Ganesh Chaturthi
Jambunathan Iyer
Ganesh Chaturthi Mantra -
Also called as Mahaganapati or the chieftain of all the Ganas (demigods), Ganesh is one of the most favorite gods in the Hindu pantheism. The god forms worshipped in Hinduism bear a lot of spiritual and symbolic significance. They drive home a lot of concepts, philosophy and inner meaning in a way devotees are moved into a life of fearlessness, faith, morality and devotion. Thus the purpose that the religion wants to achieve by evolving these divine forms is rather lofty deeply connected with the elevating mission of Hinduism. Among those we are discussing, Ganesh is the most loved god.
Ganesh Chaturti is the day that marks the birth of Ganesh. Celebrated on the fourth day of the Shuklapaksha (growing phase of the lunar month) in the month of Bhadrapada (August – September), this is a massive festival observed with great spiritual fervor all over the subcontinent. There are special pujas organized to worship Ganesh in every household and in every temple apart from residential and commercial complexes. The Ganesh Chaturti puja is very simple one. Ganesh is also called Sulabh Prasanna (one who is pleased so easily).
At the beginning of the ceremony, the performer of Ganesh Puja installs the idol of Ganesh on a pedestal and chants the following Mantra to begin the proceedings of the puja.
Ganesh Chaturti Invocation Mantra:
Vakratunda Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kurume Deva Sarva Karyeshu Sarvata
(Oh the one with a curved tusk, huge body and the splendor of several million suns, I worship you so that you remove the obstacles on the way and lead my actions towards success and fulfilment. The chanting of this mantra sets the puja rolling. Once the holy bath and offerings are over, the devotee chants the following mantras one by one while offering flowers. The list of mantras given below are called Shodasa (sixteen) mantras.
Ganesh Chaturthi Mantra with Meaning -
1. Om Sumukhaya (pleasant and blissful faced one) Namah
2. Om Ekadantaya (single tusked one) Namah
3. Om Kapilaya (Red colored one) Namh
4. Om Gajakarnaya (elephant eared one) Namah
5. Om Lambodharaya (Huge bellied one) Namah
6. Om Vikataya (the amusing and entertaining one) Namah
7. Om Vighnarajaya (the remover of obstacles) Namah
8. Om Vinayakaya (the supreme leader) Namah
9. Om Dhumaketave (the one who has raised the victory flag of smoke)Namah
10. Om Ganadyakshaya (the leader of Ganas or the universal forces) Namah
11. Om Balachandraya (one with a moon in the forehead) Namh
12. Om Gajananaya (the elephant faced) Namah
13. Om Surpakarnaya (the one with fan like ears) Namah
14. Om Herambhaya (one who removes obstacles) Namah
15. Om Skanda Purvajaya (one who is born before Skanda or Subrahmanya) Namah
16. Om Sri Mahaganapataye (the great Lord of the Ganas or demigods) Namah
At the end of the namavali puja, offerings, Prasad or nivedanam is given to Ganesh. This will be followed by arti or waving of camphor or ghee lamp in front of the idol. The typical conclusion of the puja involves doing sashtanga namaskar (full prostration) in front of the idol accompanied by dobikarna (sit ups done while holding both the ears with crossed hands).
Rengarajapuram-Kodambakkam-Chennai-Mob:9176159004
Jambunathan Iyer
Ganesh Chaturthi is the most popular and extravagant festival celebrated by the Hindu Goans. Locally known as Chavath in Konkani(Devanagari:चवथ,Romi lipi:Chovoth) and is also known as Parab (Parva, or an auspicious celebration). Preparations begin a month before, and the actual festivities begin on the third day of lunar month of Bhadrapada, on this day Haritalika or Gauri with Shiva is worshiped by women, which also includes fasting.
On the day of festival, elaborate Pujas and feasts are organised, Arati is one of the major attraction of the festivities. Many instruments which are unique to Goa like Ghumot, Shamel, and other classical instruments such as cymbals, Pakhawaj etc are played.
Decorations, fireworks, gifts, and sweets play a major role during the festivities. Harvest festival known as Navyachi Pancham is celebrated on the next day, newly harvested paddy is ceremoniously brought home from the fields or temples(where Puja is held on a community level) and a Puja is conducted. Most of the idols are immersed either in the sea, rivers or tanks and wells on the second day, whereas some places festivities may run for five, seven, nine or eleven days.
Ganesh Chaturthi has a long history in Goa, it predates the Kadamba era. Goa Inquisition had banned all the Hindu festivals, and heavy restrictions where imposed on the Hindus who did not convert to Christianity. But Goans did not stop practicing their culture. Many families worship Ganesha in the form of Patri (leaves used for worshiping Ganesha or any other deity),a picture drawn on paper,small silver idols, or in some households Ganesha idols are even hidden, this is a remarkable thing about Ganesh festival in Goa.
The reason for this was, ban on clay Ganesha idols, or festivities as a part of Inquisition of the Jesuits, many familes have still kept the tradition alive. Another striking feature about Chavath of Goa is, unlike Maharashtra, its more a family affair, and a very sentimental for the Goans. It's generally a celebration of the joint family, some families of 1000 or more members, still celebrate the festival together with great fanfare in their ancestral homes.
Many such families are found in Goa. Goan Catholics also take part in the festivities in many places.
Public celebrations of the festival are hugely popular, with local communities (mandalas) vying with each other to put up the biggest statue and the best pandal. The festival is also the time for cultural activities like singing and theater performances, orchestra and community activities like free medical checkup, blood donation camps, charity for the poor, etc.
Today, the Ganesh Festival is not only a popular festival, it has become a very critical and important economic activity for Mumbai, Pune, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai.
Many artists, industries, and businesses survive on this mega-event. Ganesh Festival also provides a stage for budding artists to present their art to the public. In Maharashtra, not only Hindus but many other religions also participate in the celebration like Muslims, Jains, Christian and others.
On the final day of the Ganesh festival thousands of plaster idols are immersed into water bodies by devotees. These increase the level of acidity in the water and the content of heavy metals. Several non-governmental and governmental bodies have been addressing this issue. Amongst the solutions proposed are as follows:
Return to the traditional use of natural clay idols and immerse the icon in a bucket of water at home.
Use of a permanent icon made of stone and brass, used every year and a symbolic immersion only.
Recycling of plaster idols to repaint them and use them again the following year.
Ban on the immersion of plaster idols into lakes, rivers and the sea.
Creative use of other biodegradable materials such as papier-mâché to create Ganesh idols.
Encouraging people to immerse the idols in tanks of water rather than in natural water bodies.
To handle religious sentiments sensitively, some temples and spiritual groups have taken up the cause.
Sundararajan
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ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om, May all become happy, May all be healthy , May all see what is auspicious,
May no one suffer . Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
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எல்லோரும் இன்புற்று இருக்க நினைப்பதுவே
அல்லாமல் வேறொன்று அறியேன் பராபரமே
தாயுமானவர் [பராபரக்கண்ணி – 221]
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