Lord Ganesha & Ganesh Chaturthi

August 24, 2006

Hare Krishna,

Dear All,

Happy Ganesh Chathurthi .

With Love

Sree

Lord Ganesha

Lord Ganesha is the elephant-headed God. He is worshipped first in any prayers. His Names are repeated first before any auspicious work is begun, before any kind of worship is begun.He is the Lord of power and wisdom. He is the eldest son of Lord Shiva and the elder brother of Skanda or Kartikeya. He is the energy of Lord Shiva and so He is called the son of Shankar and Umadevi. By worshipping Lord Ganesha mothers hope to earn for their sons the sterling virtues of Ganesha.The following story is narrated about His birth and how He came to have the head of an elephant: Once upon a time, the Goddess Gauri (consort of Lord Shiva), while bathing, created Ganesha as a pure white being out of the mud of Her Body and placed Him at the entrance of the house. She told Him not to allow anyone to enter while she went inside for a bath. Lord Shiva Himself was returning home quite thirsty and was stopped by Ganesha at the gate. Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesha's head as He thought Ganesha was an outsider.When Gauri came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console her grief, Shiva ordered His

servants to cut off and bring to Him the head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. The servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant's head was brought before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant's head onto the body of Ganesha.Lord Shiva made His son worthy of worship at the beginning of all undertakings, marriages, expeditions, studies, etc. He ordained that the annual worship of Ganesha should take place on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada. With the Grace of Sri Ganesha and his help any rightful thing can be achieved. His support, Grace or blessing and grace makes any good action fruitful .

Ganesh Aarti

Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh devaMata jaki Parvati, Pita Mahadeva.

Ek dant dayavant, char bhuja dhariMathe sindur sohai, muse ki savari, Jai Ganesh...Andhan ko ankh det, kodhin ko kayaBanjhan ko putra

det, nirdhan ko maya, Jai Ganesh....Pan chadhe, phul chadhe, aur chadhe mevaLadduan ka bhog lage, saht kare seva, ,Jai Ganesh.... Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh deva,Mata jaki Parvata, Pita Mahadeva.

Ganesha's Favourites

Modak : Wordly meaning of MODAK - MODA means happiness and K is a suffix. Modak means "That which gives (or brings) happiness". It is considered as the favourite sweet(mithai ) of Lord GaneshaDurva : Slim thread like Durva leaves are generally an essential part of Lord Ganesha PujaRat : He is considered as the vehicle of Lord Ganesha and one will always find him around the

idol of Lord Ganesha.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is the day most sacred to Lord Ganesha. It falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (August-September). It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all parts of the world.Ganesh Chaturthi is a part of ten day Ganesha festival which is

celebrated all across the country with lot of flowers, lights, sweets enthusiasm and excitement.Clay figures of the Deity are made and after being worshipped for two days, or in some cases ten days, finally immersing them in water on the eleventh day. On the day of the festival, it is placed on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents for people to view and pay their homage.The whole community comes to worship Ganesha in beautifully done tents. These also serve as the venue for free medical checkup, blood donation camps, charity for the poor, dramatic performances, films, devotional songs, etc. during the days of the festival. In other places it is simply celebrated at home and hymns are sung and offerings made to Ganesh. Sweets are also distributed because in Hindu legend Ganesh liked them.On the 11th day, the image is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of all man. All join in this final procession shouting "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya" (O father Ganesha, come again early next year). After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idol to the river to immerse it.This not only suggests the importance of Ganesha, but also shows how popular and pervasive this deity is in the minds of the

masses.

Lalbaug Ka Raja

Lalbaug Ka Raja also famously known as Mumbai ka Raja comes with grand pomp and ceremony admist the Lalbaug residents to spread happiness, joy, & loads of excitement during the Ganesha Festival. He is the beloved of not only the Lalbaug resident but of the entire Mumbai. As people from all caste and creed wish to come and visit him.Lalbaug Ka Raja is considered as " Mannat Ke Ganpati " meaning Lord Ganesha who grants wishes of one and all. Lakhs of devotees come each year to offer their prayers and wishes at the pandal (tent) where the huge and full of life idol of

Shri Ganpati is worshipped