The lord of all things great and small

VINAYAKA CHATURTI is one of the most important festivals in India, especially the South.

In the North, especially in places like Mathura, Lord Krishna is celebrated as a baby of the family by most of the families. Similarly, Vinayaka is held dear by almost all families in the South.

Vinayaka is the moola mudhalvan — the primary root —of everything, and is instrumental in ensuring things go smooth for all.

In fact, the ‘V’ in Vinayaka represents victory, while the rest signify leader or head. Therefore, it is not surprising that devotees always want their eyes to fall on Vinayaka ,as much as possible. It is for this reason that our ancestors erected small temples in practically every street of a city. In the olden days, when people used to bathe in or near rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and wells—and never indoors— they ensured that a Vinayaka temple was raised near the waterway, under a peepal tree, facilitating their worship of Him.

Birth of Vinayaka: According to Siva Puranam, Parvati did not have any issues. One day, She had the urge to play with a baby and set about creating one with a piece of clay. She then fell in love with Her creation and when her Consort Siva entered their abode Kailasam, She explained her actions.

Siva turned the clay creation into Vinayaka. Siva also decided to throw a celebration party for the baby and all celestial beings got ready to attend the same. When Saniswaran prepared to attend the party, his mother forbade him, saying, “If your eyes fall on Vinayaka, some bad luck may befall the baby.” However, Sani sneaked into the party, without his mother’s knowledge. Siva spotted him and advised Parvati to shield Vinayaka, but by then it was too late—Sani espied Vinayaka and in that moment, the latter’s head got detached.

Siva immediately instructed his army of soldiers to bring him the head of any body sleeping with the head facing the North. One of them immediately returned with the head of an elephant found sleeping with its head northwards. The elephant head was fixed to baby Vinayaka’s head, who survived.

Why do we pray to him?

Adults pray to Vinayaka, since it is said that if you beseech Him, the negative impact of navagraha dosham will be reduced or even negated, especially gnana. This is why children love Him, and pray to Him desperately, before all exams, big or small. Being the primary root of everything, praying to Vinayaka ensures that whatever one attempts goes smooth, without hurdles. Ganapathy homam, propitiating Him, is also conducted before weddings and other celebrations in many households. Ganapathy is yet another name for Vinayaka.

To thousands of farmers, Pillaiyar (as Vinayaka is also known), is a beloved benefactor as He is said to be the one responsible for bringing Cauvery to the state. Legend says that once sage Agastya was passing through the agrarian belt. He was carrying Cauvery in his kamandalam and left it down on the ground for a minute. immediately, Vinayaka is said to have taken the shape of a crow and toppled the water in the kamandalam, causing a river of water to flow, which became the Cauvery.

Two things are dear to Vinayaka — the breaking of a coconut and the offering of modhagam. The coconut symbolises one’s supplication and the shattering of one’s ego. The modhagam, with its white exterior and soft, rich, sweet stuffing, signifies complete surrender to the Lord and the sweet stuffing, the joy that emanates from such an action.