Spiritual Import of Religious Festivals :Ch-7. Part -11.

Chapter 7: Lord Ganesa – The Remover of Obstacles -11.


The human mind is elated and enthused by hearing stories.

Images, paintings, music, idols, dance – any kind of picturesque presentation of religion and spirituality or philosophy – is generally more appealing than cut and dry logic, as we know very well.

The Puranas and the epics bring home to us the idea of the necessity to accept the power of God as the only medium by which obstacles can be removed.

So, He is called Vighnesvara, the God who is not merely the Ganapati or the ruler of the hosts or Ganas, but also a Remover of all impediments on all paths.


When I was a small boy, I heard a story told by a neighbour.

There was a person who never believed in the gods, and when his daughter's marriage was to be performed, someone said, "First of all you must worship Ganesa. Do not be in a hurry."

He replied, "Let him be Ganesa or his grandfather; I do not care for anybody."

He took the Murti of Ganesa and threw it into the tank.

 And suddenly, they say, there was a fire and the whole marriage Pandal was aflame.

People bet their breasts, cried, ran to the tank and brought back the image.

And then, it is said, there was rain after Ganesa was worshipped.

These are all stories, and we have to take them for what they are worth.

Swami Krishnananda
To be continued  ...