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Vinayaka Chaturthi Celebrations at Prasanthi
Nilayam
Indian culture believes in the concept of pantheism - God can be identified with all the forces of nature and with all natural things. That is why our ancients worshipped even inanimate things like trees. People worship snakes and elephants and our Indian mythology speaks volumes to testify this fact. Among the Indian gods and goddesses, Vinayaka is given the prime place. Vinayaka has an elephant head and the body of a human. How Vinayaka assumed such a form is explained in the scriptures. Please read on for details … Who is Vinayaka? The essential purpose of the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival is to teach a person to avoid the company of bad people and cultivate the company of the good. What does the term Ganapathi signify? ‘Ga’ means Buddhi or intellect, ‘Na’ means Jnana (Wisdom). ‘Ganapathi’ means one who is the Lord of the intellect and of wisdom. He is also the Lord of all Ganas (spiritual entities). Ganas also symbolise the senses. Ganapathi is thus the Lord of the senses. Story of Ganesha’s origin There is another legend explaining Ganesha’s origin: Once upon a time there was an Asura (demon) named Gajasura. He performed a penance. Easwara, pleased with his penance, offered him as a boon whatever he desired. Easwara is a deity who is easily propitiated. Hence he is known as Bhola-Sankara. When he is pleased with a devotee, He gives the devotee whatever he asks. Sometimes He gets into a ‘difficult’ situation, as in the case of Bhasmasura who was granted by Siva the boon to turn into ashes anyone on whose head he placed his palm. Immediately after getting the boon he wanted to test his power by trying to place his hand on Siva’s head itself! What was the boon Siva gave to Gajasura? The demon desired that fire should go forth from him continuously so that no one dare approach him. Siva granted him the boon. Gajasura continued to do penance and Siva used to appear before him off and on. Once Siva asked him what he wanted. The demon said: "I want you to dwell in my stomach." Siva granted the boon and lodged himself in the demon’s stomach. Siva’s consort Parvathi, searched for Siva everywhere and could not find Him. As a last resort, she went to her brother, Vishnu, and appealed to Him to trace the whereabouts of her husband. The all - knowing assured her; “Don’t worry, dear sister. Your husband is Bhola - Sankara. He grants readily whatever boon his devotee prays for, without considering the consequences. I suspect that he must have got into some trouble. I shall find out what has happened.” Vishnu, who is the director of the cosmic play, staged a small drama. He converted Nandi (Siva’s bull) into a dancing-bull and led it before Gajasura, while himself assuming the role of a piper playing music on the pipe. Gajasura was in ecstasy over the dancing performance of the bull: He asked the piper (Vishnu) what he wanted. The piper replied: “Can you give what I ask?” “What do you take me for? I shall readily give you whatever you ask.” The piper said: “If that is so, release from your stomach Siva who is dwelling there.” Gajasura then realised that the piper was none other than Vishnu Himself, who alone could know the secret of Siva’s presence inside his stomach. He fell at the feet of Vishnu, released Siva from his stomach and prayed to Him for a boon. He said: "I have been blessed by many boons from you. My last request is that all should cherish my memory by worshipping my head after I pass away." Siva thereupon brought His son and placed Gajasura’s head on him. Ever since, the tradition has prevailed in Bharat that, every auspicious function of any kind commences with worship of Ganapathi. It was the result of Siva’s boon to Gajasura. Vinayaka’s Story Briefly, Satrajit, who secured a jewel syamantaka from Surya, did not part with it even when Krishna the Lord of Dwaraka, asked for it saying it would be safe with Him. Prasena, the brother of Satrajit went out hunting wearing the jewel but was killed by a lion. Jambavan of Ramayana fame killed the lion and gave it to his son to play with. When Prasena did not return, Satrajit falsely accused Krishna of killing Prasena for the sake of the jewel. Krishna, in order to remove the stain on His reputation, set out in search of the jewel and found it in Jambavan's cave, with his child. Jambavan attacked Krishna thinking Him to be an intruder who had come to take away the jewel. They fought each other for 28 days, when Jambavan, his whole body terribly weakened from the hammering of Krishna's fists, finally recognised Him as Rama. As repentance for his having fought Krishna, Jambavan gave Krishna the jewel and also his daughter Jambavati in marriage. Krishna returned to Dwaraka with Jambavati and the jewel, and returned it Satrajit, who in turn repented for his false accusation. He promptly offered to give Krishna the jewel and his daughter Sathyabhama in marriage. Krishna accepted Satyabhama as His wife but did not accept the jewel. Vinayaka Chaturthi at Prasanthi Nilayam Clothes and Watches Distribution Students receive the blessings of Bhagawan
before the idols were taken for immersion Words are inadequate to express the ingenuity and innovativeness of the students. The vehicles were made of different shapes and sizes like swan-shaped, lotus-shaped, representing musical instruments, vehicle in the shape of dove, dolphins making acrobatic dives, in the shape of a Chinese temple (Pagoda), etc. Some of them were as huge as the height of Sai Kulwant Hall. After Bhagawan sat in His chair, he asked the students and staff to circumambulate the Prasanthi Mandir. As each group passed Bhagawan with their small Ganesh idols, Swami showered His benedictions on them. Before leaving Sai Kulwant Hall for immersion, Bhagawan asked the vehicles to be brought in His view and Arati was performed in front of each decorated vehicle by the Mandir priest. The students and staff had another wonderful opportunity to have the Darshan of Bhagawan in close quarters and receiving His blessings. As Veda chanting continued in Sai Kulwant Hall, the students and staff towed away their vehicles, singing Bhajans and chanting Vedas. The neatly decorated vehicles with Ganesha idols were then taken out of Prasanthi Nilayam premises for immersion. Thus, ended the grand celebrations of Vinayaka Chaturthi festival at Prasanthi Nilayam
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Bhagawan came to the Hall for
Darshan at 7.55 a.m. and took a full round of the Hall. At about 8.40
a.m., on Bhagawan’s instruction, the students sang Ganesha Stotras and
group songs. Bhajans followed soon after that. After Arati, Bhagawan
retired to His abode. In the evening, the devotees were doubly blessed
since Bhagawan came for a full round of the Hall in the car and then again
He went round the Hall blessing the devotees. One should see the mirthful
faces of the devotees and students; everyone was craning their necks to
behold the beautiful form of the Lord – to treasure this blissful form in
their hearts. After Bhajans, Bhagawan retired for the day. Prasadam was
distributed to everyone both in the morning and evening. 
nostalgic
recounting the Prasanthi Nilayam of those days and how the Ashram has
expanded and undergone rapid change. He was full of gratitude to Bhagawan
for protecting him through the thick and thin of his life. One after the
other, they came and recounted their experiences extempore. Simplicity and
their infinite love for Bhagawan were writ large on their faces. Many of
them spoke with moist eyes while expressing their heartfelt gratitude to
Bhagawan. One of them even sang Bhagawan’s composition “Rama Kodanda Rama …” melodiously which was well
appreciated by Bhagawan. After the speeches, Bhagawan Himself distributed
clothes and watches to both ladies and gents with His Divine Hands. At the
end, Prasadam was distributed to all of them. After Bhajans and Arati,
Bhagawan left for His Divine Abode. 
the afternoon
of 9th September 2005, students from the Institute, School,
Ashram and Hospitals brought Ganesha idols in specially decorated vehicles
to Sai Kulwant Hall. The Ganesha idols were taken for immersion on this
day. Each institution was given a slot and the vehicles were neatly
arranged in the Hall. As Bhagawan entered Sai Kulwant Hall, every
institution had two or three representatives holding fruits and sweets in
trays. Bhagawan asked the car to be stopped near each of them and blessed
the students and the items in the tray.