On February 14 th, we begin the special yagya series with a full day yagya for Ganesha. This month’s yagya series marks the completion of a full year’s yagya in our Kanchipuram temple home.

What makes this month’s Ganesha yagya special is that we are offering 1,008 modaka balls in the yagya fire for him. One year ago to think that we would have been able to present so many yagyas month after month was beyond imagination. During the past year we have seen so many people improve their lives, remove obstacle, and find spiritual and material success in many different forms. It can only have come from his grace and this special yagya day is our “thank you” for the past year, and prayer for more of the same in 2005!

Almost 15 years ago, when I started to learn pujas, the first one I worked on was for Ganesha. He is the ruler of obstacles and also beginnings who is always honored first during a yagya. Because jyotish (astrology) is the study of events based on their beginnings, he is the patron of jyotishi’s everywhere. His strength is strategy and intelligence, symbolized by his two goddess consorts; Buddhi giving intellectual strength, and Siddhi.

Ganesha has an elephant’s head and large belly and one of his tusks is broken off. As the story goes, Ganesha’s favorite foods are sweet; and his favorite is modaka balls. They are a mixture of raw sugar, sesame seeds, coconut, and ghee wrapped in rice flour dough and steamed. There is nothing like a good modaka ball!

One evening after over indulging in these sweets, Ganesha was walking home in the dark. He tripped over a root and fell, splitting open his belly and spilling out the modaka balls. This greatly amused the Moon who was watching from above and he laughed and made fun of Ganesha. Of course Ganesha was not amused and he broke off one of his tusks and hurled it at the Moon. So his missing tusk is often pointed out as evidence of the futility of vanity.

Why do Ganesha Yagyas?

Ganesha is known as the easiest of the devas to reach and one who gives his blessings quickly and generously. To understand the benefits of the Ganesha Yagyas, it is easiest to look at the different forms of Ganesha because those are the qualities that we attract to our lives as a result of his yagyas. Each form of Ganesha is symbolic of his “power” or benefit that grows in our lives as a result of his yagyas.

As Vigneshwara, or Vignaraja, he is controller of obstacles; creating them and removing them as is most helpful to us.

As Ekadanta, the Single Tusked One, he represents the value of knowledge and dharma and the conquering of arrogance.

As Siddhidata, the Perfected One, he is the giver of success and abundance.

As Dhumravarna, the Smoke colored One, he helps us overcome pride.

As Vakratunda, the One with a Curved Trunk, he helps us overcome jealousy.

As Mahodara, the One with the Big Belly, he pushes us to conquer infatuation and obsessive desire.

As Gajanana, the One with the Elephant Face, he helps us conquer greed.

As Lambodara, the One who is Corpulent, he helps us conquer anger and cruelty.

As Vikata, the One who is Deformed, he helps us conquer lust.

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