-Gurudev Shree Shree Ravi Shankar
Ganesh chaturthi 2025: It is believed that on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, Lord Ganesha provides his devotees on earth. Do you know that what we worship in the statue is really a medium of realization of divinity hidden within us? Ganesh Chaturthi is not only the festival of the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, it is a spiritual journey to awaken the consciousness within us. Adishankaracharya has presented a very beautiful creation about Ganesha.
Although Ganesha is worshiped as a God of Gajmukh, his form is only to reveal his parabrahma form. He has been called ‘Ajam Nirvikalapam Nirakamemakam’. This means that Ganesha never takes birth. They are unborn (Ajam), optionless (Nirvikalpam) and shapeless (Nirakaram). They are the symbol of the consciousness that is omnipresent, the cause of this universe that reveals everything and in which the entire world will merge.
Ganeshji is not outside of us, but is located in the center of our life. But this is a very subtle element. Not everyone can understand the formless without realizing the form. Our ancient sages knew this, so they created a real form for the benefits and understanding of people of all levels. Those who cannot experience the formless, they reach the formless Brahm while constantly experienced the expressed form.
In fact, Ganesha is formless, yet there is a form that Adishankaracharya worshiped and he himself gives the message of the formless power of Ganesha. Thus the real form acts as a starting point and gradually the formless consciousness begins to awaken.
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is a symbol of a unique practice of reaching the formless God by repeatedly worshiping the form of Ganesha. Even prayers made in praise of Ganesh Stotram and Ganesha give the same message.
We pray to Ganesha located in our consciousness to come out and sit in the idol for some time so that we can see their real form and feel grateful. And after worship, we pray to them again that they return from where they came in our consciousness. Whatever we have received from God, we offer all those substances to them in love and feel blessed.
The practice of immersing the idols after a few days of worship confirms the understanding that not in the idol, but within us, so it is the essence of Ganesh Chaturthi festival to experience omnipresent form and enjoy the same form. In a way, such organized celebrations and worship cause an increase in enthusiasm and devotion.
Ganesh is the lord of all the virtues existing within us, so when we worship them, all the virtues emerge within us. He is also a ruler of knowledge and intellect. Knowledge appears only when we become aware of ourselves. When there is inertia, there is neither knowledge, nor intellect, nor any vibrancy or progress in life. It is necessary to awaken consciousness and Lord Ganesha is worshiped before every puja to awaken the consciousness.
So install the idol, worship them with infinite love, meditate and experience Lord Ganesha from the depths of your heart. This is the symbolic essence of Ganesh Chaturthi festival- awakening the Ganesha-element hidden within us.
Edited by: Ravindra Gupta
