Ganesh Chaturthi
7-17 September 2024
Vinayak Chaturthi marks the beginning of 10 days of uninterrupted worshiping of
Lord Ganesh-ji, followed by immersion in the sea or river of the Ganesh murti on the
11th day.
In the Ramayan and also in the Shiv Maha Puran, Lord Shiva declares that there is
no place in Prithvi Lok that he prefers more than Varanasi. Sri Ganesh-ji joins him in
Varanasi once in every Hindu calendar year during the month of Bhadrapadh for 10
to 11 days.
During the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, Lord Ganesha decends from his Lok to
Varanasi, and performs parikrama for 10 days. Lord Ganesha's prarikrama of
Varanasi concludes on the 11th day of Ananta Chaturdashi.
Apart from Varanasi, ardent devotees of Sri Ganesh also observe this festival in
parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
In Varanasi Ganesh Utsav festival is observed for ten days with a large Ganesha
murti, which is then immersed in Ganga River on the 11th day.
Preparations for this festival start months ahead with the making of a murti out of
clay.
During the procession where devotees carry the clay murti to be immersed in the
River or sea, they passionately chant:
"Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya"
O father Ganesha, come again early next year
Milk Miracle
It was during this time, that Sri Ganesh began to accept milk from devotees
through offerings made to its murti around the world about 8 years ago.
Chandra Darshan Prohibited
Due to a curse placed on Chandra Devta by Sri Ganesh-ji, darshan of the moon or
moon sighting on Vinayak Chaturthi day is prohibited. As a result of the curse,
anyone who looks at the moon (Chandra) on the Vinayak Chaturthi could
experience troubles in the year ahead, such as being wrongfully accused of a
crime they did not commit.
This encounter between the Chandra Devta and Lord Ganesh is well documented
in the Ganesh Puran.
It follows that Chandra Devta once scoffed at Sri Ganesh-ji during a mishap. The
story unfolds like this. It is well known that Lord Ganesha likes to eat. One
evening, having stuffed himself to capacity, he decided to take a ride on his
favored mount, Mooshika, a rat. Along the moonlit road they chanced upon a
large snake and the startled rat bolted. Lord Ganesh fell heavily; he hit the
ground so hard that his stomach burst open. Gathering up the remains of his
self-esteem, his ample guts and the snake,Lord Ganesh wittily used the reptile
as a belt and tied himself up together again. Howls of derision shattered the
peaceful scene; it was Chandradeva (the Moon-Deity) who had witnessed the
whole incident with great relish.
Enraged at the sound of all this laughter, Lord Ganesh lost his temper and
angrily cried: "Chandra! Now you will become unworthy of being seen by
anyone! Someone seeing you by any chance, shall have to reap the
consequences of a sinful act."
But after much persuasion by Lord Indra and Agni Devta, Ganeshji pardoned
Chandra Devta and restricted his curse to only the Chaurthi day of Bhadrapath
month, meaning Vinayak Chaturthi.
Sri Ganesh-ji said:
"Devtas! One who sees Chandra on the fourth day of the bright half of the lunar
period of the sixth month of the Hindu year, knowingly or unknowingly, will be
cursed. He will undergo many difficulties!"
Ways to Worship During the 10 Days:
Make offerings of 21 different leaves including and especially:
- Bael leaves
- Durva
- Datura
This is for the offering of 21 leaves for Ganesh. Ideally 21 different leaves including Bael, Datura and Durva.
1. Om Sumukhaye Namah Malti Patram Samarpami
2. Om Gana Dhipaye Namah Bhring Raj Patram Samarpami
3. Om Uma Putraye Namah Bael Patram Samarpami
4. Om Gajananaye Namah Sthwet Durva Patram Samarpami
5. Om Lambodaraye Namah Badri Patram Samarpami
6. Om Har Soonwe Namah Dhatur Patram Samarpami
7. Om Gajkarnaye Namah Gulad Patram Samarpami
8. Om Warak Tundaye Namah Shami Patram Samarpami
9. Om Grah Grajaye Namah Apamarg Patram Samarpami
10. Om Yekdantaye Namah Brati Patram Samarpami
11.Om Weektaye Namah Karweer Patram Samarpami
12. Om Kapilaye Namah Ark Patram Samarpami
13. Om Gaj Dantaye Namah Arjun Patram Samarpami
14. Om Vighan Rajaye Namah Vishnu Krant Patram Samarpami
15. Om Batye Namah Dandi Dhi Patram Samarpami
16. Om Sura Grajaye Namah Deodaru Patram Samarpami
17. Om Bhal Chandraye Namah Maru Patram Samarpami
18. Om Herambaye Namah Ashwath Patram Samarpami
19. Om Chatu Bhurjaye Namah Jaati Patram Samarpami
20. Om Vinaye Kaye Namah Keteki Patram Samarpami
21. Om Sarveshawaraye Namah Agasti Patram Samarpami
Make offerings of 21 different flowers, preferably yellow
Mantras for each of the 21 fowers offerings below:
Yek Vishanti Pushpam Pujam for Sri Ganesh
Special Pushpam (flowers) Puja for Sri Ganesh
1. Om Sumukaye Namah Jaati Pushpam Samarpami
2. Om Lambodaraye Namah Karika Pushpam Samarpami
3. Om Wiktaye Namah Ketki Pushpam Samarpami
4. Om Vinaaykaye Namah Bakul Pushpam Samarpami
5. Om Vidhan Hatre Namah Shat Patra Pushpam Samarpami
6. Om Dhumra Ketwe Namah Punnagh Pushpam Samarpami
7. Om Gaj Karnaye Namah Karwir Pushpam Samarpami
8. Om Uma Putraye Namah Parijatak Pushpam Samarpami
9. Om Aghnashine Namah Naghkeshar Pushpam Samarpami
10. Om Ish Putraye Namah Padam Pushpam Samarpami
11.Om Sarve Sidhi Pradaykaye Namah Malika Pushpam Samarpami
12. Om Mushak Wahnaye Namah Kalhaar Pushpam Samarpami
13. Om Ibhak Katraye Namah Giri Karnika Pushpam Samarpami
14. Om Kumar Guruwe Namah Govind Pushpam Samarpami
15. Om Dirgh Tundaye Namah Munni Pushpam Samarpami
16. Om Bhal Chandraye Namah Paatal Pushpam Samarpami
17. Om Yekdantaye Namah Arak Pushpam Samarpami
18. Om Ganaa Dhisaye Namah Dandibhii Pushpam Samarpami
19. Om Ganapataye Namah Jasuki Pushpam Samarpami
20. Om Sidhi Vinayakaye Namah Madhumaal Ti Pushpam Samarpami
21. Om Vighan Rajaye Namah Schwet Karnika Pushpam Samarpami
Make offerings of 21 laddoos (in parts of India offerings to Ganesh are referred to as
Modakas)
Do the 16 steps of worshipping a murti
Avishek (bathing the murti with water, milk, dahi, ghee and honey and gudr)
Chant 1000 names of Lord Ganesha and make offerings of items such as, Durva Patra ,
Bael Patra, Badaam (Almonds), Misri (Sugar candy), Cashew nuts, Sultanas,
Recite Sri Ganesh Chalisa & Aarati and parts of Ganesh Puran or Narad Puran
Perform Sri Ganesh Chalisa & Aarati and Shanti Mantras.
32 MISTAKES WE SHOULD AVOID DURING OUR DAILY WORSHIP
पूजा अर्चना में वर्जित काम
१) गणेश जी को तुलसी
२) देवी पर दुर्वा
३) शिव लिंग पर केतकी फूल
४) विष्णु को तिलक में अक्षत
५) दो शंख एक समान
६) तीन गणेश
७) तुलसी चबाना
८) द्वार पर जूते चप्पल उल्टे
९) दर्शन करके बापस लौटते समय घंटा
१०) एक हाथ से आरती लेना
११) ब्राह्मण को बिना आसन बिठा
ना
१२) स्त्री द्वारा दंडवत प्रणाम
१३) बिना दक्षिणा ज्योतिषी से पूछना
१४) घर में अंगूठे से बड़ा शिवलिंग
१५) तुलसी पेड़ में शिवलिंग
१६) गर्भवती महिला को शिवलिंग स्पर्श
१७) स्त्री द्वारा मंदिर में नारियल फोडना
१८) रजस्वला स्त्री का मंदिर प्रवेश
१९) परिवार में सूतक हो तो पूजा प्रतिमा स्पर्श
२०) शिव जी की पूरी परिक्रमा
२१) शिव लिंग से बहते जल को लांघना
२२) एक हाथ से प्रणाम
२३) दूसरे के दीपक में अपना दीपक जलाना
२४) अगरबत्ती जलाना बांस की सींक वाली
२५) देवता को लोभान या लोभान की अगरबत्ती
२६) स्त्री द्वारा हनुमानजी शनिदेव को स्पर्श
२७) कन्या ओ से पैर पडवाना
२८) मंदिर में परस्त्री को ग़लत निगाह से देखना
२९) मंदिर में भीड़ में परस्त्री से धक्का मुक्की
३०) साईं की अन्य प्रतिमाओं के साथ स्थापना
३१) शराबी का भैरव के अलावा अन्य मंदिर प्रवेश
३२) किसी तांत्रिक का दिया प्रसाद,
ये पूर्ण रूप से वर्जित हैं!
1) Never offer Sri Ganesh Tulsi leaves
2) Never offer durwa grass or tulsi to Ma Durga
3) Never offer Ketki flower on Shiva ling
4) Never offer rice to Sri Hari Vishnu
5) Never keep two sunk conch shell 🐚 of the same type
6) Never keep three Sri Ganesh on one shrine
7) Never eat or munch on tulsi leaves
8) Never leaves shoes upside down Mandir entrance
9) Do not ring bell ghanta whilst leaving Mandir after darshan
10) Never take Aarti with one hand
11) Never let a brahman sit without an assan
12) A lady or girl should not do dandwat pranaam - offering pranayam by lying flat
on ground
13) Never leave an astrologer without paying
14) Never keep a Shiv ling inside a house which is longer than a thumb
15) Never keep Shiv Ling and Tulsi plant together
16) Pregnant ladies should not take ashirvadh by touching feet
17) Ladies should not break a coconut inside a Mandir
18) Ladies should not enter Mandir or touch dirties during menstruation
19) During sutak - birth and death in family - all family members should avoid any f
form of prayers for 13 days
20) Never ever do full parikarma of Shiv Ling
21) Never cross or step over water that has been through the Shiv Ling or any other
statue
22) Never do pranayam with one hand
23) Never light one diya with another
24) Never use agarbathi - instead use dhoop because of use of bamboo in agarbathi
25) Never offer lobhaan to
Dev and deviya
26) Ladies should avoid Abhishek of Hanuman ji or
Shani Dev
27) Never let unmarried girls touch feet
28) Never see other ladies in Mandir with evil eye
29) Avoid being bumped into others especially ladies in Mandir
30) Never keep statue of Satya Sai baba or your own guru on your main puja shrine
31) A intoxicated person should never enter a Mandir except Sri Bhairav mandir
32) Never take prasad from a tantrik priest.
How much do we know about our holy shrines?
Hindus believe and worship many teerath (holy shrines) mainly located
in India.
They could be rivers, birth places of our avatars gods like Sri Ram and
Sri Krishna or
any of the divine places they visited.
Below is a PDF file encompassing all principal holy shrines commonly
visited by
Hindus from world over.
Download the Hindu Cosmos 2024 calendar below.
Learn about Tulsi leaf healing powers.
