VIGNAKARAN AND VIGNAHARAN

 

Inside the first praharam of SriMinakshi Amman sannidhi, there is a pedastal called peetam to the left side of the entrance. On this pedastal are two Vinayagar idols. These idols are known as the 'Irattai Pillaiyar'.

Only after performing the pujai, will the priest go inside the garbhagriha to perform pujai there.

Pillayar has many qualities. Of them two are deemed as very important. This is expalined in the agamas. They are personified as two figures. One is Vignaharan and the other is Vignakaran.

Among the sthothras of Vinayagar, there is one known as 'KariyaSiddhi Malai'. It is recited during Sankatahara Chathurththi and also for victory in efforts. There is a supportive prayer to this sthothra. It is known as Vinayagar PORRi'. This is a thanksgiving sthothra which is recited as a thanksgiving after fulfillment of desire on reciting KariyaSiddhi Malai.

KariyaSiddhi Malai belongs to the Ashtaka class of Prabandhas whereas the Thanksgiving Malai belongs to the Panchaka or Pancharatna class. In the last verse of that panckaratna, it says,

“For those followers and beleivers, you who destroys vignam obtacles; 
Salutations to You.

For those who do not ask and pray to you, You who gives vignam obstacles, 
Salutations to You”.

It should be noted that there are two divergent qualities mentioned here - Destroyer of vignam obstacles and Giver of vignam obstacles.

This is where the secret lies.The ancient Saivites had worshipped Ganesa as possessing these two qualities.

Normally, before we start to do any deed, we pray to Vinayagar so that we can start without any hitch, so that the deed proceeds without any hindrance and whatever obstacles that may be inherent in that particular project should not happen and finally for the endeavour to suceed.

There are three components to this purpose. There are positive and negative.

Removing obstacles and giving success in endeavours are positive components.

Creating hindrances if not worshipped is a negative component.

Vinayagar performs both functions. Hindrances, obstacles, hitches are known as vignam.

He who destroys or removes obstacles and hindrances is 'Vignaharan'.

He who creates obstacles and hindrances is Vignakaran or Vignakiruthu.

Both of them are Vinayagar.

In Vinayaga Kavacam, it mentions, 
“Let Ekadanthar save me during the whole of the daytime; 
Let Vignakrithu save me during the night and the wee hours and twilight”. 

Viganvardhanar also means the same. 

Let Siddheesar save in the south-east 
Let the Son of Uma save me in the south 
Let GanEsurar save me in the south-west 
Let Vignavardhanar save me in the west 

There is a story from Vinayaka Puranam.

A peculiar creation happened due to some reason. It was known as 'KaalaRuupi'. Is it Asura, Yaksha, Rakshasa? He was none of these. He was an entity by himself. In the Cosmos whatever type of negative things, obstacles, hindrances, evil effects, lose, etc., it was him. He was the embodiment of all those negative qualities. KaalaRuupi took the form of all these negative things and appeared as such. So he received the name 'Vigna'.

The Rishis headed by Vasishtar came to Vinayagar and asked Him to subdue Vigna. Vinayagar promised them that He would do so.

When Vinayagar took steps to subdue KaalaRuupi, he took many chaotic forms. But finally he could not overcome the attacks of Vinayagar and surrendered to Him.

He cried, "O KarunaaMuurththi! Please forgive me for all my sins and misdeeds. Please deliver me and accept me as your minion".

Vinayagar told him,"From henceforth, you will not give any problems to my devotees. But you can haunt with your various forms according to your nature, all those people who do not think of me, nor worship me, or perform insults to me. You will not break this injunction".

 Vigna asked for another boon, "You must graciously join my name together with your name as a prefix and use it thus". Vinayagar accordingly called Himself as Vigarajan and VignEswaran. The names Vignaharan, Vignakaran, Vignakrithu, Vignavardhana became his other names.