From a satsang with Pt. Maniedeo Persad, Spiritual Leader, SWAHA Sri Raam Dhaam and Managing Director, ieTV and ieRadio
At the opening of the Ganesh Purana, a luminous dialogue unfolds between Yudhishtir Maharaj and Bhagavan Shree Krishna during the former’s period of exile. Having met with Shree Krishna, Yudhishtir, the very embodiment of dharma, recognized Him as the Supreme Divinity, who defends the pious and the devout.
With humility he explained that even though Bhagavan is the One who knows all, yet as devotees we feel the need to express our wishes to Him. He then expressed his story: Deceived by King Duryodhan in a game of dice, he had lost his kingdom and now wandered the forests. He yearned that everything might one day be restored.
Shree Krishna, compassionate and all-knowing, listened and then offered not merely advice, but a profound prescription for life itself.
He advised Yudhisthir Maharaj to worship Shree Ganesh with his mind, body and entire being. It is said that when Ganapati arrives, He bestows peace and happiness, and when He departs, He takes away all sorrows. We must know this truth: through His worship, all obstacles can be transcended.
The glories of Ganapati are also sung in sublime imagery: He is like the Thunderbolt that shatters mountains of sorrow in an instant, the mighty Wind that scatters the clouds of worry. May that Supreme Being, Shri Ganapati, shower His grace upon us.
Lord Krishna advised Yudhishtir to implement the solution in his own life. For Ganapati is Vighnaharta, the Remover of Obstacles. To worship Him with full devotion is to find the first and most precious blessing: peace of mind. Desires may or may not fructify as we wish, but through His worship, merit (punya) accumulates and the mind attains stillness, which permits us to advance spiritually. In truth, everything rests in the hands of the Divine. To worship Him is to dwell in peace.
Hearing this, Yudhishtir was astonished. Though a man of righteousness and deep wisdom, he was unfamiliar with the worship of Ganeshji. Humbly he bowed and asked for clarification on how he should worship Ganeshji.
Lord Krishna explained that Ganeshji is without beginning. When Shivaji and Parvati Devi were being married, they themselves performed Ganesh puja, though the Lord had not yet taken form. That is because He is an eternal principle. Though in this world He is known as the offspring of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati, in truth He is the primordial principle itself. Worship of Ganeshji leads us to transcend all suffering.
The glory of Ganeshji does not know any limit. The Vedas and Puranas resound with His praises, and the sages of all ages have sung His greatness. From the first kalpa, the dawn of creation itself, Ganeshji has been worshipped on this earth. Moreover, the three worlds bow to Him, for He is eternal, without beginning and the eternal Supreme.
Thus, through the dialogue of Yudhishtir and Lord Krishna, the path was revealed: that worship of Ganapati is the key to peace and the eternal link between the finite self and the Infinite Divine.
