How was Lord Ganesha born?
Ganesha was believed to be born when Parvati molded the mud from earth into the shape of a human being and breathed it into life. She wanted her son to guard her when she bathed. Shiva was infuriated when he saw a young boy stopping him from barging into his own home and ordered his ganas to fight him.On discovering that Ganesha was powerful, he beheaded him. Parvati was furious when she found out that Shiva had killed her creation and this made Shiva remorse for the act he performed. He found an elephant’s head and placed the head on Ganesha’s body. Ganesha was also blessed with being the first god to be worshiped, before any other god.
Why do we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?
Lord Ganesha is believed to be the remover of obstacles. Many people hang Lord Ganesha Paintings in their homes or business workspace to invite prosperity and patience. A 10-day festival (from late August to September) is devoted to him and is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganesh Chaturthi is supposed to mark the birth of Ganpati and the preparations for the same are commenced way before the actual festival starts.Lord Ganesha symbolizes wisdom and bravery. Therefore, we worship him before we open any business and believe that he is responsible for bringing prosperity and safety to our lives. This festival brings together all and sundry belonging to various religions and prospering love.
What preparations are needed for Ganesh Chaturthi Pooja?
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with a great deal of enthusiasm in India, especially in Maharashtra. People bring Ganpati Murti to their home and keep it for a few days depending upon the cultures followed in their families. Some families keep it for five days or so whereas some keep it for eleven days before immersing the idol in water bodies near them (Visarjan).Ganesh Puja samagri:
Before getting to puja, all the things are needed to be taken care of. Some essentials need to be collected in a place. These include Paan leaf, supari, agarbattis, red flowers, and separate clothing to decorate the idol with. One thing to keep in mind while bringing the Ganpati idol home with you is that you can look for an eco-friendly option instead of the idols that are made of non-biodegradable chemicals. You can bring in Brass Ganesha Idol to play your role in saving the environment from severe damage and water pollution leading to harmful effects on aquatic life. These eco-friendly options will be a wiser option without having to compromise on the excitement of the celebration of the festival.
Apart from the Ganesha idol, the Ganesh pooja samagri also required is:
Sandalwood paste
Various fruits and vegetables
Flower garlands
Sankh
Brass Diyas
Churang (wooden stool)
How to perform Ganesh Chaturthi pooja at home?
Ganesh Chaturthi pooja is a festival of joy and involves various rituals to be performed. The first and foremost thing to remember while celebrating this festival is to have your loved ones close to you to share your joy and devotion with. Make sure you have important materials like kumkum, raw (Kacha) rice, coconut, and modak (Indian sweet).After that, cleanse yourself, take a bath and get ready for the pooja. Once the idol is brought home, bring a bowl of raw rice and shower it on the idol before bringing it to its seating arrangement (sthan). Make a seating arrangement for your Ganpati Idol. You can also draw a rangoli using various colors near the altar.
Sometimes, if the material of the idol is suitable for it, people give it a holy bath using honey, coconut water, rosewater, and other alternatives. After the bath, clean the idol and decorate it with different garlands and offer flowers. People begin the puja and chant various Ganpati mantras along with the aarti. This is followed by the lightening of diyas, and incense sticks.. Put tilak on the idol.
We offer sindoor, durva grass, Chandan, and panchamrit (panchamrit made of milk, ghee, curd, gangajal, and honey) to Lord Ganesha. While offering bhog, we can include bananas, sweets, boondi, and almost anything else but modaks are a necessity as they are considered to be his favorite.
The number twenty-one is considered to be significant in this puja. It signifies five organs of action, five vital airs, five organs of grass blades, five elements, and the mind. Some people perform shhodashopachara, which are sixteen ways of paying offerings to Lord Ganpati. The essential part of the puja is to join your hands and pray with all your heart and keep faith in Ganesha to shower you with blessings. Ganesha is considered the ‘god of new beginnings and therefore this is a good opportunity to cherish the anticipation of new things coming into your life, whether it be business, a partner, or an achievement.
All the members of the family have their respective duties and share their work for the smooth processing of preparations leading to the puja. The councilor is distributed within the crowd attending the puja and Dakshina is given.
It is also very necessary that we all chant mantras according tohe rituals that we perform and hence, we have given below all the mantras and when ti chant them:
- Avahana
Lord Ganesha should be invoked before beginning the puja, and the Avahan Mudra should be used to repeat the following mantra in front of the statue (Avahan Mudra is formed by joining both palms and folding both thumbs on the inside).
He Heramba Tvamehyehi Hyambikatryambakatmaja।
Siddhi-Buddhi Pate Tryaksha Lakshalabha Pituh Pitah॥
Nagasyam Nagaharam Tvam Ganarajam Chaturbhujam।
Bhushitam Svayudhaudavyaih Pashankushaparashvadhaih॥
Avahayami Pujartham Rakshartham Cha Mam Kritoh।
Ihagatya Grihana Tvam Pujam Yagam Cha Raksha Me॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Sri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Avahayami-Sthapanam॥ - Pratishthapan
Welcoming Lord Ganesha into the statue while reciting the Mantra is done after the Lord has been summoned.
Asyai Pernah Pratishthantu Asyai Pranaksharantu Cha।
Asyai Devatvamarchayai Mamaheti Cha Kashchana॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Supratishtho Varado Bhava॥ - Asana Samarpan
Take five flowers in Anjali (by joining the palms of both hands) and place them in front of the Murti to offer Shri Ganesha a seat while reciting the following mantra after Lord Ganesha has been summoned and installed.
Vichitraratnakhachitam Divyastaranasamyutam।
Swarna Simhasanam Charu Grihana Guhagraja॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Asanam Samarpayami॥ - Padya Samarpan
After giving Lord Ganesha your asana, offer Him water to wash His feet as you say the mantra that comes next.
Om Sarvatirthasamudbhutam Padyam Gandhadibhiryutam।
Gajanana Grihanedam Bhagawana Bhaktavatsalah॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Padayoh Padyam Samarpayami॥ - Arghya Samarpan
After giving Lord Ganesha Padya, give him perfumed water as you say the mantra that comes next.
Om Ganadhyaksha Namasteastu Grihana Karuna Kara।
Arghyam Cha Phala Samyuktam Gandhamalyakshatairyutam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Hastorarghyam Samarpayami॥ - Achanama
After the Arghya offering, recite the mantra and offer water to Lord Ganesha for Achamana.
Vighnaraja Namastubhyam Tridashairabhivandita।
Gangodakena Devesha Kurushwachamanam Prabho॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Mukhe Achamaniyam Samarpayami॥ - Snana Mantra
After Achamana, while reciting the mantra, give Shri Ganesha water for a bath.
Narmada Chandrabhagadi Gangasangasajairjalaih।
Snani Tosi Maya Deva Vighnasagham Nivaraya॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Sarvanga Snanam Samarpayami॥ - Panchamrita Snana Mantra
After performing Snanam, give Shri Ganesha a bath with Panchamrita (a concoction of milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar), while reciting the associated mantra.
Panchamritam Mayaaanitam Payodadhi, Ghritam Madhu।
Sharkara Cha Samayuktam Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥ - Dugdha Snanam
After performing Panchamrita Snanam, give Shri Ganesha a bath with Paya (milk) while reciting the next mantra.
Kamadhenusamudbhutam Sarvesham Jivanam Param।
Tejah Pushtikaram Divyam Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥ - Dadhi Snanam
After performing Dugdha Snanam, give Shri Ganesha a bath with curd while reciting the next mantra.
Payasastu Samudbhutam Madhuramlam Shashiprabham।
Dadhyanitam Mayadeva Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥ - Ghrita Snanam
After performing Dadhi Snanam, give Shri Ganesha a bath in ghee while reciting the next mantra.
Navanita Samutpannam Sarvasantoshakarakam।
Ghritam Tubhyam Pradasyami Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥ - Madhu Snanam
After performing Ghrita Snanam, give Shri Ganesha a bath with honey while reciting the next mantra.
Pushparenusamudbhutam Suswadu Madhuram Madhu।
Tejah Pushtikaramdivyam Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥ - Sharkara Snanam
After Madhu Snanam, offer Shri Ganesha a sugar bath while reciting the ensuing mantra.
Ikshusarasamudbhutam Sharkara Pushti Da Shubha।
Malapaharika Divya Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥ - Suvasita Snanam
After Sharkara Snanam, give Shri Ganesha a bath with scented oil while reciting the ensuing mantra.
Champakashekabakula Malati Mogaradibhih।
Vasitam Snigdhatahetu Tailam Charu Pratigrihyatam॥ - Shuddhodaka Snanam
After performing Suvasita Snanam, give Shri Ganesha a bath in pure water (Gangajal) while reciting the ensuing mantra.
Ganga Cha Yamuna Chaiva Godavari Saraswati।
Narmada Sindhuh Kaveri Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥ - Vastra Samarpan
Now, while chanting the following mantra, present Moli to Lord Ganesha as new clothing.
Shitavatoshna Santranam Lajjaya Rakshanam Parama।
Dehalankaranam Vastramatah Shanti Prayachchha Me॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Vastram Samarpayami॥ - Uttariya Samarpan
After Vastra Samarpan, present Lord Ganesha with clothing for the upper body while reciting the mantra below.
Uttariyam Tatha Deva Nana Chitritamuttamam।
Grihanendram Maya Bhaktaya Dattam Tat Saphali Kuru॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Uttariya Samarpayami॥ - Yajnopavita Samarpan
Offer Lord Ganesha Yajnopavita after the Vastra offering while reciting the mantra.
Navabhistantubhiryuktam Trigunam Devatamayam।
Upavitam Mayadattam Grihana Parameshwara॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Yajnopavitam Samarpayami॥ - Gandha
Offer aroma to Lord Ganesha after the Yajnopavita offering while reciting the mantra.
Shri Khanda Chandana Divyam Gandhadhyam Sumanoharam।
Vilepanam Surashreshtha Chandanam Pratigrihyatam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Gandham Samarpayami॥ - Akshata
Offer Lord Ganesha Akshata (unbroken rice) after the Gandha offering while reciting the mantra.
Akshatashcha Sura Shreshtha Kumkumalah Sushobhitah।
Maya Nivedita Bhaktaya Grihana Parameshwara॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Akshatan Samarpayami॥ - Pushpa mala
Now, while repeating the following mantra, present Lord Ganesha with a flower garland.
Malyadini Sugandhini Malyadinivai Prabhuh।
Maya Hritani Pushpani Grihyantam Pujanaya Bhoh॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Pushpamalam Samarpayami॥ - Shami patra
Now, while chanting the following mantra, present the Shami Patra to Lord Ganesha.
Tvatpriyani Supushpani Komalani Shubhani Vai।
Shamidalani Heramba Grihana Gananayaka॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Shami Patrani Samarpayami॥ - Durvankur
Now, while chanting the following mantra, present Durva to Lord Ganesha along with 3 or 5 leaflets.
Durvankuran Suharitanamritan Mangala Pradan।
Anitanstava Pujartha Grihana Gananayaka॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Durvankuran Samarpayami॥ - Sindoor
Now, while reciting the subsequent mantra, give vermilion to Lord Ganesha as a Tilak.
Sindoor Shobhanam Raktam Saubhagyam Sukhavardhanam।
Shubhadam Kamadam Chaiva Sindooram Pratigrihyatam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Sindoor Samarpayami॥ - Dhoop
Now, while reciting the following mantra, offer Dhoop to Lord Ganesha.
Vanaspatirasodbhuto Gandhadhyo Gandhah Uttamah।
Aghreya Sarva Devanam Dhupoayam Pratigrihyatam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Dhupamaghrapayami॥ - Deep Samarpan
Now, while reciting the following mantra, offer Deep to Lord Ganesha.
Sajyam Chavartisamyuktam Vahnina Yojitam Maya।
Deepam Grihana Devesha Trailokyatimira Paham॥
Bhaktya Deepam Prayachchhami Devaya Paramatmane।
Trahimam Nirayad Ghoraddipajyotirnamoastute॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Deepam Darshayami॥ - Naivedya Nivedam
Now, while reciting the following mantra, present Naivedya to Lord Ganesha.
Naivedyam Grihyatam Deva Bhakti Me Hyachalam Kuru।
Ipsitam Me Varam Dehi Paratra Cha Param Gatim॥
Sharkara Khanda Khadyani Dadhi Kshira Ghritani Cha।
Aharam Bhakshya Bhojyam Cha Naivedyam Pratigrihyatam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Naivedyam Modakamayarituphalani Cha Samarpayami॥ - Chandan Karodvartan
Offer Lord Ganesha water and Chandan after the Naivedya offering while reciting the mantra.
Chandanam Malayodbhutam Kasturyadi Samanvitam।
Karodvartanakam Deva Grihana Parameshwara॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Chandanena Karodvartanam Samarpayami॥ - Tambula Samarpan
Now, while reciting the following mantra, present Tambula (Paan with betel nuts) to Lord Ganesha.
Om Pugiphalam Mahadivyam Nagavallidalairyutam।
Ela Churnadisamyuktam Tambulam Pratigrihyatam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Mukha Vasarthamela Pugi Phaladi Sahitam Tambula Samarpayami॥ -
Narikela Samarpan
Now, while reciting the following mantra, present Lord Ganesha a narikela (coconut).
Idam Phalam Mayadeva Sthapitam Puratastava।
Tena Me Saphalavaptirbhavejjanmani Janmani॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Narikela Phalam Samarpayami॥ -
Dakshina Samarpan
Now, while reciting the following mantra, give Lord Ganesha a dakshina (gift).
Hiranyagarbhagarbhastham Hema Bijam Vibhavasoh।
Ananta Punya Phaladamatah Shantim Prayachchha Me॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Dravyam Dakshinam Samarpayami॥ -
Neerajan Aarti
After Tambula Arpan and Dakshina Samarpan, perform Lord Ganesha Aarti after chanting the following Mantra.
Kadali Garbha Sambhutam Karpuram Tu Pradipitam।
Arartikamaham Kurve Pashya Me Varado Bhava॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Karpura Neerajanam Samarpayami॥ -
Pushpanjali Arpan
Now, while reciting the following mantra, offer Pushpanjali to Lord Ganesha.
Nanasugandhi Pushpani Yatha Kalodbhavani Cha।
Pushpanjalirmaya Datto Grihana Parameshwara॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Mantra Pushpanjali Samarpayami॥ -
Pradakshina
Now offer symbolic Pradakshina (circumambulate from left to right of Shri Ganesha) with flowers while chanting following Mantra.
Yani Kani Cha Papani Jnatajnata Kritani Cha।
Tani Sarvani Nashyanti Pradakshina Pade Pade॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Pradakshinam Samarpayami॥ -
Visarjan
Now conclude Shri Ganesha Puja with Visarjan while chanting following Mantra.
Avahanam Na Janami Na Janami Tavarchanam।
Pujam Chaiva Na Janami Kshamasva Ganeshwara॥
Anyatha Sharanam Nasti Tvameva Sharanam Mam।
Tasmatkarunya Bhavena Rakshasva Vighneshwara॥
Gatam Papam Gatam Dukham Gatam Daridraya Meva Cha।
Agata Sukha Sampattih Punyachcha Tava Darshanat॥
Mantrahinam Kriyahinam Bhaktihinam Sureshwara।
Yatpujitam Maya Deva Paripurnam Tadastu Me॥
Yadaksharapada Bhrashtam Matrahinam Cha Yadbhavet।
Tatsarva Kshamyatam Deva Prasida Parameshwara॥
Now the visarjan that follows on the last day of Ganesh Chaturthi is at different periods for everyone. Some people immerse the idol after a day and a half, some keep it for five or seven days and some immerse it on the eleventh day. Visarjan begins with Uttrang puja. For this, prefer clay-made idols so that you fulfill your responsibility as a citizen and are not cruel towards the environment. A small amount of curd is placed in the hand of the statue. All the decorations and flowers are removed from the idol. They keep chanting ‘Ganpati Bappa mourya, agle baras tu jaldi aa’.
The idol is then immersed into a water body with flowing water while chanting the mantra, hoping to see Ganesha soon the following year. Visarjan of the idol is followed by a lot of merrymaking and a joyful attitude within the folks. Apart from all these rituals, some people also call a priest to perform the rituals.
Conclusion
There are various vidhis included in the Ganpati pooja. This festival you can get your Decorative Pooja Thalis ready. However, the process keeps changing depending on various cultures. Everyone has a different outlook on celebrating the festival but the important thing is that the spirit and enthusiasm remain the same for everyone. This birth anniversary of Bappa is very close to all our hearts. We can all be a little flexible when we celebrate it at our homes because in the end what does matter is a pure soul, mind, and devotion towards the power we believe in. All other things come secondary.