Why Vinayagar is Mooththavar(1st)?

மூத்த விநாயகரை தொழ வினை யாவும் நீங்கும்.

The 1st prayer/respect of a Saivar is always to Pillayar/Ganapathy or Vinayagar though Siva is their primary Lord. Vinayagar also has a place in Buddhist temples and among the Jains. Vinayagar is also known as Vigneshwarar or Vighnakarthar, the Lord of; and destroyer of obstacles. When we do evil things or when the time is not right, He places obstacles in our path. When we take the correct path, He removes the root of our troubles. Vinayagar is one who drives away all sorrows, difficulties and miseries. He confers happiness and peace on his devotees. He is the master of the powers puththy and Siththy.

Vinayagar is also one of the six Gods the worship of whom was popularized by Adi Shankarar; the other five being Vishnu, Shiva, Shakthi, Skantha (Murugan) and Sooryan(Sun).

It is said that Ganesh was born when the eternal couple contemplated on AUM, the Pranava mantram. Viewed sideways, Lord Ganesha resembles the symbol AUM. That's why Ganesha is called AUMkara nayakan and worshipped first. That's why Vinayagar is always Mooththvar(1st).

Vinayagar Worship

Vinayagar worship is very simple. It is the most informal too. We can make a conical shape out of clay, earth, wet turmeric powder or santhanam (sandalwood) paste and it becomes Vinayagar automatically. A simple offering of arukkampul (fresh green grass,) is enough as an offering. There is a mythological story which reveals how the practice of offering of arukkampul to Ganapathi became a practise.

Once, the story goes, Parvathi and Parameswarar were playing a game of dice with Nanthi (Lord Siva’s vehicle, the bull). Although Eswarar lost the game, Nanthi declared Him as the winner. Enraged at this unfair decision, Parvathi cursed Nanthi that he would be afflicted with an incurable disease. Nanthi, seeking Parvathi’s forgiveness, explained that he gave the verdict in Parameswarar’s favour because the latter was his master and his duty as a servant was to serve Him. Parvathi relented and said that Nanthi would be freed from the curse if he offered to her son Ganesh what was most relished by Nanthi. Nanthi pondered for a moment and declared that what he loved most as a bull was fresh green grass. He would offer that to Ganapathy. That was how the practise of including fresh green grass among the offerings made to Ganapathy during festival occasions came into practise.

-கரணவாய் மூத்த விநாயகர் ஆலய பக்தர்கள் Mooththa Vinayagar Kovil(MVK) Devotees, Karanavai.