Guest guest Posted July 14, 2001 Report Share Posted July 14, 2001 http://www.rochester.edu/College/REL/rel249/ganesha/ganesha_temples.ht ml General Ritual Information =========================== People worship Ganesh before any venture is started Ganesh is worshipped before any other deities are worshipped People worship him asking for siddhi- success in undertakings buddhi- intelligence He is found many times in the doorways of homes and shops School children write the Ganesha mantra on their exams because he is the God of knowledge He is rarely the primary deity worshipped In many houses people have him there to protect other Gods from inauspicious forces. Each lunar month of the year is divided into two parts Bright (suklapaksa)- atime to start new undertakings Dark (krsnapaksa) inauspicious- a time marked with failure in new undertakings The fourth day of the dark half of each month is called the dangerous fourth (samkastacacaturhi); this is a n especially inauspicious time to start new undertakings Worship of Ganesha: Two main ways: 1. Domestic - Puja 2. Public Festival- Utsava Domestic worship Ganesha Curthi- 4th day in bright half of moon, special day. A clay image of ganesha established in domestic alter, he is treated like a royal guest. worshipped from 1-10 days and then put in a water source to dissolve. puja performed, varitey of pujas, one common goal- to bring about an enhanced level of intimacy between worshipper and deity through a series of transactions. Through special speech and gestures the human and the deity meet each other halfway. the puja combines the human and divine worlds at specific times and places the deity gets homage and food while the worshipper gets existential enhancement worshipper provides jiva or life force and indrya or vital capacities into the image This involves transferring the worshipper's and the cosmos' jiva and indrya and brings the image to life. Ganesha gives obstacle removing powers and watches over the family in the upcoming year. Ganesha leaves Prasada or left over spiritual food and the family members get to eat this food or existential enhancement Public festival- Utsava ======================== one city where this celebrated is in a city called Ahamadnagar near Pune in Maharastra originally festival started to create a solidarity amond Hindus festival alsts for one week and throughout it the the city takes on more and more of a carnival -like atmosphere procession day is called Anantacaturdasi (ten days after Ganesha Curthi) immersion ritual last step-final farewells said to deity and gifts are offered and they immerse the idol in a nearby water source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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