"What is it that you have to offer to Vinayaka on Vinayaka Chaturthi?
Today people spend a lot of money in offering various fruits and preparations
to God. All these offerings are made only as a ritual. Ultimately, people
themselves consume them. No benefit occurs from making these offerings.
Patram, Pushpam. Phalam, Toyam - these are the four things you should
offer to God. Here Patram (leaf) means body.This body may wither away at any
moment. So, never develop attachment towards the body; instead offer it to God.
Pushpam (flower) mean Hridaya, the flower that will never fade. Mind can be
compared to Phalam (fruit and Toyam (water) stands for tears of joy.. All these
should be offered to God.This is the offering that God expects.
People look upon the Vighneshwara festival as some routine affair. But
Vighneshwara embodies all the forms and all the powers of all the deities. It
is not enough to worship Ganesha once a year. We must worship him always.. We
must think of God every moment of our lives"
- taken from Swami's Vinayaka Chathurthi Discourse in 1999.
Sai Ram
