Ganesh Chaturthi

"Vakratunda Maha-kaya Surya-Kodi Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kuru May Deva Sarva-Karyeshu Sarvada"

 Vinayaka's birthday is celebrated on the fourth day of the white wing in the month of Chingam.  This festival is also known as Ganesha Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi.  It was most celebrated in the northern states.  Although there are no festivals that last for so many days, they are celebrated in Kerala as well. It is a big festival in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh as well as all over North India.  Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated with great significance in the Ganapati temples.  Worshiping the elephant and performing elephant rides are all important parts of it.

 What is a legend?

 Goddess Parvati, who is the most beautiful of the seven worlds, suddenly has a desire to have a baby one day.  The body of the Goddess was covered with saffron, turmeric and turmeric and kept in a safe place.  Before going to the bath, the goddess put all those folds together and gave the appearance of a baby.  In a profound prayer, the Goddess invoked her soul and the life force of Lord Mahadevan and named him Vinayakan.  When the son came to life, the mother first entrusted him with the task of caring for the mother.  Amma means the world to Vinayaka.  The mother loved her son very much and the mother loved her son very much.  Sakshal Mahadevan enters the temple when his mother's command not to let anyone in until the flood is over.  Mahadevan was surprised to see the faceless boy.  But when the boy refused to go inside, Lord Vinayakan became very angry and slit his throat.  When Devi returned after bathing, she saw her son's unconscious body and was in agony.  The image of the father killing his son angered Devi.  The goddess ordered Mahadev to give her son back his life by any means.  Panicked at the depths of the Goddess' anger, Mahadevan descended with the demons.  Vinayaka decided to cut off the first thing he saw, be it human or animal, and put it to life.  But the first to appear on their journey was an elephant.  Manasilla reluctantly said something, but when she heard this, she was overjoyed and gave her head to Mahadeva's son and the elephant was ready to revive him.  Thus Vinayaka was born as the eldest son of Shiva and Parvati.  This is the day we celebrate as Vinayaka Chaturthi.

 Celebration:

 The idols of Lord Ganesha are enshrined and worshiped with special rituals.  On this day, when lotus and black currant are used for Ganapati puja, Ganesha's favorite Modak, laddu and sweets are prepared at home and offered to Ganapati with special pujas.  The earthen idols of Lord Ganesha are usually worshiped.  It invokes the dirty thoughts in our minds.  These thoughts that have accumulated in the mind are the reason for the positions in our lives.  We are immersing them here through the idol of Ganesha.  These idols are immersed in water in the evening or on the third day, the fifth day, the seventh day and the ninth day of the same day after the morning pooja.  Immersion is accompanied by large ceremonies with songs and processions.  The festivities end with the idols of Lord Ganesha floating in the river or sea.

 Things not to do:

 Do not look at the moon on Ganesha Chaturthi day.  There is a legend behind it.  At the special invitation of the great devotee Kuberan, Maha Ganapati attended the banquet and the son of Mahadeva, who was a lover of food, happily ate a lot.  Chandra Bhagavan was amused when he saw Vinayaka riding his mouse vehicle back to Kailasa.  The form of Lord Ganesha and the mouse vehicle made Chandra Devan mock him.  But Uma's son did not like that teasing.  By default, Ganapati looked at the beautiful moon and cursed, "May those who look at you today be defiled."  Few people confirm the belief that if you look at the moon on this day, even if you are innocent, you will experience bad name, humiliation and stigma in the society.

 Why worship Ganesha?

 Ganapati Bhagavan is the leader of the demonic forces of Sakshal Mahadevan or the leader of the universal forces.  His other name, Vinayakan, also means one without a leader.  So it is Vinayaka who must first offer worship and reverence at the very beginning of any activity.

 'Gum Kshipra Prasadanaya Namah'

 Although there are many mantras for Ganesha Preethi, the most important one is chanting 'Ganesha Dwadasa Mantra' on the day of Vinayaka Chaturthi.  It is composed of twelve mantras.  If this mantra is chanted on the fourth day, the result will be attainment of desires, redressal of obstacles and forgiveness of sins. It is great to chant 108 times.

 Om Vakratundaya Nama:

 Om Ekadantaya Nama:

 Om Krishnapingakshaya Nama:

 Om Gajavaktraya Nama:

 Om Lambodharaya Nama:

 Om Vikataya Nama:

 Om Vighnarajaya Nama:

 Om purple nama:

 Om Phalachandraya Nama:

 Om Vinayakaya Nama:

 Om Ganapataye Nama:

 Om Gajananaya Nama:

✍️ Anitha Ammanath 

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