Long ago, it was customary to invoke Lord Ganesha at the beginning of any important task, as He is the Adidev (Primordial God). However, when the sage Ved Vyasa began composing the Puranas after dividing the Vedas into four parts, he forgot to offer prayers to Lord Ganesha.
As a result, Ved Vyasa’s memory began to fade. He struggled to recall important details and often felt lost in his work, unable to make progress no matter how hard he tried. Perplexed and distressed, he approached Lord Brahma, the Creator, and sought his guidance.
Ved Vyasa bowed to Brahma and said, “O Lord, after dividing the Vedas, I started writing the Puranas. But now, I am unable to remember anything or continue my work. Why has my knowledge failed me? Please help me understand the reason behind this.”
Lord Brahma meditated for a moment and then said, “Vyasa, you have become too proud of your knowledge, and in your arrogance, you forgot to honor Lord Ganesha. You did not invoke Him or perform a prayer of auspicious beginnings (Mangala Charan) before starting your work. This is why your wisdom has left you. Now, you must seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha to regain your clarity and continue your work.”
Realizing his mistake, Ved Vyasa felt remorseful. However, he admitted that he did not know much about Lord Ganesha. He humbly asked Brahma, “O Lord, who is Lord Ganesha? What is His form, and what makes Him so special? Please tell me about His greatness.”
Brahma explained, “Vyasa, Lord Ganesha is the Supreme Being and the embodiment of Om (Pranava). He is glorified in the scriptures with seven crore mantras, but the most powerful and simple ones are the Shadakshari (six-syllable) and Ekakshari (single-syllable) mantras. Even a glimpse of a true devotee of Ganesha can remove all obstacles.
Let me share the method of worship that Lord Shiva once described:
- Begin your day by purifying yourself with a bath and wearing clean clothes.
- Sit on a clean seat facing east and perform rituals like sipping holy water (achaman) and practicing controlled breathing (pranayama).
- Meditate on Lord Ganesha’s form and chant His mantra with devotion and focus.
- Continue the chanting until you feel Lord Ganesha’s divine presence. This uninterrupted worship pleases Lord Ganesha, and He grants blessings to His devotees.”
Hearing this, Ved Vyasa respectfully asked, “Lord Brahma, what is the mantra of Lord Ganesha? Who has chanted it before, and what blessings did they receive?”
Brahma replied, “Vyasa, Lord Ganesha is the embodiment of Omkar (Om). All the Vedas sing His praise. Om is the seed of all mantras, and through its chanting, one worships Lord Ganesha. Its power is immense, and with its practice, gods, sages, and humans have achieved their goals.
The chanting of Om is enough to please Lord Ganesha, and with it, anyone can fulfill their desires and achieve success.”
Inspired and filled with devotion, Ved Vyasa learned the method of worship and began his prayers to Lord Ganesha. With dedication and humility, he invoked Ganesha’s blessings, regained his wisdom, and successfully completed the composition of the Puranas.
