For ages wise people have pondered on the question what is more important wealth or intelligence? People have spent lifetime on searching the answer to this very tricky question.    Both wealth and intelligence have almost similar usages in human life; If not used wisely both can turn out to be destructive. Both are disastrous when used imprudently. Many feel that intelligence always remains with a person which can help in real trouble; but, we have seen numerous examples of intelligent people who are helpless in troubled times without money. Intelligence also wipes out just like the wealth when someone is in real trouble. It only leaves a person left with his empty, dull and wild inner mind.

There is an interesting story why Goddess Laxmi is invoked with Lord Ganesha on Diwali day, read on:

According to the scriptures (scared writings) Goddess Lakshmi grew very proud about her supremacy in wealth and power. While having a conversation with her husband, Lord Vishnu, She kept boasting about herself in terms about her supremacy, claiming that she is the only one worthy of worship. She is the one who bestows everyone with money and wealth. On hearing her non-stop self-praise and boasting, Lord Vishnu felt she needs little humility and modesty and she must get rid of her feeling of superiority. Very calmly, Lord Vishnu said that in spite of having all the qualities, a woman remains incomplete if she does not bear children. Motherhood is the ultimate joy that a woman can experience and since Lakshmi did not have children, she cannot be deemed to be complete. On hearing this Goddess Lakshmi became extremely disillusioned.

With a heavy heart, Goddess Lakshmi went to Goddess Parvati (Lord Shiva’s wife and mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya) to seek help. Since Parvati has two sons, Goddess Laxmi expressed her desire to adopt one of her sons to experience the joy of motherhood. Parvati was reluctant to let Lakshmi adopt her any son because it is known that Lakshmi does not stay in one place for long. Laxmi is fickle by nature; Goddess Paravati felt that how would Goddess Laxmi nurture her son? Whether Laxmi would be able to give time to her child? But, Lakshmi assured Parvati that she would take care of her son in every possible way and bestow him with all the happiness in the universe. Parvati grew sympathetic towards Laxmi, Goddess Parvati let Goddess Laxmi adopt Ganesha as Her son.

Goddess Lakshmi became extremely overjoyed and said that she will bestow Ganesha with all her accomplishments and prosperity. Thereafter, those who worship Lakshmi for wealth must first worship Ganesha to seek her blessings. Those who will worship Lakshmi without Ganesha will not blessed by the Goddess. Hence, Lakshmi is always worshipped along with Ganesha on Diwali.

The rationalization of this story is universal: gaining wealth without intellect will only result in misusing the wealth. So, one must first acquire the intelligence to spend the wealth in the thoughtful and correct manner. Therefore, Lakshmi and Ganesha are worshipped together.

HAPPY DIWALI TO ONE AND ALL!!!

That is whole; this is whole; From that whole this whole came; From that whole, this whole removed, What still remains is whole.

Tough Adi Shankarachrya wrote the annotations on Vishnu Sahasranamam first; in fact he wanted to write annotations on Lalita Sahasranamam (Goddess Shakti) before Vishnu Sahasranamam. There is an interesting story behind it.

Shankarachrya one day decided to write interpretations/annotations on Lalita Sahasranamam. He asked one of his disciples to bring palm-leaf manuscripts of Lalita Sahasranamam. The disciple went to the room where it was kept and returned with the manuscript. When Shankarachrya opened the manuscript, he found that it was Vishnu Sahasranamam. He again asked the disciple to go back and bring Lalita Sahasranamam. When the disciple returned, Shankarachrya found that it was again Vishnu Sahasranamam. The third time, again Sankaracharya instructed the disciple to bring Lalita Sahasranamam only; and even the third time the disciple returned with Vishnu Sahasranamam.

A little annoyed, Shankaracharya asked the disciple “Didn’t you understand properly, I told you to bring Lalita Sahasranamam.” The disciple replied “Revered Sir, all the three times I went to bring Lalita Sahasranamam only but there is a cute little girl in there who told me to take Vishnu Sahasranamam every time and I followed her instructions she is divine.” Shankarachrya at that time understood that Goddess Shakti (Amba) wanted him to write commentaries on Vishnu Sahasranamam and he completed the divine task; as Lord Vishnu is seen as the preserver of all that is – the Universe. He is described as the omnipresent, essence of all beings, the master of past, present, and beyond future.

Instantaneously, Adi Shankarachrya wrote “Om Poornamadah;” madah means completeness, totality and also Infinity. It is an abstract concept of Universe and the ultimate truth, “Brahman” means God, Almighty is a complete entity. This mantra has a superb meaning – you can take as much as you want from the Universe, you can even take infinity from it, even if you do that nothing can diminish it, it remains unlimited and immensurable!! It means we (each one of us) are connected to the Almighty. Each of us is element of the infinite constituting the infinity. When the eternity is so full, so complete how can one feel incomplete? The fullness here symbolizes accomplishment, realization, integrality, wholeness of our being. These words express the deep aspirations of the human heart, aspirations which cannot be long suppressed. Every bit of our existence, every heart beat, every pulse, each breath of ours is towards life’s fulfillment. Whoever you are, or whatever is it that you do, when you really want something, your desire is originated in the soul of the universe. Therefore, when you want something from the bottom of your heart, the entire universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. So don’t feel you are unaccompanied or unaided in your effort; have a keen/urging desire while continue your hard work to achieve it and see the change. There is no sorrow once we realize we are ever full, we are Bliss.

It can also be construed as – if you give, you will never fall short of things in life. We, the human are so scared to give/impart thinking that we will fall short after giving. In fact the more we give the more we receive, because the infinite wants us to be inclusive with completeness. The energy you put out will always re-circulate and find its perfect way back to you. Have Trust in Life. The essence of this Shanti (serenity) mantra is indeed profound. OM SHANTI, SHANTI, SHANTI!!!