Devotion to the Divine will give you bliss, prosperity and peace

‘Ga’ symbolises intellect (buddhi), ‘Na’ stands for wisdom (vijnana). Ganapati is the master of intellect and wisdom. The universe is sustained by Ganas (gods) and Ganapati is their master. Lord Vinayaka symbolises the qualities of a true leader in all aspects.Viyate Nayake Iti Vinayaka, meaning, He is a master unto Himself. Ganapati is also called one who has a mouse as His vehicle(Mooshika Vahana). You may wonder how a small mouse can carry on its back a hefty personality like Vinayaka? Here mooshikadoes not mean a mere mouse. It symbolises the darkness of ignorance because a mouse moves about in darkness. Hence,Mooshika Vahana means the one who subdues ignorance and dispels darkness. Vinayaka is also called Vighneswara (remover of obstacles). No obstacle can come in the way of one who prays to Vinayaka. Thus, worship of Vinayaka confers success in spiritual as well as worldly endeavours.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

You must know that each one is a pilgrim and each life is but a stage in the journey towards the city of liberation. This body is a rest-house, in which we stay for a short time during this pilgrimage. The mind is the caretaker, the watchman in the choultry where we rest. We are not to treat him as if he is master or owner. But, we ought to take care that the house we are privileged to occupy is not damaged or polluted. We have to take good care of it and its furnishings, and treat the watchman politely. The pilgrim is either helped or handicapped by the antics of the mind. The mind has as its warp and woof, desire or thirst for something or other, getting some gain or avoiding some loss. Desire arises from attachment, often the consequence of delusion. Desire distorts and denigrates the mind. It keeps the mind incessantly agitated. The bliss which emanates from the Atma has, in fact, to be stored, with the help of buddhi (the intellect) as a channel, in the reservoir of the mind. That is its genuine function.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

By constant contemplation on God, mind should be turned away from mundane desires.

Don’t seek more and more happiness (sukham); seek wisdom (jnanam) instead. Mind is a fertile field for ignorance. Wipe out all traces of the mind (Mano Nasanam). How to destroy the mind? It’s easy. The mind is stuffed with desire. It is a ball filled with air like a football. Puncture it and it will not move. Nirvana means, without air. In a square tank filled with water, water appears square; if the field is circular or rectangular, the sheet of water that fills it will resemble the same geometrical shape. The mind takes on the form of the desire that fills it. Another example - it is like a piece of cloth, the warp and the woof being the yarn of desire. The texture, colour, durability, and the shine of the cloth will depend upon the desire that constitutes the warp and woof. Remove the yarn one by one and the cloth disappears. This is the technique to destroy the mind.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba