In olden days, Hindu religion was divided into six subdivisions which has its own uniqueness. Each unique part has its own principal deity. The group of people who worshipping each god has its own name viz, group of people who worshipping Lord Vinayaka are termed as Ganapatya; Lord Shiva are termed as Shaivism; Lord Vishna are termed as Vaishanavism; Goddess Sakthi are termed as Sakthism (Saaktha); Lord Muruga are termed as Kumara and Lord Surya (Sun) are termed as Saura. Each group functioned like individual religion.
It seems Adi Shankara was the one who grouped all the above said divisions into single religion, as Hinduism. Among the above mentioned groups, today is the birthday of Lord Vinayaka, principal God of Ganapatya, which is the first among the mentioned groups.
We usually worship the sathurthi thithi in the Tamil month Aavani* as the birthday of Lord Vinayaka. Some says Lord Vinayaka (Elephant faced) symbolize the mystical form of “OM”.
We can also see that, every Siththar started their books with Vinayakar Kaapu*. In this auspicious day, I would like to put forth similar information.
Agathiyar on his book, “Agathiyar Theetchavithi”, starts with Vinayakar salutation as follows:
“பாதிமதி யணிந்த பரமன் எனக்கிசைந்த
paathimathi yanintha paraman enakkisaintha
பருதிமதி சுழிமூன்றும் நன்றாய்ச் சொல்வேன்
paruthimathi suzhimoonrum nanraaich solvaen
வேதனைவா ராமல் முதற்தீட்சை மார்க்கம்
vaethanaivaa raamal muthartheetchai maarkkam
விளம்புவேன் மஹா கணபதி காப்பாமே
vilambuvaen mahaa Ganapathi kaappaamae”
- அகத்தியர் (Agathiyar)
Bogar in his book “Bogar Gnana Soothiram” started with Vinayakar Kaapu as:
"பெருமையுள்ள சதநூலைப் படுவதற்கு
perumaiyulla sathamoolaip paduvatharku
கருவூலந் திருமேனி தும்பிக்கையான்
karuvoolan thirumaeni thumbikkaiyan
கணபதி செந்தாமரைத்தாள் காப்பதாமே
Ganpathi senthaamaraiththaal kaappathaamae”
- போகர் (Bogar)
Romarishi starts with Vinayakar salutation in his book “Romarishi Vaithiyam 500” as follows:
"மூலமு தலாதார முடிவினின்ற
moolamu thalaathaara mudivininra
மூர்த்தியெனும் கணேசரது பாதங்காப்பு
mooethiyenum Ganesarathu paathangaappu”
- உரோமரிஷி (Roma Rishi)
Nandheesar in his book “Nandheesar Nikandu 300” also started with Vinayakar Kaapu as,
"வெள்ளியங் கிரியான் தந்த
velliyang kiriyaan thantha
வேழமா முகனே யெந்தன்
vaezhama mukanae yenthan
உள்ளினுக் குள்ளாய் நாளும்
ullinuk kullaai naanum
உரிவினுக் குருவாய் நின்று
urivinuk kuruvaai ninru”
- நந்தீசர் (Nandheesar)
Pathirakiriyar also started the importance of Vinayakar kaapu as follows:
"ஐஞ்சு கரத்தானின் அடியிணையைப் போற்றிசெய்து
ainju karaththaanin adiyinaiyaip poatriseithu
நெஞ்சிற் பொருந்தி நிலைபெறுவ தெக்காலம்?
nenjir porunthi nilaiperuva thekkaalam?”
- பத்ரகிரியார் (Pathrakiriyar)
Above all of these, Siththar Sivavaakkiyar, who putforth his philosophical thoughts rationally and who highly opposes the structural worship of Gods also started with Vinayakar salutation in his book Sivavaakkiyam, which is a considerable note to be pointed out.
"கரியதோர் முகத்தையுற்ற கற்பகத்தைக் கைதொழக்
kariyathoar mukaththaiyutra karpagaththaik kaithozhak
கலைகள் நூற்கண் ஞானமும் கருத்தில் வந்துதிக்கவே
kalaikal noorkan gnanamum karuththil vanhthuthikkavae”
- சிவவாக்கியார் (Sivavaakkiyar)
Similar quotes and information can be found in all Siththar notes which focused on Vinayakar salutation. On remembering, Lord Vinayakar on this auspicious day may bless us with his graciousness.
*Aavani – the fifth tamil month (mid of August to mid of September)
*Kaappu – invocation to deities at the commencement of a song composition
Original – www.siththarkal.com
Translated by Lalithambika Rajasekaran
