VINAYAKA CHAVITHI

Dear Sisters & Brothers. We are very fortunate this year as Ganesh Chaturthi falls on Saturday, the favourite day for Lord Ganesh and also being a non-working day for most people throughout the world can celebrate the festival with all the family members.


GANESH CHATURTHI: Let us offer our humble prayers to Lord Ganesha, who represents wisdom, and to His consorts Siddhi and Buddhi who grant wealth and knowledge, to bless us all with true knowledge, discrimination, dispassion, good health and prosperity. “May you remove our difficulties with lustrous axe in your hand and bring success to all our noble efforts”.
Ganesh Mantra: Aum Sri Ganeshaya Namah.
His Bija Akshara (root syllable) is Gung (pronounced as the English word ‘sung’)
His two feet represents the power of knowledge and the power of action. The elephant head is significant in that, it is the only figure in nature that has the form of the symbol Om.
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha, which is most sacred to Him. It falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (Aug-Sept). It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all over the world.
Lord Ganesha, the eldest son Parvathi and Lord Shiva is the remover of all obstacles. Clay figures of the deity are made and after being worshiped on the day or in some areas like Mumbai for ten days, they are immersed into water. If one wants to see the real hangama of Ganesh Chaturthi, one should be in Mumbai during the festival. The Siddhi Vinayaka temple in the heart of Mumbai is very famous landmark.
Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh recommends: On the Ganesh Chaturthi day, meditate on the stories connected with Lord Ganesha early in the morning, during the Brahmamuhurta period (4.00- 6.00 a. m). Then after taking a bath, go to the temple and do the prayers of Lord Ganesha. Offer Him some coconut and sweet pudding. Pray with faith and devotion that He may remove all the obstacles that you experience on the spiritual path. Worship Him at home too. You can get the assistance of a pundit. Have an image of Lord Ganesha in your home. Feel His presence in it.
WHAT EVER YOU DO ON THAT DAY, NO ONE SHOULD LOOK AT THE MOON ON GANESH CHATURTHI DAY. If at all any body sees the moon, the only way he or she can be freed from the curse by listening the story of how Lord Krishna cleared his character regarding the Syamantaka Jewel. And finally avoid the company of all who have no faith in God.
MAY THE BLESSINGS OF SRI GANESHA BE UPON US ALL! MAY HE REMOVE ALL THE OBSTACLES THAT STAND IN OUR SPIRITUAL PATH! MAY HE BESTOW ON US ALL MATERIAL PROSPERITY AS WELL AS LIBERATION!
JAI GANESH


Please click the link below to read everything you need to know to observe Ganesh Pooja on Vinayaka chavithi


http://nayna.in/blog/divine-grace/how-to-worship-lord-ganesh-an-in-depth-understanding-of-rituals-during-ganesh-chaturthi/

Another useful link about Ganesh festival

http://hindupad.com/hindu-festivals-auspicious-days/ganesh-chaturthi-2010-vinayaka-chavithi-date-in-2010/

Most of us have a book on Vinayaka chavithi in our Home but just in case if you do not have one, please click the link below to download a 15 pages of TELUGU BOOKLET

http://www.teluguwebsite.com/pop.html

The most celebrated places of Ganesh worship has to be Mumbai & Hyderabad.
This year The Khairatabad Ganesh is special as Pushpak Ganesh and they are making the largest Vinayaka yet with 20 feet Agar batti from Mysore and about 500 Kg weight LADDU!
Please click the link below to watch a short video of Pushpak Ganrsh in Telugu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DOFPEkr5Bs

Those who would like to read in English some aspects of Pooja, please click the link below

http://www.balagokulam.org/events/ganeshpooja2008.pdf

As usual Telugus are most fortunate and please click the link below to have Pooja procedure with a priest with hymns in Telugu audio

http://www.andhravilas.com/moviedetail.asp?fid=|62|68|130

All others can click the link below to read in English to do Ganesh Pooja

http://www.acharyaonline.com/ganesha.htm

The Ganesh Mantra to watch & listen before the Pooja, please click the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h2rFVPCSPE

The most common Ganesh sloka we all know is

Sloka:
Vakrathunda Mahaakaaya Suryakoti Samaprabha Nirvignam Gurumaydeva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada

Meaning:
O Elephant headed large bodied Lord, radiant as a thousand Suns, I ask for your grace so that this task that I am starting may complete without any hindrances.

More Ganesh videos to watch by all the family in the evening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn-7rPBUrvY

Plenty of Ganesh songs in Audio in Telugu to listen by all the family

http://www.andhravilas.com/devdetailslisten.asp?cat=devg

Those of you Telugus who would like to watch how the Pushpak Ganesh is being made in Khairatabad with about 25 lack rupees!, please click the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGGFNHL0c3k&feature=channel

And finally to have Ganesh Aarti after the pooja by all the family, in Hindi which is very melodious by clicking the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_2llhhAzYw

let us hope and pray that Lord Ganesh showers His blessings on all the humanity not only on Vinayaka Chavithi but everyday of life.

With Love, Light & Peace to all,
SivaRamaKrishna