Ganesha Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi is a Hindu festival that is celebrated for the bliss of Lord Ganesha. This is a ten-day festival which starts on the fourth day of Bhadrapada as per Hindu lunisolar calendar and typically falls on September or August. This year it is on 12th September 2018.
This festival begins with great zeal and zest by installing lord Ganesha idols at homes or huge decorated podiums. Offerings of flowers and food are made each day and daily mantra and hymns are chanted as per Hindu mythology.
As per citing Lord Ganesha’s favorite food is laddoo and modaka hence these are made with purity at homes as offerings. The festivals end on the tenth day where huge idols are paraded in roads and lastly immersed in water and termed as god has gone back to his home Kailasha Parbat to mother Parvati and Lord Shiva. God is requested to visit their home soon next year.
This festival is celebrated throughout India but specifically, it is celebrated in states like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh and privately idols are placed in homes in states like Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Ganesha Chaturthi History
It is not clearly stated that when this festival did began but it was sponsored by Shivaji in Pune publicly after Mughal and Maratha war ended and Marathas won against Mughals. In 19th-century Lokmanya Tilak, a freedom fighter celebrated the event as a sign to circumvent the colonial flagship.
About Lord Ganesha
The earliest mention of Lord Ganapati is in the holy book Rigveda which came twice in the hymns. Ganesha is considered as the seer among the seers and being the lord of invocation. He is the second son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati.
Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all across the country with great enthusiasm and fervor but it is seen as a major festival in the western region of India especially in Maharashtra. Here huge Ganesh idols are placed in decorated pandals for ten days and people bring small Ganesha statues to worship at home. Daily prayers are offered to the god with varieties of Prasad each day. Worshipping Lord Ganesha in a grand platform was done by Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj which continued by the community and noncommunity people as well.
Lord Ganesha is a Pratham Pujyaniya i.e. worshipped before all gods. His image represents an elephant-headed god which is believed to be highly propitious and fortunate before commencing any work. Many people place Ganesha’s idol on the doors of their houses as a sign of fortune bringer. His images are print at the top of the invitation cards of wedding and birthdays he is solicited first.
He is the god of power, faith, intelligence, truth, and wisdom. There are many stories which state how clever the god is and has dealt with many issues in the calm and composed way. Therefore with all his pastime, he has got different names like Gajanan, Ganpati, Ekadanta, Vighnharta, Siddhi Vinayaka, Vakratunda, Dhoomraketu and many more.
Ganesh Puja Ingredients (Samagri)
Kumkum, Panchamrita, curd, honey, milk, Ganga Jal, Dhruva, sweets – modaka or laddoo, kumkum, janeyu, mouli, flowers, incense sticks, dhoop, lamp, clothes, sandalwood paste, akshata, fruits, Kalasha, red vermillion, turmeric, and coconut.
Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Vidhi
Lord Ganesha has given first place in every auspicious festival or occasion where he is worshipped first for fortunate work.
Ganesh Chaturthi Puja is performed with all sixteen rituals along with Pauranik mantras also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi. Worshipping gods and goddesses with all 16 rituals are known as Shodashopachara Puja.
Ganesh Puja can be done anytime irrespective of Muhurats as he is himself auspicious. You can perform puja at Pratahakaal, Madhyankaal, and Sayankaal but for Ganesh puja, Madhyankaal is preferred therefore it is called Ganesh Chaturthi Pujan Muhurata.
All rituals are stated elaborately below with 16 rituals. Before starting puja Deep Prajwalan and Sankalpa is taken which is not a part of Shodashopachara puja.
If you already have Ganesh idol at your worship place Avahana and Pratishthana should be skipped as it is done when you bring new idol home.
Let’s begin-
Avahana- Puja should begin with the invocation of Lord Ganesha in which one has to sit in Avahana mudhra i.e. by sitting on the ground and joining palms and folding thumbs inward and chant following given mantra
He Heramba Tvamehyehi Hyambikatryambakatmaja।
Siddhi-Buddhi Pate Tryaksha Lakshalabha Pituh Pitah॥
Nagasyam Nagaharam Tvam Ganarajam Chaturbhujam।
Bhushitam Svayudhaudavyaih Pashankushaparashvadhaih॥
Avahayami Pujartham Rakshartham Cha Mam Kritoh।
Ihagatya Grihana Tvam Pujam Yagam Cha Raksha Me॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Avahayami-Sthapayami॥
Pratishthan- Once you have invoked the lord. Place his idol in the worship chowki or table by reciting following mantra
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Supratishtho Varado Bhava॥
Asana Samarpan-After installation take five flowers in the Anjali i.e. from both palms and leave in front of him by chant of this mantra
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Asanam Samarpayami॥
Padya Samarpan- After Asana grahen offer him water to wash his feet’s by chanting mantra
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Padayoh Padyam Samarpayami॥
Arghya Samarpan- After water, scented water is sprinkled on the idol as wwlcome and recite
Om Ganadhyaksha Namasteastu Grihana Karuna Kara।
Arghyam Cha Phala Samyuktam Gandhamalyakshatairyutam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Hastorarghyam Samarpayami॥
Aachman- After Arghaya offering, again water is given to the lord
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Mukhe Achamaniyam Samarpayami॥
Snana Mantra- Water is offered to the lord for bathing by chanting mantra below
Narmada Chandrabhagadi Gangasangasajairjalaih।
Snani Tosi Maya Deva Vighnasagham Nivaraya॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Sarvanga Snanam Samarpayami॥
Panchamrita Snanam- Now bath the idol with Panchamrita i.e. a mixture of ghee, curd, honey, milk and sugar
Panchamritam Mayaaanitam Payodadhi, Ghritam Madhu।
Sharkara Cha Samayuktam Snanartham Pratigrihyatam
Payah Snanam- Now bath the idol with milk also called dugdha snaNam
Kamadhenusamudbhutam Sarvesham Jivanam Param।
Tejah Pushtikaram Divyam Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥
Dadhi snanam- Bathe the idol with curd
Payasastu Samudbhutam Madhuramlam Shashiprabham।
Dadhyanitam Mayadeva Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥
Ghritha snanam- Pour ghee on the idol and chant
Navanita Samutpannam Sarvasantoshakarakam।
Ghritam Tubhyam Pradasyami Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥
Madhu snanam- Bath the idol with honey and say
Pushparenusamudbhutam Suswadu Madhuram Madhu।
Tejah Pushtikaramdivyam Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥
Sharkara snanam- Pour sugar over the idol and chant
Ikshusarasamudbhutam Sharkara Pushti Da Shubha।
Malapaharika Divya Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥
Suvasita snanam- After sugar bath, give scented oil bath to the god
Champakashekabakula Malati Mogaradibhih।
Vasitam Snigdhatahetu Tailam Charu Pratigrihyatam॥
Shuddhodhaka snanam- Lastly bath the statue with pure water
Ganga Cha Yamuna Chaiva Godavari Saraswati।
Narmada Sindhuh Kaveri Snanartham Pratigrihyatam॥
Vastra and uttariya samarpan- Now offer red thread Mouli as clothes to the lord and simultaneously chant
Shitavatoshna Santranam Lajjaya Rakshanam Parama।
Dehalankaranam Vastramatah Shanti Prayachchha Me॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Vastram Samarpayami॥
Uttariya Samarpan- Now offer clothes again for upper body and chant
Uttariyam Tatha Deva Nana Chitritamuttamam।
Grihanendram Maya Bhaktaya Dattam Tat Saphali Kuru॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Uttariya Samarpayami॥
Yajnopavita samarpan- Now offers Yajnopavita to the god and recites
Navabhistantubhiryuktam Trigunam Devatamayam।
Upavitam Mayadattam Grihana Parameshwara॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Yajnopavitam Samarpayami॥
Gandha- Offer scent generally sandal perfume is offered by chanting
Shri Khanda Chandana Divyam Gandhadhyam Sumanoharam।
Vilepanam Surashreshtha Chandanam Pratigrihyatam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Gandham Samarpayami॥
Akshata- Offer unbroken rice by chanting mantra stated
Akshatashcha Sura Shreshtha Kumkumalah Sushobhitah।
Maya Nivedita Bhaktaya Grihana Parameshwara॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Akshatan Samarpayami॥
Pushpa mala, shami patra, sindoor and durvankura
Pushpa Mala– Offer garland of flowers to the idol and speak
Malyadini Sugandhini Malyadinivai Prabhuh।
Maya Hritani Pushpani Grihyantam Pujanaya Bhoh॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Pushpamalam Samarpayami॥
Now offer Shami Patra
Tvatpriyani Supushpani Komalani Shubhani Vai।
Shamidalani Heramba Grihana Gananayaka॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Shami Patrani Samarpayami॥
Dhurvankura- Offer dhruva or doorba i.e. three or five leaflets of grass to the god
Durvankuran Suharitanamritan Mangala Pradan।
Anitanstava Pujartha Grihana Gananayaka॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Durvankuran Samarpayami॥
Sindoor- Offer red or orange vermillion to god and do Tilak
Sindoor Shobhanam Raktam Saubhagyam Sukhavardhanam।
Shubhadam Kamadam Chaiva Sindooram Pratigrihyatam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Sindoor Samarpayami॥
Dhoop- Preesent dhoop and recite
Vanaspatirasodbhuto Gandhadhyo Gandhah Uttamah।
Aghreya Sarva Devanam Dhupoayam Pratigrihyatam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Dhupamaghrapayami॥
Deep samarpan- Offer deep (lamp) to the lord and chant
Sajyam Chavartisamyuktam Vahnina Yojitam Maya।
Deepam Grihana Devesha Trailokyatimira Paham॥
Bhaktya Deepam Prayachchhami Devaya Paramatmane।
Trahimam Nirayad Ghoraddipajyotirnamoastute॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Deepam Darshayami॥
Naivedyam and karodvartam-
Naivedya nivedan- Offer food or prasad which you made with purity
Naivedyam Grihyatam Deva Bhakti Me Hyachalam Kuru।
Ipsitam Me Varam Dehi Paratra Cha Param Gatim॥
Sharkara Khanda Khadyani Dadhi Kshira Ghritani Cha।
Aharam Bhakshya Bhojyam Cha Naivedyam Pratigrihyatam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Naivedyam Modakamayarituphalani Cha Samarpayami॥
Chandan karodvartan- Now offer chandan mixed with little water
Chandanam Malayodbhutam Kasturyadi Samanvitam।
Karodvartanakam Deva Grihana Parameshwara॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Chandanena Karodvartanam Samarpayami॥
Tambula, narikela and dakshina samarpan
Now one by one offer betel nuts, coconut and some money to the god and chant these mantras
Tambula samarpan-
Om Pugiphalam Mahadivyam Nagavallidalairyutam।
Ela Churnadisamyuktam Tambulam Pratigrihyatam॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Mukha Vasarthamela Pugi Phaladi Sahitam Tambula Samarpayami
Narikela samarpan-
Idam Phalam Mayadeva Sthapitam Puratastava।
Tena Me Saphalavaptirbhavejjanmani Janmani॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Narikela Phalam Samarpayami॥
Dakshina samarpan-
Hiranyagarbhagarbhastham Hema Bijam Vibhavasoh।
Ananta Punya Phaladamatah Shantim Prayachchha Me॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Dravyam Dakshinam Samarpayami॥
Neerajan and Visarjan-
Neerajan– Perform Lord Ganesha Aarti once you are completes with Lord Ganesha Pujan
Kadali Garbha Sambhutam Karpuram Tu Pradipitam।
Arartikamaham Kurve Pashya Me Varado Bhava॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Karpura Neerajanam Samarpayami॥
Pushpanjali arpan- Now offer flowers to the lord
Nanasugandhi Pushpani Yatha Kalodbhavani Cha।
Pushpanjalirmaya Datto Grihana Parameshwara॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Mantra Pushpanjali Samarpayami॥
Pradakshina- Form a circle and revolve around Ganpati idol as symbolic Pradakshina
Yani Kani Cha Papani Jnatajnata Kritani Cha।
Tani Sarvani Nashyanti Pradakshina Pade Pade॥
Om Siddhi-Buddhi Sahitaya Shri Mahaganadhipataye Namah।
Pradakshinam Samarpayami॥
Visarjan- Lord Ganesha will come next year to your home but this time oto conclude puja recite following given mantra and pray god for prosperity
Avahanam Na Janami Na Janami Tavarchanam।
Pujam Chaiva Na Janami Kshamasva Ganeshwara॥
Anyatha Sharanam Nasti Tvameva Sharanam Mam।
Tasmatkarunya Bhavena Rakshasva Vighneshwara॥
Gatam Papam Gatam Dukham Gatam Daridraya Meva Cha।
Agata Sukha Sampattih Punyachcha Tava Darshanat॥
Mantrahinam Kriyahinam Bhaktihinam Sureshwara।
Yatpujitam Maya Deva Paripurnam Tadastu Me॥
Yadaksharapada Bhrashtam Matrahinam Cha Yadbhavet।
Tatsarva Kshamyatam Deva Prasida Parameshwara॥
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