Lord GaneshaGanesha has the head of an elephant on which is perched a delicate tiara, four podgy hands joined to a sizeable belly with each hand holding its own symbolic object. One has a trishul, or a trident, the second an ankush or goad made from his own broken tusk, the third hand elegantly holds a lotus and the fourth a rosary (sometimes replaced by modaks, his favourite sweet).
On Ganesha Chaturthi Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati bestows his presence on earth for all his devotees. Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi it is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada, starting on shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon) sometime between August and September. The festivities last for 10 days, ending on Ananta Chaturdashi.
Chhatrapati Shivaji
Clay Models of Ganesha
About two months prior to Ganesh Chaturthi, life-like clay models of Lord Ganesha are made by skilled artisans. The festival starts with the installation of these Ganesh statues in colourfully decorated homes and mantapas (specially erected temporary structures) in every locality.
Invoking Life Into Idols of Ganesha
The priest, then invokes life into the statue amidst the chanting of mantras, known as the Pranapratishhtha ceremony. After this the ritual of Shhodashopachara (16 ways of paying tribute) follows. Coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas, 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass and red flowers are offered. The statue is anointed with red unguent, typically made of kumkum and sandalwood paste. Throughout the service, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda, the Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad and the Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted.
For ten days, from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Lord Ganesha is worshipped.
Ganesha, Enjoying the Modak
The favourite sweet during the festival is the modak. The festival abounds with cultural activities like songs, dramas and orchestra along with free medical checkups, blood donation camps and charity for the poor.
Ganesha Idols Taken for Immersion on Anant Chaudas
On the 11th day, the statue is taken in a procession through the streets amidst much fanfare. Being immersed in a river or the sea symbolizes a ritual farewell to the Lord journeying towards his abode in Kailash, taking away the misfortunes of his devotees.
Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudcha Varshi Laukar Ya
The festival ends with ardent entreaties to Lord Ganesha to return the next year with chants of, "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudcha Varshi Laukar Ya!" (Hail to Lord Ganesha! Return soon again next year).
Swami Shivananda Recommends:
On Ganesh Chaturthi meditate on stories related with Lord Ganesha during the Brahmamuhurta, early in the morning. Soon after a bath, go to the temple and pray to Lord Ganesha with dedicated devotion, offering some coconut and sweet pudding. Ardently entreat Him to remove all obstacles hampering the spiritual path. Worship Him at home with the assistance of a priest. Sense his living presence by having an image of Lord Ganesha at your residence.
Goddess Parvati with Son Ganesha
Hindu Scriptures relate the story of Lord Ganesha. Ganesha means Lord (isha) and Ganapati stands for (pati) of Shiva's ganas. The deity was created by goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva.
According to legend, Parvati wanting to bathe conceived an idea of creating a son who could guard the entrance. She created Ganesha out of the sandalwood paste that she used for bathing and breathed life into the figure. Standing watch at her door, he was instructed not to let anyone enter. Lord Shiva, (third god of the Hindu Trinity who presides over the dissolution of the world) chose that very moment to drop in, after a long period of meditation at Kailash (Shiva’s abode).
Ganesha not knowing Shiva stopped him from entering Parvati's chamber. Enraged at his impudence, Shiva drew his sword and slashed off Ganesha's head. When Parvati emerged and absorbed the scenario she flew into a rage.
The Gods were petrified and Shiva, eager to pacify Parvati, dispatched his ganas (attendants) to bring the head of the first living being, sleeping with his head towards the north (auspicious direction associated with wisdom). They spotted an elephant in such a posture and brought its head. Positioning the head on the trunk of Parvati's son, Shiva breathed life into him. Ecstatic, Parvati embraced her elephant-headed son whom Shiva named Ganesha, the lord of his ganas.
Karitikeya And Ganesha
Another tale recounts how the Gods decided to choose their leader between the brothers- Kartikeya and Ganesh. Whoever took three rounds of the earth first would be acclaimed with the position. Kartikeya seated on a peacock, his vehicle, soon enough ventured for the mission. Ganesh was given a mooshak or rat, which moved swiftly. He made obeisance to his parents and circumambulating them three times, completed the test before Kartikeya. He reasoned, "My parents pervade the entire universe and going around them, is more valuable than going round the earth." All present were amazed at Ganesha's logic and he was renowned as Ganaadhipati or leader, now famed as Ganpati.
Lord Ganesha Riding the Mouse,his Vehicle
There is a story woven around the symbolic snake, rat and the singular tusk. On one of his birthdays, Parvati cooked twenty-one varieties of delicacies and a whole lot of sweet porridge. Ganesha ate to his heart's content and mounting his little mouse, embarked on his nightly rounds. His mouse suddenly stumbled upon seeing a huge snake. To adjust His belly, Ganesha put the snake on as a belt around his stomach. All of a sudden, he heard peals of laughter and saw the moon mocking him. Infuriated, Ganesha broke off one of his tusks and hurled it at the moon. Parvati instantly cursed the moon, confirming that whoever looks at it on Ganesh Chaturthi would be accused of a wrong doing.
The entire cosmos is known as the belly of Ganesha with Parvati as the primordial energy. The seven realms above, seven below and the seven oceans are lodged inside the cosmic belly of Ganesha. They are bound together by the kundalini or cosmic energy symbolized as a huge snake which Ganesha ties around Him. The mouse is our ego and Ganesha, using it as a vehicle, underpins the need to control our ego which ultimately leads to Ganesha consciousness. The significance of riding on a mouse is the complete conquest over egoism.
Ganesha' Ankusha
The ankusha or the goad held in Ganesha's right hand is used to remove obstacles from the path of dharma or righteousness. represents His ruler ship of the world, being an emblem of divine royalty.
Ganesha as Vigna Vinayaka
Revered as Vigna Vinayaka, He is the Lord who removes impediments hampering spiritual aspirants, and bestows worldly as well as spiritual success. "O Lord Vinayaka! The remover of all obstacles, the son of Lord Shiva, with a form which is very short, with the mouse as Thy vehicle, with sweet pudding in your hands, with wide ears and long hanging trunk, I prostrate at Thy lotus-like Feet!"
Worsip of Ganesha is a Must on Every Auspicious Occasion
Ganesha, the god of wisdom and prosperity is invoked before beginning any auspicious work by the Hindus. His blessings are said to be imperative for the fulfillment of one's desires.
Ganesha Represent Om
Lord Ganesha represents Om or the Pranava, which is the chief Mantra among the Hindus. This explains the practice of invoking Ganesha before beginning any rite or undertaking any project. His two feet represent the power of knowledge and action. The elephant head is significant in that it is the only figure in nature that has the form of the symbol for Om.
In the Ganapathi Upanishad, Ganesha is identified with the Supreme Self. The legends connected with Lord Ganesha are recorded in the Ganesha Khanda of the Brahma Vaivartha Purana.
His Mantra is Om Gung Ganapathaye Namah. Spiritual aspirants who worship Ganesha as their tutelary deity repeat this incantation or Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah.
The devotees of Ganesha also do japa (incantation) of the Ganesha Gayatri Mantra:
Tat purushaaya vidmahe
Vakratundaaya dheemahi
Tanno dhanti prachodayaat.
Lord of the Brahmacharis
Lord Ganesha is an embodiment of wisdom and bliss. Lord of the Brahmacharis, He is foremost amongst the celibates.
Ganesha is the Presiding Deity of the Muladhara Chakra
The eternal child, He is the presiding Deity of the Muladhara Chakra, the psychic centre in the body where the Kundalini Shakti resides.Being the embodiment of innocence, he guards his mother Kundalini (Gauri) and her instrument with great alertness and uncompromising zeal. Lord Ganesha's two powers are the Kundalini and Vallabha or the power of love.
He is the Lord of Ganas, the celestial servants of Lord Shiva.
The Vaishnavas also worship Lord Ganesha, addressing him as Tumbikkai Alwar which means divinity with the
proboscis (elephant's trunk).
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