19810720-01-Gitanjali-Singers-Mr-Rao-Glorifying-Ganesha-Literal-Version

The Following is a South Indian bhajana performance with the explanations given by His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaha on July 20, 1981 in Madras, India.

(bhajana)

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya

jñānāñjana-śalākayā

cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena

tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

Lord Ganesha was invoked to destroy all the obstacles on the path of progress in the worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Sri Krishna and His expansions. This is described in the Brahma-samhita:

yat-pāda-pallava-yugaṁ vinidhāya kumbha- dvandve praṇāma-samaye sa gaṇādhirājaḥ vighnān vihantum alam asya jagat-trayasya govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, whose lotus feet are always held by Ganesha upon the pair of tumuli protruding from his elephant head in order to obtain power for his function of destroying all the obstacles on the path of progress of the three worlds. In this regard our param gurudeva, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has explained that Lord Ganesa is uncharged of destroying all of the obstacles ins one worship to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna, and to get the power for worshiping the Personality of Godhead saguna-brahma, therefore he is himself worshiping and always keeping the lotus feet of Krishna Govinda on his elephant head. It also mentions that of the five devatas recommended to be worshiped, because of this special mercy of Govinda, Ganesa is worshiped in the beginning of every activity, this is especial auspicious.

Transcription by Mahanandini Radhika Devi Dasi Revised by Jagannatha dasa