Ganeshotsav

Shrī Ganesh

Shrī Gaṇēsh Chaturthī is not only a festival but also a religious festival and a vrat. Gaṇēsh Chaturthī is celebrated not only in Bharat but abroad too. Among the popular religious festivals in Bharat after Dipawali, it is only Shrī Gaṇēsh Chaturthī which is worthy of mention. Due to Ganesh festival the sāttviktā of the society increases and social integration is also achieved.

1. Special features of Shrī Ganesh

A. Being worshipped first in every auspicious event: With the worship and remembering of Shrī Ganesh at the commencement of any task, the ten directions are cleared. This means Shrī Ganesh makes the necessary Deity’s principle available to us. This is called ‘Mahadvarpujan’ or ‘Mahaganapatipujan’.

B. Understanding man’s sound language and the Deities’ light language and inter-converting them: Shrī Ganesh converts man’s language of sound into the language of light of Deities and the language of light into the language of sound and conveys our prayers to the Deities.

C. Eliminating distress caused by negative energies: Most people in the society have many difficulties in life. A variety of physical and mental distress is suffered due to negative energies. The distress of negative energies can be eliminated by chanting the name of Shrī Ganesh with spiritual emotion.

1.1 Names of Shrī Ganesh and their meanings

Vakratund, Ekdant, Krushnapingaksh, Gajavaktra etc. are some Names of Shrī Ganesh. Shrī Ganesh is also called ‘Vighnaharta’. ‘Vighnaharta’ means the One who removes obstacles.

1.2 Spiritual science underlying calling Shrī Ganesh ‘Vighnaharta’

Three hundred sixty different frequencies are continuously in motion in the eight directions. The raja frequencies among them are called ‘tiryak’ frequencies and the tama frequencies ‘visphutit’. These clusters of frequencies adversely affect the world of living beings. Shrī Ganesh controls these clusters and destroys the obstacles. Hence Shrī Ganesh is called ‘Vighnaharta’, that is, the remover of obstacles.

2. Tithi associated with Shrī Ganesh: Chaturthi

The tithi, that is, the date as per the Hindu lunar calendar on which the frequencies of Shrī Ganesh Principle descended on Earth for the first time was chaturthi. Hence on chaturthi the vibrations of Shrī Ganesh come on the Earth in higher proportion.

On the day of chaturthi of every month, the Ganesh Principle is hundred times more active on Earth than usual. The worship of Shrī Ganesh performed on this day gives more benefit of Shrī Ganesh Principle

In every month there are two chaturthis.

The Vinayaki chaturthi that falls in the bright fortnight of the month, that is, Shuklapaksha
The Sankashti chaturthi that falls in the dark fortnight of the month, that is, Krushnapaksha

The chaturthi that falls on a Tuesday is called ‘Angaraki chaturthi'.

3. Shrī Ganeshopasana

Every person worships Shrī Ganesh in various forms according to his faith. Many actions are included in the worship of Shrī Ganesha. Some people utter the thousands Names of Shrī Ganesh one by one and offer the fragrant grass, that is, Durva to Him along with each Name. This is called ‘durvachan’. There are two types of Shrī Ganesh idols

Dakshinabhimukhi means the idol whose trunk is curved towards the right side. South means the right side. One who is able to face the south direction leading to the region of Lord Yama is powerful and One with an activated Surya nadi (Sun channel) is radiant. Thus in both senses, the Dakshinabhimukhi Ganapati is said to be ‘awakened’. The ritualistic worship of theDakshinabhimukhi idol is performed by meticulously observing all the rules of the rituals.
Vam means the left side. Mostly the vamamukhi idols are used for worship. The trunk of the idol is curved towards the left side.

3.1 Daily worship of Shrī Ganesh

Apply the sandalwood paste to Shrī Ganesh with the ring finger.
Offer the hina scent.
Offer the Durva grass to Shrī Ganesh.
Offer eight red flowers with the stems facing Shrī Ganesh.
Offer two lit incense-sticks
Offer the Holy sacrament (naivedya) of Modak to Shrī Ganesh.
Offer the arati to Shrī Ganesh three times in a clock-wise direction.
Perform minimum eight circumambulations (parikrama) around Shrī Ganesh. If this is not possible, perform three circumambulations by revolving around yourself.

3.2 Special substances used in the worship of Shrī Ganesh

In the worship of Shrī Ganesh, the Durva grass, the leaves of Shami and Mandar, objects of red or saffron colour likeRaktachandan, red or saffron coloured cloth and flower are specially used.

In order to get more benefit of Shrī Ganesh Principle, the use of incense sticks of sandalwood, kevada, jasmine and khas fragrance is beneficial.

After the ritualistic worship, modaks are offered to Shrī Ganesh as a Holy sacrament and kheer to the mouse, His vehicle. It is beneficial for a person to wear red or saffron clothes for obtaining Ganesh Principle.

Spiritual experience - Ganesh Principle being absorbed in higher proportion because of wearing of a red-coloured saree: On 2nd October 2006 after wearing a red-coloured saree with a zari border, I experienced that a spiral of Ganesh Principle was revolving around me. I became intensely conscious that due to wearing of a red-coloured saree, the Ganesh Principle was being absorbed in higher proportion. My devotion, spiritual emotion and Anand increased. This state lasted for four hours - Ms. Smita Joshi, Maharashtra.

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