123 - Glory of Ganesha

Narada said-I have listened to the inaccessible method of adoration of Ganesha quite briefly from the mouth of Brahma; now you tell me about the glory of Ganapati, who is the teacher of the yogis, in considerable detail.

In the earlier times the people of the three worlds performed a great puja in Siddhashrama, where Radha and Krishna had met again after the expiry of the curse or hundred years separation pronounced by Sridama. Then O sage, how could Radha adored Ganesha first?

How could the Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other? gods, the king of Nagas known as Sesha, the great serpents, the great king on earth, powerful demons, Gandharvas and other rulers adore Ganesha on earth. You kindly tell me in detail.

Narayana said- Since the earth happens to be quite auspicious in three worlds it is adorable by all. The land of Bharata only bestows the reward of the good deeds. In the land of Bharata there is an auspicious region in which Siddhashrama is located which bestows grace, reputation and moksha.

The great yogis, the ascetic, sage Kapila and others achieved excellence there, performing a hundred yajnas there, the god of gods achieved the position of Mahendra.

Because of this, the place is given the name of Siddhashrama. It is beyond the reach of all. O sage, Ganesha resides there always.

There is a beautiful image of Ganesha studded with gems, which is adored on the full moon day of Vaishakha by the gods and the Nagas, humans, demons, Gandharvas, the siddhas the Rakshasas, the sages and the yogis.

At that point of time Shiva also accompanied by Parvati, Karttikeya and other ganas arrived there together with Brahma.

Sesha also arrived there with all the serpents. After that, all the gods, Manus and the sages also arrived there; all the gods and the kings arrived there in order to adore Ganesha. Lord Krishna also reached there together with the people of Dvaraka.

Similarly, Nanda together with the people of Gokula also reached there; the beautiful Radha, the beloved of Sri Krishna also reached there. After the expiry of a hundred years of separation together with three crores of cowherdesses of Gokula, who were quite strong like the elephant. Radha having the beautiful teeth took her bath and was clad in the beautiful and fine garment.

Thereafter the chaste Radha washed her feet pretty well and observing fast, controlling her senses reached the mandapa of gems.

She with the intention of achieving Krishna performed the puja of Ganesha bathing his image with water of the Ganga.

Thereafter Radha who happens to be the mother of the Vedas, the Vasus, the universe, the mother of intellectuals and filled with wisdom, offered white flowers to the gods and adored Ganesha like her son according to the method prescribed in the Samaveda.

The dwarfs, the pot-bellied person, the fat people, the people possessing divine lustre, those having the faces of elephants, those having the lustre of fire, the one having the single tusk, the one who happens to be the teacher of all the intellectuals and people of wisdom, the one who is adored by Brahma, Shiva, Sesha sages, siddhas, ascetics and noble people, who is all virtuous, is eternal, is form of Brahman, the form of welfare, the place of welfare, the one who removes all the obstructions, is peaceful, bestower of all the riches, the one who can make the people to cross the ocean of the universe, the one who always provides protection to those who take refuge in him, is the form of meditation, is quite adorable and graceful to the devotees, the same Ganesha had to be adored.

After thus meditation, Radha, placed the flower on his head and performed all the rights prescribed in the Vedas.

Thereafter with the performing of dhyanam she offered a bunch flowers at the lotus-like feet of Ganesha, having a protruding belly.

Thereafter, Radha, the dweller of Goloka herself offered the fragrant water of the holy places, Durva-grass, unbroken rice, white flowers, fragrant sandal-paste and arghya to Ganesha.

Then she offered a beautiful garland of Parijata flowers soaked in sandal-paste. Thereafter Radha the dweller of Vrundavana pasted the body of Ganesha with kasthuri, saffron and fragrant sandal-paste.

Then Radha the dweller of the great lotus, took up the fragrant white flowers and soaking them with fragrant sandal-paste, offered them at the lotus-like feet of Ganesha. Thereafter the beloved of Krishna of feed the fragrant material together with incense to lord Ganesha.

The primeval and eternal Radha then offered a lamp to Ganesha which removed the complete darkness.

Then the tasteful food and others eatables and beverages which we difficult to get in the three worlds. She also offered the ripe fruits, the roots from the villages and the forest, the sweet balls of Sesamum and several other types of sweet balls of barley and flour besides other sweet times including svastikas. Several types of friend’s articles besides sugar, ghee, milk, honey, guda, curd, payasam and heaps of banana fruits besides other sweet and vegetables with food including rice were offered to Ganapati by Radha the beloved of Krishna. She also offered the gem- studded lion-throne. The five garments sanctified by fire were given by Radha, the dweller of the mountain of hundred peaks to Ganesha. She also offered to Ganesha the betel with camphor. Thereafter, the mistress of the cowherdesses, offered from water seven holy places to Ganesha for drinking which was quite auspicious and cool. Thereafter Radha offered to Ganesha an invaluable white fly-whisks. Radha who always dwells in the heart of Krishna also gave away in, charity, Kamadhenu cows with calves and performing repentance, she offered a bunch of flowers and recited the mulamantra making sixteen types of offerings. Thereafter Radha the dweller of Kalindi recited the mantra of sixteen letters which was like the best of kalpatarus and recited it a thousand time. Radha’s then filled with devotion became overwhelmed and tears started flowing from her eyes and she started adoring Ganesha.

Radha said- You happen to be eternal abode, eternal Brahman, the lord of all, remover of the obstructions peaceful, well-built, pleasant and beyond measure; you are adored by the fore-most of the gods and the demons. You are the one who serves as a sun for the lotus-like gods and happen to be the resting place for the welfare. I offer me prayer to the same type of Ganesha. The stotra is quite auspicious and removes the terrific obstructions, whosoever recites it in the early morning, he is freed from all the obstructions.