Chaturthi means a 4th day of the month according to the Hindu
calendar. It is the day of Lord Ganesha. Especially, 4th day of the month
Bhaadrapada (August-September) is celebrated as a Ganesha Festival. It
is the most popular festival of Hindus. They install clay figures (moorti)
of Lord Ganesha in their houses and perform pooja everyday in the
morning and evening. The festival is so popular among the masses that
its preparations start happening months in advance. His statues are also
installed in the street corners and extravagant arrangements are made
for decoration. Prayers are performed on the daily basis. The artists
who make Ganesha statues compete with each other to make bigger and more elegant statues. These statues are then carried on decorated
floats to be immersed in the sea. This immersion is accompanied by
drumbeats, devotional songs and dancing.
Celebration:
Vinayaga Chaturti Story:
The great land of bhaarat (India), which is referred in
all the dharma literatures, puraanaas and itihaasaas (history), was full
of greenery, beautiful landscapes, with all rivers giving fresh water, fertile
land, Eco-balance. In there, sage soota, who is an ancient historian,
used to teach several shaastraas to other sages like SounakaStory: The great land of bhaarat (India), which is referred in
all the dharma literatures, puraaNaas and itihaasaas (history), was full
of greenery, beautiful landscapes, with all rivers giving fresh water, fertile
land, eco-balance. In there, sage soota, who is an ancient historian,
used to teach several shaastraas to other sages like Sounaka.
Dharmaraaja, who is born in the chandra dynasty, lost all his
kingdom, wealth and power to kauravaas by loosing the gambling
game. In the forests, during exile, he, along with his brothers and wife,
visited several sages. He also visits sage soota and says "O great soul! We
lost all our kingdom and wealth. We are pleased by your darshan now.
Please prescribe any vrata with which we can get back all that we lost. Sage Soota replied, "There is a vrata which removes all sins and gives
all wealth. Bhagavaan Shiva first described this to kumara swami. Sage
soota continues to tell the vrata story details.
Shiva tells kumara swami "Vinaayaka vrata gives health and
wealth. That needs to be done on the fourth day of shukla paksha of
the Bhaadrapada month. Finish all ablutions early in the morning, and
with whatever one can afford (Gold, silver or clay), make an idol of
Lord Ganesha. Install Him in the northern area of your home, on a dias
well decorated with flowers, rice and rangoli. Do all the pooja activities
like dhoopa, diipa, niiraajana, naivedya. offerings. Meet friends and
family and have lunch and dinner with them. Whoever does it this way,
is always happy and meets all his wishes. This is one of the great vrataas,
which is performed by several great people like Shri Krishna, Shri Rama,
Bhagiratha and Indra. Soota tells dharmaraja "So, dharmaraja! You also
do this ganesh pooja. You can win over your enemies and get back all
the wealth.
Earlier, Shri Krishna also performed this vrata and obtained
jaambavati along with shamantakamani. King satraajit obtained
shamantakamani, a bright shining gem, as a gift from Lord soorya. Shri
Krishna liked it and asked Satraajit for it. He denied giving it. Satraajit's
brother wore that shamantakamani and went for hunting. A lion
killed him and was running away with the gem. Jaambavanta, a bearking,
killed that lion, and took the shamantakamani with him to his
cave. Satraajit accuses Shri Krishna that he killed his brother and stole
shamantakamani. Shri Krishna realizes and tells balaraama, that this is
because he had to violate the ganesh chaturthi shaapa, not to see moon
that night. He happened to see the reflection of moon in the cup of milk
that he was having that night. Balaraama asks Krishna to tell the details
of the shaapa.
Krishna tells "On this chaturhti day, vinaayaka had a heavy meal
of all the sweets and dishes that he likes most. With a heavy, large stomach
when he was walking, chandra looks at him and mocks. Indignified,
vinayaka gives shapa to the moon, that whoever sees moon on this day,
shall be falsely accused. Chandra realizes his mistake and begs pardon
of Ganapti. He then tells that, as told by Shiva to kumara swami, if one
does ganesh pooja on this 4th day of bhadrapada maasa, they will not
face these blames. So, then onwards several people, including chandra
did Ganesh pooja.
Then, Shri Krishna and balarama do Ganesh Pooja, take prasadam,
and go to jaambavanta. Jaambavanta gladly gives back shamantakamani
and offers jaambavati in marriage to Shri Krishna. Upon return, Shri
Krishna goes to satraajit and gives back his shamantakamani. Satraajit
feels sorry, and happily offers his daughter satyabhaama in marriage to
him.
Soota continues saying the story that "indra, in order to kill
vruttaasrua, shri Rama, when searching for Sita, bhagiratha, when bringing ganga to earth performed this vrata. Dharmaraja also performs
this vrata and gets back all that he lost and lives happily. By doing this
vrata, since everybody is able to fulfill (siddhi) his wishes, vinayaka has
become popularly known as "siddhi vinayaka. So, all people can do this
vrata and may live happily forever.
Introduction: Lord Ganesha is also one of the many forms of the God. He is
also the first child of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is known
by various names such as Vinayaka (knowledgeable), Vighneshwara
(remover of obstacles), Gajanana (elephant faced) or Ganapati (a leader).
Lord Ganesha has all leadership qualities. HE is a very unique form
of the Supreme God. HIS unique form also carries symbolic meaning.
Scholars interpret it in various ways. Following is the most commonly
believed symbolic meaning.
Symbolic Meaning:
Ganesha has elephant's head, which is big. It symbolizes sharp
intelligence and big thinking. An elephant's life is full of radiance, which
comes from dignity and self-esteem. Also the elephant shares his food
by scattering some around himself. It indicates the sense of generosity.
Ganesha has large ears, but small mouth. It indicates that
one should talk less and listen more, but retain only the positive and
constructive things. Large ears are also a symbol of acute and superior
hearing. Ganesha's small eyes indicate sharp vision and concentration.
Small eyes are also a symbol of foresight.
Trunk is the symbol of high strength, efficiency and adaptability.
It can move the biggest obstacles and yet infinitely gentle in handling
delicate objects.
Ganesha has one full and other half tusk. The partial tusk
symbolizes intelligence and the full tusk symbolizes faith. Both are
needed to progress in life. However, the intelligence often falls short
in providing answers to life's burning questions. When it falls short,
faith in God and ourselves can lead us in life successfully. Full tusk also
symbolizes that one should retain good and throw away bad things.
Ganesha's four hands have four things - Ankush (Elephant driver's
iron rod or axe) It indicates us to cut off all bonds of attachment and
restrain desires and passions. Paash (cord or rope) symbol of restrain
and punishment. Modak is dry and hard from outside and sweet from
inside and nourishing. This represents that hard work (saadhana) brings
joy, satisfaction and nourishment to our souls. Aashirwaad means that Ganaesha blesses and protects us on our spiritual path to the Supreme.
Ganesha has large stomach. HE peacefully digests all good and
bad things without loosing control. Ganesha's small legs indicate that
one should not move hastily. One must not rush into anything. Each
step must be slow, deliberate and well thought of.
Mouse-vehicle of Ganesha symbolizes desire. Desire, if not in
control, can causes havoc. Ganesha rides on the mouse. One should
ride the desire and keep it under control and do not allow it to take you
for a ride.
Durva, meaning grass, is placed on the head of Ganesh. The
grass is something that we constantly walk on or trample on, paying
little heed to it, while in fact it contributes so much to our survival by
giving us oxygen. But we give importance to durva by placing them on
his head. This tells us no matter how much you are looked down upon
or insignificant to others or not given the importance you deserve, you
are important to Him. Red flower indicates red color. Red color stands
for total change or revolution.
Lord Ganesha possesses all leadership qualities. The best pooja
offered to Lord Ganesha is to inculcate those qualities in us.
we are performing32 Ganesha Homam on the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi
Pooja is the Hindu ritual of worshiping God in a systematic
manner as described in the Vedic scriptures. An image or symbol of the
deity is kept and worshiped by chanting the mantras and verses. The
various names of the deity and the mantras are recited. Various offerings
like fruits, flowers, sweets, milk are offered. It is a way of expressing
one's faith in God, a way of seeking salvation and a way of seeking His
blessings. It also gives you discipline, satisfaction and peace of mind.
Worship of God in any form and in any way one likes is
good as it reduces the negative side of one's Karma and improves the
positive effects. Before doing any auspicious work, Lord Ganesha is to
be worshiped. Before doing any pooja, Lord Ganesha's pooja is to be
performed first. Gather following items to do pooja.
Lord Ganesha's moorti (or a big framed photo)
Plantain leaf (if available or a plate) and rice for installing Lord's
prateema.
One plate (preferably a metallic one) and some rice (2-3 cups)
Ghantaa (bell)
wo coconuts or bananas
Betel leaves, supaari (betel nuts)
haldi, kumkum, akshata, flowers, garlands
panchaamrita (honey, milk, ghee, curds, sugar - all in one cup)
2 small lamps with ghee and a cotton wick
Agarbatti (and no camphor) and a match-box
2 small cups and a spoon, preferably metallic
Some money for dakshina (Offering) to Lord Ganesha
Sweets and other items for naivedya
Vakratunda Ganesha Mantra
श्री वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्य कोटी समप्रभा
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्व-कार्येशु सर्वदा॥
Shree Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada॥
Ganesha Shubh Labh Mantra
ॐ श्रीम गम सौभाग्य गणपतये
वर्वर्द सर्वजन्म में वषमान्य नमः॥
Om Shreem Gam Saubhagya Ganpataye
Varvarda Sarvajanma Mein Vashamanya Namah॥
Om Ekadantaya Viddhamahe, Vakratundaya Dhimahi,
Tanno Danti Prachodayat॥
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