Ganesh Chaturthi
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:
This is for the offering of 21 leaves for Ganesh. Ideally 21 different leaves including Bael, Datura and Durva.
Make offerings of 21 different flowers, preferably yellow
Mantras for each of the 21 fowers offerings below:
Yek Vishanti Pushpam Pujam for Sri Ganesh
Speacial Pushpam (flowers) Puja for Sri Ganesh
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.
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.
- Om Sumukhaye Namah Malti Patram Samarpami
- Om Gana Dhipaye Namah Bhring Raj Patram Samarpami
- Om Uma Putraye Namah Bael Patram Samarpami
- Om Gajananaye Namah Sthwet Durva Patram Samarpami
- Om Lambodaraye Namah Badri Patram Samarpami
- Om Har Soonwe Namah Dhatur Patram Samarpami
- Om Gajkarnaye Namah Gulad Patram Samarpami
- Om Warak Tundaye Namah Shami Patram Samarpami
- Om Grah Grajaye Namah Apamarg Patram Samarpami
- Om Yekdantaye Namah Brati Patram Samarpami
- Om Weektaye Namah Karweer Patram Samarpami
- Om Kapilaye Namah Ark Patram Samarpami
- Om Gaj Dantaye Namah Arjun Patram Samarpami
- Om Vighan Rajaye Namah Vishnu Krant Patram Samarpami
- Om Batye Namah Dandi Dhi Patram Samarpami
- Om Sura Grajaye Namah Deodaru Patram Samarpami
- Om Bhal Chandraye Namah Maru Patram Samarpami
- Om Herambaye Namah Ashwath Patram Samarpami
- Om Chatu Bhurjaye Namah Jaati Patram Samarpami
- Om Vinaye Kaye Namah Keteki Patram Samarpami
- 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
Speacial Pushpam (flowers) Puja for Sri Ganesh
- Om Sumukaye Namah Jaati Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Lambodaraye Namah Karika Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Wiktaye Namah Ketki Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Vinaaykaye Namah Bakul Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Vidhan Hatre Namah Shat Patra Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Dhumra Ketwe Namah Punnagh Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Gaj Karnaye Namah Karwir Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Uma Putraye Namah Parijatak Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Aghnashine Namah Naghkeshar Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Ish Putraye Namah Padam Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Sarve Sidhi Pradaykaye Namah Malika Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Mushak Wahnaye Namah Kalhaar Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Ibhak Katraye Namah Giri Karnika Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Kumar Guruwe Namah Govind Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Dirgh Tundaye Namah Munni Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Bhal Chandraye Namah Paatal Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Yekdantaye Namah Arak Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Ganaa Dhisaye Namah Dandibhii Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Ganapataye Namah Jasuki Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Sidhi Vinayakaye Namah Madhumaal Ti Pushpam Samarpami
- Om Vighan Rajaye Namah Schwet Karnika Pushpam Samarpami
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.
