Shloka 9
गौतमविघ्नप्रकरणम्
Episode of Obstacles to Gautama; Gaṇeśa’s Appearing Through Misguided Worship
विघ्नार्थं गौतमस्यैव नानापूजोपहारकैः । गणेशं पूजयामासुस्संकुद्धास्ते कुबुद्धयः
vighnārthaṃ gautamasyaiva nānāpūjopahārakaiḥ | gaṇeśaṃ pūjayāmāsussaṃkuddhāste kubuddhayaḥ
Intending to raise obstacles for Gautama alone, those ill-minded men, inflamed with anger, began worshipping Gaṇeśa with various acts of pūjā and diverse offerings.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse highlights that worship (pūjā) is not judged only by external offerings but by the inner sankalpa: when devotion is driven by anger and the intent to harm, it strengthens pāśa (bondage) rather than leading toward Śiva’s grace and liberation.
In Śaiva understanding, all deities and rites are fulfilled when oriented toward dharma and ultimately toward Pati (Śiva). Here, the act is misdirected by hostile intent, showing that saguna worship becomes spiritually fruitful only when it supports purity, restraint, and reverence aligned with Śiva’s order.
The takeaway is to perform japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a sattvic intention, along with purifying disciplines like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and self-restraint—so worship removes vighna within oneself rather than attempting to create it for others.