Looking Good Is Feeling Good
June 25, 2007
In our hectic and fast paced life, many of us don’t pay too much attention to our appearance. I am not saying that we neglect our looks and look shabby but we tend to ignore the way we present ourselves to the world.
Sometimes we are self conscious of our looks and feel uncomfortable to try something new or trendy. We think we are too old for bright colors, or try out new styles in clothes or shoes. Hairstyle is another thing many women fail to change for the fear of getting ridiculed. The right haircut and coloring can take ten years away. A consultation with a good hairstylist will take those fears away and after compliments follow you, you will automatically feel wonderful about your decision.
A change is always for the best. Looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing a new person boosts your confidence, self esteem and brings out a sense of satisfaction. This deeply affects the mind and your thinking. It makes you happier and cheerful. So ahead and make a change in your appearance today and experience feeling good by looking good.
©Nayna, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Legends Of Lord Ganesh Part 1
June 25, 2007
Lord Ganesh’s position in the Hindu pantheon is of high distinction because of His magnanimous qualities. We as mortals can only understand and hope that we can imbibe some of them through the lessons that are described in the following legends.
The Survival Of The Wisest:
One can walk down the path of success and accomplishments by use of intellect and salvation can be attained using wisdom. This truth is called Vinayaka Tattvam. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati had two wonderful sons, Lord Ganesh and Lord Kartikeyan / Karthikeyan / Skanda. One day, they thought that their sons had reached the right age to get married. They discussed their views with them. The two brothers were excited and they started squabbling as to who would get married first. To settle this argument, the parents thought of an exceptional plan.
“My dear sons, you both are unique and we adore you equally. We cannot decide who should marry first so let us play a game. You will go around Mother Earth and the one who returns the quickest, will be married first.”
Lord Karthikeyan’s vehicle is the peacock and when His parents signaled for the race to begin, He swiftly flew away on his bird. Lord Ganesh remained there and instead asked His parents to sit in the seats that He provided. The parents were astonished by His unusual request but they complied. Lord Ganesh joining His hands, prayed before them to accept His humble prayers. He then worshipped them with sincere devotion and circumbulated seven times, paying His obeisance. As He was completing His last circumbulation, Karthikeyan flew in. He had completed the task as per the instructions of his parents but his elder brother had not traveled around the earth at all.
Lord Ganesh explained, “The Vedas say that those who go around their parents or circumnavigate achieve the blessing of Bhu Pradakshina (Bhu – Earth, Pradakshina – Going around deity or temple). If that is meant for mortals then what will be its significance when it is done around universal parents. By going around my divine parents I have not only covered the distance around Mother Earth but the entire universe. Do I need to go anywhere else?” Everyone was speechless. Needless to say they had a clear winner. Prajapati Vishwaroopa’s two daughters Riddhi and Siddhi were selected to be His wives. The wedding plans were managed with great care and the arena where the union took place was designed by the divine sculptor Vishwakarma. Lord Ganesh thus proved that He is truly an embodiment of wisdom.Lord Ganesh is an eternal Brahmachari (Celibate) and so are all the gods. They are mentioned as married so that we in the mundane world can understand and can relate to them.
There is another legend where the gods had given Shiva and Parvati a divine fruit which contained the ambrosia of knowledge and immortality. Both Lord Ganesh and Lord Karthikeyan yearned for it. So to find who deserved this fruit the divine parents devised the above mentioned plan to single out their winner and it was Lord Ganesh.
©Nayna, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
FAQ On Lord Ganesh Part 4
June 24, 2007
Why is Lord Ganesh venerated by all the Hindu Gods and Goddesses?
There are two instances where Lord Ganesh was blessed by His father Lord Shiva that He would always be prayed and invoked first.
Goddess Parvati created Lord Ganesh from the surface of her skin and told Him to stand guard while she bathed. Soon Lord Shiva approached this young boy and was refused entrance. In rage, Lord Shiva cut off the boy’s head. Once the whole truth came to light, Lord Shiva found the first living creature sleeping with his head facing the north and joined its head to the body of the boy. That animal was the elephant. Lord Shiva then blessed Lord Ganesh that He will always be first venerated by the entire Brahman. Apart from this Lord Ganesha also represents Om or the Pranava. That is why He is invoked before beginning anything auspicious.The second instance has three different versions but they all signify the same.
- All Gods and Goddesses came to Lord Shiva asking Him to suggest someone as their leader.
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Devarshi Narad had brought a fruit and asked Lord Shiva to give it to the son that He most admired.
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There was a dispute between Lord Kartikeyan / Karthikeyan or Lord Skanda and Lord Ganesh as to who was the eldest.
All these above situations created the following incident. Lord Shiva told his sons that whoever circled around the Universe the quickest would be declared victorious.Lord Skanda’s vahan is the peacock. He flew around the Universe and when He returned to His parents He found that Lord Ganesh had already completed the task.Lord Ganesh circled round his parents because to Him, His parents represent the entire manifested universe. This pleased the proud father and He blessed him saying that He will be prayed first by everyone before any other Gods and Goddesses.
Another version to the reason why the whole of Brahman worships Lord Ganesh first is that He inspite of knowing that He would have to lay down His life defending the palace gates on the order of His mother Parvati, He continued to stand guard.To Him, obeying His mother was His Param Dharama – (One and Only Ultimate Duty). His sacrifice is Pujaniya that is why when He was brought back to life, Lord Vishnu and Brahma made Him the Adhikari of Agraya Puja- this means that in Trilok (Three worlds) whether it was God, Goddess, Gandharava (Celestial singers), Kinnara (Celestial beings) or humans, all have to first call upon Lord Ganesh, seek His blessings and then commence their work.
©Nayna, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
