Ganeshotsav

Shrī Ganēsh

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 Shrī Ganēsh festival the sāttviktā of the society increases and social integration is also achieved.

1. Special features of Shrī Ganēsh

A. Being worshipped first in every auspicious event: With the worship and remembering of Shrī Ganēsh at the commencement of any task, the ten directions are cleared. This means Shrī Ganēsh 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 Ganēsh 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 Ganēsh with spiritual emotion (bhāv).

1.1 Names of Shrī Ganēsh and their meanings

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

1.2 Spiritual science underlying calling Shrī Ganēsh ‘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 Ganēsh controls these clusters and destroys the obstacles. Hence Shrī Ganēsh is called ‘Vighnaharta’, that is, the remover of obstacles.

2. Tithi associated with Shrī Ganēsh: Chaturthi

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

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

In every month there are two Chaturthīs.

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

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

3. Shrī Ganeshopasana

Every person worships Shrī Ganēsh in various forms according to his faith. Many actions are included in the worship of Shrī Ganēsh. Some people utter the thousands Names of Shrī Ganēsh one by one and offer the fragrant grass, that is, dūrvā to Him along with each Name. This is called ‘durvachan’. There are two types of Shrī Ganēsh 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 God Yama is powerful and One with an activated Sūryanāḍī (Sun channel) is radiant. Thus in both senses, the Dakshinabhimukhi Ganapati is said to be ‘awakened’. The ritualistic worship of the Dakshinabhimukhi 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 Ganēsh

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

3.2 Special substances used in the worship of Shrī Ganēsh

In the worship of Shrī Ganēsh, the dūrvā grass, the leaves of Shami and Mandar, objects of red or saffron colour like Raktachandan, red or saffron coloured cloth and flower are specially used.

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

After the ritualistic worship, modaks are offered to Shrī Ganēsh 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 Ganēsh Principle.

Spiritual experience - Ganēsh 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 Ganēsh Principle was revolving around me. I became intensely conscious that due to wearing of a red-coloured saree, the Ganēsh Principle was being absorbed in higher proportion. My devotion, bhāv and Ānand increased. This state lasted for four hours - Ms. Smita Joshi, Maharashtra.

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