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vakratunda mahaakaaya kotisurya samaprabhaa |
nirvighna kuru mae deva sarvakaaryeshu sarvadaa || |
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With a curved trunk and generous form
Whose splendor matches ten million Suns Remove obstacles Deva! In all that I do! |
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Ganapati Bappa, Mowrya! M & A |
Ganesh Vandana – Tribute to GaneshThe light of the Sun imbues our existence with life and summons our gratitude and reverence. Daylight breaking over the horizon is a very auspicious time for all Hindus, and heralds the start of a new day. A time for new beginnings, new hopes and possibilities. A pristinely beautiful time to thank the Supreme Being for our good fortune, to pray for the courage and fortitude to face old and new challenges; and to uncover our kinder and compassionate souls in dealing with his children.
What better way to start the day than by appealing to Ganesha, the elephant-headed God of Beginnings. Ganesha, the pot-bellied darling of children all over, is also identified as Vignesh, the Remover of Obstacles, and Vakratunda, One with the curved trunk.
Notes are excerpted from my book, Prarthana: A Book of Hindu Psalms, from the prayer Ganesh Vandana. © Arun Shanbhag 2007
Previous Ganapati greetings
- Flower Sellers at Dadar
- Ganesh Chaturthi – Preparations from the Day Before
- Ganesh Chaturthi 2009
- Ganesh Chaturthi 2007
- Ganapati Bappa 2005
- Saraswati Lakshmi & Ganapati
- Dadar Flower Market during Ganapati
Marathoner, Professor, Author, Citizen Journalist, Fitness Nut, Foodie, Meera's father, Hindu, Scientist, Photographer.
Jitesh:
Congratulations on your Ganapati Images on Rediff!
Yaay!
If you are back in Boston, let us know.
Best
Arun
Hi – I am doing good. Thanks. I visited Boston last summer and loved it
Summer’s officially over but hopefully I’ll be able to visit Boston again, soon.
My family went to see Lalbaug cha raja on thursday. They described the experience as quite overwhelming.
Probably nowhere else in the world will you be able to see Ganapati Bappa reigning supreme and in his full glory amid an ocean of devotees.
As an aside, our snaps got published on rediff : -)
http://ishare.rediff.com/filephoto-New-Jersey1-Ganapati-08-id-415145.php
Thank you Ganesh:
Next year I plan on being in India for the Ganesh celebrations ~ and will try and make it to your Balaji Mandir Ganesh Utsav.
Hope your Visarjan and festivities ended satisfyingly well.
Best Wishes,
Ganapati Bappa Mourya!
Pudchya varshi lavkar yaa!
Namaskar!
Dear Arun Shanbhag
Ganpati Bappa Morya
If u visit Mumbai . Please come To Shree Balaji mandir Kurla ( near kurla Station )
We make the 5 day clebration in Grand Manner
Today We are preparing for the Ganpathi Visarjan
Please consider my Invitaion for next year
May lord ganpathi give you strength ans ashirwad
Namskar
Ganpathi bapa morya
Arun Ji Namaste,
We enjoyed your ‘Prarthana’ books very much. During Ganapati Chathurthi, we end Ganesh puja with ‘Ohm yajnena yajnamayajanta…’. My daughter (Ashwini) was thrilled after reading the meaning from the book. It is really beautiful.
Many thanks for compiling with simple yet magnificent commentary.
With regards,
Dhananjay Javlekar and family
THank you Dhananjay ji for your very kind commendation.
The Mantra0pushpanjali you refer to is such an exquisite composition and it has always been a pleasure to listen to. This book gave me a chance to research and attempt a crude meaning.
I am glad you find this most useful.
Namaskar.
Arun
Hi Jyothsna:
Indeed Mumbai is itself the “raja” as far as Ganapati celebrations go.
Yes, I miss visiting the Lalbaug cha raja! They really know how to do a Ganapati!
And sorry that where you are, there are no ganapati celebrations! Not fair that in the Middle East folks are insecure in their beliefs and do not permit others to practice their faith!
Next year we are planning to be in Mumbai for Ganapati celebrations in our home! Yaay!
Hope you get to go too!
)
and cheer up!
Ganpati Bappa Morya! This year I was particularly homesick and badly wanted to be in Mumbai to visit Siddhi Vinayak and Lalbaug ka Raja!! The Ganapati festivities in Mumbai are absolutely power packed and unmatched. Contrarily no one even keeps a Ganapati at home in my part of the world!
Hi Jitesh:
Thank you so very much for sharing pics of your beautiful Ganapati celebrations! Love it Absolutely! Very creative and very well done!
I hope others will get a chance to look through the slideshow!
Yes, I did meet your parents on this visit.
How are you and when do you plan to visit Boston?
Thats a beautiful picture of ganapati : -)
Celebrating this year with a few friends here in New Jersey ; we made the entire decorations by hand. The theme was ‘Ganapati celebrated all over the world’.
Wanted to share the pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sameer.tupe/Ganapati2008#slideshow
Been a passive reader and admirer of this blog for a while now – my first post!
Hi Pallavi:
There is no fixed number of days that you have to keep the Ganapati murthy at home. It usually has to be an odd number of days and upto 11 days! What is more important is the bhakti that you offer and the kindness you show to the rest of humanity; We call it “Manav Dharma,” which is the same as “Bhagvat Dharma.” Service to Humanity IS Service to God!
If you have a murthy at home, due to the twice a day puja required, many small families only keep the murthy for one day and do the visarjan at night.
Another common is 1 and half day; on the second day, you do the visarjan after 1 puja and then can immerse the murthy.
Very commonly in Mumbai, as in our home, we keep the murthy for 5 days (Visarjan on the 5th day); and some for 7 days; Most Sarvajanik Mandals keep it for 11 days.
Hope this is helpful.
Arun
I wanted to know that for how many days we can keep ganesha’s statue at home? what are the visarjen days?
I think it refers to Ganapati Bappa as Emperor or King;
I think this comes from the Maurya lineage who were one of the first Emperors of India.
More like Hail Ganapati Bappa!
Let me know if you find otherwise!
Sir,
I request you to let me know the exact meaning of “Ganpati Bappa Maurya.”.
I will be greatefull if you email me this info.
Regards
Madhuker
Thank you Saroj:
You gotta visit the Siddhi Vinayak Temple – just don’t go on a Sunday or Tuesday. Pick any other week day and it is fine! Quite an experience.
I know relatives who “walk” there from as far away as Andheri; even kids! Quite an experience for the believer!
Heh, heh! Glad you got the meaning! That was the whole idea about PRARTHANA!
Yaay!
Ganapati Bappa Mourya!
Nice picture! I’ve actually been meaning to visit the Siddhi Vinayak temple in Mumbai because whenever I go to India, we end up in Mumbai for a few weeks anyways because my grandparents live there. I’ve heard Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations are very large and festive, and I’d love to see them at some point!
I never knew the meaning of that shloka until I read Prarthana, now I know!
Hi Viji:
Verily, Ganapati in Mumbai is a visually and culinarily fascinating and at times, overwhelming experience! you HAVE to surrender and just go with the flow!
We have Ganapati at home (in Colaba) for five days and it is a mela during that time. Fun, Fun! and on the fifth day, we take it to the Chowpatty Beach for immersion! Yes!
Trust me, the art form is well and thriving in Mumbai. I am always in awe of their creations! Even in July, we saw the preparations for this years Ganapati. Amazing with new technological twists!
Hope you get to atleast visit the temple!
O, pic was from my old Vakil’s calendar which I scanned in
Ganapati Mourya!
Happy Ganesh Chaturthi A and M.
Thats a beautiful picture of my favorite Ganesha.
When I used to live in powai, I would walk over to the dhabha, grab a seat (for few hours), have chai and watch the “visargen” procession. I can still hear Ganpathi Bappa Moria, Purcha Verche lowkaria
I have to admit though that I would feel sad thinking that such beautiful workmanship, is in the end, under water.
Viji
Thank you Shilpa:
Hope your preparations for the Ganapati feast are well underway!
Its a major celebration at home and we certainly miss it. Every few years we coordinate and go during Ganapati. A fabulous time!
O, the pic was from a Vakil’s calendar which I scanned in
And remember: No dieting during Chauti!
Wish you and your family a very happy Ganesh chaturthi. Thats such a beautiful picture of Ganesha. Its V’s favorite festival and he misses home like anything during these days
.
Ganapati Blessing to you, Maya, and your family!
heh – last month we visited Kamakshi at Shiroda. Beautiful temple! The priest was very nice and we chatted for a while. Am planning on visiting there again on our next trip. its M’s sisters kuldev.
My mom’s side is Mahalakshmi Damodar -Zambavali!
Bestest! and enjoy the modak!
)
Indeed, the darling God of children all over, and the remover of obstacles, Ganesha
..Wish you a happy Ganesh Chaturthi Arun..
Btw, in response to ur comment, my Kuldev now is Kaveri Kamakshi ( Shiroda ), and Dad’s side is Mahalakshmi-Damodar (Zambavali)..