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Showing posts with label ganesh chaturthi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ganesh chaturthi. Show all posts

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Lalbaugcharaja Aarti


Lalbaugcha Raja is the popular public Ganesha idol kept at Lalbaug, a prominent locality in Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturti festival. The idol is kept for public display for Eleven days thereafter it is immersed on the auspicious day of Anant Chaturdashi. The pendal attracts lakhs of devotees during the festival and is the center of prime attraction.
It is believed that this Idol of Lord Ganesha is Navsacha Ganpati (which means the fulfiller of all wishes) and hence around 1.5 million people or more visit this Ganesh Pandal daily during the 10 day Ganeshotsav festival.


Saturday 22 September 2012

Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya


Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lord Ganesha, being the elder son, was very intelligent and wise in nature. On the other hand, Lord Kartikeya was very impatient and short tempered. They both possessed different nature and different physical qualities, thus some time they had serious arguments or fight.

Once they had a serious argument on their strength and wisdom. So they approached to Lord Shiva for final settlement and justice. After hearing both of them Lord Shiva declared that among the two, who will first complete circling the universe would be the winner.

Without any delay Lord Kartikeya sat on his “Vahana”, the peacock, and started his journey round the universe travelling across the mountains, the sea and the rest universe. But big bellied Ganesha knew that with his “Vahana” the little rat, he can’t win the race. So he stopped and thought for a while. Suddenly he got an idea; he made Lord Shiva and Parvati to sit together and walked around them thrice. When Kartikeya returned after successfully completing his round, he saw Ganesha sitting in lap of his father. He could not understand why Ganesha is sitting rather than completing his task and blamed Ganesha for being unjust. Lord Ganesha told him that he had completed his round not once but thrice. Ganesha said his parents are his Universe, thus he proved himself by circling them. Lord Shiva was very pleased with Ganesha and boon him with the first one to be worshipped by people before starting any work. But Kartikeya lost his patience and thought that his father especially his mother was partial to him. He took a pledge, not to see any women face specially his mother face. He kept his words that’s why in many temples of Lord Kartikeya women’s are not allowed to enter.





Thursday 20 September 2012

Legend of Ganesh Chaturthi


The mythological basis of the celebration is found in the Puranas. Parvati, while taking a bath, wanted somebody to guard from outside. She got the idea of making an idol out of the dirt that came from her body. She placed the idol outside. The idol did not even let her husband enter. Shankar became furious and instantly severed the head of the idol.

Parvati finished her bath and came out. She explained to her husband the reason for placing the idol before the door. The idol was her creation. In fact the idol was her son ("manas putra"), and consequently also Shankar's son.

Shankar felt sorry for what he had done. His servant Gan was standing nearby. Shankar ordered him to go and bring the head of the first living being he would meet. The servant saw an elephant, and he at once cut his head and took it to Shankar. Shankar joined the elephant's head to the body of Parvati's son. "Gaj" means elephant and "anan" means head, so Parvati's son became known as "Gajanan". Shankar made him the deity of his armies and thus his name became Ganesh.

Thursday 13 September 2012

Shree Panchmukhi Ganesha

Panchmukhi Ganesh means five headed Ganesha Pancha means Five and Mukhi means faced. The most relevant meaning of the five-headed Ganesh is certainly that these heads symbolize the five kosha in the subtile anatomy experienced. Thus, the fifth head of Ganesh symbolizes the highest level of yogic experience. Lord Ganesha has all the five elements under His control. He is the embodiment of all potency. No one is superior above him. This unique form of Ganesha is quite popular in south India.







Ganeshji Writing for Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is the longest epic of the world, written in Sanskrit and consisting about 1,00,000 shloka and 1.8 million words. The epic of Mahabharata was written by great poet Sage Vyasa with blessings and suggestion of Lord Brahma. Vyasa asked Lord Brahma to suggest him someone very intellectual and understanding to write down the epic, as both composition and writing of such great epic was not an easy task. Therefore on recommendation of Brahma Vyasa prayed and requested Lord Ganesha, also known as "Lord of knowledge" to write it down. Lord Ganesha agreed on one condition that his pen shouldn't stop even for second once he starts writing the composition as he had lots of other work to do. For this Vyasa in return put one condition before Ganesha to write the whole epic only after understanding the meaning of each and every word. In this way they made an agreement whith each other that, once started neither Vyasa would stop his dictating nor Gansha will write without understanding. It is been said that whenever Ganesha was too fast in writing, Vyasa used to dictate him some difficult composition. So that Ganesha would take time to understand and in this meantime Sage Vaysa used to compose new lines. In this way The Great Epic of Mahabharata was composed and written.







Wednesday 12 September 2012

Elephant Face for Ganesha


Once Lord Shiva went to forest for atonement leaving Parvati behind all alone at home. Parvati decided to take bath one day but was worried as there was no one around her to look after the house and stop anyone to enter the house. There for she created a boy from the sandal paste applied on her body and permeate life into it. She instructed the boy to stand at the door and not to allow anyone enter the house. The boy with respect and dutifully followed the order of Parvati and stopped everyone to enter the house.

Soon Lord Shiva returned home. He was very surprised to see a stranger denying him to enter the house. Lord Shiva lost his patience and strike off the boy’s head with his Trishula. When Pravati came out, she broke down in pain seeing headless body of the boy. She asked Lord Shiva to reinstate the boy life but unfortunately the head was tossed very far by the power of Trishula. Lord Shiva realize his mistake and order his celestial armies “Gana” to get the head of first living being he come across, But its head should must be facing north.

Gana without delayed rushed to jungle and found a sleeping elephant facing north. They cut off his head and handed it to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva fixes the head on the body and infused life into him. Lord Shiva made him the leader of his celestial army. From there on he was named as Ganapati, head of the celestial army was supposed to be worshiped first by everyone before starting any new venture.







Mushak of Lord Ganesha Vehicle


There is a very interesting story behind how a mouse became Lord Ganesha’s Vahana or vehicle. Once there was a demon named Gajamugasurana. He was a great disciple of Lord Shiva. Pleased with his devotion Lord Shiva blessed him with several boons, which made him very powerful but proud and dominating. He started troubling Gods by forcing them to do 1008 Theoppukaranams (sit ups done holding both ears with cross hands) thrice a day.

Tired and helpless, the Gods asked Lord Shiva to overcome with this problem. Lord Shiva asked Lord Ganesha and sent him with numerous weapons to fight with demon. As the demon was blessed with the boon that none of the weapons can cause any harm to him, all the attempts made using weapons to kill the demon went in vein. Lord Ganesha broke his right tusk to overcome the demon. Gajamugasurana assumed himself as a small mouse and run towards Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha very wisely controlled him and sat on him crushing his proud and ego. The defeated Gajamugasurana apologized and bowed before Lord Ganesha for mercy. Since then Gajamugasurana always escort Lord Ganesha as his Vahana.

Ganesh Chaturthi Celebration


Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesh (Ganesha), the god of wisdom and prosperity on the fourth day of the moons bright fortnight, or period from new moon in the lunar month of Bhadrapada. The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi continue for five, seven, or ten days. Some even stretch it to twenty one days, but ten the most popularly celebrated. In the tradition of the right hand path the first day is the most important. In the left hand path tradition the final day is most important.

Ganesha is the god of wisdom and prosperity and is invoked before the beginning of any auspicious work by the Hindus. It is believed that for the fulfillment of one's desires, his blessing is absolutely necessary. According to the mythology, he is the son of Shiva and Parvati, brother of Kartikeya - the general of the gods, Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and Saraswati-the goddess of learning. There are numerous stories in Hindu mythology, associated with the birth of this elephant-headed god, whose vehicle is the Mooshak or rat and who loves Modaks (droplet shaped Indian sweet).

Legend has it that Parvati created Ganesha out of the sandalwood dough that she used for her bath and breathed life into him. Letting him stand guard at the door she went to have her bath. When her husband, Shiva returned, the child who had never seen him stopped him. Shiva severed the head of the child and entered his house. Parvati, learning that her son was dead, was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him. Shiva cut off the head of an elephant and fixed it on the body of Ganesha.

Another tale tells of how one day the Gods decided to choose their leader and a race was to be held between the brothers- Kartikeya and Ganesh. Whoever took three rounds of the earth first would be made the Ganaadhipati or the leader. Kartikeya seated on a peacock as his vehicle, started off for the test. Ganesh was given a rat, which moved swiftly. Ganesh realised that the test was not easy, but he would not disobey his father. He reverently paid obeisance to his parents and went around them three times and thus completed the test before Kartikeya. He said, " my parents pervade the whole universe and going around them, is more than going round the earth." Everybody was pleasantly surprised to hear Ganesha's logic and intelligence and hence he came to be known as the Ganaadhipati or leader, now referred to as Ganpati.

There is also a story behind the symbolic snake, rat and the singular tusk. During one of his birthdays, His mother, Parvati, cooked for him twenty-one types of delicious food and a lot of sweet porridge. Ganesha ate so much that even his big belly could not contain it. Mounting his little mouse, he 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 laughter emanating form the sky.

He looked up and saw the moon mocking him. Ganesha infuriated, broke off one of his tusks and hurled it at the moon. Parvati, seeing this, immediately cursed the moon that whoever looks at it on Ganesh Chaturthi will be accused of a wrong doing. The symbology behind the mouse and snake and Ganesha's big belly and its relationship to the moon on his birthday is highly philosophic. The whole cosmos is known to be the belly of Ganesha. Parvati is the primordial energy. The seven realms above, seven realms below and seven oceans, are inside the cosmic belly of Ganesha, held together by the cosmic energy (kundalini ) symbolized as a huge snake which Ganesha ties around Him. The mouse is nothing but our ego. Ganesha, using the mouse as a vehicle, exemplifies the need to control our ego. One who has controlled the ego has Ganesha consciousness or God-consciousness.

Saturday 8 September 2012

Names of Ganeshji


Ekadant (one-toothed) 


To scribe the Mahabharat Katha Ganeshji removed one of his tusks to carve a quill from it. He then scribed the epic on palm leaves as the sage Ved Vyas recited it. The scribing took three years!In south India there is a belief that when ploughing first began on earth, it was Lord Ganeshji who first ploughed using one of his tusks

In the Uttar Ramayan, Brahmand Puran and Padma Puran there is a reference of a battle between Ganeshji and Parshuram. During the duel, the latter's axe fractured one of Ganeshji's tusks According to the Brahmand Puran, it was his left tusk.

There are other names related to his body and virtues.

A few commonly known are listed below: 

Lambodar - from the long - 'lambo', tummy - 'udar'.

Gajkarna - from the large elephant 'Gaja' ears - 'karna.'

Kapil - from his ruddy complexion.

Vikat - heavy-bodied.

Bhalchandra - having a Chandra (moon) on his forehead - 'bhal.

Dwaimatur - one who has 'dwi' - two, 'mata' - mother; Parvati - who gave birth to him and Malini - a demoness who nurtured him

Vakratund - one who breaks the ego of he who behaves anti-socially ('Vakra').

Mudgal - In south India, a special 'Mudgal Puran' extols Ganapati's glory. It cites 32 names, while 'Shardatilak' lists 51 names.

Vigneshwar - One who removes mayic obstacles - 'vignas'

Ganesh History


Ganesh Birth 

Once Lord Shiva left his usual dwelling on Mt.Kailas in the Himalayas, to meditate in one of the caves in the same mountain. Two friends of Parvati, his consort, suggested that she should have a 'gana' - attendant of their own, since they were not too happy with Shivaji's 'ganas'. Parvati agreed. Soon after, using her divine powers, she created a son, naming him Vinayak. She instructed him to guard their home.

When Shivaji returned Vinayak prevented him from entering. After some bickering, Shivaji beheaded Vinayak with his 'trishul' (trident). When Parvati heard of this she lamented intensely. Shivaji realised his error. To set things right he sent his men to the forest to fetch the head of the first living thing they met. They encountered a baby elephant and returned with its head. With his divine power, Shivaji placed the head over his son's body. Instantly Vinayak sprung to life. Henceforth Vinayak also earned the name of Gajaanan. 'Gaja' means elephant. Shivaji blessed him with a boon that people would first worship and offer him dedication in all their auspicious activities. Those who didn't would not attain success.

Bhadarva Sud 4th is the day Parvati was offering the final pujan to the dead Ganeshji, when he resurrected.

Monday 2 July 2012

Ganesh Chaturthi



Ganesh Chaturthi festival

Ganesha Chaturthi also famous as “Vinayaka Chaturthi” is celebrated as “Ganesh Utsav” and considered as the great Hindu festival of India. Lord Ganesha who has the elephant-head instead of a human head, is the son of Shiva and Parvati and younger brother of Lord Kartikeya.

Ganesh Chaturthi is the birthday of God Ganesha who is considered as the prime deity for any worship. God Ganesha is worshipped widely as Ganesha is the god of prosperity, god of wisdom and also god of good fortune. Ganesh festival is celebrated for 10 days with great joy and fun. During this festival, so many bestow are presented to Lord Ganesha by the devotees.

Ganesh Chaturthi festival comes in between the month of August and September or in Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi or Sankat Chaturthi-the forth day of the waxing moon period according to the Hindu calendar. This festivals ends on the 10th day that is called as “Anant Chaturthi or “Anant Chaturdashi”.

Vinayaka or the elephant headed God Ganesha, whose vehicle is rat (Mooshak), is considered as the treasure of wealth and bless so devotees prefer to visit the temple of Lord Ganesha and get the blessing of God Ganesha. “Modaks-the famous Indian sweet in droplet shape” are offered to him as he loves the “Modaks” (Laddu) very much.

All devotees loudly say after the prayer,
“Ganpati Bappa Moriya”
“Ganapati Maharaj ki Jay”
“Ganpati bappa morya, pudcha varshi laukar ya"-Hail Lord Ganesh, return again soon next year.

Legend behind this is that sandalwood dough which Goddess Parvati used for bath, God Ganesha emerged from that. When she went for bathing, she commanded her son Ganesh not to allow anyone to enter in the house. Ganesha was there at the door of the house, at that time Lord Shiva-Parvati’s husband returned. As God Ganesha and Shiva were unaware of relation between them, God ganesha stooped him to enter into the house. God shiva got angry and then cruelly cut off his head. When Parvati came to know this, she distressed and requested Lord Shiva to revitalize his son. Then it was decided to cut off the head of one who would come first on the way. Elephant was the first who came there and his head was cut off and fixed to God Ganesha’s body. This way Lord Shiva revive his son and trinity-Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva give their preference of worship to God Ganesh and God Ganesha became a leader “Ganaadhipati” so he is also called as “Ganpati”

Ganesh Chaturthi festival is celebrated all over in India but mostly elaborated in Gujarat, Maharastra, Orissa, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Out of India, Ganesh Chaturthi is also celebrated widely in Nepal, Canada, United Status, Fiji by Hindus.