Ganesh Chaturthi

Mushikavaahana modaka hastha,

Chaamara karna vilambitha sutra,
Vaamana rupa maheshwara putra,
Vighna vinaayaka paada namasthe
"O Lord Vinayaka! The remover of all obstacles, the son of Lord Shiva, with a
form which is very short, with mouse as Thy vehicle, with sweet pudding in hand, with
wide ears and long hanging trunk, I prostrate at Thy lotus-like Feet!"

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Ganesh Chaturthi
History about Ganesh Chaturti
Once upon a time, the Goddess Gauri (consort of Lord Shiva), while bathing,
created Ganesha as a pure white being out of the mud of Her Body and placed Him at
the entrance of the house. She told Him not to allow anyone to enter while she went
inside for a bath. Lord Shiva Himself was returning home quite thirsty and was stopped
by Ganesha at the gate. Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesha's head as He thought
Ganesha was an outsider.
When Gauri came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console her grief,
Shiva ordered His servants to cut off and bring to Him the head of any creature that
might be sleeping with its head facing north. The servants went on their mission and
found only an elephant in that position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant's
head was brought before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant's head onto the body
of Ganesha. (It is also said that this is the reason why one should not sleep facing
north)
Lord Shiva made His son worthy of worship at the beginning of all undertakings,
marriages, expeditions, studies, etc. He ordained that the annual worship of Ganesha
should take place on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada.

Ritual
1. On the day of the festival, a life-like clay model of Lord Ganesha is placed on
raised platforms in homes (preferably on Uncooked Rice) and elaborately
decorated with Flowers, Ornaments .etc.
2. In countries where clay model of Lord Ganesha is not available, Silver or Gold
or Bronze Idol of Ganesha can be used.
3. The devotees or priest, usually clad in red silk dhoti and shawl (or dressed in
clean white cloth), then invokes life into the idol amidst the chanting of
mantras. This ritual is the pranapratishhtha.
4. Procedures: Use the Silver or Gold or Bronze Ganapathi Idol for procedures
4.1. Recite Ganesha Moola Mantra
Om Gum Ganapataye Namah.

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Ganesh Chaturthi
4.2. Recite Ganesha Vedic Mantra
Om Vakratundaya Vidmahe
Vighnarajaya Dheemahi
Tanno Danti Prachodayat.
4.3. Recite Ganesha Stotra and Place Silver or Gold Ganapathi Idol on raised
platforms, preferably seated on uncooked rice
Suklambaradaram Vishnum Sasivarnam
Chathurbhujam Prasannavadanam
Dhyayet Sarva Vugnopashantayet.
Shree Mahaganapathim Dhyayami.
Avahayame.
Mahaganapataye namah.
Asanam samarpayami
4.4. Offer clean water into a bowl, reciting
Padyam samarpayami.
4.5. Take water in your right hand and offer in a bowl, reciting
Arghyam samarpayami
4.6. Do Achamaneeyam (OM Kesavaya Swaha .etc.), and recite
Achamaneeyam samarpayami
4.7. Bathe Ganapathi Idol with Sugar, Ghee, Honey, Banana, Milk, Curds,
Saffron, and recite
Madhuparkam samarpayami
4.8. Bathe Ganapathi with Water, clean Ganapathi with clean water, dry with
clean cloth and situate the Ganapathi Idol in place of worship, and recite
Snanam samarpayami
4.9. Do Achamaneeyam (OM Kesavaya Swaha .etc.), and recite
Achamaneeyam samarpayami
4.10.

Decorate Silver or Gold Ganapathi Idol with flowers, ornaments,

Kumkum, sandal wood paste .etc. and light Ghee Lamp, and recite
Vastralamkaram samarpayami
4.11.

Offer Sacred thread or janivara to Ganapathi, you may consider

reciting Gayatri Mantra for 10 times and putting the Janivara from left
shoulder-to-right waist, and recite
Yegyopaveetham samarpayami

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Ganesh Chaturthi
4.12.

Offer Sandalwood paste to Ganapathi, and recite

Gandham dharayami

4.13.

Invoke Ganapathi by Reciting:

Om Sumukhaya namah
Om Ekadantaya namah
Om Kapilaya namah
Om Gajakarnikaya namah
Om Lambodaraya namah
Om Vikataya namah
Om Vignarajaya namah
Om Vinayakaya namah
Om Dhumaketave namah
Om Ganadhyakshaya namah
Om Phalachandraya namah
Om Gajananaya namah
Om Vakratundaya namah
Om Surpakarnaya namah
Om Herambaya namah
Om Skandapoorvajaya namah
Om Mahaganapate namah

4.14.

Offer Flowers, Leaves, Tender Grass, reciting the payers:

Nanavidha parimala patra pushpani samarpayami.

4.15.

Offer Flowers, Kumkum and Bow to him reciting:

Om Ganapataye namah.
Mahaganapati sripadukayam poojayami tarpayami namah.
Om Ganapataye namah.
Mahaganapati sripadukayam poojayami tarpayami namah.
Om Ganapataye namah.
Mahaganapati sripadukayam poojayami tarpayami namah.

4.16.

Light Ghee Lamp and offer to Ganapathi.

Mahaganapataye namah dhupam agrapayami,
deepam darsayami,

4.17.

Worship with Agarbatthi, Camphor, and offer Fruits, Modaka and

other edible offerings

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Ganesh Chaturthi
nivedyam samarpayami
4.18.

Offer Water in a bowl, Do Namaskara, Offer Beetle Leaves and

Beetle Leaves.
Madya madya paniyam, uttaraposhanam, hasta prakshalanam,
pada prakshalanam, achamaneeyam, tambulancha samarpayami.
4.19.

Light Camphor and offer it to Ganapathi

Karpura Neerajanam darsayami.

4.20.

Pray Ganapathi
Om Tatpurushaya vidmahay
Vakratunadaya dheemahi
tannodanti prachodayat.

4.21.

Offer Uncooked colored rice (Mantrashita) to Ganapathi

Mahaganapataye namah.
Mantrapushpam samarpayami.

4.22.

Stand-up and do Namaskara by going around yourself three times

and recite
Pradikshana namaskaram samarpayami.
Samasta rajopachara,
devopacharan samarpayami.
4.23.

Recite:
Anaya poojaya bhagavan
sarva devatmaka
sree ganapati supreeta
suprasanno varado bhavatu.

5. This concludes Ganesha Pooja

6. If desired recite Ganesha Gayatri Mantra.
Tat purushaaya vidmahe
Vakratundaaya dheemahi
Tanno dhanti prachodayaat
7. If desired recite or hear Ganesha Sahsaranamam
8. If desired recite or hear Ganesha Astottara Shatanamavali

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Ganesh Chaturthi
9. If desired Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda and Ganapati Atharva Shirsha
Upanishad, and Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted.
10. Depending on convenience from 1 day to 10 days (that is from Bhadrapad
Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi), Ganesha is worshipped and
Ganesha Pooja is performed.
11. On the end of 1st day or 11th day, the Clay Ganesha Idol is taken through the
streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in
a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards
his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of all man.
12. In Developed Countries such as USA, where law does not permit immersion in
rivers or lakes. The clay idol is immersed in a small bucket filled with water
and the water is later offered to plants and trees.
13. During immersion devotees chant:
Ganpati Bapa Moriya - Farewell O Lord Ganpati!
Gheema ladu choriya - Who avails 'ladus' soaked in ghee
Pudcha varsi laukariya - Return in haste next year.
Bapa Moriya re, Bapa Moriya re - O Lord farewell, O Lord farewell

Note: DO NOT look at the moon on Ganesh Chaturti; remember that it behaved
unbecomingly towards the Lord. This really means avoid the company of all those who
have no faith in God, and who deride God, your Guru and religion, from this very day. By
accident if you did, then read or hear the story of Shamantaka Mani just before you
get to bed.

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Ganesh Chaturthi

Historical Significance
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated across the world. Started by
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the great Maratha ruler, to promote culture and nationalism,
the festival was revived by Lokmanya Tilak (a freedom fighter) to spread the message of
freedom struggle and to defy the British who had banned public assemblies. The festival
gave the Indians a feeling of unity and revived their patriotic spirit and faith. This public
festival formed the background for political leaders who delivered speeches to inspire
people against the Western rule. The festival is so popular that the preparations begin
months in advance.

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