Celebration of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi
Shri Ganapati
1. Idol for worship on the day of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi
When Shri Ganesh festival is approaching, various types of Idols are available in the market. However, most of the Idols are made in an spiritually unscientific manner by the artists. They use their own imagination to create Idols. Such idols do not have much spiritual benefit to the worshipper. Therefore, while selecting an Idol the following points should be considered :
A. The Idol should be made of soft clay.
B. It should be hand-made instead of from a mould.
C. The form and size of the Idol should be as per the science of Idols.
D. The Idol should be sitting on a wooden seat.
2. Decoration for Ganesh festival
These days glittering papers, thermocol, plastic and strings of electric bulbs are used to decorate in preparation for the Ganesh festival. It leads to an increase in the raja-tama dominant and distressing frequencies in the atmosphere. These subtle components are attracted towards such objects.
From a spiritual viewpoint the Deity Principle is attracted in higher proportion towards a specific colour, fragrance, form, etc. Such objects have the ability to store and emit the frequencies attracted by them. It is beneficial to use sattvik objects for attracting the Ganesh Principle. For example :
A. Festoons made from natural flowers and leaves
B. Red-coloured flowers, Durva and leaves of Shami and Madar
C. The rangoli which attracts the frequencies of Shri Ganesh Principle
D. The sattvik chant-strips of Shri Ganesh
3. Method of bringing home the Idol of Shri Ganesh
A. The Idol of Shri Ganesh should be brought home aday in advance or in the morning of the day of Ganesh Chaturthi.
B. Family members should also accompany the head of the house for bringing home the Idol.
C. All the preparations for installation of the Idol should be made before actually bringing it home.
D. The individual who is going to carry the Idol of Shri Ganesh should wear a cap.
E. While bringing the Idol of Shri Ganesh, it is important to place the Idol on a wooden seat.
F. The Idol should be covered with a clean silk or cotton cloth.
G. While bringing the Idol in the house the face of the Idol should be towards the individual who carries it.
H. While bringing the Idol, chant praises of Shri Ganesh on the way.
I. Upon reaching the house, the face of the Idol should be turned towards the house.
J. After this a married woman of the house should pour some water on the feet of the person carrying the Idol, then pour some milk.
L. A lit lamp is then waved in front of the Idol.
M. Thereafter, the individual carry the Idol of Shri Ganesh should enter the house.
N. A bed of unbroken rice grains (Akshata) is made before placing the Idol for worship. Then the Idol is placed on the bed of unbroken rice.
When the idol of Shri Ganesh is worshipped, if stotras are recited and chanting is done with spiritual emotion, we get the benefit of the Principle of Shri Ganesh.
4. The science underlying placing the Idol of Shri Ganesh on the bed of unbroken rice grains
When a Deity is invoked according to science and worshipped, the Principle of that Deity is attracted in the Deity’s Idol. The Idol is charged with this Deity’s Principle. This Principle of the Deity is stored in the Idol and emitted in the surrounding atmosphere. As the Idol is charged, the rice grains kept below the Idol also get charged with the Deity’s Principle.
As the Deity’s vibrations are created in the rice kept below the Idol , the vibrations of the Deity are also created in the rice stored in the house. After the concluding worship, these rice grains are mixed in the rice stored in the house. By keeping the Idol of Shri Ganesh on the rice, the devotees get the benefit of Ganesh Principle throughout the year in the form of Holy sacrament (prasad).
5. For how many days the Idol’s ritualistic worship be performed as per scriptures ?
As per the scriptures, an Idol of Shri Ganesh should be brought on the fourth day (chaturthi) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapad. It should be placed on the left palm and consecrated with the Name Siddhivinayak. It should be ritualistically worshipped and immersed immediately thereafter.
Many people immerse the Idol of Shri Ganesh along with Jyeshthagouri. According to one’s family tradition (kulachar), the Ganesh Idol is worshipped for one and a half, five, seven or ten days. The Ganesh Idol is immersed on the second, fifth, seventh or tenth day.
6. Ritual of the worship of the Idol of Shri Ganesh
On the day of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi, a new Idol of Shri Ganesh is brought. Worship of the Shri Ganesh Idol begins in the morning.
A. In the worship of the Shri Ganesh Idol, first sipping of water from the palm (achaman), uttering the desh-kal and resolve (sankalp) are done.
B. Thereafter, Shri Mahaganapati is invoked in a coconut or betel nut and worshipped.
C. Then the instruments of worship namely conch, bell, lamp etc. are worshipped and the Idol of Shri Ganesh brought on the day of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi is consecrated (pranpratishtha).
Consecration of Sri Ganesh idol (pranpratishtha)
One’s right hand is placed over the heart of the Shri Ganesh Idol and mantra is recited. Consecration of an Idol is done on Shri Ganesh Chaturthi or to activate any new Idol. Through consecration the Idol acquires Divinity. After consecration the Shri Ganesh Idol is worshipped with sixteen substances (Shodashopachar-puja).
In Shodashopachar-pujan water is sprinkled on the Idol’s feet (padya), sandalwood mixed water is sprinkled on the Idol (arghya) and then it is bathed with five nectars (a mixture of milk, honey, curd, clarified butter (ghee) and sugar) (panchamrutsnan). The Idol is consecrated by sprinkling with water (abhishek) with flower or sacred grass (durva).
Then these items are offered in the sme sequence – A cotton cloth, Sacred thread (yadnyopavit), Sandalwood paste, Turmeric paste, Vermilion (kumkum), Unbroken rice (akshata), Garland of flowers as per availability, Flowers offered at the feet of the Idol of Shri Ganesh, then unbroken rice or flowers are offered to each body part of the Idol of Shri Ganesh from His head to feet accompanied by recitation of mantras. Then, leaves of the Shami tree are offered. Then, sacred grass (Durva) is offered to Shri Ganesh.
On the day of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi the Basil plant (Tulsi) acquires the ability to attract Shri Ganesh pavitraks or the subtle most part of Divine Consciousness. Hence, Tulsi is offered along with leaves of the Shami tree and Durva to Shri Ganesh on this day. Leaves of Bel, Badari (Bor), Datura (Dhotarâ), Madar etc. are offered.
Two lit incense sticks are waved followed by worship with a lit lamp.
Naivedya of Modak is offered and arati is waved. One should then pay obeisance and pray to Shri Ganesh. After this at least eight parikramas of Shri Ganesh is performed. At the end flowers are offered with mantras (Mantrapushpanjali) with spiritual emotion and obeisance paid to Shri Ganesh to conclude the ritualistic worship.
7. Importance of Modak in the ritualistic worship of Shri Ganesh
A. Supreme God Principle (Parmeshwariya-tattva), high level God’s Chaitanya and a flow of Ganesh principle is attracted in the Modak. Their spiral is generated and it keeps moving in an activated form.
B. A flow of Bliss (Anand) fills in the Modak through its tip.
The proportion of sattva component is more in the steamed Modak while the proportion of raja component is more in the fried Modak.
8. Recitation of Sri Ganesh Atharvashirsha
During the period of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi, some people recite the Shri Ganesh Atharvashirsha specific number of times.
9. Importance of chanting the Name of Shri Ganesh during the period of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi
The Shri Ganesh principle is active during the period of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi. On this day, the Shiva principle is also active. To benefit from these active principles, one should chant ‘Om Gan Ganpataye Namaha’ as much as possible during this period.
Sattvik Name-strip of Shri Ganapati
The prayer to be offered during the period of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi
O’ Shri Ganesh , I am commencing the chanting of Your Name. You only get the chanting done through me with spiritual emotion, as is expected by You. Bestow upon me the capacity to absorb Your Chaitanya. Through this Chaitanya let a protective sheath be created all around me. You only give me the Energy (Shakti) for righteous conduct. I offer this prayer at Your Holy feet.
Try to visualise the picture of Shri Ganesh while praying. Consequently the prayer occurs with concentration. The chanting will definitely occur with spiritual emotion.