Re-igniting HOPE

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ ।

निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥

We salute the supreme lord Ganesha with Curved Trunk, whose radiance is like million suns, may he bless all our endeavours and remove obstacles from our path.

A heartfelt and mindful contemplation and recitation of this sacred mantra in Hindu tradition is believed to invoke the benevolent lord’s blessings. When chanted in difficult times or life-changing moments this mantra brings enthusiasm, prosperity and most importantly HOPE for a smoother journey ahead.

Most of the times we get confused in Hope and Expectations. The expectation is a belief about what might happen in the future or is supposed to happen. If you have great expectations, you think something good will come your way, but if keep your expectations low, you won’t risk being disappointed. To hope is to want something to happen and then letting it be. Hope is more at emotional level and thus qualitative in nature whereas expectations are at rational level and thus quantitative. Expectations in our relationships, personal and professional goals being calculative are limiting and confined to a certain level. Hopefulness is being simply optimistic and thus is limitless and infinite.

Each being on this planet experiences the Ups and Downs in different forms and cycles throughout the life. There are moments of testing times. A moment could last for a second, a minute, an hour, a day, a month, a year, a lifetime or even multiple lives.  Interestingly, we only possess the power to change such moments. In such times, HOPE could be that fine ray of light traversing through a point from clouds of darkness.

We have all the reasons in this world to be hopeless and blame others for our situations. But sometimes we just need one reason, one ray of HOPE which can reignite our life. And if we could find that one reason and make it our priority, all other reasons that make us hopeless, depressed and powerless will gradually turn insignificant. With patience and perseverance, we will definitely see the light of a new day. 

Life is indeed like a test, an interview, an exam or a game. We have no other choice but to face every situation, every obstacle and continue this universal game. There are no pauses, no extra lifelines, no wildcard and no competitors but only a hope to do our best no matter what obstacle may come our way. And that exactly is the hidden meaning behind the Vakratunda Mahakaya mantra. By invoking the supreme intelligence attributed to Lord Ganesha, possessing the power of a million suns, we pray to become like Ganesha to be able to overcome all obstacle in our journey and live upto our dharma (duties).

Below are lyrics from a beautiful song by Rachel Platten named Fight Song, hope it inspires and ignites your day:

“Like a small boat

On the ocean,

Sending big waves

Into motion,

Like how a single word

Can make a heart open,

I might only have one match

But I can make an explosion.”