How To Worship Lord Ganesh-An In-Depth Understanding Of Rituals During Ganesh Chaturthi
August 26, 2007
Most Hindu rituals begin in a similar manner which involves the five different types of offerings called Pancha Upacharas. They are namely Gandha (Fragrance) in the form of white or red Sandalwood paste, Dhupa (Lighting of Incense Sticks), Deepam (Lighting of Oil Lamps) Naivedyam (Offerings of fruits, sweetmeats etc.) and Pushparchana (Pushpa-Flowers, This denotes that while offering the flowers and flower garlands, the holy names of the Deity is chanted). Among the various seasonal fruits that are offered, the coconut is never forgotten. It represents our head that we humbly submit to the Lord. In temples, when we hand over the coconut to the priest, he smashes it open, and puts it in front of the deity. This symbolically implies that we are breaking our ego and our undesirable qualities and seeking His refuge.
(This photograph is taken from Lalbaugh Cha Raja’s website. This was His Swaroop for the year 2005.)
The Significance:
Every form of worship has specific meanings and its representations help us understand the nature of our customs and channelises the mind and body to get closer to the Holy Scriptures like the Vedas, Upanishads and ultimately with God. The world or the environment we live in a made up of five elements or Panchabhutas. These are Akasa (Sky), Vaayu (Air), Teja (Fire), Apam (Water) and Prithvi (Earth).
During the rituals, the Pancha Upacharas represent the Panchabhutas like flowers represent the sky, the incense sticks denote the air, the oil lamps correspond with the fire, the offerings with the water and the fragrance denotes the earth.
To further understand their significance we need to realise that we all enjoy the use of the five sensory organs known as Jnana Indriyas which consists of eye, ear, nose, tongue and skin. Their functions help us to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Every prayer begins with chanting of the word Om. This creates the sound which represents the sky and the vibrations stimulate our ears and we are able hear. The incense sticks represents the wind and the wind stimulates the sense organ, nose and we are able to smell. The oil lamp or the fire can be seen and felt. The offerings represent the water which in turn signifies the sense of taste. We consume the holy water and savor the fruits and sweetmeats as Prasad after the ritual.
Shodashopachara (Sixteen Steps For Worshipping Lord Ganesh):
It is stated in the mythology that it is only during Ganesh Chaturthi that Tulasi leaves (Basil) are used for worship. Tulasi was a princess who had made advances towards the Lord and was punished. He turned her into an herb but on His birthday, she is forgiven and allowed to adorn Him with her delicate leaves. The rituals begin with priest performing Pranprathishta (Invoking life into the idol.) The Lord is anointed with Rakta Chandana (Red Sandalwood paste) followed by Shodashopachara (Sixteen ways of paying tribute, worshipping). These include –
- Aavahanam-The Lord is invited to come and partake in the ceremony and celebrations.
- Aasanaam-Appropriate and comfortable seating arrangements are made for the Lord.
- Paadyam-Special foot service is offered whereby, His feet are bathed with fragrant water sprinkled with rose petals and wiped with delicate towels.
- Arghyaam-Specially prepared cool, scented water is served to quench His thirst.
- Aachamaneeyam-This ritual involves sipping water from the palm before commencing the worship for internal purification by the priest and the people participating in the ceremony.
- Snaanaam-The Lord is bathed with water which has been purified with mantras invoking all the sacred rivers of India such as Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kaveri, Narmada etc., Milk, Curd (Yoghurt), Ghee (Clarified Butter), Honey and Sugar. This mixture is known as Panchaamrit (Pancha-Five, Amrit-Ambrosia, Nectar). The Ganga water is not really water – it is the Swaroop (Form) of Goddess Ganga. Hence this representation is equally as pure as the goddess herself – i.e., Nirdosh (Without any flaws). The same goes for waters of the Yamuna, Tapi and the other holy rivers.
- Vastram-He is dressed in brightly-colored, soft, silk clothes consisting of a Dhoti and Anga Vastra.
- Yagyopaveetam-The Sacred Thread (Janoi) is placed across His shoulder.
- Gandham-This means fragrance. Perfume (Attar, Ettar) is anointed.
- Aksataam-Offering of Grains is performed at this stage.
- Pushpam-Pushpa means flower. Varieties of fresh, assorted flowers and flower garlands are offered emitting delightful fragrance. The red hibiscus is His favourite flower.
- Dhoopam-The incense sticks are lighted which spreads delicate scent, purifying the atmosphere all around.
- Deepam-Diyas (Lamps are lit where its wicks are immersed in ghee) are lighted.
- Naivedyam-Lord Ganesh is offered Sweets and seasonal Fruits. His favourite sweets are the Modaka and Laddoo.
- Tamboolam-Paan, a betel leaf is rolled with refreshing mints and betel nut, then dipped in rose water and sprinkled with dry coconut strands is offered.
- Dakshanaam-Dakshanam is performed, whereby the priest is gifted a coin in gratitude for the ceremony performed.
Along with the Flowers, twenty-one Durva (Three blade grass, Trefoil) is also offered to Ganesh. The number twenty-one has a symbolic meaning. It represents five Jnana Indriyas (Organs of Perception), the five Karma Indriyas (Organs of Action), the five Pranas (Vital Air), the five Bhutas (Elements) and the Mind.There are many interesting facts relating to why Durva is offered.
Lord Ganesh’s name Vrikodara means the one who has fire called Vrika in His stomach. This gives Him a big appetite. The Durva has medicinal properties which controls this heat and creates a cooling effect. The other explanation is since Shiva had severed His head and replaced it with an elephant’s head, there was a lesion / cut. The juice of the Durva is known to heal wounds and so this is offered with great reverence.
Vedic hymns from the Rig-Veda, Ganesh Atharvashirsha Upanishad, and strotra from the Narada Purana are sung during the festival. They are accompanied by musical instruments like the Harmonium, Tabla, Tanpura or sometimes only Jhanja (These are small hand held instruments.) After the ceremony/ritual, the Naivedya (Offerings such as fruits, jaggery, coconut and sweetmeats-Bhog) are distributed as Prasad (Santified Food) among the devotees.
By placing a betel nut on a mound of rice and with the appropriate mantras, Lord Ganesh can also be invoked. This is done when He is called upon as a part of other ritualistic worship. The rituals in south Konkan (Located in the state of Maharashtra use a coconut instead of the betel nut.
Aarti (A ritual) is performed twice a day, in the morning and in the evenings. The Pancha Pradeep is usually used to perform this ceremony. This is a special brass/copper lamp burner which has a handle and six cavities. Five hold the wicks dipped in ghee in a semi-circle and the larger one in the centre holds the camphor. When Aarti is performed we witness the beauty of the Lord in all His glory. Camphor burns itself out without leaving a trace. This represents our Vasanas (Unmanifested desires) This illustrates that when we take refuge in the Lord to obtain knowledge; all other desires get burnt out. The camphor emits a wonderful fragrance which purifies the environment and creates a sense of happiness.
©Nayna, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Power Of The Mind–Telekinesis
August 26, 2007
The first time when I heard the word Telekinesis was when I was watching a video of David Copperfield’s Magic. I really enjoyed the style in his performance and his sense of humor that charmed the audience. It was in one of his tricks that he said that he was going to use Telekinesis. My young age believed whatever he said as the absolute truth. But as I grew older, I knew that there was more to it then just a trick for the spectators. This following extract is taken from About.com website written by Stephen Wagner.
How psychokinesis works is unknown for certain, but many parapsychologists think that it is a demonstration of the physical influence of a person’s brain on the physical world. But there are theories:
Some researchers suspect there might be a quantum connection Unpredictable, often bizarre effects have been documented in the world of subatomic particles, ruled by the perplexing laws of quantum mechanics. Are our minds capable of directing subatomic particles and energies in a way that results in PK phenomena?
One theory is that psychokinesis is the manipulation of a sort of human “magnetic field” around the body, which can be concentrated in a specific area. For this to work, they say, you must be able to relax completely and focus your attention without distraction.
Another speculation is that mediums or participants in a séance are able to coalesce sound or heat waves within a room to form coherent energy which can then be directed at an object, such as a table, causing it to move. Although the “how” of psychokinesis remains unknown, research and experimentation on this fascinating phenomenon continues in respected research labs around the world
Spirit Online offers this seven-step method of improving your Psychokinesis:
- Meditate daily for half an hour, 15 minutes if your schedule is too busy.
- Attempt psychokinesis at least once a day, twice if possible. Give yourself a good 30-60 minutes to try it.
- Focus on one method for at least a week; if it shows no results, switch methods.
- Be at ease; instead of taking it too seriously, think of it as an experiment, a game. If you try too hard you’ll just end up frustrating yourself and you’ll get nowhere.
- Don’t give up or tell yourself that you can’t do it, because you can.
- Believe that you can do it.
There are a few online experiments where you can test your psychokinetic abilities.It is always nice to know how people find innovative ways to expand the power of the mind. Such information written by experts helps us gain a better understanding of what each ones potential is and what we can do to further it.
©Nayna, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
The Festival Of Ganesh Chaturthi
August 25, 2007
Ganesh Chaturthi (Lord Ganesh’s Birthday) is celebrated on the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapad (August / September). Chaturthi signifies that on this day Ganesh’s energy had reached the earth for the first time and He was born. It denotes Turyavastha – a state beyond Jagruti (The State of Waking), Svapna (Dream) and Sushupti (Deep Sleep).
Though this is popularly believed to be Lord Ganesh’s birthday but it is stated in mythologies that this is the celebration of one of Lord Ganesh’s many incarnations-Mayureshwar. This incarnation of the Lord is explained comprehensively in AshtaVinayak Yatra-Pilgrimage To The Eight Effigies Of Lord Ganesh. The rituals and worship during Ganesh Chaturthi helps mankind to get closer to Him.
The Origin:
This festival gained importance during the rule of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great ruler of the Maratha Empire (1627-1680). After him, the Peshwas took over the reigns under the guidance of Bajirao Peshwa (1721- 1740) and Lord Ganesh was their Ishta Devta (Family Deity). It is said that in 1815 when Bajirao II was in power that was the last time this festival was celebrated with great pomp. After the decline of the Peshwa rule (1818-1892) this celebration was restricted only to the families living in the state of Maharasthra.
The Sarvajanik Puja (Worship made available to people from every walk of life) of Lord Ganesh was started in 1893 by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Pune. He was keen to form a self government and put an end to the British rule. “Swaraj (Home Rule) Is My Birthright” was his slogan and a way of keeping up the spirit of freedom. His newspaper Kesari helped to kindle the flame of independence among the common man. Tilak used Ganesh Chaturthi to unite people from different caste and community, and encouraged them to join in to liberate the nation. The history of freedom struggle cannot be complete until one recalls Tilak’s immense contributions – as the father of the National Movement and an uplifter of the downtrodden.
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Modern Times:
The idols for the festival are made of mud, then painted and adorned in beautiful clothes and jewels. Modernization has lead to mass production and the mud has been replaced in many places with plaster of paris for making them on a larger scale. The idol can bought and consecrated at home provided the family members follow correct Vidhi (Methods of Worship.) These vidhis are mentioned in the Mudgala Purana volume four, chapter seven, originally explained by Sage Kanva to King Dushyant. (This story can be read in the epic of Mahabharata. King Dushyant had married Shakuntala who was the foster daughter of Sage Kanva. The Mahaganapati deity at Titwala, Maharashtra was consecrated by Sage Kanva. It is said that King Dushyant and Shakuntala had married here.) This provides as a guideline for the appropiate understanding of the worship.
The idol is brought home a day prior to Chaturthi. This day is known as Hartalik where the women fast and pray to His mother, Goddess Gauri / Parvati as she is also known as the goddess of harvest. The families who bring home an idol do not consume non-vegetarian food and refrain from activities that stimulate the senses until the festivities end. The second day of Ganesh Utsav (Festival) is called Rishi Panchami. Rishi’s are the sages of India who led a simple life of growing their own food and spent the rest of their time in teaching, meditation and spiritual discourses. This day is celebrated to remind us of our ancient culture and heritage. The cattle are also revered on this day and the ones who work in the fields are given a day off. They are fed fruits and vegetables for their sincere and unconditional service. Lord Ganesh’s mouse, the divine attendant is not forgotten. Boiled gram is offered as Naivedyam to the Lord’s Vahan. As a symbolism, the rats in the vicinity are also fed with this.
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Preparation For Ganesh Chaturthi Celebration:
Several months in advance idols are made for this occasion and shipped all over the world. Many companies promote audio and video CDs and DVDs to make people aware of the significance of this festival. The translation of various Sanskrit hymns, Strotra and Mantras are available with melodious music to captivate the new generation of worshippers.
Days prior to the festivities, devotees clean their home and plan how they would decorate their shrine / altar where the Lord would be Virajman (Seated / Rested). Fresh and fragrant flower garlands are used to adorn the shrine. Some use decorative lights and glittering festoons. Each year, new and innovative styles of decorative items are available in stores. The entrance of the house is decorated with Torana (A decoration made using flowers. A basic design consists of fresh marigold flowers alternated with mango leaves. This can be used in various combinations and patterns with different flowers as well.) The flooring of the entrance is decorated with Rangoli (Designs and motifs are made on the floor using special colored powder) and oil lamps are lit. Varieties of sweets and savories are prepared for this occasion.
During Chaturthi, a new idol is required to be brought home inspite of the family having an idol of the Lord to whom they worship regularly. This is because during this auspicious occasion, Lord Ganesh’s frequencies reach the earth on a greater scale. If the existing deity is invoked then the idol will acquire immense quantity of energy. This powerful deity will then require special care. The family will have to observe and follow all the rituals as per scriptures which may not be possible. So to avoid any Dosh (Mistakes, Errors), a new idol is consecrated.
Pandals (Arena constructed with bamboos and cloth like large tents, Pavilions, Marquee) are constructed around the city where the idols are placed. These are arranged by neighborhood committees, shop owners, big and small establishments etc. It is a means of bringing all the customers and friends together to celebrate the festival on a very large scale. Many of them are designed like movie sets and have themes based on current issues and folklores. The famous among them is the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati Trust, based in Pune which was established in 1893. Their diety’s ornamentation and decoration is unique and devotees from all over India and abroad throng to get His Darshan. The Trust celebrates this festival based on the principles of Tilak and follows the path of devotion set by Saint Gyaneshwar and Saint-Poet Tukaram of the 17th century.
Many artists create unique idols which stand apart from the rest by creating Lord Ganesh out of coconuts, machinery parts and tools, sweet meats like laddoo, bottle caps, marbles and many other everyday items. There are private buses organized which take the enthusiastic devotees to the different parts of the city to show all the different varieties of ornamented idols and aesthetically crafted pandals. People wait in long queues for hours and to give their offerings to the Lord. Some also offer gold and silver ornaments. Many sweetmeat shops have competitions among them to outsell each other by creating new flavors of modaks and others try to make the largest size of modak possible. (Learn how you can prepare modaks, laddoos and pedas at home) There are competitions among the various pandal committees as well and live televised coverage helps them gain popularity. The devotees vote for their favourite Lord Ganesh idol and sponsors offer them cash prizes.
Look out for more updates in the coming weeks on Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations.
©Nayna, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
