How to perform a simple Ganesha Chaturthi Puja at Home?

Ganesha Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the most colorful and widely celebrated festivals in India. Large number of people observe Ganesha Chaturthi poojas at home. Here is an explanation on how to perform Ganesha puja at home as mentioned in Hindu scriptures.

Ganesha puja on the Chaturthi day is usually performed at noon but nowadays people perform it when all the family members are present. 

Requirements

• A Clay image of Lord Ganesha.
• Red flowers
• Druva Grass blades
• Modak (jaggery filled sweet)
• Coconut
• Red chandan (Sandalwood paste)
• Incense and agarbathis

The Puja

• First clean the house and take a bath.
• A Clay image of Lord Ganesha is installed in a raised platform.
• Pray to Lord Ganesh and you can recite mantras or bhajans dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
• 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.

ganananh tva ganapatim havamahe kavim kavinam - upamashravastamam |
jyeshhtharajam brahmanan.h brahmanaspata A nah shrivnvannutibhih sida sadanam || 
(Rig Veda 2.23.1)

ni shhu sida ganapate ganeshhu tvamahurvipratamam kavinam |
na rite tvat.h kriyate kinchanare mahamarkam maghavan.h chitramarcha || 
(Rig Veda 10.112.9)

We invoke You, O Ganapati of the ganas (Lord Shiva attendants), Who are Brahmana-spati of the brahmas (prayers), the wisest among the wise, Who abound in treasure beyond all measure, the most brilliant one. Do listen to our prayers, come with Your blessings and assurances of protection into our home, and be seated. (Rig Veda 2.23.1)

Sit down among the worshippers, O Ganapati, the best sage among the sages. Without You nothing can be done here or far. Accept with honor, O wealthy One, our great and variegated hymns of praise. (Rig Veda 10.112.9)

• Now Ganesha is installed in the idol and one can perform arati and light the lamps. Some people perform the shhodashopachara, which are 16 forms of paying tribute to Ganesha. (This ritual is usually performed by the priests, you can skip this.)
• Offer 21 blades of Druva Grass.
• Offer 21 modakas
• Offer red flowers
• Apply a tilak using red Sandalwood paste.
• Break the coconut or just keep it along with the idol. You can also keep fried grains. (The food of the rat – the vehicle of Ganesha).
• You can also recite the 108 salutations dedicated to Lord Ganesha or read the Ganesha Upanishad or just simply pray.

The number 21 signifies - the five organs of perception, five organs of action, five vital airs (pranas), five elements, and the mind.

While performing Ganesha Puja at home, you can always be flexible. The strict rituals are meant for Vedic priests. All you need to be careful is to perform the pujas with a clean body and clean mind.

What is more important is devotion not the ritual.

Try to be simple. Concentrate on your prayers not on decoration and other ritualistic details.

Lord Shree Vinayaka, Idagunji

Local Highlight this week: 17 February 2013, Idagunji Car festival 

Idagunji is a small town, in Honnavara taluk of Uttar Kannada district, on the Karavali coast of Karnataka. The famous Vinayaka temple is the main attraction here and receives more than 10 lakh devotees every year.

The  Vinayaka temple is an ancient temple, with a history of more than 1500 years, and is located on the left bank of river Sharawati.  ‘Eda’ (Wamnadi) means ‘to the left’ and ‘kunj’ means ‘garden’. The importance of Edakunj kshetra has been mentioned in the Sahyadri khanda of Skandapurana.

Use the links below to jump directly to the respective sections of this blog.

1. The Legend of Shree Vinayaka, Idagunji

2. The Idol

3. Special Attractions

4. Location

The Legend of Shree Vinayaka, Idagunji

Towards the end of Dwapara Yuga, Valakhilya, along with other immortal saints, was performing penitential activities in a forest. Their activities were constantly getting hindered due to diverse obstacles and hence, the Saint Valakhilya was agitated. When Narada - the noble saint - visited Valakhilya, he explained his difficult situation to Narada and requested him to suggest a pragmatic solution to deal with the obstacles. Narada advised him to worship Lord Vigneshwara (the remover of obstacles) before starting the penance again.

Valakhilya and the other saints, along with Narada, started off westwards in search of an appropriate place to worship Lord Vigneshwara. They came across the Sharavati River. Located a few miles away, to the left of Sharavati, was a place called Kunjaranya and Narada suggested it to be a deserving place for their penitential activities. Narada explained that in the past, the Holy Trinity - Hari, Hara and Brahma - had performed penance here for the destruction of the Asuras(the demons). They also created lakes "Chakratirtha" and "Brahmatirtha" while here.

Narada, with the help of the saints, created another lake and named it "Devatirtha". He then offered to bring Lord Ganapathi along with other Gods, including the Holy Trinity, to the Yagna to be performed at Kunjaranya. Narada approached Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, and invited them to attend the Yagna. He also requested Devi Parvathi to send her son, Ganapathi.

Narada's charisma led all the Gods including Lord Ganapathi to attend the Yagna. The temple, built specially for the occasion, was decked up with exquisite décor, glittering diamonds and other precious stones. Ganapathi received the rites, rituals and ceremonious formalities on the second day of the Yagna.

The great saints and the Heavenly beings chanted the hymns in praise of Lord Ganapathi. Ganapathi, magnificently attired, was holding the “Modhaka” and “Padma” in his hands. Immensely pleased by the devotion of the saints, He expressed his desire to grant the wishes of his devotees. The other Gods too were impressed and in return, blessed the saints.

When the other Gods expressed intent to return to their respective abodes, Ganapathi decided to stay behind and gratify the desires of his devotees. He also requested the Gods to leave behind a part of their omniscient power, in the various lakes there. Also, a lake was bestowed to provide water for Lord Ganapathi’s bathing, at his request. It was named as "Ganeshtirtha". Therefore, according to Skanda Purana, Lord Ganapathi stayed in Kunjaranya  which is now renowned as Idagunji.

The Idol

The Ganapathi idol here is in standing posture, and has short legs and a depression on the head. The “Dwibhuja Ganapathi” (two-shouldered) holds a Modaka and a Padma (Lotus) in his hands. The idol is made of black stone.

Panchakhadya prepared for Lord Ganapathi is the special prasada at this temple. Devotees believe that when one is faced with obstacles, a prayer to Idagunji Ganesha not only removes the obstacles but also brings out miracles.

Special Attractions

At Idagunji , the Ganesha masks made out of lavancha (‘sogade beru’ in Kannada or ‘Vetiver’ in English) make good souvenirs. Raw lavancha is also available in plenty. The lavancha has a pleasant aroma when soaked in water and has medicinal properties.

The devotees can also take a dip in the various "Theerthas" and attain their hearts’ desires.

Location

Idagunji is located about 14 kms south-east of Honnavara taluk of North Canara District of Karnataka. The temple is midway between Gunavanteshwara and Murudeshwara, and is about half-an-hour’s drive from either temples.  

Note to our readers: The information presented in this blog has been collated from various sources on the internet and hence Bangalore Press does not vouch for the authenticity of the same. We request you to write to us at if you think you can help us improve this article. You'll be given due credit for any information/images you provide us.

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Sources:

http://www.idagunji.org/ 

http://www.karnatakavision.com/idagunji-maha-ganapathi-temple.php