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: Gaea Caturth, devanagari: ) 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 ( ) in Konkani and Chathaa ( ) 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 days 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:

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Now Ganeshs 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: I meditate upon Lord Ganesh, who is wearing bright colored clothes, and has four arms, pleasant faced Lord Ganesha removes all obstacles. Make arrangements for garland to be placed around Lord Ganeshas neck. *Invite the Lord to accept your worship. asmin bimbe chitrapate maha-ganapataye namah karpura nirajanam darsayami nirajananantaram acamaniyam samarpayami 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 I welcome the Lord with these flowers and kalash of 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 sukhabhag bhavet //OM Ganeshaya Namah//