Pranam Vishwaksena as the name suggests is the commander-in-Chief of Lord Vishnu’s army and also the gatekeeper of Vaikunta, the abode of Vishnu. In some texts, he is believed to resemble Ganesha with an elephant face. However, he differs from Ganesha in having two tusks. Hence, many people mistake him as Ganesha.
People in some Vaishnava sects worship Vishwaksena before many rituals. One can see Vishwaksena in many Vishnu temples including the Tirupati Balaji temple. One of the shlokas which can you know about Vishwaksena include this one in some version of the Vishnu Sahasranama *Yasya Dvirada VaktradaH ParishadyaH Parassatam* *Vighnam Nighnanti Satatam Vishvaksenam Tamashraye* *यस्य* *द्विरद* *वक्त्रादाह* *पारिशाद्याह* *परश्शातम* *विघ्नं* *निघ्नन्ति* *सततं* *विश्वक्सेनाम* *तमाश्रये* We worship *Vishwaksena*, instead of Ganesha. As already said, we accept that Vishnu is the Supreme Lord, so we don't worship Shiva, Durga and so on. But we aren't suppose to and don't disrespect them. We do recite the Rudram and also tell the Shloka "*Shuklam Baradharam Vishnum*..." during Sankalpam. Why we worship Vishwaksena instead of Ganesha? Ganesha is the head of the Ganas of Shiva and hence he is called Ganapati. Similarly, the head of the Ganas of Vishnu is Vishwaksena. So we worship Vishwaksena. One more fact is that Vishvaksenar, architect of Vaikuntam, the holy abode of lord Vishnu also is elephant faced. One can see His idols in Srirangam temple - or any prominent Vaishnavite temples in 10(6)8 divya kshetrams (holy shrines). Ganesha is a prominent deity in shaivism and hence quite a few Iyengars, who are extremely orthodox skip Ganesha worship. A majority of them do worship Him. An interesting thing to note is that Ganesha is also known as Thumbikai-alwar (Alwar with a trunk). Alwars are the poets of Vaishnavism and Ganesha is provided a honorary alwar. This helps those worshiping justifying their stand. In Temples of ayyangars Vigneswara at the entrance may not be installed but vishwak senar # Ganathipathi of the Vishnu alone worshipped. KR IRS 20222 On Sun, 20 Feb 2022 at 13:06, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 < [email protected]> wrote: > QUES ANSW DIVINE 2-2022-20 > > Dear friends, > > These are information compiled as QA by me in 1998’s-2004’s and stored in > my computer. They are posted by *learnt members*. Some QA are based on > concepts. *These concepts vary between people.* > > *BEING COMPILATION THERE MAY BE ERRORS.* > > Sincerely, > > *R. Gopalakrishnan, 78, dated 20-02-2022* > > Q1 What is the legend behind origin of shaligram and Tulasi? > > A1 According to the Puranas once a fierce battle broke out between Lord > Shiva and the demon *Jallundhara.* They both appeared equally matched > with no one ready to lose, and hence the battle continued for a long time. > In fact it was not like an ordinary battle between the gods and the demons, > but it was a match between the chastities of two chaste women *Parvati > and Vrinda, wife of Jallundhara.* > > Lord Shiva knew it well, that unless the chastity of Vrinda, the wife of > Jallundhara, was spoiled, Jallundhara could not be killed. But it was > against the nature of gods, they could not spoil the chastity of a chaste > woman, Hence despite knowing everything, the gods were helpless, but *for > Jallundhara, nothing was a taboo.* > > *So thinking, that spoiling the chastity of Parvati, he could defeat Lord > Shiva, Jallundhara reached Parvati in the guise of Lord Shiva*. But > Parvati, who is herself the supreme ruler of illusion (MAYA) knew by her > virtues the craftiness of Jallundhara. *She at once ended his guise and > signalled Lord Krishna (Vishnu) that it was now just to spoil the chastity > of Jallundhara's wife, Vrinda, and it will not be a sin .* > > *So, Lord Krishna approached Vrinda in the guise of Jallundhana*. Vrinda > could not understand the craftiness, and because of intimate presence her > chastity got spoiled. *Later on when Vrinda came to know the reality, she > got infuriated and cursed Lord Krishna - O Lord,* despite being a learned > God you have behaved like a stupid. So go and turn into shapeless black > stone. > > Thus by the curse of a chaste woman Lord Krishna turned into a *black > stone*. But later on Vrinda felt guilty that at the surge of excitement > she had cursed none other than her own tutelary deity. > > Thus begging pardon of God, she sought a boon that from that moment > onward, *God will be worshipped in the same stone form*. Saying Tathastu, > God accepted her curse and turned into a black stone, and came to be known > as Shaligrama. > > As Shaligram, idol of God is found in innumerable numbers on the bed of > the river *Gandaki (Gandaka) these Shaligramas are same in size to an > areca nut and also round in shape.* > > Having cursed by Vrinda, Lord Vishnu cursed her back that as she had > cursed him to become a black stone, So I curse you to become a plant. In > plant form also you will be known as Tulsi and without your worship, mine > worship will not be complete. Since then formal worship of Shaligrama > began, and Tulsi leaves are specifically offered on it to complete the > worship. > > Q2 What is the importance of Teertham/ Charanamritham given in the temples? > > A2 When the idols of deities are given bath, the water remained after it > is collected. This water is known as Charanamrita. > > Charanamrita collected from the bath of Shaligrama has far more > significance than Charananmrita of any other deity. Idol of a deity is > given a bath amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns. Hence the *Charanamrita > collected after the bath contains full effects of these hymns.* Besides, > it also touches the idol and basil leaves, Thus taking their virtues as > well. Hence it has the power to destroy the three Doshas. At the same time > it has the virtue to take away untimely death also. But to take maximum > benefit, Charanamrita must be taken with the following hymn. > > Akala mrityu haranam sarvavyadhi vinashanam| > deva poodakam tirtham jathare dharyamaham|| > > Meaning : To prevent untimely death and cure all types of disease, I put > the Charanamrita that is like a pilgrimage place in my belly. Thus virtues > of the places of Pilgrimage ar also present in God's Charanamrita. Hence, > taking Charanamrita one gets the charity of performing pilgrimage and > bathing in holy rivers also. > > Q3 Do reasoning for all incarnations to be told? > > A3 God takes incarnation for very special; reason only. That is, it has > some special purpose. When all the incarnations (Avataras) and forms have > special purpose of their own, it is not necessary then to clarify all of > these reasons. It can be understood with one-or two examples alone, such as > Narashima Avatara. > > Q4 Do vaishanvites worship Vinayaga? > > A4 In Ganesh Purana is written : > > Shaivestvadiyairut vaishnavaishch, > > shaktaishchsavrairapi sarva karye | > > shubhashubhe laukikavaidike cha, > > tvamarchaniyah prathamam prayatnata || > > Meaning : After killing of Tripura Lord Shiva said ; O Ganapati, people of > all the sects - Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakta will worship you first in > their all worldly or non-worldly, auspicious and inauspicious deeds. > Vaishnavite call him Thubikkai alwar > > Q5 What are the nava dwaras in the body? Why do bath is required in > the morning? > > A5 The body which consists of Nine Openings, Two Nose, Two ears, Two eyes, > One Mouth, One Anus and One Penis. Penis and Anus are very untidy and > impure, and filth (Mala) and Urine(Moothram) keeps on coming out from > them. So our body becomes pure by taking bath in the morning. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "iyer123" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1456052245.192864.1645342584915%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1456052245.192864.1645342584915%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZoo_zNTG1T3Uw0y%2BPCqd0afEY9anbj4ZBLfPT01iaXiBkg%40mail.gmail.com.
