BIDDING FAREWELL TO GANESHA WITH REVERENCE AND LOVE
(Compilation
by N. R. Srinivasan, Nashville TN, September 2018)
The
concept of Ganesh Chaturthi is that Ganesha comes to the home of his devotees
on Ganesh Chaturthi day. He brings auspiciousness, hope, success and happiness
to all homes. During his brief stay, He removes all obstacles. While returning
He takes with him all problems and unhappiness.
In simple symbolic
worship, Ganesha is made with vermilion, turmeric, flour or are-ca-nut
and betel tied with a sacred thread all being natural elements or out of riverbed clay and the deity is
invoked in the artifact. These go back to nature when invoked deity is
withdrawn by visarjan, being biodegradable. Our Sastras have made the task of
making a biodegradable Ganesha Murti simple. Making Gauri idol for immersion is not simple. Gauri festival just precedes Ganesh
Chaturthi. A Kannada proverb jokes: “Gauri
maadalu helidare Ganesanna madibitta—When
I asked him to make Gauri he made Ganesha!
Puranas say Vinayaka and Skanda are
not born through the union of Siva and Uma. Vinayaka was made to appear
when Uma prepared a turmeric paste form of him applied to her body as a paste
for Mangala snanam. Life was infused
to it temporarily by her divine powers for the specific task of guarding her
privacy. Siva replaced this guard with a powerful Gajanana that is a celestial being with human body and
elephant head. To substantiate this event a story was spun around by puranas and the
replaced Gajanana was named Vigjhnaraja
by Siva and people were asked to worship him to overcome obstacles!
Vinayaka is worshiped as Dvai-mathura,
(with two mothers Uma and Ganga) and also as Uchishta Ganapati, the most sacred
form in which he is worshiped. How do we understand them? Those who
worshiped Uma more than Siva called this
turmeric--based Ganesha as
Umasuta. In Brahman’s creation all Ganas were elephant headed and were also
assigned the duties of sentinels as can be confirmed by the ritualistic practices
in Tirupati where Gajanana is called Vishvakasena and is the sentinel of Lord
Venkatesvara along with Garuda.
It is reasonable and logical to
assume Uma also created the sentinel in the form of Turmeric- Gajanana, infused
life into it, to fit into the norms of Lord’s creation of Ganas. It is also
reasonable to assume that Lord Siva withdrew this Turmeric- Ganesha and handed
over to Ganga who absolved that Turmeric-Ganesha and the Ganesha emerged bout
of her proceeded to Kailasa. Symbolically we do this invoking Mother Ganges and
others in the water and immersing the bio- degradable Ganesha. Again those who venerate more Uma as Shakti
and say “Siva without Sakti is Sava or (Corpse)” attach greater importance to
the scum and worn out skins from divine Devis body and call that Ganesha form
as Uchchishtha Ganapati who also got dissolved in Ganga and re-emerged as
Siddhi Ganapati and proceeded to Kailasa. Vighnaraja Ganapati that Siva got substituted
is worshiped as Isvaraputra Gajanana. Thus
they make a distinction between Umasuta
and Isvara putra! Kalidasa brought them
together as “jagatah pitarah” world
parents! You can see how Ganesha is a
very complex deity but real
devotees do not worry for all these and feel He is Brahman Himself and raise their prayers with Vedic Mantra of Indra “Ganaanatva
ganapatigam havamahe”, and feels He is Vishnu
and offer prayeers “suklambharadharam Vishnum” etc.
The Ganesha whom Siva gave to Parvati
was quite naughty indulged in over eating, getting angry at Moon for laughing
at him, playing with a mouse all the time, using Nagaraja as Yajnopavita, because he broke his
tight sacred threads because of the bulging stomach due to over eating and
being lazy broke
his tusk to write Mahabharata etc. Thus it looks this naughty and short tempered
Ganesha was in the habit of breaking his trunk several times but Siva as expert
surgeon replaced it with stand-by tusks as ekadantam,
dvidantam, tridantam, chturdantam chaturbhujam etc., as prayed
in Ashtaka of Prabhasa Vinayaka in
Skanda Purana. Prabhasa Kshetra is the home for famous
Jyotirlinga who always keeps a watch on Prbhasa-Vinayaka. This temple withstood all the
on-slaught of Muslim invaders (Somnath). You know also mystical Airavata that emerged
out of Ksheerasagara had four tusks and more than one head. So Gajaanana is also visualized in different
forms. It is this that Sanakara glorifies as Anekadantam. Chaturbuja makes the Ganesha
superhuman like Vishnu!
At long last, Siva was pleased with the
personal sacrifice of Ganesha employing his broken tusk for the noble task of
writing Mahabharata and so accepted Him as Ekadanta, an exception to the Rule,
though mutilated forms are not worshiped
in temples; but Siva has blessed it and so we accept it with no questioning! You know there are temples in India that are
discarded just because the Vigrahas in its wall-panels are mutilated losing a
limb! But Vishnu has kept his sentinel well under control as Vishvaksena whom
Tamils call as Tubikkai Azhvar or Trunk-Azhvar.
It is probable Saivism has the concept of many sentinels needed by the
troublesome society and hence there are many-forms of Ganesha as enumerated in
Moudgila Purana of which Siva favored Ekadantathat as the most popular. You
know similarly 16008 wives of Krishna with
whom He carried on a peaceful life at the same time with his 16008 similar forms as confirmed by
Narada!
Ganesha’s Birth
as well as his immersion in water has great religious significance. The 10-day long Ganesh
Chaturthi celebration this year ended on September 23, when
devotees immersed Ganesha’s
idol, signifying the departure of his physical form. Since Shri Ganapati is invited again, it is
important that He should be given a farewell (immersed) with equal honor.
Lord Ganesh is supposed to bring luck,
considered as the harbinger of luck, victory and success. On the 11th day,
devotees immerse his idol in water, as it is believed that this is when he
leaves their houses for Mount Kailasa, taking all the ill luck of his disciples
with himself.
There are no specific Ganesh Visarjan mantras in Maharashtra. The only chant that is done is Ganapati Bappa Moriya...Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya (come back soon to bless us - this part is chanted mainly in Maharashtra. American Temples usually follow Maharashtra where Visarjan ceremony is glorified as a community puja encouraged by Bala Ganghadar Tilak. Hindu Americans prefer it as a community worship as many may not have a puja room at home or may not know how to observe it properly.
The word Morya refers to a famous devotee of
Lord Ganesha in the fourteenth century called Morya Gosavi,
originally from village called Shaligram in Karnataka where his devotion
was looked upon as madness!! He later travelled and settled in Chinchvad, near
Pune and invoked the Lord with severe penance. He attained siddhi (special
powers and blessings) at Shree Chintamani and his son built the temple to
commemorate the event. It is said that Moryaji also performed penances at
Siddhi Vinayak in Ahmedabad and in Moreshwar/Mayureshwar at Moregoan where he
also built the temple. Maharashtrians here woe a debt to Kannadigas who brought
Ganesha worship to the fore-front. Kannadigas also bid farewell to Ganesha
with the lovely
lyrics: "ಗಣೇಶ ಬಂದ, ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಮೇಲೆ ಗಂಧ, ಕಾಯಿ ಕಡುಬು ತಿಂದ , ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಕೆರೇಲಿ ಬಿದ್ದ , ದೊಡ್ಡ ಕೆರೇಲಿ ಎದ್ದ” Ganesha banda, hotte mele gandha. kayi kadubu tinda, chikka kereli bidda, dodda kereli
edda—Ganesha came, smeared his stomach
with sandal paste, ate the sweet cake, fell down in a small tank got up from the huge lake (manas sarovar and
Kailas). In fact every language has such
lovely lyrics, if we search for it!
Here,
American temples have a vital role to play: Bring the right concept of the Worship
through their news media like Aaradhana and prescribe proper code of practice
for ceremonies like Visarjan that are not covered by Aagama Sastras. American Temples are obligated
to educate and guide the young minds in Bal Vihar Classes, Vedic
Heritage Classes, Sunday Schools etc.,
on such festivals and rituals if not in Vedanta Class for the matured.
The visarjan ritual begins with the Uttara-anga
puja which involves offering five items, namely deepa (oil lamps), pushpa
(flowers), dhoopa (incense), gandha (fragrance) and naivedya (food) to
Ganapati. Uttaraanga puja starts with an invocation prayer:
Mushikavaahana modaka hastha | Chaamara
karna vilambitha sutra |
Vaamana rupa maheshwara putra | Vighna vinaayaka paada namasthe ||
Vaamana rupa maheshwara putra | Vighna vinaayaka paada namasthe ||
O
Vinayaka! The remover of all obstacles, the son of Lord Shiva, with a form
which is very short, with mouse as Thy vehicle, with sweet pudding in hand, with
wide ears and long hanging trunk, I prostrate at Thy lotus-like Feet!
After
this, all members of the household gather to perform the Aarti and sprinkle
akshata or sacred saffron rice upon the lord. The Murti of Ganesha is then
lifted from its seat and carried to the threshold where it is turned to face
the house and placed on the floor. A
spoonful of curd is poured into Ganesh's outstretched palm because Hindus
especially Maharashtrians believe that any guest who receives curd and rice is
sure to visit again. People then
circumambulate Ganesha Murti after which it is led for immersion. Some water is also sprinkled on the person performing
the Visarjana. Before the Visarjan one should remove all garlands and other
decorations on Ganesha; collect them in a newspaper or paper bag.
This should not be thrown in the
river or water body. It Should buried in
the soil in appropriate spot given by
authorities or should be deposited in a pit in one's compound.
The visarjan mantra is as follows:
Yantu Deva-Ganah Sarve, Pujaamaadaya Maamakam।
Ishta-Kaama-Samriddhyartham, Punaraagamanaaya
Cha॥
May Sri Ganesha with all his retinues accept my humble worship for the fulfillment
of my desires and prosperity for all and to come back again next year and grace
us with their presence!
Asking pardon from Sri Ganesha for any
omission or commission in performing the worship and also any mistake committed
due to ignorance physically, mentally and in reciting mantras one should leave the
place without looking back at the water source.
Aavaahanam na jaanaami tavacharanam |
Poojaam chaiva na jaanaami kshmasa Ganesvara
Anyathaa saranam naasti tvameva
saranam mama |Tasmaat kaarunyabhaavean rakshsva Vighnesvara
Gatam paapam gatam duhkham gatam
daaridrya meva cha | Aagataa sukha sampattih punyascha tava darsaanaat |
Mantraheenam kriyaaheenam bhaktiheenam
Surewsvara | Yat poojitam mayaa deva paripurnam tadastu me
Yadkshar padabhrashtam maatraaheenam
cha yad bhavet |Tat sarvam kshamyataam deva praseeda Paramesvara ||
It is also customary to take a bath after
and then go to puja room, offer customary worship and Aarati to Ganesha as concluding part of
10 days’ ceremony.
Since the Idol is ritualistically worshiped
during the Shri Ganesh festival, the Chaitanya in the Idol can increase as per
the intensity of spiritual emotion of the devotees. Due to Chaitanya in the
Idols of Shri Ganapati on immersion it purifies the water. With the flowing
water, this Chaitanya reaches far and wide and many people benefit from it.
This water evaporates too; hence, it makes the atmosphere sattvik.
Gowri Habba is a Hindu festivals dedicated to Goddess Gowri an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. It is a significant festival in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and it is observed a day before Ganesh Chaturthi.
Goddess Gowri, a
very fair complexion incarnation of Goddess Parvati, is worshipped on the day
of Gowri Habba and women observe Swarna Gowri Vratha to seek blessings
of Goddess Gowri for happy married life.
It is believed
that on this day, Goddess Gowri comes to home like any other married woman
comes to her parents' house. The next day Lord Ganesha, her son, comes as if to
take her back to Mount Kailasha. The same festival is known as Hartalika
Teej in Maharashtra and the other North Indian states.
Visarjan
ceremony for Gowri idols made out of
eco-friendly materials or river-bed clay preferably and are also
immersed in running water a day
prior to Ganesha visarjanam. It is believed Ganesha follows his mother next day
for the family meet in Kailasa with Lord Siva and his brother Lord Subhramnya
as well as his retinues. From there they will take care of the world and come
back again the next year.
In a country like
USA it is not possible to find a well or river or may not be allowed to do Visarjan
indiscriminately. Hence Visarjan is done in a tank filled with water and the
contents are discharged to the earth in the garden. But before immersion the tank water is
sanctified invoking all sacred river waters as is done in Kalasa worship.
Mumbai artist Dattadri Kothur creates eco-friendly Ganpati idols that are made from red soil and fertilizers, and contain plant seeds. At the end of the 10-day festival, the idols undergo a symbolic immersion. Instead of being immersed in a water body, the idol is placed in an accompanying pot and watered until it dissolves. Thanks to the okra or Tulsi seeds sown in the pot, the idol grows back as a plant.
Story connected with Ganesha Visarjan
Shiva and his family lived happily on the
Himalayas. One day Paarvathi wanted to visit her father down on earth. She took
Shiva's permission and started her journey. Since the journey was long, Shiva
sent Nandi along on whom she rode.
Many days passed and she didn't return. This
worried Shiva. Ganesha asked his father not to worry. He took it upon himself
to get his mother home. So he set out on his mouse and reached where Paarvathi
was.
When he reached the earth, his grandparents
and maternal uncles and aunts on earth were elated. They celebrated this
occasion, cooked a lot of food for him and fed him. Ganesha lived there with
Paarvathi for some days before finally returning to their abode in the
Himalayas.
The
visarjan/ immersion is to symbolize Ganesha's return from Earth with Paarvathi. This also explains bringing home Gauri one
day prior to Ganesha.
It was (Late) Sri Balgangadhar Tilak, a
renowned freedom fighter, who with a view of bringing disintegrated Hindus into
a single platform, initiated installing, performing puja and finally performing
visarjan of Ganapati Idols in Pune
bringing the concept of “Sanghacchdvam samvadadvam” of mass worship with
one mind collectively, a path shown by our Rishis. Later this became a nationwide festival
every year.
Sangacchadhvam sam vadadhvam sam vo manaamsi jaanataam/ devaa
bhaagam yathaa purve sanjanaana upaasate // (X-191-20)
Come together! Speak together! Let our minds be all of one accord
like the divines that sat together
in the past in harmony to worship.
[All people should live with one mind without enmity and this can
be achieved only by the divine grace says the mantra]
The month of August is characterized by rains, and by the eventual
rise of water levels in rivers. One problem then for all to see, was of this
overflowing water washing the fertile sands away to the seas leaving the
river-banks less fertile with each passing year. Thus came in the thought of
clay that is the idol made of clay. To save the soil’s fertility, our ancestors
realized the need for using clay as friendly sealant. Clay has a property of absorbing
water. Used in rivers/water bodies, it holds back a considerable amount. To
further its efficacy the same clay if treated with turmeric, Tulsi and other
herbs also helps in nurturing aquatic plants and animals. This may not be
significant and effective. But the
thought behind it is important. Here I am reminded of a Kannada proverb “anila bhhakti maralu seve” --The
devotion of squirrel and service of the sand. In Ramayana a squirrel watching
Nala and his team building the bridge Sethu wanted to help too. So it took a
dip in the waters rolled on the sand and used that sand to seal the joints in
the bridge by rerolling and shaking off over joints! What a noble thought!
The Visarjan ceremony represents the concept of Samasara,
or the cycle of birth death and rebirth. This fate befalls all living
creatures including humans as life is fleeting and once the soul departs from
our body, the corporeal form then perishes and returns to the natural elements,
only to be reconstituted in another body in the subsequent life cycle.
Similarly, once the presiding deity departs from the Murti, its physical
manifestation is then returned to nature, only to be reanimated the following
year. The imbibed spirit however remains in the hearts of the devotees and
enriches their lives. The purpose of
such ceremonies is to replenish our spiritual thoughts and to remind us that
material wealth is transitory and is of no use to the soul. The process of visarjan
teaches us detachment and to realize that our own body, which we cherish and
pamper will one day be reduced to base elements.