If at all I should be angry I should be angry at my ignorance i.e., my association with the unreal. When some one makes fun of us, the way we talk, dress etc., we should be internally thank them for giving us a test and feel very happy. We should laugh with them and tell Shakti, ‘Thanks for testing.’ But after sometime, we don’t even feel that they are making fun of you. When a right hand becomes dirty, does the left hand laugh at it ? As
Another story for Lambodara states that Kubera went to the eternal couple and wanted to show off his wealth. He invited them to dinner. But, the couple denied Kubera’s request and sauid he could feed Ganesha instead. Kubera laughed, and said ‘I can feed many children like this.’ Ganesha calmly went to his place and sat down to eat. He started eating all the food. Kubera’s army had a tough time feeding the child. Then, Ganesha started eating all the furniture, palace etc. Kubera became very afraid but Ganesha merrily said, ‘You promised my parents u will feed me. Now, I have to eat you.’ Kubera ran away and pleaded with Shiva. Shiva gave him a handful of rice and asked him to give it to Ganesha without pride. Kubera went back. By this time, Ganesha’s stomach had become very huge but the child was merry. When Kubera served a cup of rice with humility, Ganesa;s hunger was satisfied. We should be never proud of our material or spiritual accomplishments. Everything has been given unto you by Ganesha, and He can take it away any time. We should be unaffected by these successes or failures by surrendering ourselves completely to His feet. Ganapati’s belly enshrines the entire brahmanda and that’s another reason his pot belly is called lambodhara.
Vikata was an incarnation to overcome the demon kaama-asura (lust). The demon was born due to a boon from Lord Vishnu, and obtained various siddhis. He married Ttrushna (desire) and had two sons, decay and corruption. Finally, they were killed by Vikata. When one has lust, to satisfy the lust, action is taken, but the desire is never satisfied even after indulging in them. The sons who are born are only decay and corrupt. No desire can be satisfied by indulging in them. That is like throwing kerosene in fire instead of water. One should control these vaasaana-s by throwing the water of detachment on them or go to the source of these vaasaana-s or ask ‘To whom do these desires arise? Are they mine?’
Vighnaraaja is similar to Vijneshvara, i.e Ganesha is the lord and destroyer of obstacles, respectively. Why so ? Lord Shiva says to Parvati that Ganesha will create numerous obstacles for those who do not follow the path of dharma but he will remove all the obstacles to those who revere knowledge, shruti and guru. Even if one has to worship shiva or Vishnu, they have to worship our friend, Ganesha, first. This incarnation was born to overcome mama-asura. When Parvati laughed, the incarnation was born signifying mama (mine), but he fell into bad habits and got Mohini (enchantment). The worst sense is ‘This is mine,’ and leads to all kinds of errors including the thought ‘I am the body/mind, as distinct from his/her body/mind.’ This type of thought can be killed only by Vighnaraaja.
Dhuumravarna rode upon a horse and overcame the demon Abhimana-asura (attachment). The creator Brahma blessed sun and gave him siddhis. The sun thought to himself, If not for me, nothing in the earth would function. Thinking such, he became proud and sneezed and out of him was born a demon named aham (I). Aham married egoity, the daughter of negligence and they had two sons arrogance and pleasure. When the thought of I arises, it is pure and unadulatered. But, it mixes with the unreality, neglects the mind and marries egoity. Out of egoism is born arrogance and a search for incessant pleasure. Man is ignorant when he says ‘I am such and such.’ but when he says that with pride, he is arrogant. Seeking pleasure outside in objects, he becomes attached to them. This attachment to the unreal can be killed only Dhuumravarna (why is he smoky-colored ?). Man’s ego is like smoke, it is everywhere, but when searched for, it cannot be found. Search, in this case, means self-enquiry as to ‘Who am I ? Where does the ego arise from ?’
JAI HO….Sankatnashan Shri Ganpati