Overcomer of obstacles, Ganesha, son of Shiva. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

Vinayaka is also called Vighneshvara as He removes all obstacles coming in the way of devotees who pray to Him sincerely. He is worshipped by students with books so that all that is contained in the books may get into their heads. Now-a-days people are only after Dhanam (money). Whatever scholarship one may attain, whatever power and position one may enjoy, one cannot be happy without the peace of mind that is got by pure devotion. One may have immense physical strength, one may pursue the path of meditation and penance, one may acquire profound knowledge, but all these attainments will be of no avail unless one acquires knowledge of the eternal--Satyam, Jnanam, Anantham Brahma. (SSS Vol.27)

Vighneshvara was adjudged the great among the Gods by going round the word Rama. Valmiki, the great poet, was essentially projecting Rama as an ideal example of human beings. However, in many cases, he was also showing the sacredness and divinity that is contained in Rama. In the same manner, the poet Tusidas wrote the story of Ramayana for the sake of propagating the great name of Rama to the world, as an example of ideal human being. In the lives of these poets, there were several incidents in which the strength of the name of Rama is seen. On one occasion, gods began to quarrel amongst themselves as to who among them was greater than others. In order to get a decision, they all approached Brahma .It was decided that whoever goes round the world first will be adjudged as the greatest among them. As soon as they heard the decision, each one took his own chariot, and started going round the world. Vighneshvara by tradition has a mouse as his chariot, and because of this small vehicle he was lingering behind and was making very slow progress. At this stage, Narada appeared and asked him how long he would take at that slow pace to go round the earth. Narada suggested that Vighneshvara should write the word Rama and just go round the word Rama and quickly go Brahma.

Vighneshvara wrote the name Rama, went round the same and immediately went back to Brahma, Brahma decided that he was the best form of god. It is our tradition that whenever good work is undertaken, we worship Vighneshvara. This is the reason why Vighneshvara is also called Ganapati; the superior amongst all ganas. It is believed that will remove all obstacles in the work that we undertake, This is now become a part of our culture. (SSB 1977, pp. 5-6)

People look upon the Vighneshvara festival as some routine affair. But Vighneshvara 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. It is in that spirit that everyone is enjoined to offer all actions as designed to please the Divine. Do what you please. Go anywhere you like. But do everything with the feeling that it is to please the Divine. Whatever you do, do it with the feeling that you are doing it for the pleasure of the Divine. Thereby, you will accomplish all your desires. You will experience bliss. See the Divine in everything. (SSS Vol.31)