OM
Gajaananam Bhoota Ganaadhi Sevitam
Kapitha Jamboo Bhala Sara Bakshitam
Umaa Sutam Shoka Vinaasa Kaaranam
Namaami Vigneswara Paada pangkajam

Meaning:

I prostrate at the lotus feet of that Lord who bears the elephant head, who is served by all bhoota Ganaas, who is satisfied by eating the juice of Jamboo Fruit, that Lord who is the beloved son of Goddess Uma (Paarvati) and who cuts asunder all our sorrows.

Explanation:

Before starting any work, it is customary to pray to the Lord Vigneswara for his blessings for getting the task accomplished without any hindrance from any quarters. This sloka not only is a prayer but explains the essence of true living depicted by his appearance. Head is the seat of Wisdom and when it is large, naturally it means it contains tremendous (unlimited) wisdom. This means Vigneswara is the Lord of Knowledge or Wisdom. The Boota Ganaas are not only the terrible faced hefty creatures that you can imagine as Bhootam but it refers to all living beings. Also our body comprises of pancha bhootaas, viz. earth, water, agni, air, space. All these elements are in our body. After death the body merges with earth or is going to flames. We have various types of fire in us to activate blood, for digestion etc. We have water content in our body as you can see water oozing out when a dead corpse decays. The blood also contains water. We have air in our body without which we cannot live. We have space in which the flesh and nerves reside and also in our nose, ears, mouth etc. you can observe the space. These pancha bhootaas get energy from God. Unless they pray to Vigneswara, they cannot function without hindrance because Vigneswara is the Lord of all hindrances. Vigneswara eats only the juice of Jamboo fruit, a very simple food and gets satisfied though his belly is so large (in which the entire universe is said to reside). He is the blessed son of Uma (Sakthi) and He, being the Lord of knowledge, is capable of cutting asunder all obstacles. To such Lord I prostrate.

SRI
Saraswati Namasthubhyam Varade Kaama Roopini
Vidyaarambham Karishyaami Sidhi: Bhavathume Sadaa

Meaning:

I prostrate before Goddess Saraswati, who is the embodiment of Love and is the Goddess of Learning (Vidya), seeking her blessings for successful study (of Geethaa Saaram) that I am now undertaking.

Explanation:

Once we get the grace of Lord Vigneswara, we have to pray to Goddess of Learning Saraswati to bestow her blessings on us to study well. Her white dress shows the purity and Satwa Guna aspect. The book in her hand shows that she controls learning. The Veena in another hand indicates that even in learning there must be some sruti and laya. Music also is an art for which she is the Goddess. She is the embodiment of Love. Hence, we pray to her before starting any Vidya for getting her blessings, to make us fit enough to receive the knowledge.

NAMA:
Gurur Brahmaa Gurur Vishnu: Gurur Devo Maheswara:
Gurur Sakshaat Parabrahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Nama:

Meaning:

I consider that Supreme entities Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the Sustainer) and Siva (the annihilator), who together are the Parabrahma (Brahman) as the Guru for my learning, seeking Guru Krupa.

Explanation:

After the blessings of Ganesa for unhindered work, after the grace of Goddess Saraswati for ability to learn, we have to seek the krupa (Arul) of Guru (teacher). Brahma, Vishnu and Siva are together known as Dattathreya, who is considered to be the Parama Guru, since the entire creation, sustenance and annihilation are all in HIM. This Guru is none other than the Supreme Reality, the Super Consciousness, Parabrahma called variously, who is the teacher of all teachers. This Supreme Guru is the power activating the entire universe and who alone is capable of guiding us through the Samsara of Life. We seek Guru Krupa through this sloka to make us fit enough to receive knowledge.

FOREWARD

We are living in a world of trials and tribulations. We face various obstacles and hindrances in our day-to-day functioning. We are unable to cross over these difficulties because we have limited knowledge and experience about the nature, which controls the entire activities. The universe is so large that nobody can measure its length and breadth. The natural laws and other knowledge enveloping this universe are so large and subtle that we cannot learn them in one birth. When we are not able to accomplish our aims and desires, what do we do? We seek the help of other knowledgeable personalities, blessings of teachers and elders, who have crossed these obstacles and who know the trick. We have to live in this material world in a way useful and helpful to others, without hurting anyone or causing any harm to others and with love and unity in order to live happily. What is the aim of life? What are the principles that we should follow to achieve this objective? How and where can we get this knowledge? After getting this knowledge how to apply it in our life? To live a moral and truthful life as above, these are the questions that come in our mind for which we need answers.

Our forefathers – Great Saints – have collected these principles which were revealed to them during their prolonged Tapas (Meditation) as revelations of Truth from the Brahman. These principles they have given us in the form of Sanatana Dharma, consisting of Vedas, Vedangas, Vedantha, Upanishads and Puranaas (Stories). Sanatana means Eternal (everlasting, everpresent) Dharma means Duties. These books are not in paper bound books but written in dry palm leaves and in Grandhaakshara. And even if some are in the book form now, the principles given therein are so subtle, difficult to understand and vast that we cannot learn them in one birth. They are in Sanskrit language, which all of us may not understand. This Sanatana Dharma elaborates everything in the universe and no activity is out of it. There is nothing left over which is not in them. Many of us know we have four Vedas, viz. Rig, Yajur, Sama and Adharvana Vedas. Upanishads are the explanations to these Vedic principles given by Seers and Gnaanis directly by oral teachings to their disciples. Puraanaas are the principles spelt out through moral stories like Maha Bharata, Ramaayana, Bhagavata etc. Even to study these epics is out of our reach for reasons stated above and particularly as we are running after wealth and livelihood. Then what is the remedy? Don’t worry. Lord Sri Krishna Paramatma, during his Avataar, has given us the essence of all these great epics in a nutshell but in a very lucid and simple manner through slokaas in the form of Bhagawat Geetha, which is the upadesa given to Arjuna. As this Kaavyam contains the essence of all the Vedic declarations, it is considered as the Fifth Veda. As it contains the principles of right living on how to live peacefully and unitedly, helping each other, how to cross over obstacles, how to instill in ourselves the values of Dharmic and truthful living, how to build up our character etc. in detail. Arjuna is only a representative and through him we are blessed with this treasure.

I am not a pandit or learned in Sanatana Dharma, but by my association with great Lecturers in these topics, my Nithya karmanushtanam and Sadhana practices, I consider myself blessed by my guru Sri Ramana Maharshi, who guides and activates me to write whatever is known or understood by me. May he guide me in this Gnana Dhana Yagnam and I dedicate this article unto him.

Acknowledgement:

I consider myself blessed because Sri A.K.R., who has taken up the noble work of service to children through the websites “Mazalais.com” & ‘Artistkidworld.com”, has invited me to join him in this Gnana Dhana Yagnam for which I am grateful to him. It will be my endeavor to be associated with him in this noble task to the best of my ability. May this help the children to learn our Sanatana Dharma, follow its principles and be benefited by this knowledge which will the Guru Dakshina!

In the next issue, we shall see how and where Geetha emerged, the essence of its content and how it is useful in today’s scenario etc.

: HARI OM :