......................................................................................................Profile

 Dr. P. G. Shahapurkar 

"Surrendering to God"

Meet Dr. Pandurang Govind Shahapurkar who is the only known person to have written a Ph. D. Thesis on The Origin And Evolution Of The Cult Of Sri Ganesha under able guidance of Prof. J V Naik from the History Department of The University Of Mumbai. His other titles include: B.A. LL.B, Ph.D.; Advocate, High Court, Mumbai; (Assistant (Legislative) Draftsman-Cum Under Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra (Retired) Law and Judiciary Department).

To begin with here is the gist:

"Lord Ganeshji's Big Head inspires us to Think Big and Profitable;

The Big Ears prompt us to Listen Patiently to New Ideas and Suggestions;

The Narrow Eyes point to Deep Concentration needed to finish tasks in hand well and quickly;

The Long Nose tells to us Poke Around inquisitively to learn more;

The Small Mouth reminds us to Speak Less and Listen More

And lastly, his Single Tooth symbolizes Focus and Single-minded Effort."

The Team at Mumbaibest had a long and intriguing conversation with the gentleman and here we present to you  Dr. Shahapurkar-his deepest thoughts, beliefs and the journey of his faith and how he came about writing his Ph.D Thesis on The Cult of Ganesh.

'Anna' as he is lovingly called by everyone, was drawn-particularly to Lord Ganesh of Titwala. The idol of Lord Ganesh at Titwala- as myth goes- was instilled by Kanvarishi after the happy reunion of Shakuntala with Dushyant. It was Kanvarishi who had brought-up Shakuntala, when she was abandoned by her mother-Menaka-the stunningly beautiful Apsara.Ganesh at Titwala is considered the only living deity in the vicinity of Mumbai. [Picture above.]

The Years of Turbulance

Chanda alias Avdhut my second child was tremendously sick. Our family physician was of the opinion that the child would not survive for more than a few hours. Knowing generally that Lord Ganesha was the remover of obstacles, I prayed fervently to Lord Ganesha for help. I would go to Titwala every weekend and and pray fervently for the recovery of my son. To my surprise it was quite after some time that I realized that I had become detached in my prayers to Ganesh---that I did not ask for anything specific but only prayed with a clean heart, with no desires of any sort. My child's miraculous recovery confirmed my faith in the power of prayers.

The Journey and The Ph.D Thesis

It was on this journey to where-I know not, all what I wanted-I had; now was the time to quench the thirst of my intellect. It was an 'intellectual curiosity' which was the germ that had elicited in me the urge to study the Puranas, Vedas or anything--but know and understand Him in his full glory. I wanted to know the secret of this Life Giver-which would in turn help me to love him more completely. I was and am sure that God listens to me. That's because of faith. It's the strength of your faith which gets reflected. My guru--Shree Lambodar Swami-an asetic-who initiated me-I met him at Moregaon-the head office of all Ganesh Bhaktas.

Writing the thesis was in-it-self a Herculean task. I was not as young as the other students. I registered for a Ph. D. when others of my age were planning to apply for a retirement ! It took me one whole decade to complete my thesis on "The Origin And Evolution Of The Cult Of Ganesha". During the course of that time I had to go through three major eye operations. One of them involved retinal detachment. I suffered from slip-disc also, but I did not give-up. Atlast, I was honoured with my Doctorate in the year 1987. This is the only known thesis on this particular subject in the University of Mumbai till now.

More About The Thesis

Well, the sources are of four kinds: Spiritual, Archeological, Numismatic and epigraphic. According to my findings the iconic mention of Ganesh is first found in the Puranic Age when the Bhakti Cult prevailed widely. Ganesh is the iconographic representation of, "OM", which is an abstract concept. The "Om" is first found in the Chhandogyapanishad and later in Kathopanishad, Mandukyanpanishad and Prashopanishad. During the Pauranic Bhakti Cult Age more emphasis was laid on form and the chanting of the name of God. Religious thought concerned itself with chanting, singing and worship of a seen deity or idol. The "OM"--pic--is an abstract principle, became (upside dowm--pic--) i.e. the Head of Ganesha, the auspicious deity who removes all obstacles and gives wisdom and knowledge. Did you know that there exists Ganesha Cults outside of India also? Tibet, China, Japan, Siberia, Cambodia, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Korea are a few countries where they worship Lord Ganesh with different names.

How Ganesha Helped Me...

Whenever I need anything, Ganesha helps me inevitably! I knew that in Him I had found--as your generation would say--'A Godfather'. And time is witness to this, I have never in this life-time lacked in money. Small incidents like--just now someone came and gifted me a shawl-- prove that all my needs are satisfied before I feel the need to ask anyone for anything. This is the fruit of what is , "Yogaksh-A Vahamyaham", which if literally translated means "loving surrender to God". This is widely believed in the Bhakti Cult.

History of Religion

In the history of the religious thought of Hindus, history of the Deity etc,. there is a trend when every deity is caught in a religious wave. Every 500 years there are religious waves which predominate. First comes Tantra then Yoga and lastly Bhakti Marga. During that particular time all those deities are worshipped in that particular form. For example, during the predominance of Tantra, a Deity will be worshiped in the Tantric mode of rituals.

Future--Visit To Canada

I'm going to Canada in a few months. I was unaware of the numerous procedures that go into making the passport or the visa for the same. The amount of money that I would require also wasn't clear. There was a string of people who came from nowhere and helped me. I was gifted a Raymond cloth piece to sew a new suit for myself; a blanket to sustain the cold! All from nowhere, but definitely from somewhere!! People act as mediums of God sometimes. And He never forgets you even if you do.

The Visit

Organised by Mr and Mrs. Dogra, this is going to be my first foreign visit. Mrs. Dogra is a socio-religious worker and has been pressing me to go there since one year now. We intend to start a Bhagwat Society there. Bhagvat - does not mean The Gita- but The Great Bhagwat Purana. It talks about Vasudev Bhakti. I intend to give lectures on the same. The Bhagwat Society that we are planning to lay the foundations of, in Canada will host lectures in the lines of Dongre Maharaj of Gujarat. I consider myself as a thorough disciple of Dongre Maharaj--and would like to think of myself on the lines of Eklavya !

Firstly, I would like to spread the word of Ganesha and deliver a few introductory lectures in His name. If I get an opportunity, I will also give lectures on a comparative study that I have done. It is on the Ganesha Purana in comparison with the Bhagwat Purana.

It becomes extremely boring if these religious texts are read in the same way that they were written millions of years ago. My prerogative is to adapt them according to the modern day living and thought. My stay will be lasting for upto one and a half months where I wish to incorporate in my programme, talks in the various Universities there. All is very tentative...let's see how God wants things to work out.

Further Studies

My return from Canada shall see me recasting my whole thesis from, what it is at present, to a more reader friendly approach. God is simple and so are his devotees and thus must be the thesis. I will then be in search of a good publisher so that knowledge may reach out to His people with ease. I believe that higher education is a luxury not a necessity ! With the rising standard of living in the city, commercialization  etc...one has to comply to the changing times--relate to the new value systems of the changing times. I plan to do a D. Lit. i.e. post Ph. D. on the "The Impact of Yoga and Tantra on the Cult of Ganesha".

On God / Devotion

You see, we are concerned with certain Gods because it is the out-come of our past-life karma. I am originally from the Warkari Vishnu Cult, where The Lord Krishna is worshipped. It must have been my past-life karmas that brought me through the turmoils of my earlier life. It would have been destined that I have to go to Ganesha during these years of my life. But I personally believe that the essence of a real religious life would centre around "loving surrender to God"--an integral feature of the Bhagwat Purana.

On Occult

Occult powers are developed through religious persuits. Every -one has a sixth sense and it's different from any other sense in that, you have to develop it. Concentration is the key word here. Predictions could go wrong, astrology is after all a science, but telepathy or even say-premonitions are true. They are as true as the fact that there are quakes who call themselves great and go about quoting shlokas in sanskrit from books they've not read - forget interpret them!!

My Dream

I want to build a Hospital in the vicinity of my home on the outskirts of Mumbai. I would like to build-it out of the cash, which would flow in from The Bhagwat Society that I am to start in Canada. I want to see 101 saptahs or lecture orientations of Shree Bhagwat done in this society that we are out to make.

On Life

I have no particular ambition. You could grade me as a common man with an average income and living like one. I don't want to be a Tata, or the Birlas. I am a simple man Those have never been my dreams and aspirations in life. I plan to do a D. Lit. i.e. post Ph. D. on the "The Impact of Yoga and Tantra on the cult of Ganesha", and that is if you would call it an ambition! Well, as you can guess I am 76 now, but as you cannot I am 16 also!! Jokes aside, I would like to emphasize that a man is as old or as young as he thinks he / she is!

It was evident in the way he spoke and joked! One would stare in wonder that this phenomenon of a person who is more active than the younger generations of college going kids these days! Mr. Shahapurkar rises above the rest of the people like the Empire State Building in Vasai ! He still rises as early as the cock-crow and sleeps at sharp ten in the night , "lest Wee Willy Winky appear!" He calls it the motto of his life to continue doing so. Life is a continuous research on your favourite subject and your undying interest keeps you goading back to it.

By : Kamakshi Vyas

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