Another name for Ganesha is Vigneshwara—the Lord of Obstacles. But what does that mean—being the Lord of obstacles?
Therein lies the secret.
Whenever we start a task, we naturally desire for it to proceed smoothly without obstacles and yield the desired outcome; we put in the effort to achieve this as well. However, divine grace is also essential for a successful result.
When embarking on important tasks, we pray to Lord Ganesha, asking Him to ensure the work is completed without any hindrances. Yet, some tasks get accomplished, while others do not.
We should not be overly distressed when things do not work out. This is because Lord Ganesha—in whom we place our faith—may have a different plan. Had that specific task been completed, we might have found ourselves entangled in future problems. Consequently, Ganesha ensures such tasks do not come to fruition; in other words, He creates obstacles to prevent them.
It is not just in our own lives; we often hear relatives or friends say, " Oh, we are lucky, if that task had been completed back then, we would have suffered greatly today."
Even though we pray for all our endeavors to succeed through sincere effort and devotion, Ganesha ensures the completion of only those tasks that are truly beneficial to us.
That is why, if a task does not work out, one should not be excessively upset. One should try a few more times. If it still does not happen, one should accept that it was not Lord Ganesha's will, let it go, and move forward.
Krishna Paramatma declared in the Gita:
karmanye-vadhikaraste
ma phaleshu kadachana "
- Bhagavad Gita 2:47
"You have the right to perform your duty, but not to the fruits thereof," the Supreme Lord told Arjuna.
We perform the work, but the outcome is not in our hands; it depends on many factors. When the desired result is not achieved, we should accept it as our destiny.
Even when we strive to complete a task, it is often for our own good that certain things do not come to fruition.
That is why we worship Lord Ganapati first—to ensure that only those tasks beneficial to us are successfully accomplished.
Subhamastu