Srila Prabhupada advised us to perform worship of Lord Ganesha. I wonder why we dont see any ganesha dieties in ISKCON temples. I have always found Sri Ganesha to be intriguing. He also says that it is not necessary to worship the demigods, if your worship Lord Sri Krsna. That is because all of the demigods are within him. In other words, serving Lord Krsna is a one-stop shop. Frankly, I choose only to worship Lord Sri Krsna in principle and as a rule. Im satisfied with the results. Im certainly able to travel into other worlds much easier by chanting. I have found myself praying to Lord Ganesha on occassion and even doing just a little Ganesha worship just as Srila suggested. Im not sure why I have always been naturally attracted to Ganesha. Of course its because he's beautiful and makes us feel good to look at! However, there is nothing in existence that can ever be more beautiful or gratifying then the name of Krishna. A really interesting thing to consider is that as soon as I placed a beautiful sticker of Lord Ganesha on my refrigerator, I discovered the Fridge Phenomenon (FP) very shortly thereafter. Check out my site for more information about the FP.
Haribol!
Gita
Lord Ganesha is a devotee
This is something very different to what everyone is discussing but still I thought of posting it here. Following is taken from Nectar of Devotion
While watching the rasa dance performed by Lord Krsna and the gopis, Lord Siva beheld the beautiful face of Krsna and immediately began to dance and beat upon his small dindima drum. While Lord Shiva was dancing in ecstasy, his eldest son, GANESHA, joined him.
Lord Ganesha should be respected as a great devotee of the Lord and thus should not be disrespected as it would be an offense to a Vaishnav.
Srila Prabhupada's instructions on Ganesh Woship
Letter to: Sivananda
—
London
25 August, 1971
71-08-25
“So far worshiping Ganesa is concerned, that is not necessary. Not that it should be done on a regular basis. If you like you can pray to Ganapati for removing all impediments on the path of Krishna Consciousness. That you can do if you like.”
Letter to: Sudama
—
Bombay
21 November, 1974
74-11-21
“The Ganesa puja may not be performed. No, it is not to be done. No need of it. ”
Letter to: Sons
—
Bombay
28 December, 1974
74-12-28
“Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, chapter 18; sarva-dharman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo, moksayisyami ma sucah [Bg. 18.66]. So why you want to worship someone else. Krsna, Himself, recommends mam ekam, he alone. Therefore we must do like that. If one wants to water the tree he waters the root. There is no necessity of watering the branches. The demigods are all different parts of the universal form of the Supreme Lord. But Krsna is even more than that whole complete universal form. He is the origin of that universal form. Therefore I do not encourage you to worship this demigod, Ganesa. It is not required, it is not necessary. Simply worship Krsna. Perform nice devotional service to Krsna. Then your lives will certainly become perfect. Of course if one has got some sentiment for achieving the blessings of Ganesa for accumulating large sums of money to serve Krsna, then he may perform this Ganesa worship, privately, not making a public show. But first of all he must give me $100,000 per month. Not a single farthing less. If he can supply this amount, $100,000 per month, then he will be allowed to do this Ganesa Puja. Otherwise he should not do it. It will not be good. That is my order. So all of you keep yourselves strong in Krsna Consciousness by following all of my basic principles. That is of the utmost importance. Do not fail to chant 16 rounds daily, rise early, come to mangala arati, come to classes and follow the 4 regulative principles. In this way your life will become free from all anxieties. Please try to distribute my books in huge quantities more and more. This is very much satisfying to me.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ”
Letter to: Gurukrpa
—
Bombay
31 December, 1974
74-12-31
“Regarding Ganesa Puja, I have received some letters from persons requesting to also perform it. I have explained to them that ultimately it is not required, but if you have some sentiment to get the blessings of Ganesa in order to get huge sums of money for service of Krishna, then it can be done, but privately. I have instructed them that if they want to do it, they must send me at least 100,000 dollars monthly—not less.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ”
Letter to: Bhakta dasa
—
Honolulu
1 February, 1975
75-02-01
“Concerning Ganesa worship, it is not actually necessary for us. But, if someone has a sentiment for getting the blessings of Ganesa in order to get large amounts of money for Krishna's service, then it is alright, but anyone who takes up this kind of worship must send me at least 100,000 dollars monthly—not less. If he cannot send this amount, then he cannot do Ganesa worship.
Please continue distributing by books as many as possible.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ”
$100,000?
Hare Krishna to all!
Why does Prabhupada want a large sum of money? Is he just asking for this money to show how unnecessary it is to perform worship to Ganesa, (not actually wanting it), or is he actually requesting money for the worship of Ganesa?
Please clarify. Thank you.
-Cody
if someone is to worship
if someone is to worship Ganesh properly then one of the material results is large sums of money, Srila Prabhupada is authorizing such worship if all of that such monies are used in devotional service, otherwise one should not worship Ganesh.
Thank you.
All of these letters together give us a very clear picture, thank you Nityananda Chandra. :)
Excellent.
Navasi
Ganapati
Can you give us a reference for this assertion that Srila Prabhupada told us to worship Ganesh please because I have not heard that before.
________________________________________
Visit the Food Channel @ Krishna.com
Nectar of Devotion
The Nectar of Devotion states:
"One should begin the worship of the demigod Ganapati, who drives away all impediments in the execution of devotional service. In the Brahma-samhita it is stated that Ganapati worships the lotus feet of Lord Nrsimhadeva and in that way has become auspicious for the devotees in clearing out all impediments. Therefore, all devotees should worship Ganapati. "
When Srila Prabhupada was asked if this means that one can worship Ganesa, he said that one can do so, if by such worship that person can donate not less than 100,000 dollars per month.( Dec 28, 1974 letter). So it was clear that he did not want such worship to be done and he says it is his order in that same letter.
Jiva Gosvami and Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura who has commented on Bhakti rasamrta Sindhu (the original book of which Nectar of Devotion is a summary), do not comment on this particular verse.
Radhikesh das
The Remover Of Obstacles
Lord Ganesh is the remover of obstacles, so Srila Prabhupad said we could pray to Lord Ganesh for assistance in the removal of obstacles in our devotional service and in our spiritual progress.
His mercy helps us, but it's not that we perform Ganesh "worship", as a separate endeavor from our attempts to become Krishna conscious.
Hare Krishna, Hare Rama....
I don't understand all this traveling to other planets and refrigerator stuff..... very confusing business, I'd say.
Navasi
No Limit in Krsna
First off, you need to understand that there is no limit at all on what God can do. Yes, I am able to ravel into other worlds and indeed I do have control over the functioning of refrigerators. This hasbeen witnessed and even scienctifically proven. It is only a direct result of my srrvice to Lord Sri Krsna. It is a manifestation oif the practical effects of bhakti yoga on our lives. Now we should be concerned wth the implications. There is nothing confucins about the fridge Phenomenon. Many great saints and mystics all throughout have been blessed by God with these kind of telekinetic powers. I believe that the highest power is available throught serving Krsna. So its nothing new and hardly confusing unless one doubts the power of God. We are supposed to use them only to glorify Krsna and that's exactly what I intend to do.
Haribol!
Gita S.
Imposing our limitations on Krsna
This thread started with Ganesa worship and it was alleged Srila Prabhupada asked us to do it. But when evidence was presented to the contrary, that was dropped and focus is now on how Krsna has no limits.
It is true that Krishna can do anything and there is no limit. It is good that Gita S wants to use his powers to glorify Krishna. The real intent of bhakti yoga, however, is to develop unalloyed love for Krishna. The scriptures say the effects of bhakti yoga is to develop detachment from mind and matter and gain knowledge of the Lord. Bhakti yoga can produce all mystic powers and effects. But pure devotees are not enamored by the side effects but continue to serve Krishna in the unlimited number of ways the Lord wants them to serve Him.
If Gita S can use his powers to convince people to take to Krishna, that is well and good. For the rest of us, we have the path given to us by Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada - to hear and chant the holy names and glories of Krishna, and convince others to take to this simple process. By doing this, one can practically experience the reciprocation of Krishna. People can easily be enamored by material powers and get sidetracked, because they have been under the influence of material nature since time immemorial. To convince them to take to Krishna consciousness by some mystic methods is to exactly go against the warnings of our acaryas.
Radhikesh das
Interesting stuff
Hari bol Prabhu,
I like how you mentioned that "pure devotees are not enamored by the side effects but continue to serve Krishna in the unlimited number of ways the Lord wants them to serve Him.".
This is just my humble and uneducated opinion on this, but here it is. To me, one who has "telekinetic abilities" and says hey believe in my god because I can do this, is not exactly the kind of person I would follow. I would rather follow in the steps of a pure devotee who demonstrates pure love for Sri Krsna, without regard for their own rewards for their service. I think devotion without thought of rewards, such as "telekinetic abilities", is much more beneficial, and helps propogate Krsna Conciousness much better. After all, there are mystic yogis throughout time who could do amazing things, but it took true devotees of God to spread God Conciousness. But like I said, just my opinion,
With love,
Joshua
Bhakti
I like what you've said Joshua, and you're right.
I commented to Guru Gita in another thread here that this is not even Bhakti yoga.... to use the "process" of Bhakti yoga to focus on mystic powers, or to try to spread the use of the process of Bhakti yoga to achieve mystic powers, is not Bhakti yoga at all.
The meaning of the word "Bhakti" is devotion/love.... so if you are not at least attempting to achieve love of God through the "process" of this type of yoga, then there is no meaning to the term "Bhakti yoga" which is what Guru Gita is calling his practices.
So, like I said in the other thread, what he is talking about is not Bhakti yoga at all.
Also, Guru Gita seems to think I am confused in my ability to understand his mystic powers or refrigerator powers, which is not what I was saying, I said that what he is doing is "confusing business" and I still say it is, because he is taking the process of Bhakti yoga, and trying to use it for some other purpose, which is "very confusing business" (what to speak of very dangerous business).
Navasi
Hare Krishna
You have made a wonderful point Joshua. It is best to follow in the footsteps of a pure devotee, who demonstrates love for Krishna, than one who demonstrates love for matter in the form of mundane powers.
Radhikesh das
Thank you Prabhu for you
Thank you Prabhu for you wonderful comment. Very true, also history and modern events shows the example of many demoniac, materialistic, atheistic yogis who claim divinity due to having obtained so mystic powers.