(For a better and easier grasp of this topic, please read the following topics first in my home page:

Basics of Ayurveda- The Indriyas
Personality of Man- Pancha Koshas)

The "mind-and-intellect" is the essence of the human personality. The physical body is merely a garb worn by it. The quality and texture of the 'mind-and-intellect' equipment in us depend upon our inherent and innate tendencies or inclinations which are called 'Vaasanas' (Janma-Janmanthara- Vaasana). Philosophy and religion serve as architects in moulding these vaasanas and thereby rehabilitating his personality.

Vaasanas

'Vaasanas' in sanskrit means 'Fragrance'.Just like flowers and plants, each individual has vaasanas, distinct and peculiar to him, and they constitute and define his individuality. These vaasanas are the prime mover of all his actions. As our vaasanas-so are our thoughts; and as our thoughts-so are our actions. Usually, a person is assessed solely by his actions. The intelligent critics will evaluate a person by his feelings. A rare few intelligent ones alone can truly judge a person through his thoughts and motives.

The 5 sense-organs are windows in the human structure through which the stimuli from the external world of objects reach us. The 'mind-and-intellect' react to these stimuli and respond to them in the form of actions, which are executed by the 5 organs-of-action in the physical body. The continuous transaction of the receipt of stimuli and the corresponding responses echoing out of the human system, constitute the "Traffic-of Life". When and where this transaction has ended, life becomes extinct.

Religion is like a friendly policeman who guides man through this 'traffic-of-life' to reach the goal of a  perfectly happy and successful living. The external world of objects is in a constant flux of change. All living creatures are affected and victimised by these changes occurring in the environments and circumstances. Man alone has the unique capacity to neutralize adverse stimuli reaching him and maintain harmony in existence. This consummation is achieved by the wondrous equipment of the 'mind-and-intellect'. The proper maintenance of a healthy and powerful 'mind-and-intellect' is therefore of utmost importance for all of us. Our emotions must always be chaste and our intellect subtle and clear.

Man has the unique ability to exercise his 'Self-Effort' in choosing his actions. By a persistent and prolonged application of this great faculty, every human being can correct and improve his vaasanaas and reach the pinnacle of perfection.

An individual is nothing but a substantial form of his vaasanas. The heterogeneous pattern of human beings is explained by the variety and differences  in the texture of vaasanas composing them. When man gets rid of his vaasanas, he transcends mental agitation and attains a divine status.

This idea is beautifully symbolised in the lighting of camphor before an idol. Camphor is fragrance consolidated. When camphor is lit before a deity and, as it burns away, we get a vision of the Lord. So too, as our vasanas are eradicated, the divinity within us is unfolded and we begin to experience our divine nature.

The mouse (Mooshika) is a symbol of the sense of smell.The mouse is also actually known for its strong sense of smell (vaasana). Based on the smell emanating from an object, the mouse finds its way to it. Vinayaka is the one who has the mastery over vaasanas, that is desires and ignorance (represented by "Mooshika"). The five organs of perception and the five organs of action (Jnaanendriyas and Karmendriyas) are the Ganas. The mind is the master over these ten organs. Buddhi (or intellect) is the discriminating faculty above the mind. The ten senses, the mind and the intellect together constitute the Ganas. Vinayaka, when he controls these Ganas, becomes Gana Natha or Gana Pathi. Ganapathi dwells in every human being in the form of Intellect and Wisdom.

Let us now see how these sense organs exercise their power and control our actions. Most of the animals, birds and insects are having one sense predominant in them. This finally acts as their weakness and man exploits this weakness in capturing and taming them for his advantages. Since they do not have the 'power of intellect', they fall victim to the man's plannings.

1. Sparsam (Touch):

Elephant is famous for this aspect of sense. A wild male elephant is captured and tamed by using two female elephants, one on either side. The female ones hold the male firmly and make continuous rubbings on the body of the male one. The male loses the mental control and finally falls into the man-made trench and gets captured. The female ones are again used for taming him for the domestic uses.

2. Sound (Ears):

We find the sound sense as weakness among deers. Men use melodic sounds in catching deers and making them domestic.

3. Fire (Light):

This is the weakness for the moths and flies. They automatically get attracted towards any fire and finally fall into that and end their lives.

4. Taste (Food):

This is most common in fishes. Men offer baits of food items for catching fishes for their daily consumption.

5. Smell (Nose):

The best example for this is the bee trying to enjoy the nectar in the lotus. After consuming lot of nectar, it forgets itself and continue staying in the lotus flower for the whole night.When the sun shines in the morning, the petals close themselves, embracing the drunken bee inside, thereby causing the natural death for the bee.

These are the effects of a single sense faculty. You can now imagine the fate of a human being who is having all the 5 sense organs fully active and how easy for him to fall prey for his final ruin. Fortunately, God has provided the 'mind-and-intellect' equipment for every human being. It is upto him to use this weapon properly and save himself against all the onslaughts by the world of objects sorrounding him. If he fails to utilise this inborn faculty, he has to blame himself for his downfall.

Lord Hanuman is 'Jeetendria'-one who has controlled all the senses- a role model for all of us. It is all the more great because he has achieved this from a humble beginning-that is, being born as a monkey,famous for mental vascillations.

It is upto us to utilise the God-given 'mind-and-intellect' equipment for our gradual advancement along the Path of Perfection and final attainment of Moksha.

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