Fwd: HAPPY VINAYAKA CHAVITHI/10-09-13
Krishna Sagar
HAPPY VINAYAKA CHAVITHI
About vinayakachavithy
The “Vinayaka Chavithi” or “Ganesh Chaturthi” is one of the most celebrated festivals of the Hindus of Andhra Pradesh. Dedicated to Lord Ganesha the God of wealth, wisdom and learning, Vinayaka Chavithi is observed with much fanfare throughout the state of Andhra Pradesh. Lord Ganesha occupies a very prominent position in the Hindu Mythology. Before worshiping any God or Goddess, one should seek the blessing of Lord Ganesha who is believed to deliver eternal blessing to the devotees.
The
people of Andhra Pradesh celebrate Vinayaka Chavithi on the auspicious month of
September or October. The people buy new clay statues of Lord Ganesha on the
day of Vinayaka Chavithi. The Hindus clean and decorate their houses to welcome
Lord Ganesha. The devotees observe fast and perform the religious rituals in
their houses at a auspicious time. Lord Ganesha is offered many home made sweet
dishes. The place of the worship is specially decorated with flowers and the
floors are smeared with rice paste and artificial colors. The entire family
gathers to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha on Vinayaka Chavithi. Men, women
and children participate in the religious rituals with much enthusiasm and
excitement. All the devotees sing devotional songs in praise of Lord Ganesha.
The devotees wear new clothes and buy some items of gold or silver for their
house which is believed to be a sign of good luck and prosperity.
The festival of Vinayaka Chavithi is celebrated on a grand scale with mirth and gaiety all over the state. The festival offers the devotees with an opportunity to meet their relatives and friends and spend some valuable time with their near and dear ones.
Vinayaka Chavithi Story
Coming to the story of Lord
Ganesh’s birth secret it is said that he is the son of Lord Shiva and goddess
Parvati. It is elieved that once while Parvati was bathing, she created a human
figure from some unguent and balm, gave him life and asked him to guard the
door while she bathed. After a long period of meditation on Mountain Kailash
(Lord Shiva’s abode), Shiva chose that very moment to drop by to see his better
half, but was abruptly stopped by the man-god Parvati had posted at the door.
Outraged by the cheek of this stranger, Shiva cut off his head only to discover
moments later that he had killed Parvati’s son! For fear of enraging his wife,
Shiva immediately dispatched his ganas (attendants) to get him the head of the
first living creature they could find. Well, the first living creature happened
to be an elephant. As instructed, the head was chopped off and brought back to
Shiva, who placed it on Parvati’s son’s body, bringing him back to life. This
elephant-headed god was welcomed into the first family of the Hindu heavens and
named Ganesha or Ganapati, which literally means the chief of the ganas, or the
attendants of Shiva. Ganesha is the foremost god of the Hindu pantheon. This
brave guardian of the door to Parvati’s bath is beheld today as the most
auspicious God of new beginnings, undertakings, marriages, expeditions,
studies, etc.
Lord Ganesha’s mantra is Om Gung Ganapathaye Namah. Spiritual aspirants who worship Ganesha as their tutelary Deity repeat this Mantra or Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah.
In the Ganapathi Upanishad, Ganesha is identified with the Supreme Self. The legends that are connected with Lord Ganesha are recorded in the Ganesha Khanda of the Brahma Vivartha Purana.
B.krishna sagar,