Sahityam:Feedback - Sahityam

Sahityam:Feedback - SahityamThe Slokam "Suklambaradharam Vishnum..." was not originally in praise of Ganesha; it was for Vishnu and that is why Vaishnavaites also adopted it. There was (and probably, even now, is) a time when vaishnavaites worshipped Vishvaksenar as the deity for removing obstacles. You may be surprised to learn that a few centuries ago, Vinayaka (the elephant-headed God) was considered as a "durdevatha" and "Vighna Kartha", i.e., one who creates obstacles if not worshipped at the start of any enterprise, including battles. It was customary for armies to propitiate this deity by breaking the skulls of captured enemy troops in front of the God. today's practice of breaking coconuts is a metamorphosis of that old forgotten worship ! The Maharashtrian "Aarti" for Ganesh still states that He is both vighna kartha and Vighna hartha. - Sangom

• That's very interesting! Yes, Vinayaka is referred to as vighna-karttā even in the Namavali. And I was not aware of the gruesome origins of the coconut-breaking practice. But isn't Vishnu generally pītāmbaradhara rather than śukla-? And isn't He ghana-śyāma rather than śaśi-varṇa? --Srikanths 06:54, 13 March 2008 (IST)