Ganesha Tatwa - Part 2

आत्मनेऽनात्मने तुभ्यं निर्गुणाय गुणात्मने नारूपधरायैव द्वाभ्यां हीनाय ते नमः

Atma and anatma both are him only. Atma we know, but what is anatma? Anatma is a state of ignorance. To think that there is something other than me is this ignorance. This ignorance is called anatma. This anatma itself is maya. This maya also is Lord Ganesha only.

He is nirguna – the universe comes into existence when the three gunas – satwa, rajas, and tamas gunas come into play. Rajo guna is the creative force, satwa guna is the force that sustains, and tamo guna is the force that dissolves the universe. When these three act upon the avyakta state, after they come into existence from the avyakta state itself, the universe comes into existence, stays for some time, and then dissolves. But Lord Ganesha is nirguna. He is beyond these three gunas. This cycle of creation, sustenance, and dissolution does not apply to him. He is there forever. Hence he is called nirguna.

But he is gunatma – the gunas are his own forms. They are not different from him. Suppose I learn singing and become a famous singer. The world would know me by my talent in singing. Singing becomes my guna.

Now, can I not live without singing? Yes, absolutely. I am not dependent on that. Even though I am the person singing, I am not dependent on that.

But can my singing happen without me? My singing, not singing in general, my singing. No, it cannot. I can exist without singing, but my singing cannot happen without me. The three gunas are Lord Ganesha himself. They cannot exist without him. But at the same time, he is not dependent on them.

Namarupadharaha – he only assumes various forms and names. Take a lion for example – Parabrahma, Lord Ganesha himself, only transforms himself into a lion, takes the form of a lion, and gets designated, named himself as ‘lion.’

But if you ask, is he limited by any particular form or name? No. He can assume any form. He can get himself any name. All forms are him only. All names are his only. Hence he is called dwabhayam heenaha, since he doesn’t have a particular single name and form.

अनंतोदरसंस्थाय नानाभोगकराय च भोगहीनाय सर्वत्र स्वानंदपतये नमः

His belly is ananta because his belly contains the entire universe. The entire universe is contained within his belly. The universe is so small compared to his size. He only causes various experiences like pleasure, happiness, excitement, and sadness. He only makes beings go through these experiences. But he doesn't experience anything himself, because these experiences happen within the framework of maya, and he is beyond maya.

And he is swananda pati – his state of bliss is under his command. Nobody has given it to him. Nobody can control or interfere with his state of ananda, bliss. Like Vaikuntha and Kailasa, Lord Ganesha’s abode is called Swananda bhuvana. Hence he is swananda pati.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi