Vegetarian Lunch Today
Payasam (Milk Based Sweet Dessert)
Today is VINAYAKA CHATHURTI, a festival celebrated for Lord Ganesha, who is also popularly known as the Elephant God.
But did you know that Lord Ganesha is the manifestation of the "INTELLECT". Many are consumed with the ritual of the celebration, not realising the philosophy of what Lord Ganesha epitomises. Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the enabler who removes all obstacles in life. Hence everyone who prescribes to Sanatana Dharma (aka Hinduism) will start their daily activities and began all important events in their lifes by seeking the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
On a ritualistic level, upon prostrating to Lord Ganesha, before the start of the day or event, is an action to psyche ones mind to have clarity and confidence, that everything will go as planned. The method of prostration applied to Lord Ganesha is called the "Thopukaranam." It is a Yoga action where one crosses their arm across the face, where the thumb and index fingers clips both ear lobes, and while doing so one has to do squat down and up. In Yoga practices it is called the Superbrain Yoga, where it facilitates the concentration of the mind, and also activates the parts of the brain that helps to attain higher sense of alertness. This action synchronises the alpha mind waves and siultaneously stimulates and initiates the cerebrum. Therefore the overall action increases ones thinking capacity, concentration, as well as mental and spiritual growth.
Even the ritual connected to Lord Ganesha speaks volume of the mind, what more then its salient philosophy behind it. Intelligence and experience are vital elements in ones accumulation of wisdom. There are many intelligent people out there, but unfortunately not all have availed themselves to experience, hence many lack wisdom. Success and failures are both equally important in the quest to gain wisdom. Unfortunately many intelligent people prefer to seek safe passage in the journey called life, moving from one phase of life to another in a shielded cocoon. Predictability stifles intellectual progression.
Lord Ganesha reminds us that wisdom is not something we can merely learn from existing knowledge, but one has to have strong conviction about ones capability and clarity of mind in pursuing any action. By this contention, it is clear that, merely knowing how to swim, would not be enough, but one must have the intelligence to know the conditions of salt water and fresh water are different or for that matter the current in a river would act differently from the current in the sea. Thus with clear wisdom one can better prepare to face any circumstances with ease.
Beyond the expected Divine Intervention, there is an element of science and logic that goes in the celebration of Vinayaka Chathurthi.
In the mood of celebrating this significant festival, I prepared a vegetarian lunch for the family. The spread of the meal itself is a reflection of human emotions. In Tamizh we call it "Arusuvai" (Six taste of Food). It had Thuvarpu (Astringent) - Surprise; Kasappu (Bitter) - Sorrow; Kaarppu (Pungent) - Anger; Oovarppu (Salty) - Fear; Pulippu (Sour) - Disgust; Innipu (Sweet) - Happiness. Reflecting on our emotions via food would help us understand and manage the moods that we are susceptible to. Whether everyone at home reflected or not, I don't know, but judging from their actions (having afternoon snooze) definitely they had a scrumptious meal.
The values propounded are universal, it may have been conveyed and ritualised differently, but the message is clear, "Our Destiny Is In Our Hands, With Clarity Of Thought and Action, We Can Make The World A Better Place."
Vinayaka Chathurthi Greeting To All
Ravi Varmman
Subang Jaya
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