VISHWAKSENA
(Discourse by N. R.
Srinivasan – August 2012)
Before
commencing any ritual Vaishnavites start the ritual with the following
invocation prayer:
Suklaambharadaram Vishnum sasivarnam
chaturbhujam |
Prasaanna vadanam Dhaayet sarva vighnopa shantaye
||
Yasya dvirada vaktraadyaah paarishadyaah
parassadam
Vighnam nighnanti satatam Vishwaksenam
tamaasraye||
In the beginning there was only
darkness. Vishnu appeared on the horizon and filled the world with light. He
took three steps—Dawn, noon and dusk. He was called Trivikrama. With light came
out (Rita) order and with order came Life.
“Idam vishnur vichakrame tredha nidadha padam
samoolahamasya paamsure” (Rigveda 1.22.17)—Vishnu strode through all this
world; He planted his foot thrice; The whole was gathered in his footsteps’
dust (which are the all-embracing sun’s rays).
Rigveda, mentions Vishnu, the all-pervading sun, partner
Indra, the god of thunder and rain, as well as Devas; they had to fight Vrittra, the demon of
drought, who is finally killed by Indra.
This Indra needed a commander-in chief.
Vishwaksena or “the all-conquering”
is an aspect of Vishnu. He occupies the same position as Ganesha in the Saivite
tradition (sampradaaya). He is worshipped at the beginning of any undertaking
to avoid all obstacles.
According to Aagam Samhita his
idol is to be installed in the north-east corner of the temple. He is installed
in all Vishnu Temples. He is seen with four hands wearing conch (Sankha),
discus (chakra) and mace (gada) in three hands and fourth exhibiting
(tarjaneemudra) threatening finger pose to represent his position as a
commander. He is also sometimes depicted as the gate-keeper or chief attendant
of Lord Vishnu. He represents worldly sciences and is also shown standing on a
white lotus and with long matted hair and beard as a Rishi. He does not have
Srivatsa mark on his chest or the sacred thread like Vishnu. He is seated on a
throne on a chariot of flowers with his right leg bent and left leg stretched
down. He wears yellow garments and is lustrous like fire. Sometimes he is
accompanied by his consort, Varaahi, as given in Kaalikaa puraana. Pancharatra
Samhitas include Viswaksena Samhita.
Vishwaksena controls the finances
of the temple and Vishnu approves whatever Vishwaksena submits to him. He attends on Vishnu whenever he goes out of
temple. He rules by proxy all over the world.
It is the practice in
Conjeevaram, Srirangam, Tirupati and Guruvyur Temples to take out in procession
the idol of Vishwaksena first after the customary Pooja, a day prior to
Brahmotsava festival, when the Utsavamoorti (Bronze idol) goes out in
procession. This is done so that Vishwaksena may supervise all arrangements and
report the same to the Lord. He is believed to clear the route of the procession
of all evil forces as the pilot before the procession.
The association of Vishwaksena
with Vishnu is very ancient. Patanjali whose period dates back to few centuries
before Christ mentions three leaders of Vrishni Clan as Vaasudeva, Balarama and
Vishwaksena. In the Srivaishnava tradition he occupies the third place—Vishnu,
Lakshmi and Vishwaksena. He is regarded as custodian of worn flowers of Vishnu
(Nirmaalya-dhaari). His birth date is in Bhadrapada month in Poorvaashaadhaa
constellation (Nakshatra).
In mythology, once Indra sent a
Nymph Kutalaa to distract and entice the sage Durvaasa who is reputed for his
fit of temper on slightest provocation. Angered Durvaasa at the disturbance of
his penance cursed her to be born as huntress on earth. She was born to the
hunter chieftain Veerabaahu. Her name was Suvarchalaa. She married Dharmaputra.
But Varuna clandestinely loved her and
as an outcome Vishwaksena was born. The child had golden complexion, wide eyes
and his hands were marked by the symbols of conch, sword and bow. He studied
Saastras under sage Kashyapa. He went to Vrishabhaadri Mountains, present day Tirumalai
Hills and performed severe penance for twelve years. Pleased by his penance and
devotion, Vishnu made him commander of his forces (ganas), Senaadhipati at
Vaikuntham. He was then on called Vaikuntha Senani, Sarvaganaadhyaksha.
Sage Kaasyapa was the first among
the ancient sages. Celestials, non-celestials, human beings, all may be traced
back to him. Jnana means Drisya. Therefore Hindu philosophies are called
Darsanas. Kasyapa visualized the Truth and therefore he was called Pasyaka, one
who saw. Pasyaka became Kasyapa.
In Tamil, a seer is called Paarpanan,
meaning one who knows the Truth or Reality. Brahmins in the Tamilnadu came to
be called Paarpanans. Later EVR Periyar and his followers used this term in a
pejorative sense raising slogans. Of course some of the rich Brahmin Zamindars
were very haughty and ill treated their servants and brought lot of blasphemy
to the once venerated community. In Mythology Kasyapa had a wife called Kadru
who gave birth to snakes. There are eighteen subsidiary Smritis called
Upasmritis. Kasyapa is one of their authors. The 18 authors are: Jaabaali,
Naachiketas, Skanda, Laugaaksi, Kaasyapa, Vyaasa, Santkumaara, Santanu, Janaka,
Vyaaghra, Kaatyaayana, Jaatukarnya, Kapilaanjala, Baudhaayana, Kaanada,
Visvaamitra, Paitheenasa and Gobhila.
Being an illustrious student of
this great sage Kashyapa, Eternal Tradition shows how ancient Vishwaksena, his
ardent student was as a divinity of the Vedic period associated with
Trivikrama. In earlier iconographic
representation he was shown like Vishnu with four hands with Discus and Conch
but without the Srivatsa Chinha (mark), Conch and holy thread (Janhu). When
later Ganesha as the Ganapati of Siva (Leader of his Ganas) dominated the
field, some wise Brahmins also made him identified with an
elephant head and tusk as is Vishwaksena seen today amongst minor deities in
some Vaishnava Temples. In Tamilnadu he is popularly called Tumbuikkai Azhwar
(Azhwar with an elephant trunk) joining the galaxy of Tamil Vaishnava Saints of
all castes and creed. Generally very orthodox Brahmins do not worship any idol
of Saiva Sampradaya nor visit any Saiva or Sakta Temples. However they do not
mind paying their obeisance to Lord Ganesha as in their concept he is their
Thumbikkai Azhwar.
Vishnusahasranam in its
invocation starts with the slokas above and also pays tribute Vedavyasa, son of
Parasara who is the real author of Mahabharata, Bhagavadgeetaa and
Vishnusahasraranama, who preferred to keep his name away from these Holy Scriptures.
Puraanas mention of several
Ganapatis. Ganesha, the Saivites worship is known as Ekadanta or one with
single tusk. Under the command of Vishwaksena who keeps vigil on Paramapada
there are hundreds of elephant headed commanders having two tusks as well as
several horse headed commanders. They all wear Urdhwapundram or
Srivaishnava Naamam unlike Ganesha
idols. Mundaka Upanishad mentions of
Laksmi Ganapati worship for attaining salvation in the awakened state. This
Lakshmi-Ganapati is Sri Vishnu himself with Urdhwa Pundram. Hence often
Vishwaksena is confused with Ganesha of single tusk, son of Paarvati of puranic
lore. Syamantaka jewel story is also
distorted to mean Ganesha, the son of Paarvati according to Chinna Jeer, the
head of the Tengalai Vaishnavites.
REFERENCES
1. Prof.
S.K.Ramachndra, Vishnu Kosha, Kalpataru Research Academy, Shringeri Sharada
Peetham, Bangalore.
2. T.K.Mukundan,
A Concept of Hinduism, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai, India.
3. Swami
Harshananda, Hindu Gods and Goddesses, Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai,
India.
4. Nandita
Krishna, Balaji—Venkateshwara, Vakils, Feffer and Simons Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai,
India.
5. Jagadguru Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati, Kanchi
Kaamkoti Peetham, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai
APPENDIX
GANESHAWORSHIPED BY FOLLOWERS
OF ISKCON FAITH
Vinayako Vighnarajaha—Lord of Obstacles
Lord
Ganesha is well known for removing obstacles from the path of pure hearted
souls. Gokarna, a temple town in Karnataka, also known as Gokarna
Mahabalesvara, is famous for the presence of one of the twelve jyotirlingas of
Lord Siva. Lord Ganesha is said to have established this linga. The glories of
the deity of Vinayaka Ganesha of Gokarna are described by Sri Vadiraja Mahan in
Tirtha prabandhah, paschima prabandhah:
dustanam vighnakarta sucarita
sujanastoma vighnaapaharta
tasmad vighnadhipo ‘ham mata iti sudhiyam spastam ajnapanaya |
paulastyecchantarayah*
sroyovighnadhirajah pradisatu satatam
bhuri gauri tanujah ||
Dustanam vighnakarta Vinayaka states: “I spoil the intentions of
the bad, wicked and evil-minded people.”
sucharita sujanastoma vighnaapaharta “I am the destroyer of the hurdles on
the path of sadhus, pious people.”
Tasmad vighnadhipo ‘ham “Therefore I am called the king of
hurdles.”
The
truth is that Ganesha removes all obstacles on the path of pious, satvik souls,
and creates hurdles on the path of evil persons. There is an interesting story
in this regard which is related to the establishment of Gokarna. Here Ganesha
helped the demigods overcome a great obstacle.
Once
Ravana, the great atheistic king, went to Lord Siva’s abode, Kailasa. On
reaching there, he began to shake it violently with his mighty hands. This
created a great disturbance among the various planetary systems of the
universe. On seeing this, Lord Shiva pushed Kailasa downwards thus trapping
Ravana’s hands underneath. In great distress, Ravana cried for help and begged
forgiveness.
Lord
Shiva is also known as Asutosha, one who is easily pleased. On hearing Ravana’s
desperate pleas, Lord Shiva forgave him. Ravana then offered prayers glorifying
Lord Siva, and Lord Shiva then gave him a Siva-linga and blessed him by saying
that as long as he possessed this Linga, he would be invincible. Siva, however,
also warned him not to place this Linga on the ground until he reached Lanka
because once he placed it on the ground, the Linga won’t move. Ravana then
immediately proceeded toward Lanka.
When
the demigods learned about the benediction Ravana had received, being fearful
they requested Ganesha for help. Ganesha agreed. When Ravana was on his way, he
stopped to take a bath at Gokarna. Ganesha, in the disguise of a Brahmana boy,
appeared before him and offered to hold the Linga until Ravana finished his
duties. So Ravana gave the Linga to Ganesha. As soon as Ravana went to take his
bath, Ganesha installed the Linga at that place.
When
Ravana came back, he tried his best with all his might to lift the Linga, but
failed. While trying to lift the Linga, it took the shape of an ear of the cow
and so it is known as “Gokarna” and as Ravana exercised all his might to lift
it up it is also called Mahabalesvara. This story is narrated in the Skanda
Purana, Brahmottara Khanda, Chapter 202.
The
Brahma-samhita (5.50) explains how Ganesha derives his power to remove
obstacles from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda:
yat-pada-pallava-yugam vinidhaya
kumbha- dvandve pranama-samaye sa ganadhirajah
govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami
||
Translation
-- “I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda. Ganesha always holds His lotus feet
upon the pair of tumuli protruding from his elephant head in order to obtain
power for his function of destroying all obstacles on the path of progress in
the three worlds.”
A
devotee who is aspiring to obtain pure devotional service to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead may pray to Ganesha to remove all impediments on the
path of spiritual progress.
vakratunda mahakaya suryakoti
samaprabha
nirvighnam kuru me deva sarvakaryeshu
sarvada
Translation:
“Vinayaka (Ganesha) is effulgent like millions of suns. In all our matters, we
pray to him to remove all our hurdles and impediments.”
Special prayers on Ganesha Chaturthi
Srila
Madhvacharya describes in his Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya, chapter 20, that Ganesha was born to Rukmini Devi and Sri
Krishna as Charudesna.*
Lord
Krishna married 16,008 queens and settled in Dvaraka. Rukmini, Satyabhama and
Jambavati were among the principal queens. Each of the 16,008 queens gave birth
to ten sons and a daughter. *Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.61.8-13)* lists the names of
the sons born to the main queens.
Charudesnah
Sudeshnas cha Charudehas cha viryavan Sucharus Charuguptas cha Bhadracharus
tathaparah | Charuchandro Viharus cha Charus
cha dasamo hareh pradyumna-pramukha jata
rukminyam navamah pituh
Translation--The first son of Queen Rukmini was Pradyumna, and also born of her were Charudesna, Sudeshna and the powerful Charudeha, along with Sucharu, Charugupta, Bhadracharu, Charuchandra, Vicharu and Charu, the tenth. None of these sons of Lord Hari was less than his father. Charudesna mentioned here is an incarnation of Ganesha or Vinayaka.*
bhanuh subhanuh svarbhanuh prabhanur
bhanumams tatha
chandrabhanur brhadbhanur atibhanus
tathastamah
sribhanuh pratibhanus cha
satyabhamatmaja dasa
sambah sumitrah purujic chatajic cha sahasrajit
viyayas chitraketus cha vasuman
dravidah kratuh
jambavatyah suta hy ete sambadyah
pitr-sammatah
Translation:--The
ten sons of Satyabhama were Bhanu, Subhanu, Svarbhanu, Prabhanu, Bhanuman,
Candrabhanu, Brhadbhanu, Atibhanu (the eighth), Sribhanu and Pratibhanu. Samba,
Sumitra, Purujit, Satajit, Sahasrajit, Vijaya, Chitraketu, Vasuman, Dravida and
Kratu were the sons of Jambavati. These ten, headed by Samba, were their
father’s favorites.
One
who recites the above verses describing the sons of Lord Krishna, and
understands that Vinayaka was born to Rukmini Devi and Sri Krishna as Charudeshna,
will acquire great value as fathe.
What is the difference between Vinayaka
and Vishwakse:na?
Vinayaka |
Vishwakse:na
|
Anyone
who can help you handle a hurdle is called a Vinayaka. Gane:sa
is also called referred as Vinayaka.
He is the chief commander of all battalions in the army of
Siva
He
is with a single-tusked elephant head (and hence he is called E:kadantha)
|
He
is the chief commander of all battalions in the army of Lord Vishnu, He is
the alter-ego of Lord Vishnu himself.
|
He
is the leader of all double-tusked elephant head lieutenants, single-tusked
elephant head lieutenants, horse headed lieutenants, goat headed lieutenants,
and every other lieutenant.
Among these lieutenants, a double-tusk elephant headed
lieutenant has the power to impart abilities in us for overcoming all
hurdles. All of them represent valor to conquer any challenge.
|
|
His
consorts are Siddhi and Buddhi
|
His
consort is Su:travati
|
Mo:dakas
are offered to Vinayaka on this day. All devotees have the prasadam
after the prayer.
|
Appam
is offered to Vishwakse:na. All devotees have the prasadam after
the prayer.
|
Prayer:
Agaja:nana Padma:rkam
Gaja:nanam aharnisam | Ane:ka damtham bhaktha:na:m E:kadantham upa:smahe: ||
(you can also chant and read more about Gane:sa and
understand the way he supports you)
|
Prayer:
Yasya dwirada
vakthra:dya:h
Pa:rishadya:h paras satham | Vighnam nighnanthi sathatham Vishvak se:nam tham a:sraye: ||
Vande: vaikuntta
se:na:nyam
De:vam su:travathi: sakham | Yad ve:thra sikhara spande: Viswam e:thath vyavastthitham ||
(you can also chant and read more about Vishwakse:na and
understand the way he supports you)
|
--Chinna Jeer swamy
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