POINTS TO BE KEPT IN MIND WHILE CHOOSING APPROPRIATE IDOL OF GANPATI JI FOR GANESHA CHATURTHI

           In my earlier post also, I have discussed the importance of Ganesha Chaturthi and elaborated on some of the rituals to be observed on this day. In this post, I am giving you some more information on the points to be kept in mind while choosing Ganesha Idol and how you could appropriately welcome Lord Ganesha in your home to bless you. 

            It would be preferable to bring Lord Ganesha one day previous to the day of Ganesha Chaturthi. Before entering your home with the Murti/idol, ask a family member to bring a bowl of rice. Shower the rice (Kacha rice) on Him and then step inside the home with the slogan- Ganpati Bappa Moriya. You can welcome him by lighting a Deepak of pure ghee. The worship of lord should be done with Aggarbatti (incense sticks), Dhoop, Aarti Thali, One Supari and One Paan Leaf. Before installing Ganesha Idol keep a red colour cloth at the place where idol would be kept.

            The following points should be kept in mind while choosing Ganesha Idol and while worshipping Him during the festival:

1.         Make sure that the area where the idol is installed in cleaned everyday & rubbish does not collect there.

2.         Aarti must be done daily and a lamp must be lit both in the morning and evening.

3.         According to religious scriptures, Tulsa leaves must not be offered to Lord Ganesha.

4.         The idol must be installed following Vaastu, in the ‘Ishan’(North East) triangle area of the room. It would be better if the idol is facing west because in that case you will be worshipping Him looking at East.

5.         ‘Durva’ grass, Rose flowers and Modak should be offered to Lord Ganesha.

6.          Avoid wearing slippers. Leather belts or keeping leather wallets near the installation area.

7.         After installation try not to move the idol or change it’s direction.

8.         Sitting near the installed idol and reading a religious text will give you good results.

9.         Please note that selected idol should be a seated one, not standing. If a guest pays a visit, we offer him a seat and not keep him standing. During Ganesh Chaturthi, we invoke God Ganapati, that is invite Him. One should offer Him a seat and proper hospitality. Harboring the spiritual emotion that God Ganapati has actually come to visit us. Besides due to the entire weight of the idol resting on the feet, the idol may even break if it is kept in the standing position for ten consecutive days.

10.      Idol should be placed on a heap/mount of rice and after immersing the Idol, the same rice to be mixed with the house stock of rice. This would shower the blessings of Lord Ganesha for the whole year on you.

11.       You can prepare the pooja thali with the following items:

1. Coconut
2. 21 blades of Dhruva grass
3. 21 Modak (Modak is the favourite food of Lord Ganesh)
4. Pack Of Agarbattis (Incence Sticks)
5. Betel Leaf & Supari (Betel nut)
6. Janehu (Cotton String worn by Hindus)
7. Cotton packet (Used for making cotton wicks)
8. Abir (Black powder used for applying tilak)
9. Gulal (Red powder used for applying tilak)
10. Stick of Sandalwood (Used in making sandalwood paste)
11. Packet Of Camphor
12. Pouch Of Dhoop (Natural extract from trees)

(If you are not able to have all the times, there is no need to worry because what is important is your emotions and devotion towards Lord Ganesha)

 Method of Worshiping Lord Ganesha

First recite the following mantra

Ganesh Mantra -

vakratunda mahaakaaya soorya koti samaprabha
nirvighnam kuru mein deva sarva kaaryashu sarvadaa

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:-
गणानां तवा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम |
जयेष्ठराजं बरह्मणां बरह्मणस पत आ नः षर्ण्वन्नूतिभिः सीद सादनम ||

नि षु सीद गणपते गणेषु तवामाहुर्विप्रतमंकवीनाम |
न रते तवत करियते किं चनारे महामर्कंमघवञ्चित्रमर्च ||

Now Ganesh’s soul is invoked in the idol and you can start performing the customary puja rituals/bhajans. 

You can recite or listen to Ganesha aarti in Marathi or Hindi as given below:

Ganesh Aarti (in Marathi)

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

Ganesha Aarti (in Hindi)

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 Aarti, stand up straight. Fold your hands and do namashkar. 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.

  "Aum gam ganapataye namah"

                                       Happy Ganesha Chaturthi

Acharya Vikas Malhotra

Astrologer, Numerologist and Spiritual Healer

{MBA, LLB, FCS, MA (Public Admn), FIII, JYOTISH VISHARAD} 
 lalkitabastro.com