HINDUISM

The “Varasiththy Vinayagar Temple at Bambalapitiya Ramanathan Hindu Ladies College which was renovated, restored and rebuilt by the tremendous effort taken by the ever enthusiastic, dedicated and devoted Principal Mrs Kothai Nagularajah and the profound co-operation and unstinted assistance rendered by the staff, several philanthropists and well-wishers held its Maha Kumbabhishekam on January 27 commencing at 7.45 am to 8.35 am.

The Maha Kumbabhiseka rituals and poojas were conducted by Brahma Sri Siva Sri Visvanarayana Kurukal and Sivasri Somasundara Kurukal of Mattuvil will render the benediction.

Every Hindu Temple has a sanctum dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Hindus bow their heads in reverence and make their first offering to Lord Ganesha in all ritualistic worship. Be it a wedding, yagam or house-warming Lord Ganesha is the first Deity to be worshipped at the beginning of any ceremony.

Vinayaga, Ganapathy, Vigneswara and Pillaiyar are some of the appellations given to Lord Ganesha, the God with elephant head. The Supreme Brahman – Lord of the Universe is beyond sex. He is both man and animal which signifies this fact, with the limbs of a man and the face of an animal.

Symbols

Lord Ganesha is elephant faced and it is proverbially the most intelligent among mammals. The head represents Divine Gnana. Moreover the elephant is a vegetarian and this indicates pure Sathnic nature. The broad head also signifies that God is broadminded, tolerant and sympathetic to all activities.

The bulky body stands for the cosmos in its entirety. The huge pot-belly signifies space containing all things and beings of the world. The Lord Ganesha has a snake which indicates energy in all forms.

The idea contained in the concept is that all things have their allotted place in the womb of nature and they are all supported by cosmic energy.

Highest knowledge

The trunk represents the sensitive reception of stimuli and cognition. It also signifies the faculty of discrimination. Further, he is single-tusked. The broken tusk signifies that he has broken away from ignorance, which guider the path of God. The tusk which the Lord of Wisdom deliberately broke while writing the great epic “Maha Bharatha” which goes to explain that no sacrifice is too great for a noble cause. The single tusk also denotes single minded in action. The other tusk indicates highest knowledge.

Lord Ganesha's broad ear signifies that he hears everything communicated to him. The three eyes of Lord Ganesha represent the “Moon”, the “Sun” and “Fire” which in turn indicates the three phases of creation, sustenance and destruction. The third eye is a symbol of intuitive knowledge.

He has four hands which signify super natural powers. In one hand, he holds a “Paasa” or REIN which represents the creative and sustaining faculties. The “Paasa” also indicates that Lord Ganesha uses this rein to attract the minds of his devotees so as to direct them as right path to reach God.

Destroyer of ignorance

In his left hand he holds an “Ankusa” or the whip which denotes the destructive phase of cosmos. The spear-like weapon indicates that Lord Ganesha uses it to destroy ignorance in his devotees. In his third hand he holds a a dish of “Modhakam” which signifies that he distributes the consequence according to the actions of Jeevatmas. The Modhakam also symbolizes the fullness of “Brahman”. The fourth hand represents “Abhaya”.

Further, Lord Ganesha uses his little mouse as his vehicle. This shows that all beings high and low, big and small are the vehicles of the Divinity enshrined in the hearts. The mouse also personifies the evil qualities like anger, pride and selfishness. Lord Ganesha riding on the mouse shows that he keeps the evil passions always under check.

A common form of worship of Lord Ganesha is rapping at the forehead with knuckles and pulling earlobes with cross hands. This act helps in the purification of “Naadis”. The smashing of coconuts at the steps of Lord Ganesha shows that the hard nut of EGO should be cracked and got rid of before God and subsequently prostrated for complete surrender.

The camphor that is burnt in front of Lord Ganesha signifies that we have to burn our illusion or Ego with the fire of true knowledge and leave no residue, so that we may merge with God. Indeed, we the people living in this “Kali yuga” hope and pray that Lord Ganesha showers His universal love and compassion, so that we may be bathed by “His Divine Glory” and spiritual splendour to attain everlasting peace, happiness, harmony and prosperity.

Mahalakshmi or Varalakshmi Vrata Puja

Mahalakshmi or Varalakshmi Vrata is a special vrata or fast dedicated to Hindu Goddess ‘Mahalakshmi,’ or as the name implies ‘Great Lakshmi’ (maha = great). Lakshmi is the presiding deity of wealth, prosperity, light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage. These eight facets of Lakshmi give rise to another name for the goddess — ‘Ashtalakshmi’ (ashta = eight).

When is Mahalakshmi or Varalakshmi Vrata Observed?

According to the lunar calendar of North India, the Mahalakshmi Vrata fast is observed for 16 days in a row between Bhadrapad Shukla Ashtami and Ashwin Krishna Ashtami, i.e., commencing on the 8th day of the bright fortnight of the month of Bhadra and ending on the 8th day of the dark fortnight of the following month Ashwin, which corresponds to September - October of the international calendar. The fast is more popular in Uttar Pradesh Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh than other states of India.

Mahalakshmi Vrata in Hindu mythology

In Bhavishya Purana, one of the 18 major Puranas or ancient Hindu scriptures, there is a legend that explains the significance of Mahalakshmi Vrata. As the legend goes, when Yudhishtira, the eldest of the Pandava princes, enquires Lord Krishna about a ritual fast that can get back the wealth that they lost in his gambles with the Kauravas, Krishna recommends Mahalakshmi Vrata or Puja, which can replenish the worshipper with health, wealth, prosperity, family and kingdom through the divine grace of the Lakshmi.

How to Observe the Ritual of Mahalakshmi Vrata At the dawn of this holy day, women take a ritual bath and pray to Surya, the Sun God. They sprinkle sacred water using purified grass blades or ‘durva’ on their body and tie sixteen knotted strings on their left wrist.

A pot or ‘kalasha,’ is filled with water, decorated with betel or mango leaves, and a coconut is placed on top of it. It is further adorned with a red cotton cloth or ‘shalu’ and a red thread is tied around it. A Swastika symbol and four lines, representing the four Vedas are drawn on it with vermillion or ‘sindoor / kumkum’.

Also called the Purna Kumbh, this represents the supreme deity, and is worshipped as the Goddess Mahalakshmi. Holy lamps are lit, incense sticks are burned and Lakshmi mantras are chanted during the ‘puja’ or ritual worship.

How is it Different from Varalakshmi Vrata?

The Varalakshmi Vrata is a fast observed by married Hindu women on the Friday that precedes the full moon day of the month of Shravan (August-September).

The Skanda Purana this particular worship of Goddess Lakshmi as a means to seek her blessings for a good progeny and long life of the husband.

The Nagarajar pooja festival at the Nagarajara Swamy Kovil affiliated to the All Ceylon Ananda Iappa Swamy Devasthanam, Aluthmawatha Colombo 15 took place recently. Here the chief priest conducting the special pooja while devotees look on. Pic: A. Maduraveeran Colombo North Gr. Cor.