Ganesh Chaturthi & Anant Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi & Anant Chaturthi

 

One of the most popular Gods in India, lord Ganesh or Ganpati is considered a symbol of wisdom and a bringer of good luck. It is said that his elephant head epitomises everything related to wisdom, small shrewd eyes, long ears that miss nothing, a long nose that can smell out anything and his vehicle, a mouse, reflects how much importance a wise man gives to the smallest of life forms. Shown at gateways and on doors, either by visuals or symbols, generally facing the rising sun in the east, Ganesh is revered across India as a great clearer of obstacles. Meetings, gatherings, weddings, functions and celebrations begin with a prayer of lord Ganesh and no new venture, be it a new company, a new house, a new shop is inaugurated without reciting a ‘mantra’ of lord Ganesh.

The birth of Lord Ganesh is on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad Shukla (August / September). This festival is celebrated for 10 days from Ganesh Chaturthi [birth date] to Anant Chaturdashi [the final 10th day of his immersion]. Everyone loves this deity with his curving trunk, potbelly and big flat ears. He is the benevolent protector of the innocent, yet the ruthless destroyer of evil. His mount is a rat.

In several states of India, but especially in Maharashtra clay idols of Ganesh in varying sizes are made and sold. The idols are purchased and brought home the day previous to Ganesh Chaturthi, which is the day of Hartalik when women keep fast and invoke the blessings of goddess Parvati, who is Ganesh’s mother.

 

In streets and commercial establishments community worship is offered to a life-size or even a bigger image, installed on an erected platform. This Lord Ganesh is very fond of sweets and hence khir, panchamrit, fruits and sweets and specially modaks are placed before him as “Naivedya” or “Bhog”. After the ritual worship this “Bhog” is distributed as “Prasad”

 

The idols are kept as a divine guest for one and a half, five, seven, or ten days, after which the idols are taken out ceremoniously accompanied by drumbeats, devotional songs and dancing and immersed in the river, sea or well for “visarjan”. The Idol is carried towards their watery rest among shouts of “Ganapati Bappa Moriya, Pudhachya varshi lavkar ya” [Return early next year, Oh Victorious Lord Ganesh].

 

He is considered to be the god of wisdom, prudence and prosperity. The worship of this god is coming down to us right from the Vedic times. No religious ceremony is complete even today with invoking his blessings at the very beginning with the solemn recitation of “Om Ganeshaya Namaha” [I bow to Thee Lord Ganesh].

 

 

History of Ganesh Festival

 

According to the eminent historian Shri Rajwade, records reveal that it was celebrated even during the reigns of Satwahana, Rashtrakuta and Chalukya. There are also references in historical records to similar celebrations during Peshwa times, Lord Ganapati being the family deity of the Peshwas. The celebration would commence on the first day of the month of Bhadrapada and would go on for ten days. Years later it became a practice to end the festivities on ‘Anant Chaturdashi’ with the immersion of the Ganapati idol in water.

The last of the Ganesh festivals during the Peshwa regime was celebrated in the year 1815 when Bajirao II held the power. The year 1818 saw the end of Peshwa rule with Union Jack being unfurled on the great Shaniwar-Wada. After the end of Peshwa rule, from 1818 to 1892 Ganesh Festival remained a family affair in Maharashtra.

 

Later Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the Father of Indian Unrest, mobilised people through public Ganesh Utsav which was until then confined to the homes of the people and palaces of Maharajas. Hindus came together for the festival which became a source of political awakening against the British regime.

 

Legend behind the origin of Ganesh

 

Centuries ago during a war between the Gods and the Demons, Lord Shiva was away for a long time. His wife, Goddess Parvati, afraid of being alone for an extended period used her divine powers and created a son, Ganesh, and gave him the responsibility of protecting the house. When Lord Shiva and his army, returned victorious to his home, Parvati was in her bath, and Ganesh had been strictly instructed not to allow anyone in. Angered by Ganesh’s refusal to allow him in to the house, Lord Shiva and his army chopped off the boy’s head. When Parvati came out of her bath, she was shocked and grieved to see her son dead. Lord Shiva, to pacify, her proclaimed that the head of Ganesh would be replaced by that of the first creature that came up the hill. As luck would have it the first visitor to the hill was an elephant and his head was promptly cut off and placed on that of Lord Ganesh, and life was restored to the son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. To pacify his wife further and compensate for the act of killing his own son, Lord Shiva bestowed upon Ganesh the powers of a God and blessed him that henceforth no activity will begin without invoking your name and blessings. Since then, it is said, no new venture – the inauguration of accompany, the opening of a shop, the foundation of a building, entering a new home – is deemed complete by Hindus without a Ganesh puja.

 

“Gaj’ means elephant and “anan” means head, so Parvati’s son became known as “Gajanan”. Shankar made him the deity of his armies and thus his name became Ganesh [“Gan” = army, “Ish” = god] or Ganpati, which means “The Lord of Hosts”.

 

 

 

Ganapathi’s mount is a mouse and he has a snake tied around his belly. His origin has a philosophical aspect to it. The whole cosmos is compared to the belly of God. Shakti Parvati is the primordial energy. The seven worlds above, seven worlds (lokas) below and the seven oceans are inside the cosmic belly of Ganesha, held together by the cosmic energy kundalini symbolized as the huge snake, which Ganesha ties around him. The mouse is nothing but our ego. Ganesha, using the mouse as a vehicle, exemplifies the need to control our ego. One who has controlled the ego is believed to have Ganesha consciousness or God-consciousness.

Ancient Hindu texts are filled with tales about Lord Ganesh, his powers, wisdom and goodness, one of the most delightful being the one about a contest between him and his brother, Kartikeya. Kartikeya was very proud of his mount, the peacock, and his own speed and efficiency, challenged lord Ganesh to a race around the world 7 times. While Kartikeya made a tour of the world thrice, Ganesh just encircled lord Shiva and goddess Parvati, his parents 7 times, and claimed victory. The story is often related to inculcate in children the importance of God and their parents.

 

It is believed that Lord Ganesh put down on paper the slokas of our great epic Mahabharat as Maharshi Ved Vyas dictated them to him. Sant Gyaneshwar’s Gyaneshwari starts with praise of Lord Ganesh.

 

108 Names of Lord Ganesha with their meanings:

 

Akhurath	:	One who has mouse as his charioteer
Alampata	:	Ever eternal lord
Amit	:	Incomparable lord
Anantachidrupamayam	:	Infinite and consciousness personified
Avaneesh	:	Lord of the whole world
Avighna	:	Remover of obstacles
Balaganapati	:	Beloved and lovable child
Bhalchandra	:	Moon-crested lord
Bheema	:	Huge and Gigantic
Bhupati	:	Lord of the gods
Bhuvanpati	:	God of the gods
Buddhinath	:	God of wisdom
Budhipriya	:	Knowledge bestower
Bhudhividhata	:	God of knowledge
Chaturbhuj	:	One who has four arms
Devadeva	:	Lord of all lords
Devantakanashakarin	:	Destroyer of evils and asuras
Devarata	:	One who accepts all gods
Devendrashika	:	Protector of all gods
Dharmik	:	One who gives charity
Dhoomravarna	:	Smoke-Hued lord
Durja	:	Invincible lord
Dvaimatura	:	One who has two mothers
Ekaakshara	:	He of the single syllable
Ekadanta	:	Single-Tusked lord
Ekadrishta	:	Single-Tusked lord
Eshanputra	:	Lord Shiva’s son
Gadadhara	:	One who has the mace as his weapon
Gajakarna	:	One who has eyes like an elephant
Gajanana	:	Elephant-Faced lord
Gajananeti	:	Elephant-Faced lord
Gajavakra	:	Trunk of the elephant
Gajavaktra	:	One who has mouth like an elephant
Ganadhakshya	:	Lord of all Ganas (Gods)
Ganadhyakshina	:	Leader of all the celestial bodies
Ganapati	:	Lord of all Ganas (Gods)
Gaurisuta	:	The son of Gauri (Parvati)
Gunina	:	One who is the master of all virtues
Haridra	:	One who is golden colored
Heramba	:	Mother’s Beloved son
Kapila	:	Yellowish-Brown coloured
Kaveesha	:	Master of poets
Krti	:	Lord of music
Kripalu	:	Merciful lord
Krishapingaksha	:	Yellowish-Brown eyed
Kshamakaram	:	The place of forgiveness
Kshipra	:	One who is easy to appease
Lambakarna	:	Large-Eared lords
Lambodara	:	The huge bellied lord
Mahabala	:	Enormously strong lord
Mahaganpati	:	Omnipotent and supreme lord
Maheshwaram	:	Lord of the universe
Mangalamurti	:	All auspicious lord
Manomay	:	Winner of hearts
Mrityunjaya	:	Conqueror of death
Mundakarama	:	Abode of happiness
Muktidaya	:	Bestower of eternal bliss
Mushikvahana	:	One who has mouse as charioteer
Nadapratithishta	:	One who appreciates and loves music
Namasthetu	:	Vanquisher of all evils and vices and sins
Nandana	:	Lord Shiva’s son
Nideeshwaram	:	Giver of wealth and treasures
Omkara	:	One who has the form of OM
Pitambara	:	One who has yellow-colored body
Pramoda	:	Lord of all abodes
Prathameshwara	:	First among all
Purush	:	The omnipotent personality
Rakta	:	One who has red-colored body
Rudrapriya	:	Beloved of lord Shiva
Sarvadevatman	:	Acceptor of all celestial offerings
Sarvasiddanta	:	Bestower of skills and wisdom
Sarvatman	:	Protector of the universe
Shambhavi	:	The son of Parvati
Shashivarnam	:	One who has a moon like complexion
Shoorpakarna	:	Large-eared Lord
Shuban	:	All auspicious lord
Shubhagunakanan	:	One who is the master of all virtues
Shweta	:	One who is as pure as the white colour
Siddhidhata	:	Bestower of success and accomplishments
Siddhipriya	:	Bestower of wishes and boons
Siddhivinayak	:	Bestower of success
Skandapurvaja	:	Elder brother of Skanda (Lord Kartik)
Sumukha	:	Auspicious face
Sureshwaram	:	Lord of all lords
Swaroop	:	Lover of beauty
Tarun	:	Ageless
Uddanda	:	Nemesis of evils and vices
Umaputra	:	The son of goddess Uma (Parvati)
Vakratunda	:	Curved trunk lord
Varaganapati	:	Bestower of boons
Varaprada	:	Granter of wishes and boons
Varadavinayaka	:	Bestower of Success
Veeraganapati	:	Heroic lord
Vidyavaridhi	:	God of wisdom
Vighnahara	:	Remover of obstacles
Vignaharta	:	Demolisher of obstacles
Vighnaraja	:	Lord of all hindrances
Vighnarajendra	:	Lord of all obstacles
Vighnavinashanaya	:	Destroyer of all obstacles and impediments
Vigneshwara	:	Lord of all obstacles
Vikat	:	Huge and gigantic
Vinayaka	:	Lord of all
Vishwamukha	:	Master of the Universe
Vishwaraja	:	King of the World
Yagnakaya	:	Acceptor of all sacred and sacrificial offerings
Yashaskaram	:	Bestower of fame and fortune
Yashvasin	:	Beloved and ever popular lord
Yogadhipa	:	The lord of meditation

Anant Chaturthi

 

Anant Chaturthi (or Anant Chaturdashi) is the last day of the “Ganesh festival” celebrated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It is the tenth day after Ganesh Chaturthi which falls on the 14th day of the bright Bhadrapada (the sixth month of Hindu calendar). The day follows the immersion of the idols of the beloved Lord but to be welcomed the next year with equal fervor. Some people observe a vow in honour of Lord Vishnu, which if kept for 14 years is supposed to bring wealth.

 

Story of ‘Anant’

 

Hindu Mythology tells that, there was a Brahmin named Sumant. From his wife Diksha he had a daughter named Sushila. After the death of Diksha, Sumant married Karkash who was not caring to Sushila. She gave a lot of trouble to her. Sushila married to Kaundinya and decided to leave the house to avoid the nuisance of her step mother. On the way, Kaundinya went to a river to take bath and Sushila joined a women group who were worshipping “Anant”. Sushila was very curious to know the reason of worshipping. The women explained her, the purpose of this vow to obtain divinity and wealth, and are kept for 14 years.

 

Sushila decided to take the “Anant Vow” and slowly they became very rich. One day Kaundinya, noticed a string (Anant string) on Sushila’s left hand. This string is usually tied on the left hand by women to observe the vow. When Kaundinya heard the story of the Anant vow, he was displeased and said that they had become rich, not for Anant but for his knowledge and efforts. He then took the Anant String from Sushila’s hand and threw it into the fire.

 

Soon after this incident, they were reduced to extreme poverty. Kaundinya realized the effect of the Anant and hence decided to undergo rigorous penance until the appearance of the God himself. He went into the forest. There, he saw tree full of mangoes but was covered with worms. He asked the tree if he had seen Anant but he got a negative reply. Then he asked lakes, cow, donkey, elephant but nobody could respond him positively. At last he prepared a rope to hang himself. But suddenly Anant appeared in the form of an old Brahmin and advised Kaundinya that if he made the 14 years vow, he would get back all his wealth and happiness. Lord Anant also explained the incidents occurred during the course of his way to meet him.

 

Festival ends…

 

On the day of Anant Chaturdashi, the idols of Lord Ganesha installed at home and various “Mandapas” (display place) are taken to a pond, lake, river or a sea in great procession with slogan: “ganpati bappa morya, agle baras to jaldi aa” (“father Ganpati, come again next year”). On this day, people travel to the water front with the idols, big and small, dancing and singing in large procession. The 10 day long festival comes to an end after the immersion ceremony is over.

 

 

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Mr. Ashok Harlalka

 

M/s. Balaji Infotech

 

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