Coming from an orthodox
Vaishnavite family, which recognised no god but its own, it is strange that today my
" Ishta Daivatha" is Ganesh, the elephant- headed remover of obstacles who loves
good food and most of the good things of life.The
transformation was not easy. I would call it almost insidious, with the mischievous
Vinayaka who is said to pinch babies at birth to make them cry, calling the shots. All our
friends at school celebrated Vinayaka Chaturthi, so why didn’t we? Asking stern
grandfather was out of the question, so it was to grandmother we went to.
After
much persuasion she agreed to a small pooja on the outer verandah with the idol being
given away, before grandfather caught wind of it. So I and my sister, then two years
younger at six, presided over our first pooja to Ganesh.
Once in, he was never out. There was a Ganesh temple near our house
and visits become common. He would invariably grant whatever small boon was sought, firmly
entrenching himself in my heart.
The confusion of childhood did surface again. Unheralded came the
thoughts: " Can Vinayaka grant moksha? Will Vishnu be angry if I pray to Vinayaka?
Or, for that matter the other way around?"
Ridiculous as these questions may sound, the friend whom I addressed
them to, a Doctor of Vedanta, took them seriously and gave me a set of books to read. As
page ran into page, not only were my doubts cleared, but I was firmly set on a path to see
for myself as many temples as I could.
This is why I have titled this series " Travels with
Vinayaka"; and which is why in this city of temples, I being with one where a very
rare form of this god, a fierce and warlike one, is found.
Situated on a little lane to the west off Tiruvottyur High Road is a
temple dedicated to Dakshinamurthi, who is Lord Siva in meditation. (Please see map.)
Unlike other Dakshinamurthy idols, which face south as the name
implies, the deity here faces north. He is called Upadesa Dakshinamurthy ---- one who
gives advice.
To his right is Adi Shankara and to his left a Panchamukha
Ganapathi". Seated on a lion, he is ready for battle with the demon Gajamukasura,
whom he vanquished by combining the powers of his parents, Siva and Parvathi.
While the 5 faces represent Siva, who had 5 visages, the lion
Heramba is the vehicle of Parvathi. It is only in this unique manifestation with 10 arms
that Vinayaka uses the lion as his vahana instead of the usual shrew or bandicoot. All the
faces except for the central one are usually covered with garlands, which the priest will
move if asked.
As they in Tamil, "ammavin shaktiyum appavin aatralum sernthu
iruppathanal, ivarkku shakti adigam" (This deity is very powerful since he combines
the elements of both Siva and Parvathi).
