River Lambodari and magnificance of Ganeshwara

Expressing satisfaction of hearing the account of Maamakeshwara Linga and the glory of Ganeshwara whose worship is as much rewarding as of Mamakeshwara’s, Devi Parvati desired to learn from Maha Bhirava about the background of River Lambodari. Maha Deva instructed Ganesha once not to allow into the privacy with Devi Parvati. This instruction of Maha Deva was also heard by Nandi Deva for compliance. It was at that very time, Devendra accompanied by Devas, desired to pay his homage to Parameshwara but Gana Nayaka declined the supplication of Indra. An offended Indra attacked Gana naatha with his Vajrayudha; Humkaarena Ganeshopi baahu mastambhyadvareh,Swabaahum stambhitam drushtwaa Shakro Ganapati tadaa, Tushtaavavaaribhi dandavatpranipaatyasah/ (Maha Ganesha got furious at Indra’s offence and having sounded a ‘humkaara’ retaliated and turned Indra’s shoulders and hands frozen. Indra realized his unpardonable indiscretion and fell at the feet of Ganesha Deva and extolled him as follows: Aprameya gunam nityam Ganesham Sura pujitam, Parvati priya putram cha pranamasye Ganeshwaram/ (Salutations to you Ganesha who is always worshipped by us Devas; you are not only the beloved son of Devi Parvati but also of incomparable features and of well distinguished invincibility) Devaanaam adikartaaramaadi madhyanta vartitam, Chidachit chitruda gambhiram pranaami Vinayakam/ (You are the foremost of the Devas, Adi pujya or the very first one worthy of all Gods, Adi Madhyaantarahita or the One with neither beginning nor middle and no termination. You are the Chit Swarupa and Gambheera or of profound and complex personality: kindly accept this Indra’s salutations) Vedaantaih Surasidhvaischa-agamairapi sundaram,Sukshmam Shantam Briha sthulam, pranamaami Geneshwaram/ (My homage to you Gansha! and so do all Vedanta-Sura-Siddhi-Aagamas for your outstanding and sharpest intelligence and minutest comprehension as alsxo of tranquil nature and composure; you are at the same time of legendary and giant size and strength) Shantam Chit- Adwayam Devam Vimarshodbhava rupitam, Tatwa saaram MahaTatwam pranamasye Ganeshwaram/ (You are indeed the embodiment of Shantam or of unique equanimity, Chit or of endless joy, Adwayam or Singular and Unique, Vimarshodbhava rupitam or of critically assessed Swarupa, the Essence of Tatwas and the Maha Tatwa!) Brahmaadwayaa Anavadcchedyam Shivaadwaya vibhoditam, Swaprakaasham Paraatparam prapadyetam Vinaayakam/ (The combined Form of Indra and Brahma, the One impossible to break, Swaprakaasha or the Auto-Luminous, Paraatpara Vinayaka, my sincere prostrations!) Modakaahara Paramam Saakshaamaalaankaram Param, Trinetram Gana vaktram chatam prapadye Maheshwaram/ ( Ganesha! You are a ‘modaka bhokta’, hand carrier of Aksha Mala, Trinetra, and Ganaadhipa; I beseech you for my refuge) Sudattam parashum chaiva dhaarayantam bhujadwaye, Rakta Vastraambaradham rakta maalaa dharam tathaa/ (You carry with you a powerful axe gifted to you worn on your hands and don blood red clothes as also red complexioned ornamentation; I seek your ‘raksha’or protection!) Vighna raasheem vikarantam karakshepa muhurmuhuh, Anantam Paramam Tatwam Saaraat- saara taram param, Vedagamyam prapadye Gana naayakam/ (Vighna Deva! You are a paramount smasher of obstacles with your own handiworks; Ananta! Parama Tatwa! You are indeed the quintessence of the essences, the Ultimate Goal of Vedas, Gana Nayaka, my prostrations!) Aprameya gunyaapi Vyakshaaya Varavarnini, Vinaayakaaya Devaaya bhuyo bnhuyo namo namah/ (You are Aprameya Guna Swarupa! Vyakshaaya! Vara varnini! Devaadi Deva! My respectful homage to you again and again!)

As Indra who did earlier the indiscretion of attacking Ganesha realised his fault and praised him profusely, Ganesha excused Indra and was pleased even when the latter was freed from tightened hands. Prani patya Meheshasya sunum mantra Vinayakam, Krodha samharakam naama stotram Ganapate sadaa, Trikaalam shraddhayaa yuktah pathan muccheta sankataat/ (Those human beings who greet the illustrious son of Maha Deva with faith and dedication and read Ganapati Stotra thrice a day shall indeed be totally freed from any kind of obstacles in life and reap auspiciousness always. Tato Ganapatirdeva trushitah kshudthitopicha, Bhuktyaa swaduphalam tatrapapou Gangaam pushkalaam/ (As Ganesha felt hungry, he first had his belly full with lots of eats and drank plenty of Ganga). Peetwaa Gangaam sa Vigheshastadaa Lambodaro bhavat, Lambodaroti vai naamnaa hyaajuhaara rahastadaa/ (Ganesha who drank abundant volumes of Ganga had thus achieved the encomium of Lambodara! Since then Ganapati Deva came to be worshipped by way of homa prakriyas even in ‘ekaanta’ or in privacy as individuals.) Shuskaam drushtyaa tatra Gangaadharo Ganapateyh Priye, Dhamaruna hantasya hyaadura mudaramtadaa/  (Maha Bhairava addressed Devi Parvati and conveyed that since Ganesha drank up so much of Ganga water that Parama Shiva had to utilize his ‘damaru’ to revive the dried up Ganga!) Amaammukhale Gangaam tataa Ganapathih priye yasmaa Lambodaraattasya Ganeshasya vinistrutaa, Tasmaatproktaa puraa vidhibrahmaa Lambodari Nadee/ (Then Ganesha released Ganga from his huge belly by his mouth and that was how Ganga came to be reputed as Lambodari as described by Purana TatwaVettas.) Lambo- daryaa Narah snaatwaa muchyate sarva kilbishaih, Sho bhu hiranya vaasaamsi Lambodara nadi tatey, Yo dadaati Dwija shreshtho Ananta phalamaapnuyaat/(Any person who takes bath in Lambodari River should be freed from sins and gives away Daana at this Tirtha of cows, crop fields, gold and ornaments, clothes and so on would attain ‘Ananta Punya’). Lambodara Nadi teere yah snaanayatparayaamudaa, Sa yaati Shiva saalokya yatra gatwaana shochate/ ( Bhaktas who bathe in the sacred Lambodari River with clean heart and conscience are sure to destroy their sins and attain Shiva sayujya) Itithe kathitam Devi Lambodari nadee shubhaa, Shrutwaa subhaktitah punkhim pataka naashani/ Itesha patalo guhyah kalikalmasha naashanah, Shrutonu dhyaatah pathito Maha paapaapanuttame/ (Devi! The significance of Lambodari River has thus been given and whoever reads or listens about this shall indeed be freed from all types of blemishes. )

Sri V.D.N.Rao and Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham

Kamakoti.org presents the Essence of Puranas in English, condensed by Sri. V.D.N.Rao, devotee of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Compiled, Composed and Interpreted by V.D.N.Rao, Former General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India The author can be contacted at [email protected]