Dear Reader,
Hai! Hello I would
like to mention about this festival which is celebrated in India at your house….of
course it’s too natural. Some might not have chance to celebrate but I would love
to welcome you to my home and see my ganesh and my puja.
It is said that
festivals (celebration) teaches us the way we live and the skills that can be
improved communication skills, reading skills, social skills, and people skills
too. Right!
Today, I will show
you how we celebrated ganesh puja with my own family members and you too my
guest (Atithi Devo Bhava Means Guest Is God).
Here you go,
/
VINAYAKA CHATURTHI PUJA VIDHANAM IN TELUGU STYLE:
Vinayaka Puja
is a festival puja, in which knowledge about flora is passed on from one
generation to another in the form of a tradition. God Vinayaka is worshiped by
all and more interestingly by the children.
How to perform Vinayaka Puja?
Before
starting the Vinayaka Puja take a fresh bath and wear new clothes. Clean the
puja mandapam, Place the clay Vinayaka statue and other puja items there. Place
a betel leaf before the god. Make a small Turmeric Ganapathi by using turmeric
and water. Place kumkum on it and decorate it with flowers. Perform Pasupu
Ganapathi Puja, and then perform Vinayaka Chaturthi Puja, then Chant Vinayaka
Astottara Shatanama Stotram and other Ganesh Stotrams, after that hear Vinayaka
Chaturthi Story and finish the puja with Vinayaka Aarti.
When is Vinayaka Chaturthi in august 2014?
Bhadrapada
Sukla Paksha Chaturthi or the fourth day of the month of Bhadrapada of Lunar
calendar is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi.
In 2014, Vinayaka Chaturthi Falls on August 29th, Friday.
Vinayaka
Chaturthi is celebrated on the occasion of Ganesh being made the head of all
Vighnas and also the birthday of Lord Vinayaka or Ganesh.
The
common ritual on Vinayaka Chaturthi is to perform puja to the clay idol. The
puja has to be done with 21 different kinds of leaves. Then Lord Ganesh is
offered Naivedyam. Undrallu, are a mandate as Naivedyam for Lord Ganesh on
Vinayaka Chaturthi.
OM SHRI GANESHAYA NAMAHA OM…..
List of 21 Patras for Ganesh Chaturthi Puja:
1.
Shami Patra
2.
Bhringraj Patra
3.
Durva Patra
4.
Ber Patra
5.
Datura Patra
6.
Tulasi Patra
7.
Sem Patra
8.
Apamarga Patra
9.
Bhatakataiya Patra
10.
Sindoor Patra
11.
Tej Patra
12.
Agastya Patra
13.
Kaner Patra
14.
Kadali Patra
15.
Arka Patra
16.
Arjuna Patra
17.
Devdar Patra
18.
Marua Patra
19.
Gandari Patra
20.
Ketaki Patra
21.
Bilva Patra
21
different types of leaves are suggested for Ganesh Chaturthi Puja and popularly
known as Patra Puja. As it is not practical to have all of them during the Puja
time, devotees can include some of them in Puja Samagari.
Due
to one legend in Ganesh Purana which talks about Tulsi and Lord Ganesh cursing
each other, Tulsi leaves are not offered to Lord Ganesh. However as an
exception Tulsi leaves is offered to Lord Ganesh during Ganesh Chaturthi Puja
which is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi Puja.
How to perform Ganesh Chaturthi Puja?
Ganesh
Chaturthi Puja Vidhanam. Perform Pasupu Ganapathi puja before starting
GANESHA SHODASHOPACHARA PUJA.
Shuklam
Baradaram Vishnum, Sasi Varnam Chatur Bhujam,
Prasanna
Vadanan Dyayet, Sarva Vignoba Sandaye||
Santhakaram
Bujaga sayanam Padmanabham suresam,
Viswadharam
Gagana sadrusam Megha varnam shubangam
Lakshmi
kantham kamala nayanam Yogi hrid dyana gamyam
Vande
vishnum bava bhayaharam sava lokaika nadham||
Oushade
Chinthaye Vishnum,
Bhojane
cha Janardhanam,
Sayane
Padmanabham cha,
Vivahe
cha Prajapathim.
Yuddhe
Chakradharam devam,
Pravase
cha Trivikramam,
Narayanam
Thanu thyage,
Sreedharam
priya sangame,
Duswapne
smara, Govindam,
Sankate
Madhu soodhanam,
Kanane
Narasimham cha,
Pavake
Jalasayinam,
Jalamadhye
Varaham cha,
Parvathe
Raghu nandanam,
Gamane
Vamanam Chaiva,
Sarva
Karyeshu Madhavam
Shodasaithani
Naamani,
Prathar
uthaaya ya padeth,
Sarva
papa vinirmuktho,
Vishnu
lokam samopnuyath||.
THE MEANING OF THIS SLOKAM IN ENGLISH
TRANSLATION:
This
is one of the prayers to be addressed to Lord Vishnu as soon as you wake up. It
lists the Sixteen Names of Lord Vishnu.
Above
are the Sanskrit verses and its English translation.
Dressed
in white you are,
Oh,
all pervading one,
And
glowing with the color of moon.
With
four arms, you are, the all knowing one
I
meditate on your ever-smiling face,
And
pray, Remove all obstacles on my way.
I
bow before the God Vishnu,
Who
is personification of peace,
Who
sleeps on his folded arms,
Who
has a lotus on his belly,
Who
is the God of gods,
Who
is the basis of earth,
Who
is similar to the sky,
Who
is of the color of the cloud,
Who
has beautiful limbs,
Who
is the consort of Lakshmi,
Who
has lotus like eyes,
Who
is seen by saints through thought,
Who
kills all worries and fears,
And
who is the lord of all the worlds,
Think
him as Vishnu while taking medicine,
As
Janardhana while eating food,
As
Padmanabha while in bed,
As
Prajapathi at time of marriage,
As
Chakra dhara while engaged in war,
As
Trivikrama while on travel,
As
Narayana on death bed,
As
Sreedhara while meeting with the beloved,
As
Govinda while tossing with bad dreams,
As
Madhu sudhana while in trouble,
As
Narasimha while in the forest,
As
Jala Sayina while fire is ravaging,
As
Varaha while struggling in water,
As
Raghu nandana while lost in a mountain,
As
Vamana while on the move,
And
as Madhava while doing everything.
As
soon as one wakes up in the morning,
If
these Sixteen Names are read,
He
would be bereft of all sins,
And
reach the world of Vishnu at the end.
Mantras for achamanam:
1.
Om Keshavaya Namah
2.
Om Narayanaya Namah
3.
Om Madhavaya Namah
4.
Om Govindaya Namah
5.
Om Vishnave Namah
6.
Om Madhusudanaya Namah
7.
Om Trivikramaya Namah
8.
Om Vamanaya Namah
9.
Om Sridharaya Namah
10.
Om Hrishikeshaya Namah
11.
Om Padmanabhaya Namah
12.
Om Damodaraya Namah
GANESHA ASHTAKAM:
Yatho
Anantha Shakthir Anathascha Jeeva,
Yatho
Nirgunadha Aprameyaa Gunasthe,
Yatho
Bhathi Saravam Tridha Bedha Binnam,
Sada
Tham Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Yathaschaviraseej
Jagath Sarvametha,
Thadhabjasano
Viswgo Viswagoptha,
Thandendradhayo
Deva Sanga Manushya,
Sada
Tham Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Sada
Tham Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Sada
Tham Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Yatho
Vahni Bhanu Bhavo Bhoor Jalam Cha,
Yatha
Sagaraschandrama Vyoma Vayu,
Yatha
Sthavara Jangama Vruksha Sangha,
Sada
Tham Ganesham Namamo Bhajama
Yatho
Dhanava, Kinnara Yaksha Sangha,
Yatha
Scharana Varana Swapadascha,
Yatha
Pakshi Keeta Yatho Veerudasha,
Sadatham
Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Sadatham
Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Sadatham
Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Yatho
Budhir Ajnananaso Mumukshor,
Yatha
Sampadho Bhaktha Santhoshika Syu,
Yatho
Vigna Naso, Yatha Karya Sidhi,
Sada
Tham Ganesham Namamo Bhajama
Yatha
Puthra Sampadhyatho, Vanchithartho,
Yatho
Abhakthi Vignasthadha Anekaroopa,
Yatho
Soka Mohaou Yatha Kama Eva,
Sadatham
Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Sadatham
Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Sadatham
Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Yatho
Anantha Shakthi Sasesho Bhabhoova,
Dharadhararenakaroope
Cha Shaktha,
Yatho
Anekadha Swargalolka Hi Nana,
Sada
Tham Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Yatha
Veda Vacho Vikunta Manobhi,
Sada
Nethinetheeti Yatha Gunanthi,
Para
Brahma Roopam Chidananda Bhootham,
Sadatham
Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Sadatham
Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Sadatham
Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
Sadatham
Ganesam Namamo Bhajama
GANESHA ASTOTTARA SHATANAMAVALI
VINAYAKA CHATURTHI KATHA
Great
sage called sutha once narrated the story of how vinayaka was born, what is the
dosha that comes when we see the moon on Vinayaka Chaturthi and the remedy from
the dosha.
VINAYAKA CHATURTHI STORY:
Once
there lived a demon king by the name of GAJASURA, he was named so because had
the form of an elephant(GAJA). He performed great penance (tapasya) for lord
Shiva. Shiva who was pleased with the penance came to him and offered him a boon
(varam). That demon prayed lord Shiva as soon as he saw him and then prayed
that “hey lord, I would ask you stay in my stomach” as boon. Lord Shiva known
for his love towards the followers agreed and stayed in the stomach of the
Gajasura.
In
the mean time, goddess Parvati wife of lord Shiva, who was in kailasam (the
abode of lord Shiva), was getting worried, as her husband was not to be seen
for many days. She searched and finally found out that lord Shiva was residing
in the stomach of the demon Gajasura. Then she was very worried on how to get
her husband back and prayed to her brother lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu came to
Parvati, who narrated the whole story of her husband and requested Vishnu to
help in getting her husband back. Vishnu consoled Parvati and promised that he
would get back her husband.
Lord
Vishnu along with other deities like Indra, Brahma etc hatched a plan of
getting Shiva back. As a part of the plan they decorated NANDI (the bull) as
GANGIREDDU (this is a part of Andhra tradition wherein bulls are decorated,
trained to make movements according to the music) and Gods were disguised as musical
instrument players where all the Gods took up different musical instruments.
With everything ready all of them went to the capital city of the demon
Gajasura.
In
the city, they started the show of making the bull move to their music and it
was magnificent and started pulling huge crowds. The fame of the Bull play
reached Gajasura and he summoned them to his court. In the court all the Gods
made Nandi play beautifully by which Gajasura was impressed and asked the band
to go ahead and ask for anything and he would for sure give them. Listening to
that Vishnu said that the Gangireddu was none other than Nandi the vehicle of
Shiva and they were here for Shiva.
Listening
to that Gajasura understood that the one who spoke was none other than Lord
Vishnu famous for killing demons and knowing that he had no other way out but
to stand on his word he once again prayed to lord Shiva and asked for another
boon stating that “His death was eminent and so he prayed to Shiva that he made
his head to be prayed in all the lokas (bhoo lokam, patala lokam etc) and that
Shiva should wear his skin as clothes.” For which lord Shiva agreed. Vishnu
asked Nandi to pierce the stomach of Gajasura, which Nandi did and Shiva was
out from the stomach of Gajasura.
Vishnu
then adviced Shiva that boons were to be given on discretion and asked him to
consider before giving boons to demons. Then all the Gods left and so did
Shiva, mounted Nandi and left to kailasam.
BIRTH OF GANESHA:
Knowing
the arrival of Lord Shiva, Parvati feels relieved and happy. She performs
abhyangana stnana ( this is a form of bath taken by applying oil to the whole
body massage until the whole oil gets into the body and then apply sunnipindi (flour)
called “Nalugu “ to body and rub so that
the flour peels of taking all the dust ).
While performing the bath she prepares a boy with the flour and instills
life into it . The child is born and she asks him to be guard at the front door
as long as she is bathing and tell him not to let anyone enter the house.
The
child is now standing as a guard to the door of
the house of Parvati. Shiva comes home and tries to get into the home,
where the child is stopped him. Shiva gets angry and in a fit of rage kills the
boy by beheading and burning the head and enters the house.
Parvati
who is ready by now, receives lord Shiva with affection. In the course of
talking the discussion comes up on the boy who was guarding the door. Shiva
tells Parvati that he had killed him upon which Parvati narrates the whole
story of the birth of the boy and becomes sad. Shiva repents on what he had
done and the only way that he can bring the boy to life is by attaching a new
head. He sends all the soldiers under his command to go and fetch a head of the
person who is lying (sleeping) with his head positioned in the North direction.
Then all the soldiers go in all the directions and finally return with the head
of Gajasura stating that Gajasura was the only one sleeping with his head kept
in the North direction. (Hence it is advised not to sleep keeping the head in
North direction. One more reason being that South is the position of Yama and
no one would want to see Yama as soon as they get up).
Shiva
then brings back the boy to life by attaching the head of Gajasura and named
him Gajanana (Ganesha). He was given a rat by the name of Anindyudu as vehicle.
Shiva and parvati after few years had another son by the name of Kumaraswamy.
Kumaraswamy became the commander of the army of Gods later. Kumaraswamy is also
called as karthikeya,Subramanya etc.
COMMANDER OF VIGHNAS.
Vighna
: Means some obstacle that would come for any work we would want to do before
the work itself gets started. That is you will get lot of troubles before you
start the work and finally you will not be able to complete the work. Vighnas
will never allow you to finish the work as expected by you.
Once
all the gods, sages meet Shiva and pray him and ask him to appoint someone as a
head to the Vighnas. Kumaraswamy comes forward and asks his father to give the
head of vighnas post to him as Gajanana is short and fat. But Gajanana (Ganesha)
also wants the post. So Shiva puts them to a test. The test is to go around all
the worlds and to bath in all the holy rivers present in those worlds and
return. Whoever comes first will be appointed as the head of Vighnas.
Listening
to which Kumaraswamy sits on his vehicle Peacock and flies for completing the
test. Ganesh on the other hand feels sorrow approaches his father and prays him
saying, “you know that I am fat, short and cannot move as fast as Kumaraswamy.
So I request you to advice me on how to win this competition.”
Lord
Shiva responds to his prayer and says that if you recite the NARAYANA MANTRAM
and do pradakishna to parents ( circling around the parents) it is equal to
bathing in all the holy rivers. Shiva teaches Ganesh the Narayana mantra and
Ganesh reciting the mantra does the pradakshina to his parents. Because of the affect
of the mantra and pradakishna, Kumaraswamy always sees his borther Ganesh to
finish the bath and leave as he tries to enter for a bath in any of the holy
river.
Kumaraswamy
returns to kailasam and tells his father to forgive him of his ignorance in
recognizing his elder brothers capability and requests him to place Ganesh as
the Head of Vighnas.
So
Ganesh is named as the head of the Vighnas and hence called VIGHNESHWAR (LORD
OF VIGHNAS). This ceremony of placing Ganesh as the head of the Vighnas was
done on Bhadrapadha suddha chaviti and from that day on it is celebrated as
vinayaka chaturthi. All the people, gods, sages etc of all worlds presented Ganesh
with lot of different food items like Bananas, Coconuts, sweets like Laddu, etc
and Ganesh ate most of them. He wishing to seek the blessings of his mother and
father goes to them with his big stomach. He tries to take their blessing by
doing sashtanga Namaskaram (sashtanga Namaskaram: where in the persons lies
down on the floor with his hand stretched over the forehead, and his face,
stomach legs, all touch the ground), but because of his stomach if he tries to
keep his hand on the ground his legs would raise and if he places his legs on the
ground his hands would raise. Looking at the way Ganesh was doing the namaskara
the MOON which resides on the head of lord Shiva laughs and Ganesh is subjected
to Dishti, you can say as to look at one to cause harm to him, feel jealous and
would like that some harm would happen to him) Which causes the stomach of
Ganesh to break open and Ganesh dies.
Looking
at his dead son Parvati gets angry and then puts a curse on Moon that “As her
son died because of the Dishti by Moon, the one who would from now on see Moon
will be falsely alleged (blamed) (NEELAPANINDA causing pain to them, i.e. the
one who would look Moon will be held responsible for the bad deed or crime that
they have not committed)”.
At
the same time the famous seven sages (saptarushis) were doing pradakshina (circling
around) the fire along with their wives.
The fire god (Agnideva) gets attracted to the wives of sages and would want to
spend time with them. But afraid of the curse that the sages would give if he
tries to do it he refrains himself. Knowing this Swahadevi the wife of lord
Agni, tries to bring happiness to her husband, transforms herself to look like
the wives of the sages and spends time with her husband. Swahadevi transforms
to look like the wives of six sages except for ARUNDHATI (the famous sati) .
The seven sages by chance see this and think that it is their wives that are
present with lord Agni and leave their wives. This was the result of the wives
seeing the Moon after the curse of Parvati.
The
wives of seven sages go to Brahma and pray him of their innocence. Shiva who
knows everything, calls for the seven sages and pacify them by narrating the
truth that it was in fact the wife of Agni who transformed herself to look like
the wives of the sages. Then Brahma along with all the others goes to Kailasam
and gives life to the dead Ganesh and prays Parvati to withdraw her curse.
Parvati
relieved of the pain, is happy to see her son and so she reduces the intensity
of the curse by stating that “the curse would prevail only on the day, her son
was dead because of Moons DISHTI” i.e on the 4th day of Bhadrapada Masam.
(Bhadrapada suddha Chaviti). So people from that day onwards refrained
themselves from looking at the moon on the day of vinayaka Chaviti.
This
went for some time. In Dwapara yuga (there are four YUGAS) ,one day sage Narada
came to see Lord Krishna in the city of Dwaraka. He informed him of the curse
of Parvati, narrated the whole story and advised him not to see the moon today
as it was Vinayaka chaturthi. Krishna made this matter to be known to all the
people of his kingdom and he also was careful not to look at moon. Krishna
loves to drink milk and so goes to the cow yard and milks the cow and when he
is about to drink the milk, he sees the reflection of moon in it. He
immediately remembers what Narada had said and prepares himself to face the
false allegation he might be dragged into.
Some
time passes by and once a person by the name SATRAJITT visits Sri Krishna and
shows him a diamond by the name of SAMANTAKA MANI, which was given to Satrajit
by the Lord Sun. The speciality of the diamond being, it gives out eight kgs of
gold every day. Then Krishna asks Satrajit to give to the king for the best use
for the welfare of the people. But Satrajit refuses and Krishna lets it go.
Once
Prasena, the brother of Satrajit, goes hunting wearing the diamond. Looking at
the diamond and presuming it to be meat a Lion attacks and kills Prasena and
takes the diamond. A bear has a look at the diamond with the Lion and fights with
it and takes the diamond to his home which is a cave and ties it to the cradle
in which his daughter is sleeping for her to play. The next day as Prasena
doesn’t return, Satrajit blames that Krishna has killed his brother and taken
the Diamond as he has refused to give to Krishna. Listening to which Krishna
understands that, this blame was due to looking at the reflection of the moon
in milk during Vinayaka chaturthi. In order to free himself of the blame,
Krishna enquires on what happened and goes to the forest looking for Prasena.
In
the forest at one place he finds the dead body of Prasena and foot marks of a lion.
He follows the foot marks of Lion and after some time comes to a place where he
sees that there has been a fight between a Lion and a Bear. He then follows the
footsteps of the Bear and reaches the cave of the bear. Krishna enters the cave
and sees the diamond tied to the cradle. He tries to take it and the girl start
crying hearing which the bear comes and attacks Krishna. Krishna fights back
with the bear. The fight goes on for 28 days and the bear looses all it energy
and realizes that Krishna is none other than RAMA. The bear is none other than
JAMBAVANTHA the king of bears and aide of Rama in Tretayuga. He then remembers
how after the war with Ravana, Rama grants a boon to Jambavanta, and Jambavanta
foolishly asks for a duel with Rama. Which Rama grants and says that his boon
would be fulfilled later and it is known that Krishna has come to fulfill the
boon and both Rama and Krishna are the avatara (forms) of Lord Vishnu. He then
prays to Krishna who relieves Jambavantha of all the pains. Jambavanta along
with the diamond also gives him his daughter Jambavati and requests him to
accept her as his wife. Krishna agrees and returns to Dwaraka along with the
diamond and the girl.
He
summons Satrajit returns the diamond and narrates him the whole story.
Listening to which, Satrajit repents and offers Krishna not only the diamond
but also his daughter Satyabhama. Krishna rejects the diamond and accepts
Satyabhama as his wife.
All
the people, sages then pray to Krishna and tell him that because you are the
almighty you were able to prove your innocence. But what about normal people
like us. Please show us some means to overcome the blame if we look at the Moon
on Vinayaka Chaviti. Krishna pleased by the prayers, gives a boon that those
who perform the Ganesh Puja and would listen to the story of birth of Ganesh
and the story of smantakamani and put the AKSHINTALU (rice which is prepared by
mixing it with pasupu (turmeric) and are used to do puja) on their heads would
be freed from the curse if they accidentally see the Moon.
LORD GANESH FAVIORATE RECIPE: UNDRALLU
Undrallu can be also called as vundrallu.
Undrallu is a special recipe prepared on the occasion of Vinayaka Chaturthi.
Ingredients
list:
Rice Flour (1/2 cup),
Water
(11/2 Cup),
Chana
dal (1 table spoon),
Ghee
(1 table spoon),
Salt (¼ table spoon),
Talimpu (if necessary)
Preparation
time: 45 minutes
Preparation
Method :
Soak
chana dal in water for 30 min’s. Drain and keep aside and heat the ghee in a
thick shallow vessel and add chana dal and fry it for a minute. Add some water
to it and let it boil. Add some salt and rice rava and mix well until no lumps
are formed. Cover it and cook on low flame for some time, until the rava is
cooked well and the mixture is dry without any water. Switch off the flame.
Leave
it aside and wait till it cool down a bit. Dip your hands in water and make
lemon sized balls out of it and place them in a Cooker. Arrange them in a
cooker, leaving some gap in between them as they will bulge after steaming.
Steam them for 15 minutes.
