What is the significance of #21 in the worship of Lord Ganesha?
On the day of Ganesha Chaturthi festival, there is a tradition of worshiping Lord Ganesha with 21 different varieties of leaves called Ekavimshati Pathra Pooja. Ekavimshati is a Sanskrit word meaning 21 (5+5+5+5+1); five (5) organs of perception (Gnanendriya) + five (5) organs of action (Karmendriya) + five (5) Pancha Praana (Vital energy forces) + five (5) basic elements of nature (Pancha Bhootha) + the Mind, add up to 21.
Pancha Gnaanendriyas: Nose (Ghruunam/smell), Tongue (Jihva/taste), Eyes (Chakshuh/sight), Skin (Twak/touch) and Ear (srothra/sound) are collectively known as Pancha Gnanendriyas or five sensory organs.
Pancha Karmendriyas: Upastha (genital organs/organs of procreation); Paayuh (excretory organs); Paada (legs); Paani (hands); and Vaak (Vaageendriya/organs of speech) are collectively known as Pancha Karmendriyas or organs of action (karma).
Panchamahaa Bhoothas: Aakaasa (sky/ether); Vaayu (air); Jala (water); Agni (tejas/fire); and Pruthvi (earth); collectively are known as Panchamahaa-Bhoothaas; the five basic elements of nature.
Pancha Praana (Vaayu): Praana (vital life force); Apaana (excretive); Vyaana (circulative); Udhaana (upward movement); Samaana (digestive) are the five vital energy forces required for the physiological functioning of the body.
5+1=6. It is believed that Lord Ganesha took birth in Hastha Nakshathra which comes under the zodiac sign Virgo (Kanya raasi) which is the natural 6th house starting from Aries. Number (6) also signifies the Ari-Shadvargas.
Ari means enemy; Shad-Varga means six factions. Kaama (lust, craze, desire), Krodha (anger, hatred), Lobha (greed, miserliness, narrow minded), Moha (delusory emotional attachment), Mada or Ahankara (pride, stubborn mindedness), Maatsarya (envy, jealousy, show or vanity, and pride) are the Arishadvargas. Also known as Shadripu (six enemies); Shoka (sorrow); Moha (temptation), Jara (old age); Mrityu (death); Kshudha (hunger); and Pipaasa (thirst) are known as Shad-Urmi;
These six waves of excitement (emotional and physical feelings) are internal enemies which are negative passions of mankind, responsible for all kinds of difficult experiences in our lives. These negative characters prevent mankind from realizing the ultimate reality. When these negative passions overrule, egoism gets manifested which is the biggest enemy of humans. A man with egoism becomes self centered and ignorant of his surroundings.
In Bhagawadgeeta (Chapter-2; sloka # 62 & 63) Lord Sri Krishna says that when a man things of objects, attachment for them arises, from attachment desire is born, from desire arises anger, from anger comes delusion, from delusion loss of memory, from loss of memory destruction of discrimination and from destruction of discrimination man perishes. As Lord of wisdom and knowledge (discriminative) Lord Ganesha helps in overcoming the negative passions (Arishadvargas) and in fighting with internal as well as external enemies of mankind.
Moon is the ruling planet of number (2) who is known as Mano-kaaraka signifying the mind and is the star lord of Hastha constellation. Also, Virgo sign partly houses the Uttara Phalguni Nakshathra whose star Lord is Sun representing number (1) one. Sun is the ruling planet of number (1); Mercury that of number (5) and the combination of Sun + Mercury give a yoga in astrology called Budha-Aaditya Yoga resulting in high intelligence and skill. Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the overseeing Lord for the mind and intelligence. Number (1) signifies independence; leadership etc; Lord Ganesha is worshipped as Ganapathi leader of all Ganas (divine groups) and is independent of others Vinaayaka.
2+1=3. In Hindu philosophy number three represents AUM (OM) in its diagrammatic aspect considered to be primordial. Lord Sri Maha Ganapathi is said to be an embodiment of Omkaaram (Pranava Swaroopam) which is primordial to all the Veda Manthras. Lord Ganesha (Aakaasa Tattva) is worshipped assumed as a form of Lord Vishnu (Viswambara Moorthy) the primordial person who is omnipresent.
Suklaambaradharam Vishnum SasiVarnam Chathurbhujam
PrasannaVadanam Dhyaayet Sarva Vighnopashaanthaye
Number three (3) is considered as a highly sacred number that represents the Trinal Lords Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara and their energies Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Paarvathi. Known as Trimoorthi (Trinity) they are highly revered in Hindu philosophy. Jupiter also known as Bruhaspathi the Dev Guru (divine preceptor) is the ruling planet of number (3) and is Vidya kaaraka the significant for Vidya (education). Jupiter is considered as the largest planet in the solar system. In Hindu philosophy Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the lord of learning and patron of letters. As elderly God (Jyeshtaraajam); Lord Ganesha is worshiped and offered obeisance first before commencement of any pooja/ritual in Hindu sampradaya.
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu.
On the day of Ganesha Chaturthi festival, there is a tradition of worshiping Lord Ganesha with 21 different varieties of leaves called Ekavimshati Pathra Pooja. Ekavimshati is a Sanskrit word meaning 21 (5+5+5+5+1); five (5) organs of perception (Gnanendriya) + five (5) organs of action (Karmendriya) + five (5) Pancha Praana (Vital energy forces) + five (5) basic elements of nature (Pancha Bhootha) + the Mind, add up to 21.
Pancha Gnaanendriyas: Nose (Ghruunam/smell), Tongue (Jihva/taste), Eyes (Chakshuh/sight), Skin (Twak/touch) and Ear (srothra/sound) are collectively known as Pancha Gnanendriyas or five sensory organs.
Pancha Karmendriyas: Upastha (genital organs/organs of procreation); Paayuh (excretory organs); Paada (legs); Paani (hands); and Vaak (Vaageendriya/organs of speech) are collectively known as Pancha Karmendriyas or organs of action (karma).
Panchamahaa Bhoothas: Aakaasa (sky/ether); Vaayu (air); Jala (water); Agni (tejas/fire); and Pruthvi (earth); collectively are known as Panchamahaa-Bhoothaas; the five basic elements of nature.
Pancha Praana (Vaayu): Praana (vital life force); Apaana (excretive); Vyaana (circulative); Udhaana (upward movement); Samaana (digestive) are the five vital energy forces required for the physiological functioning of the body.
5+1=6. It is believed that Lord Ganesha took birth in Hastha Nakshathra which comes under the zodiac sign Virgo (Kanya raasi) which is the natural 6th house starting from Aries. Number (6) also signifies the Ari-Shadvargas.
Ari means enemy; Shad-Varga means six factions. Kaama (lust, craze, desire), Krodha (anger, hatred), Lobha (greed, miserliness, narrow minded), Moha (delusory emotional attachment), Mada or Ahankara (pride, stubborn mindedness), Maatsarya (envy, jealousy, show or vanity, and pride) are the Arishadvargas. Also known as Shadripu (six enemies); Shoka (sorrow); Moha (temptation), Jara (old age); Mrityu (death); Kshudha (hunger); and Pipaasa (thirst) are known as Shad-Urmi;
These six waves of excitement (emotional and physical feelings) are internal enemies which are negative passions of mankind, responsible for all kinds of difficult experiences in our lives. These negative characters prevent mankind from realizing the ultimate reality. When these negative passions overrule, egoism gets manifested which is the biggest enemy of humans. A man with egoism becomes self centered and ignorant of his surroundings.
In Bhagawadgeeta (Chapter-2; sloka # 62 & 63) Lord Sri Krishna says that when a man things of objects, attachment for them arises, from attachment desire is born, from desire arises anger, from anger comes delusion, from delusion loss of memory, from loss of memory destruction of discrimination and from destruction of discrimination man perishes. As Lord of wisdom and knowledge (discriminative) Lord Ganesha helps in overcoming the negative passions (Arishadvargas) and in fighting with internal as well as external enemies of mankind.
Moon is the ruling planet of number (2) who is known as Mano-kaaraka signifying the mind and is the star lord of Hastha constellation. Also, Virgo sign partly houses the Uttara Phalguni Nakshathra whose star Lord is Sun representing number (1) one. Sun is the ruling planet of number (1); Mercury that of number (5) and the combination of Sun + Mercury give a yoga in astrology called Budha-Aaditya Yoga resulting in high intelligence and skill. Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the overseeing Lord for the mind and intelligence. Number (1) signifies independence; leadership etc; Lord Ganesha is worshipped as Ganapathi leader of all Ganas (divine groups) and is independent of others Vinaayaka.
2+1=3. In Hindu philosophy number three represents AUM (OM) in its diagrammatic aspect considered to be primordial. Lord Sri Maha Ganapathi is said to be an embodiment of Omkaaram (Pranava Swaroopam) which is primordial to all the Veda Manthras. Lord Ganesha (Aakaasa Tattva) is worshipped assumed as a form of Lord Vishnu (Viswambara Moorthy) the primordial person who is omnipresent.
Suklaambaradharam Vishnum SasiVarnam Chathurbhujam
PrasannaVadanam Dhyaayet Sarva Vighnopashaanthaye
Number three (3) is considered as a highly sacred number that represents the Trinal Lords Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara and their energies Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Paarvathi. Known as Trimoorthi (Trinity) they are highly revered in Hindu philosophy. Jupiter also known as Bruhaspathi the Dev Guru (divine preceptor) is the ruling planet of number (3) and is Vidya kaaraka the significant for Vidya (education). Jupiter is considered as the largest planet in the solar system. In Hindu philosophy Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the lord of learning and patron of letters. As elderly God (Jyeshtaraajam); Lord Ganesha is worshiped and offered obeisance first before commencement of any pooja/ritual in Hindu sampradaya.
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu.
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