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Manas the baby

Our environment friendly Ganesh Visarjan

Sweets for Ganesha pooja

GANESHA POOJA

This was the first time I did Ganesha Pooja on my own (back home in India we always have
elders to help or the pujaris come home , but here as both were not available searched on the net
and after a couple of days of searching came across the following pooja vidhanam /the way to do pooja, compiled everything together so that the next time , I can find everything in the same place. ) I enjoyed doing the pooja and I am sure anyone who does it will to..

Requirements for the pooja :

• A Clay image of Lord Ganesha.(we did it ourselves using white modelling clay)
  
• Red flowers
• Druva Grass blades (we used the grass found in our yard)
  
• Modak (jaggery filled sweet)
• Coconut
• Red chandan (Sandalwood paste)
• Incense and agarbathis

• 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

ni shhu sida ganapate ganeshhu tvamahurvipratamam kavinam
na rite tvat.h kriyate kinchanare mahamarkam maghavan.h chitramarcha

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

• Now Ganesha is installed in the idol and one can perform arati and light the lamps and perform the shhodashopachara, which are 16 forms of paying tribute to Ganesha. (This ritual is usually performed by the priests.)
• Offer 21 blades of Druva Grass.(or 5 )
  
• Offer 21 modakas(or 5)
  
• 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 .
• 
  

108 Names of Lord Ganesha and the meanings

1. Akhurath: One who has mouse as his charioteer 2. Alampata : Ever eternal lord 3. Amit : Incomparable lord 4. Anantachidrupamayam: Infinite and consciousness personified 5. Avaneesh: Lord of the whole world 6. Avighna: Remover of obstacles 7. Balaganapati: Beloved and lovable child 8. Bhalchandra: Moon-crested lord 9. Bheema: Huge and Gigantic 10. Bhupati: Lord of the gods 11. Bhuvanpati: God of the gods 12. Buddhinath: God of wisdom 13. Budhipriya: Knowledge bestower 14. Bhudhividhata: God of knowledge 15. Chaturbhuj: One who has four arms 16. Devadeva: Lord of all lords 17. Devantakanashakarin: Destroyer of evils and asuras 18. Devarata: One who accepts all gods 19. Devendrashika: Protector of all gods 20. Dharmik: One who gives charity 21. Dhoomravarna: Smoke-Hued lord 22. Durja: Invincible lord 23. Dvaimatura: One who has two mothers 24. Ekaakshara: He of the single syllable 25. Ekadanta: Single-Tusked lord 26. Ekadrishta: Single-Tusked lord 27. Eshanputra: Lord Shiva?s son 28. Gadadhara: One who has the mace as his weapon 29. Gajakarna: One who has eyes like an elephant 30. Gajanana: Elephant-Faced lord 31. Gajananeti: Elephant-Faced lord 32. Gajavakra: Trunk of the elephant 33. Gajavaktra: One who has mouth like an elephant 34. Ganadhakshya: Lord of all Ganas (Gods) 35. Ganadhyakshina: Leader of all the celestial bodies 36. Ganapati: Lord of all Ganas (Gods) 37. Gaurisuta: The son of Gauri (Parvati) 38. Gunina: One who is the master of all virtues 39. Haridra: One who is golden colored 40. Heramba: Mother?s Beloved son 41. Kapila: Yellowish-Brown coloured 42. Kaveesha: Master of poets 43. Krti: Lord of music 44. Kripalu: Merciful lord 45. Krishapingaksha: Yellowish-Brown eyed 46. Kshamakaram: The place of forgiveness 47. Kshipra: One who is easy to appease 48. Lambakarna: Large-Eared lords 49. Lambodara: The huge bellied lord 50. Mahabala: Enormously strong lord 51. Mahaganpati: Omnipotent and supreme lord 52. Maheshwaram: Lord of the universe 53. Mangalamurti: All auspicious lord 54. Manomay: Winner of hearts 55. Mrityunjaya: Conqueror of death 56. Mundakarama: Abode of happiness

57. Muktidaya: Bestower of eternal bliss 58. Mushikvahana: One who has mouse as charioteer 59. Nadapratithishta: One who appreciates and loves music 60. Namasthetu: Vanquisher of all evils and vices and sins 61. Nandana: Lord Shiva?s son 62. Nideeshwaram: Giver of wealth and treasures 63. Omkara: One who has the form of OM 64. Pitambara: One who has yellow-colored body 65. Pramoda: Lord of all abodes 66. Prathameshwara: First among all 67. Purush: The omnipotent personality 68. Rakta: One who has red-colored body 69. Rudrapriya: Beloved of lord Shiva 70. Sarvadevatman: Acceptor of all celestial offerings 71. Sarvasiddanta: Bestower of skills and wisdom 72. Sarvatman: Protector of the universe 73. Shambhavi: The son of Parvati 74. Shashivarnam: One who has a moon like complexion 75. Shoorpakarna: Large-eared Lord 76. Shuban: All auspicious lord 77. Shubhagunakanan: One who is the master of all virtues 78. Shweta: One who is as pure as the white colour 79. Siddhidhata: Bestower of success and accomplishments 80. Siddhipriya: Bestower of wishes and boons 81. Siddhivinayak: Bestower of success 82. Skandapurvaja: Elder brother of Skanda (Lord Kartik) 83. Sumukha: Auspicious face 84. Sureshwaram: Lord of all lords 85. Swaroop: Lover of beauty 86. Tarun: Ageless 87. Uddanda: Nemesis of evils and vices 88. Umaputra: The son of goddess Uma (Parvati) 89. Vakratunda: Curved trunk lord 90. Varaganapati: Bestower of boons 91. Varaprada: Granter of wishes and boons 92. Varadavinayaka: Bestower of Success 93. Veeraganapati: Heroic lord 94. Vidyavaridhi: God of wisdom 95. Vighnahara: Remover of obstacles 96. Vignaharta: Demolisher of obstacles 97. Vighnaraja: Lord of all hindrances 98. Vighnarajendra: Lord of all obstacles 99. Vighnavinashanaya: Destroyer of all obstacles and impediments 100. Vigneshwara: Lord of all obstacles 101. Vikat: Huge and gigantic 102. Vinayaka: Lord of all 103. Vishwamukha: Master of the universe 104. Vishwaraja: King of the world 105. Yagnakaya: Acceptor of all sacred and sacrificial offerings 106. Yashaskaram: Bestower of fame and fortune 107. Yashvasin: Beloved and ever popular lord 108. Yogadhipa: The lord of meditation

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

or to make the pooja simple you can follow the pooja vidhanam which is available on raaga.com or follow the one which is in telugu below.

Vinayaka Chavithi Pooja Vidhanam - Audio(Telugu): Part 1 : Puja
Part 2 : Katha*

Wishing you a Happy Ganesha Pooja .