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How to perform Ganesh Chaturthi puja at home?

Posted on August 18, 2009. Filed under: My musings | Tags: ganesh arti, ganesh chaturthi, ganesh puja 2009, how to do ganesh puja at home, how to perform ganesh pooja at home, jai ganesh deva, marathi arti |

Ganesha Chaturthi (IAST: Gaṇeśa Caturthī, devanagari: गणेश चतुर्थी) or Ganesha Festival is a day on which Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi in Sanskrit, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu, Chavath ( चवथ ) in Konkani and Chathaa (चथा) in Nepali Bhasa.

It is celebrated as it is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). Typically, the day usually falls between 20 August and 15 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi . This festival is observed in the lunar month of bhadrapada shukla paksha chathurthi madhyahana vyapini purvaviddha. If Chaturthi prevails on both days, the first day should be observed. Even if chaturthi prevails for complete duration of madhyahana on the second day, but if it prevails on previous day’s madhyahana period even for one ghatika (24 minutes) the previous day should be observed.

Lord Ganesh Pooja :-

Place the idol of Lord Ganesh on the altar after taking bath in the morning. Sit comfortably, fold your hand in namaste, close your eyes and chant Om slowly three times.

Ganesh Mantra –

vakratunda mahaakaaya soorya koti samaprabha
nirvighnam kuru mein deva sarva kaaryashu sarvadaa

Chant the following mantra, while placing the mukut on the idol

Asmin Bimbe Chitrapate
Maha-Ganapataye Namah
Vastrartha Mukutam
Samarpayami

* Sound the bell for 5 seconds.

Next step is to invoke Ganesha into the image. This is known as pran-prathishta. The Pran Prathista mantra in Sanskrit to be invoked is found in the Rig Veda and is part of Ganesh Suktha.

The Invocation mantra in Devnagiri are as follows:-
गणानां तवा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम |
जयेष्ठराजं बरह्मणां बरह्मणस पत आ नः षर्ण्वन्नूतिभिः सीद सादनम ||

नि षु सीद गणपते गणेषु तवामाहुर्विप्रतमंकवीनाम |
न रते तवत करियते किं चनारे महामर्कंमघवञ्चित्रमर्च ||

Now Ganesh’s soul is invoked in the idol and you can start performing the customary puja rituals/bhajans.

Saraswati Mantra –

saraswati namastubhyam varade kaama roopinee
poojaarambham karishyaami siddhir bhavatu mein sadaa

English meaning:

Goddess Saraswati, my salutations to you. I am starting the puja, please bless me with knowledge.

*Make a resolve to perform the pooja.

Make a resolve Mantra –

mama upaatta samasta durita kshaya dwaaraa parameshwara preeti
artham mahaa ganapati poojaam karishye

Prepare the pooja thali with the following items:

• Coconut
• 21 blades of Dhruva grass
• 21 Modak (Modak is the favourite food of Lord Ganesh)
• Pack Of Agarbattis (Incence Sticks)
• Betel Leaf & Supari (Betel nut)
• Janahav (Cotton String worn by Hindus)
• Cotton packet (Used for making cotton wicks)
• Abir (Black powder used for applying tilak)
• Gulal (Red powder used for applying tilak)
• Stick of Sandalwood (Used in making sandalwood paste)
• Packet Of Camphor
• Pouch Of Dhoop (Natural extract from trees)

*Pray Guru

Guru Mantra –

English wording:
gurur brahma guruvishnuh gurudevo maheshwara
gurussakshaat parabrahma tasmai shri gurave namah

English meaning:
The teacher is the embodiment of the trinity – Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. To that Guru, who is none other than God himself, I salute.

Prepare the Nandadeep (lamp) by pouring oil in it and making a cotton wick.

*Meditate upon Lord Ganesh

English wording:
shuklaambara sharam vishnum shashi varnam chaturbhujam
prasanna vadanam dhyaayet sarvavighnopa shaantaye

English meaning:

Make arrangements for garland to be placed around Lord Ganesha’s neck.

*Invite the Lord to accept your worship.

English meaning:

I offer camphor aarti to Lord Ganesh in this beautiful form. After the camphor aarti, pure water is offered to Him.

*Welcome the Lord with flowers and water

Fill the kalash (copper pot) with water and arrange flowers.

*Offer milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar. At the end offer water from the kalash. Pour the mixture of all these five items into the Charanamrit set. Offer everything with Charanamrit Set. Dip flowers in the kalash and offer to the Lord.

*Worship the Lord with a bit of kumkum (sindoor), haldi (turmeric powder), abir (black powder) and a paste made out of sandalwood bar.

*Offer the benevolent Lord the traditional Dhoop Aarti with Brass Dhoop Lamp and circle the Lord Ganesha Idol three to five times in the clock wise direction

* – Perform The Lord Ganesha Aarti – Jai Ganesh Deva/Jai Dev Jai dev(famous marathi arti)  with the traditional Niranjan Lamp. All the five oil cotton wicks of the Niranjan should be lighted as this a part of the customary ritual of the traditional Ganesh Pooja

While i was in Maharashtra, this was the famous marathi lyrics of jai dev jai dev arti that would linger in the temples of Pune :

Jai Dev Jai Dev Arti

Jaidev Jaidev Jai Mangal Murti ll
Darshan Maatre Man: Kaamna Phurti ll

Sukhkarta Dukhharta Varta Vighnachi ll
Nurvi Purvi Prem Krupa Jayachi ll
Sarvangi Sundar Uti Shendurachi ll
Kanti Jhalke Mal Mukataphalaanchi..ll
Jaidev Jaidev Jai Mangal Murti ll
Darshan Maatre Man: Kaamna Phurti ll
Ratnakhachit Phara Tujh Gaurikumra ll
Chandanaachi Uti Kumkumkeshara ll
Hirejadit Mukut Shobhato Bara ll
Runjhunati Nupure(2) Charani Ghagriya ll
Jaidev Jaidev Jai Mangal Murti ll
Darshan Maatre Man: Kaamna Phurti ll
Lambodar Pitaambar Phanivarvandana ll
Saral Sond Vakratunda Trinayana ll
Das Ramacha Vat Pahe Sadana ll
Sankati Pavave Nirvani Rakshave ll
Survarvandana ll
Jaidev Jaidev Jai Mangal Murti ll
Darshan Maatre Man: Kaamna Phurti ll

For those who have difficulty in saying the marathi words, here is Jai Ganesh Deva, the popular arati of Lord Ganesha :

Jai Ganesh jai Ganesh jai Ganesh deva
Mata jaki  parvati pita mahadeva

Ek dant dayavant
Char bhuja dhari
Mathe pher sindur sohe
Muse ki sawari

Jai Ganesh jai Ganesh jai Ganesh deva …

Pan chadhe phul chadhe
Aur chadhe meva
Ladduan ka bhog lage
Sant kare seva

Jai Ganesh jai Ganesh jai Ganesh deva …

Andhan ko ankh
det Kodhin ko kaya
Banjan ko putra det
Nirdhan ko maya

Jai Ganesh jai Ganesh jai Ganesh deva …

Vighne harane mangala karane
Puhan puhan prakash
Nama le Ganesh ka
Siddha ojata kaja

Jai Ganesh jai Ganesh jai Ganesh deva …

After doing the arati,

* Stand up straight. Fold your hands and do namaste. Turn clock wise three times. Do namaskar to the benevolent Lord Ganesha.

Take prasad and distribute it to everyone present. Take blessings from Lord Ganesha for a happy and prosperous life.

After reciting the following Shanti Mantra, cleanup your pooja place
sarve santu sukhinah
sarve santu niramayah
sarve bhadrani pashyantu
maa kashchid dukhabhag bhavet

//OM Ganeshaya Namah//

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