Loving Ganesha: Chapter 15 (Section 2) - Hindudharmavishayaka Punyotsavah--Sacred Festivals

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font-family:Arial">More of chapter 15 of Loving Ganesha from

http://www.himalayanacademy.com/books/lg/lg_ch-15.html

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Making Clay Ganeshas

Pandit

Arunachalam provides an excellent description of the joyful activity of making

clay Ganeshas: "The form of Ganesha is a delight

not only to the artist and the sculptor but also to the children....Almost all

the children try their hand at producing the complete form of Ganesha in clay

with their own hands -- the full elephant face with its trunk curved at the

tip, four hands, the uplifted ones carrying the goad and the noose, the left

hand carrying the modaka, the

right in the pose of offering benediction, the big belly with the sacred thread

thrown across the left shoulder, the two stumpy legs, and not omitting His

mount, the little shrew [mouse]. The scarlet black-eyed seeds of the creeper kunrimani

(the crab's eye, Abrus precatorius)

serve as the eyes of Ganesha. In places like Madras, a slender paper umbrella is added.

"The

clay image is made at the moment in the morning. In urban areas, people

purchase it. But in the rural parts it is the pride of the urchins to make the

image each for the family worship. The boys vie with one another in making the

image perfect, i.e., in making it conform to what is known as the Ravi Varma picture as closely as

possible. Rules lay down that the image is made out of the mud of the ants'

hill. In urban areas, hand-made supply cannot keep up with the demand. So the

makers have wooden moulds on which they hand-press the kneaded clay and cast

the images."

THE PROPER ATTITUDE

Making an

image of the God must be done in the right spirit. Swami Satyananda

Saraswati of Devi Mandir in

California contributes the following instruction.

"Take

all of the love in your heart, all the longing to see God face to face, the

totality of your aspiration for Self Realization, mix it with straw and earth

and watch as the divine image takes shape within your very proximity.

"Give

form to your longing, that heartfelt desire to know the Divine immediately and

directly, to experience the divine presence in intimate contemplation, and see

how all the elements -- earth, water, fire and air -- unite from the infinite

expanse of nature in order to form an image of Divinity, the reflection of God.

"Remember

the difference between trying to make a statue and praying for the murti of God

to manifest through us. Meditate upon the various attributes, and put your mind

into the fullness of bhava, the attitude of the Deity.

"Let

all the peace, all the light, all the goodness which the

Deity inspires become part and parcel of your being. Inwardly worship

the Deity, reciting the mantras and contemplating His subtle form.

"Smile

at that internal murti

and with the utmost sincerity request permission from God to make that divine

form manifest in a manner all can perceive.

"When

the image takes form, find all the love and devotion you can offer and breathe

the soul of life into your image of God, praying for the blessings of wisdom

and peace for all."

A SIMPLE METHOD FOR A WOOD-BASED

GANESHA

By Shri Sateesh N. Apte M.D., Danville, California

The

materials needed for a wood-based clay Ganesha are: 1)clay

(either professional sculptor's clay or that gathered from a river bed) or papier mache; 2) latex

or other water-based paint in yellow, red, black and flesh colors;

3) gold-leaf paint, 4) aluminum foil, 5) paint

brushes, 6) sandpaper, 7)putty or joint compound, 8) miscellaneous ornaments

and cloth for dressing the murti.

font-weight:bold">INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix

clay or papier mache to a firm

but homogeneously wet consistency.

2. Make

an armature (skeleton) of wood, styrofoam

or similar material.

3. Create

the image by covering the armature with clay.

4. Brush

the exterior smooth with a wet brush.

5. Let

the image dry in a cool place, away from the sunlight. (Drying time is usually

one month for every foot in height for a clay image, three weeks for papier mache.)

6. When

dry, sand with coarse, then fine sandpaper.

7. Fill

cracks with putty or joint compound. Sand again.

8. Apply

a white primer and sand with very fine sandpaper.

9. Make

the image dust-free.

10. Paint

the torso, head, trunk and limbs in flesh color.

11. Place

appropriate dress (traditionally white or red silk) upon the image.

12. Paint

the crown gold and the hair and eyes black.

13. Draw

three stripes of vibhuti

on the forehead and a swastika and an Aum on the

abdomen with red paint and a fine brush.

14. Make

implements for each hand out of aluminum foil.

15.

Decorate the image with ornaments, flowers, etc.

Vinayaka Vratam

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Vinayaka Vratam is a 21-day

festival honoring Lord Ganesha beginning on the full

moon day in the month of Karttikai --

November/December. During these days Vinayaka Purana,

or stories, are recited in the temples, and special pujas are conducted at

every Ganesha temple. Many devotees observe the vrata (vow) of attending daily puja

at a Ganesha temple and taking only one meal a day, in the evening.

Markali Pillaiyar

Markali Pillaiyar is a month-long

home religious festival held in honor of Lord

Ganesha. For untold thousands of years winter festivities and ceremonies have

been held in His honor. During the Tamil month of Markali -- from mid-December

to the mid-January -- we

worship Lord Pillaiyar, the Noble Child, with special

devotion, prayers and japa of His names. This month

is the most spiritual time of the year, and we meditate diligently, especially

between four and six in the morning. Traditionally, all worship, prayer and

spiritual disciplines, or sadhanas,

are commenced during the month of Markali, and the

home is cleaned each day.

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Pancha Ganapati

Pancha Ganapati is a modern Hindu festival of the Five-Faced

(pancha

means "five") Maha Ganapati -- Lord of Categories. This festival

falls during the thirty days of the Markali Pillaiyar home festival and lasts for five days -- from

December 21 through 25.

The

winter solstice has always been a festive time of year in all countries and

religions, among Hindus especially, for it is a traditional season for the

worship of Lord Ganesha. In Hindu Vedic Astrology this time of year marks the

end of the sun's southward movement and the beginning of its movement north,

the change from dakshinayana

to uttarayana.

Since Hindus do not celebrate Christmas, they often find it difficult to relate

in a meaningful way to those who do. Their children are often embarrassed when

asked why they do not receive gifts on December 25. Adults feel the need to

give gifts and mail greeting cards as well as receive them from their

relatives, neighbors, friends and business

associates. Pancha Ganapati is a Hindu expression of

this natural season of worship, gift-giving and celebration.

December

25 and the days that precede and follow it have truly become a special time of

year for people of many religions, and for the non-religious as well. In fact,

this season has become so universally popular that it has virtually become a

secular cultural holiday in addition to its special observance by certain

religions. Recognizing this fact, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Christmas a

secular, social holiday. This is because it has become a time for everyone to

rejoice, give and share their abundance, each in his own way.

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font-family:Arial">Loving Ganesha by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

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font-family:Arial">Web sites: http://www.hindu.org/

& http://www.himalayanacademy.com/

email: contact (AT) hindu (DOT) org

Himalayan Academy

Kauai's Hindu Monastery

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