Significance of # 21 in the worship of Lord Ganesha
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.
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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;
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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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