FAQs about Lord Ganesh and Ganesh
Chaturthi celebration
Why people don't look at the
Moon on Ganesh Chaturthi day?
There is very popular legend regarding
this context. Lord Ganesha was very fond of sweet pudding
or Ladoos. On one of His birthdays, He was going around
house to house accepting the offerings of sweet puddings.
Having eaten a good number of these, He set out moving
on his mouse at night. Suddenly the mouse stumbled as
it had seen a snake and became frightened with the result
of that Lord Ganesha fell down.
His stomach burst open and all the sweet
puddings came out. But Lord Ganesha stuffed them back
into his stomach and, caught hold of the snake and tied
it around his belly. Seeing all this, the moon in the
sky had a hearty laugh. This unseemly behaviour of the
moon annoyed Lord Ganesha immensely and so he pulled out
one of his tusks and hurled it against the moon, and cursed
that no one should look at the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi
day. If anyone does, he will surely earn bad luck.
What is the Siginificance of Angarika?
Angaraki: The chaturthi, which falls on Tuesday, is called
angaraki. Angaraki means the planet Mangal (Mars) or the
earth (bhumi). Ganapati is the presiding deity of Mangal
just as He is of the earth. Ganapati and Mangal both have
the same complexion. On the day of angaraki Ganesh frequencies
reach the earth in greater quantities. The Ganesh frequencies
from Mangal too reach the earth. Consequently most of
the frequencies coming from the moon are destroyed. Hence
the benefit obtained by performing 'angarika vinayaki'
and 'angarika sankashti' is equivalent to a series of
vinayakis and sankashtis performed in a year.
Angaraki is not a vowed religious observance like others
performed throughout the day and night. It is an observance
composed of five prahars (one prahar is a period of about
three hours), four during the day and one at night. According
to the ritual, a meal should be taken at moonrise. Thus
that meal becomes a part of the ritual and is not partaken
of to end the fast.
What is the Significance of Sankashti Chaturti?
SANKASHTI CHATURTHI : This vow is done by devotees on
fourth day of sencond fortnight of every month. On this
day devotees fast for whole day & break their fast
after having darshan of Lord moon & worshipping Lord
Ganesha.
This vow is observed strictly by devotees to get rid
of problems in there life. On this day in the evening
after having bath first, worship Lord Ganesh, offer 21
Durvas, do Aarti, show Naivedyam & pray for fulfilling
your desires. Then have Lord moon’s darshan, offer
his Naivedyam, give meal to Brahman & break your fast.
In this way if vow is observed all your desires are fulfilled.
What is the Sanskrit meaning of Ganesh.
GANA in Sanskrit means 'multitude'and 'ISHA' means Lord.
GANESH therefore literally means 'THE LORD OF ALL BEINGS'.
Ganesha is the first son of Lord Shiva. Shiva represents
the supreme Reality. Ganesha symbolise's one who has realised
the Reality. One who has discovered the godhood in him.
Such a man is said to be the lord of all beings. Ganesha
is known by other names as well. Ganapati, Gajanana, vinayaka,
Vighneshwara. Gajanana means 'elephant-faced' Gaja-elephant.
Ganesha has four arms. The four arms represent the four
inner equipment's of the subtle body, namely mind, intellect,
ego and conditioned-consciousness. In one hand he holds
an axe and in another a rope. The axe symbolise's the
destruction of all desires and attachments and their consequent
agitation's and sorrows. The rope is meant to pull the
seeker out of his worldly entanglements and bind him to
the everlasting and enduring bliss of his own Self.
Why is Ganesh called the Lord
of intellect, higher knowledge, wisdom and prosperity?
There story begins with a contest between Lord Ganesha
and his brother, Kartikeya. Kartikeya was very proud of
his mount, the peacock, and his own speed and efficiency.
He challenged Lord Ganesha to a race which would involve
encircling the world three times. They both assembled
before Lord Shiva, the lord signaled to indicate that
the race had begun. Kartikeya immediately climbed atop
his peacock and left to circle the whole world. Ganpati
just smiled. He encircled Lord Shiva and Godess Parvati
thrice. When Kartikeya came back to Mount Kailash, he
was very surprised to find Ganpati there. Ganpati told
him that ones parents are one's own world and encircling
them means encircling the world. He had thus won the race.
What do you know about Lord Ganesha's body structure?
Ganapati is a Lord of intellect and higher knowledge.
Each part of Lord Ganesh symbolizes the intellect:- The
big ears, nose, small eyes, big belly and head are the
signs of a "MAHAPURUSH." The 'Big Head' symbolizes
lots of knowledge. The 'Big Ears' symbolizes the ability
to hear well and that listening makes you a better person.
'Small Eyes' symbolizes the ability to see the future
and the reality instead of the fake outside. 'Big Trunk'
symbolizes the ability to smell good and the bad in the
person from far away. The Large belly is meant to convey
that a man of perfection can consume and digest whatever
experiences he undergoes.
