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Date of Observance: Fourth day of the waxing moon of Bhadrapada
Description:
Ganesh Chaturthi
is the celebration of the birth of
Ganesh.
Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the most colorful
and widely celebrated festivals in India. Large number of people
observe Ganesha Chaturthi poojas at home. Here is an explanation on
how to perform Ganesha puja at home as mentioned in Hindu
scriptures.
Ganesha puja on the Chaturthi day is usually performed at noon but
nowadays people perform it when all the family members are present.
Requirements
A Clay image of Lord Ganesha.
Red flowers
Druva Grass blades
Modak (jaggery filled sweet)
Coconut
Red chandan (Sandalwood paste)
Incense and agarbathis
The Puja
First clean the house and take a bath.
A Clay image of Lord Ganesha is installed in a raised platform.
Pray to Lord Ganesh and you can recite mantras or bhajans dedicated
to Lord Ganesha.
Next step is to invoke Ganesha into the image. This is known as
pran-prathishta. The Pran Prathista mantra in Sanskrit to be invoked
is found in the Rig Veda and is part of
Ganesh Suktha
ganananh tva ganapatim havamahe kavim kavinam -
upamashravastamam |
jyeshhtharajam brahmanan.h brahmanaspata A nah shrivnvannutibhih
sida sadanam || (Rig Veda 2.23.1)
ni shhu sida ganapate ganeshhu tvamahurvipratamam kavinam |
na rite tvat.h kriyate kinchanare mahamarkam maghavan.h chitramarcha
|| (Rig Veda 10.112.9)
We invoke You, O Ganapati of the ganas (Lord Shiva attendants), Who
are Brahmana-spati of the brahmas (prayers), the wisest among the
wise, Who abound in treasure beyond all measure, the most brilliant
one. Do listen to our prayers, come with Your blessings and
assurances of protection into our home, and be seated. (Rig Veda
2.23.1)
Sit down among the worshippers, O Ganapati, the best sage among the
sages. Without You nothing can be done here or far. Accept with
honor, O wealthy One, our great and variegated hymns of praise. (Rig
Veda 10.112.9)
Now Ganesha is installed in the idol and one can perform arati and
light the lamps. Some people perform the shhodashopachara, which are
16 forms of paying tribute to Ganesha. (This ritual is usually
performed by the priests, you can skip this.)
Offer 21 blades of Druva Grass.
Offer 21 modakas
Offer red flowers
Apply a tilak using red Sandalwood paste.
Break the coconut or just keep it along with the idol. You can also
keep fried grains. (The food of the rat – the vehicle of Ganesha).
You can also recite the 108 salutations dedicated to Lord Ganesha or
read the Ganesha Upanishad or just simply pray.
The number 21 signifies - the five organs of perception, five organs
of action, five vital airs (pranas), five elements, and the mind.
While performing Ganesha Puja at home, you can always be flexible.
The strict rituals are meant for Vedic priests. All you need to be
careful is to perform the pujas with a clean body and clean mind.
What is more important is devotion not the ritual.
Try to be simple. Concentrate on your prayers not on decoration and
other ritualistic details. |
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