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My Friend Ganesha!!!

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by parineetha, Mar 28, 2013.

  1. parineetha

    parineetha IL Hall of Fame

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    Since childhood, all Sankathara Chaurthi’s were special at home. This Chaturthi upvaas was believed to bring all prosperity,happiness and fulfilment of desires. So my amma used to observe vrata on Ganesha from morning till evening pooja or the moon darshan.Though we kids weren’t emphasized to fast, visiting Vinagayar temple in the evening was more than a ritual.

    Those days my prayers were nothing more than submitting my “wish list” to the God like “Please get rid of that one suborn pimple on my cheek, Send dad instead of mom to the parent-teachers meeting:hide:, Make me an inch taller than my friend, Greens should become too costly that amma should stop buying them etc…LoL…That was all. I left my sister to be the sole petitioner to make her the class topper, so I never confused Ganesha with my application as well and it wasn’t my cup of tea either :whistle. He had been very kind most of times that month after month, my beliefs became bigger and stronger. In short Lord Ganesha is my Ishta Devata (Favorite God).

    Some months ago I happened to watch a TV show on temple visits to Varasiddhi Vinayaka temple near Chittor. It’s a very powerful 600 yrs old temple with a swayambhu idol (self –manifested). Ever since I heard about it, I very badly wanted to visit on a Sankathara Chaurthi day. But they say you need Praptham to visit few temples, only then you can…How true! I planned… planned… planned for many months before I could finally make it very recently. My God! whattaaa divine experience it was..

    We drove in the wee hours of the morning from Chennai to Chittoor. These days I generally don’t ask anything while praying. Not that, am the most contented happiest person on the earth, it’s just that I don’t feel the need to ask him, for he knows what I need and when to fulfill them. I leave everything to God and I explicitly believe that every single thing is part of God’s plan and will. A few moments of holistic darshan is what I wish for while visiting temples. I consider that itself as a blessing. With those fervent hopes we reached the temple on a crowded Chaurthi day. DH got me a special entrance ticket and quietly opted to wait out. He’s not a follower of Hinduism but absolutely fine about accompanying me.

    With silent chanting’s of " Vakra-Tunndda Maha-Kaaya Surya-Kotti Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryessu Sarvadaa"( O Lord Ganesha, of curved trunk, large body, and with the brilliance of a million suns, Please make all my works free of Obstacles, Always) I lined up in an already flooded queue. If that was the case of special entrance queue, you can imagine about the normal queue.

    Almost after 45 mins I reached the mandap entrance which leads to the Garbhagriha(sanctum sanctorum). Being an auspicious crowded day, they had arranged barricades where one has to take the left from the mandap for the darshan and exit at the right, closing the main entry which leads straight to the Garbhagriha. All my excitement and wait for those few moments of bliss and absolute surrender to God was all lost in few seconds of fullest exhibition of madness and folly by the irrepressible crowd. The securities were equally callous on their part and in the blink of an eye we devotes were pulled to exit. That point, I had none to blame, just a state of helplessly let down by my Ganesha himself who wasn’t willing to give his merciful darshan for which I was dying for months.

    I had no heart to move off, stood strong and started pleading the security to give me only a second for another glimpse. Seeing me so desperate, he did budge but few onlookers who were temple staffs objected saying other devotees would also request. It was then, few escorts barged in moving the barricades that blocked the main entrance (I told you, it’s taking a U turn, entry through the left and exit through the right) and like God sent, few VVIPs came in. While these staffs became busy in engaging them and that kind security quietly opened the gates at the right and ushered me to join those VVIPs. I had no words of gratitude for him, for making me stand right in front of my majestically sitting Lord who witnessed the whole episode.

    I stood there completely flabbergasted in moments of ecstasy which left me only in tears. Tears of extreme happiness, tears of ultimate joy, above all tears of humble gratification, that God had heard my silent payers.

    DH was clueless seeing me coming out smiling in tears. Was in fact a little guilty to have had left me alone inside, so promiised a second visit with him again. How blessed I’m.

    Big Blessings do come in small packages!!! It’s all matter of time...
     
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  2. Srama

    Srama Finest Post Winner

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    Glad to read that your friend Ganesha did not let you down after all when you needed him Neetu! He is a beloved God to many, including me and he is one God I can have conversations too and quite easily like I am talking with a friend and I am sure you will agree if I say that we mostly attribute super nice things to him and assume that he will not take us wrong either which way and is always there for us with his protective trunk raised as a blessing on our heads! Ganesha festival is a festival of joy - no fasts, no this, no that eat all that you want just bow to him devotion. Oh he sure is adorable.

    What you say of temples is quite true and fascinating in a way. In my trips to India, I am often fascinated by this thronging in temples but then it always brings a tear to my eyes when I see the innocence and the belief that we place and do all this to get a glimpse of the God we are visiting. There must be something and that thought suddenly makes me be more thankful that I am at least in the premises of the temple and seek my blessings and walk out joy fully.

    Enjoyed reading your visit to the temple and thank you for sharing with us! May you continue to have the blessings of your Ishta Devatha!
     
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  3. rgsrinivasan

    rgsrinivasan IL Hall of Fame

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    Ah! That was a touching post Parineetha. And yes, he is my favorite God too.

    An elephant face and a genial look,
    With a lovely smile and a paunch so big,
    Stands my dear god who is the first
    To be honoured in any poojas best.

    The one who was fearless and stood
    For what he thought was right gives us
    That same quality, when we pray for good
    And guides us along the right ways best.

    The one who is always a friend
    Than being a God distant,
    He listens to us and quickly sends
    His blessings in the very instant.

    The broken tusk, the big ears,
    The long trunk and that big paunch
    That divine beautiful form is here
    To propel us quick towards our launch

    In whatever that we aspire for.
    Any obstacle will vanish soon.
    We don't have to ask anything for
    He knows and sure will act soon.

    Don't know if you can read tamil verses Parineetha. Did write one about Him, for a Ganesh Chaturthi in Tamil verses section long ago! Thanks for the opportunity. -rgs
     
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  4. Anandchitra

    Anandchitra IL Hall of Fame

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  5. parineetha

    parineetha IL Hall of Fame

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    You’re so true. I owe everything to lord Ganesha.
    If not his blessings, am not what am today. Even when I was reeling during my testing time, he gave me enough strength to face them. I just blindly put the entire burden on him and stay calm. Thus am at peace.
    Like you said the few minutes of serenity and tranquility that you get inside a temple is priceless. May Vingesha bless you and your family in abundance.:)
     
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  6. seethavarma

    seethavarma Gold IL'ite

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    So nice to read Neetu,can understand your happiness !

    If you have any pic of Ganesha of that temple,pls do attach!
     
  7. parineetha

    parineetha IL Hall of Fame

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    Glad that he is your favorite God too. I just loved your verses. Thanks Rgs for penning it here. Am super happy.
    Oh you write tamil poetry too..Wow..ah! I can't read them, I can understand though..One thing I know for sure is, that should be a master piece.
     
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  8. parineetha

    parineetha IL Hall of Fame

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    Thank you AC for those sweet words. And I did read your blog now and happend to know that little secret of yours :wink:
     
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  9. parineetha

    parineetha IL Hall of Fame

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    Nice of you Seetha for dropping your feedback here.
    Oops! Sorry…Am afraid I don’t have a snap of the temple to show you. Didn’t want to disappoint you, So I clicked the small Idol of Varasiddhi Vinayaga which I got from there.
    Hope you like it :).
     

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  10. Anandchitra

    Anandchitra IL Hall of Fame

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    Beautiful... thanks for sharing love it; also special thanks to you for your kind words means a lot to me:)


     
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