Ganesh Chouthi
 |
Eco-friendly Ganesha
Ganesha Chauthi or Vinayaka Chathurthi is one of the most popular festivals of not only Karnataka but the entire country. In fact , it is customary to worship Ganesha at the beginning of any new venture, or before performing any puja. It is believed that he removes all the hurdles and helps in completing the job at hand. Hence, he is also called Vigneshwara - one who removes hurdles.
The Birth of Ganesha: Once, when Lord Shiva was away, Paarvathi created a clay statue of a boy and gave it life. She asked him to guard the door while she was bathing. When Shiva returned the boy refused to allow him inside, and Shiva, in his anger, cut off the boy's head. Paarvathi was full of grief when she came to know of this and she requested Shiva to save her son and give him back his life. Lord Shiva ordered his Ganas(servants) to bring the head of any living creature, sleeping with its head facing North. They could find only an elephant and so they brought its head, which Shiva fixed on the boy's neck and brought him back to life. Lord Shiva made the boy the head of all the Ganas, and hence he is also called Ganapathi.
Preparations for the puja: Preparations for the Puja start well before the actual day of the puja. An idol made of clay is brought home and kept on a plate on which rice is spread. The clay idols are normally painted and they are available in all sizes. Now-a-days more and more people opt for clay idols without paint as they do not pollute the water. The idol is installed in a mantapa which is decorated with small banana plants, mango leaves and garlands of flowers. (If gowri puja has been celebrated, the idol is placed in the same mantapa)
Items required for the Puja: There is a long list of items required for the puja, which includes, twenty one types of leaves(patras), flowers, grass(durvayugmam) the tips dipped in red sandal paste, red sandal paste, red akshatha, 21 rows of garland made of cotton, turmeric powder, kunkum(vermilion powder), , garlands made of flowers, sindhur, sandal sticks, camphor, coconuts, at least five varieties of fruits, sugarcane, corn cobs, and several food items the most important being Modhakas. Ganesha is supposed to be very fond of modhakas, hence he is referred to as Modhaka Priya or Modhaka Hastha.
As in the case of all the other pujas, here also a Ganesha idol made of Cowdung(which is considered to be very sacred for Hindus) or Turmeric is worshipped before starting the actual puja. This idol is called Pillari. Before installing the big Ganesha Idol, this pillari is placed in the mantap on a clean betel leaf. Akshatha and flowers are offered to this idol. This is called Purvanga puja. The following shloka is chanted during this puja.
Vakra thunda Mahakaya Kotisurya Samaprabha|
Nirvighnam Kurume Deva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada||
After the usual offering(a banana or a piece of jaggery), arathi is done with lighted camphor. The pillari is then kept away in a corner.
The installation of the Ganesha idol is called Prana Prathishta which means invoking the Lord into the idol by chanting manthras while placing the idol in the mantap. This is normally done by the eldest male member of the family. After installing the idol Shodasha Puja is done. This is also called Shodashopachara. In this 16 different types of pujas are offered to Lord Ganesha. The puja begins with a prayer to the lord. This is called Dhyanam. This is followed by Panchamrutha Snanam. In this, milk, curds(yoghurt), ghee(clarified butter), honey and sugar are used. During this puja, a flower is dipped in the items mentioned , and it is springled on the idol. There is a diferent shloka for each of these items. Then, water is sprinkled on the idol. This is called Shuddodaka (water) snanam. After this, there are several offerings made to the lord, the first being, Vasthram. As mentioned earlier, vasthram is a garland made of cotton, consisting of twenty one rows and smeared with sindhur or kunkum (see picture). After this, he is made to wear the sacred thread(upaveetham) which consists of three rows. This is followed by Anga puja, then patra puja and then Shatha namavali. (angas- parts of the body; patra = leaves and shatha namavali= chanting of the 100 names of Lord Ganesha). Twentyone pathras or leaves are used for partra puja. They include tulasi, bilva, ashwatha, maruga, and dhurvayugma. This is followed by Aarathi with sandal sticks, then aarathi with a lamp filled with ghee. Now is the time for Mahanaivedya in which all the food items prepared that day, fruits, corn cobs , sugar cane, coconuts broken into two, betel leaves with betel nuts are offered to Lord Ganesha. This is followed by Mahamangalarathi with lighted camphor. Now he is worshipped with the grass leaves dipped in red sandal paste. Prasadam (the offerings to the Lord) is distributed to the devotees.
It is customary to read a story in the evening describing how Lord Krishna had to take the blame for killing his cousin and how he came out of that predicament by performing Ganesh Puja on Ganesh chouthi. Krishna and Prasena with some friends went for hunting to a nearby forest. Prasena, at that time, was wearing a precious gem by name Shamanthaka mani, which had been gifted to his father Satrajit by Surya, the Sun god in appreciation of his great devotion to him. During hunting the friends got separated and Krishna returned to the palace with his friends without Prasena. People started blaming Krishna as they thought that Krishna had killed Prasena just to get hold of the precious gem. The gem was supposed to bring good health and wealth to the person who possessed it. Krishna was greatly hurt by this accusation and in order to clear his name, he again went to the forest with some of his friends. He came across a spot where there were signs of a great fight and blood stains and pug marks of a lion leaving that place. He followed the pug marks and once again he saw signs of great struggle and blood stains but this time he could discern the foot prints of a great bear leaving that place. He followed these foot prints and reached a cave. When he entered the cave he saw a beautiful girl putting her kid brother to sleep singing a lullaby. When she saw Krishna she fell in love with him and she requested Krishna to go away from there. But Krishna with a mischievous smile took his conch Panchajanya and blew it with all his might. Jambavantha was rudely awaken from his sleep and there ensued a fierce battle between the two. It continued for eighteen days. In the meanwhile, Krishna's friends after waiting for 7 days got back to Dwaraka. They believed that the bear had killed Krishna. Even the last rites were performed for Krishna. On the 18th day, Jambavantha got tired and asked Krishna who he really was. Krishna revealed his earlier incaranation - that of Rama. Jambavantha fell at Lord Krishna's feet asking for forgiveness. He not only gave the Shamanthakamani to Krishna but also gave his daughter's hand in marriage to Lord Krishna.. He returned to Dwaraka with his bride and the gem. Satrajit felt ashamed for suspecting Krishna and he gave his daughter Satyabhama in marriage to Lord Krishna.
Recipes of some of the delicacies prepared on Vinayaka chauthi
How to prepare Modhakam:
Ingredients: For the outer covering:
Rice flour..................................1 cup
Water ...................................... 1 cup
(Or a little more if required)
A pinch of salt and a teaspoon of oil.
Bring the water to a boil, adding a pinch of salt and a tsp. oil. When the water starts boiling add the rice flour , mixing thoroughly while adding, so that no lumps are formed. Keep aside to cool, covering it with a wet cloth.
For the sweet stuffing:
Scraped coconut.....................1 cup
Powdered jaggery...................3/4thcup
Cardomum powder..................1/2 tsp
Mix all the ingredients and and cook on a low fire, till all the moisture is absorbed. Allow it to cool.
To assemble the Modhak: Knead the cooked flour well and form into small pebble sized balls. Applying oil on the palm, flatten each ball into a thin circle. This can be done using a roti presser also. Take half a teaspoon of the filling, place it in the middle of the circular wrap. Bring the edge together at the top and press so that the filling is sealed inside. Make all the modhaks in the same way and steam for 15 minutes.
Savoury Modhak:
Ingredients:
Urad dal...........................1/2 cup
2 or 3 green chillies cut into small pieces
curry leaves 2 sprigs chopped finely
coriander leaves chopped fine...1 tbsp
a pinch of hing
salt to taste and a tsp. of oil and a 1/2 tsp of mustard
Soak the dal in water for half an hour. After half an hour drain the water and grind the dal into a course paste. To this, add salt , coriander, green chillies, curry leaves
and hing. Steam this mixture for 20 minutes. Allow it to cool. Mash the mixture well to remove lumps and temper it with mustard spluttered in hot oil. Prepare the case in the same way as for the modhaks. Fill with a little of the mixture and fold instead of bringing the edge together at the top. Steam for 15 minutes.
Khus Khus(Ghasa ghasa) payasam or kheer:
Ingredients:
Ghasa Ghasa(Poppy seeds)................1 tbl sp.
Coconut scrapings .......................1/2 cup
Cashew nuts or almonds.................1/4 cup
Milk ..............................................1 cup
Jaggery..........................................1/4 cup
cardomum......................................2 or 3 pods
Rice................................................2 spoons
Roast the poppy seeds slightly in a kadai. Allow it to cool. Mix together the roasted poppy seeds, rice, cashew nuts or almonds and cardomum seeds and dry grind to a fine Powder. Add coconut scrapings and some water to this powder and grind to a smooth paste. Cook the paste on a low fire, adding some more water and jaggery. Before removing from the fire add the milk and bring into a boil. If desired, garnish with cashew nuts and raisins fried in ghee.
Visarjan: This is nothing but bidding farewell to Ganesha and Gowri. If Gowri festival is observed, visarjan is done on the 3rd, 5th, 7th or 9th day after Gowri puja, taking care that it is an auspicious day. If only Ganesh Puja is observed, the visarjan can be done on the same day or any other auspicious day, the last day being Chathurdashi--the 10th day. Normally, the idols are carried to a pond or river, and after performing puja they are immersed in the water. But, it can also be be done at home in a bucket of clean water. When the idols are completely dissolved, the water is poured near a tree or bush.
The Birth of Ganesha: Once, when Lord Shiva was away, Paarvathi created a clay statue of a boy and gave it life. She asked him to guard the door while she was bathing. When Shiva returned the boy refused to allow him inside, and Shiva, in his anger, cut off the boy's head. Paarvathi was full of grief when she came to know of this and she requested Shiva to save her son and give him back his life. Lord Shiva ordered his Ganas(servants) to bring the head of any living creature, sleeping with its head facing North. They could find only an elephant and so they brought its head, which Shiva fixed on the boy's neck and brought him back to life. Lord Shiva made the boy the head of all the Ganas, and hence he is also called Ganapathi.
Preparations for the puja: Preparations for the Puja start well before the actual day of the puja. An idol made of clay is brought home and kept on a plate on which rice is spread. The clay idols are normally painted and they are available in all sizes. Now-a-days more and more people opt for clay idols without paint as they do not pollute the water. The idol is installed in a mantapa which is decorated with small banana plants, mango leaves and garlands of flowers. (If gowri puja has been celebrated, the idol is placed in the same mantapa)
Items required for the Puja: There is a long list of items required for the puja, which includes, twenty one types of leaves(patras), flowers, grass(durvayugmam) the tips dipped in red sandal paste, red sandal paste, red akshatha, 21 rows of garland made of cotton, turmeric powder, kunkum(vermilion powder), , garlands made of flowers, sindhur, sandal sticks, camphor, coconuts, at least five varieties of fruits, sugarcane, corn cobs, and several food items the most important being Modhakas. Ganesha is supposed to be very fond of modhakas, hence he is referred to as Modhaka Priya or Modhaka Hastha.
As in the case of all the other pujas, here also a Ganesha idol made of Cowdung(which is considered to be very sacred for Hindus) or Turmeric is worshipped before starting the actual puja. This idol is called Pillari. Before installing the big Ganesha Idol, this pillari is placed in the mantap on a clean betel leaf. Akshatha and flowers are offered to this idol. This is called Purvanga puja. The following shloka is chanted during this puja.
Vakra thunda Mahakaya Kotisurya Samaprabha|
Nirvighnam Kurume Deva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada||
After the usual offering(a banana or a piece of jaggery), arathi is done with lighted camphor. The pillari is then kept away in a corner.
The installation of the Ganesha idol is called Prana Prathishta which means invoking the Lord into the idol by chanting manthras while placing the idol in the mantap. This is normally done by the eldest male member of the family. After installing the idol Shodasha Puja is done. This is also called Shodashopachara. In this 16 different types of pujas are offered to Lord Ganesha. The puja begins with a prayer to the lord. This is called Dhyanam. This is followed by Panchamrutha Snanam. In this, milk, curds(yoghurt), ghee(clarified butter), honey and sugar are used. During this puja, a flower is dipped in the items mentioned , and it is springled on the idol. There is a diferent shloka for each of these items. Then, water is sprinkled on the idol. This is called Shuddodaka (water) snanam. After this, there are several offerings made to the lord, the first being, Vasthram. As mentioned earlier, vasthram is a garland made of cotton, consisting of twenty one rows and smeared with sindhur or kunkum (see picture). After this, he is made to wear the sacred thread(upaveetham) which consists of three rows. This is followed by Anga puja, then patra puja and then Shatha namavali. (angas- parts of the body; patra = leaves and shatha namavali= chanting of the 100 names of Lord Ganesha). Twentyone pathras or leaves are used for partra puja. They include tulasi, bilva, ashwatha, maruga, and dhurvayugma. This is followed by Aarathi with sandal sticks, then aarathi with a lamp filled with ghee. Now is the time for Mahanaivedya in which all the food items prepared that day, fruits, corn cobs , sugar cane, coconuts broken into two, betel leaves with betel nuts are offered to Lord Ganesha. This is followed by Mahamangalarathi with lighted camphor. Now he is worshipped with the grass leaves dipped in red sandal paste. Prasadam (the offerings to the Lord) is distributed to the devotees.
It is customary to read a story in the evening describing how Lord Krishna had to take the blame for killing his cousin and how he came out of that predicament by performing Ganesh Puja on Ganesh chouthi. Krishna and Prasena with some friends went for hunting to a nearby forest. Prasena, at that time, was wearing a precious gem by name Shamanthaka mani, which had been gifted to his father Satrajit by Surya, the Sun god in appreciation of his great devotion to him. During hunting the friends got separated and Krishna returned to the palace with his friends without Prasena. People started blaming Krishna as they thought that Krishna had killed Prasena just to get hold of the precious gem. The gem was supposed to bring good health and wealth to the person who possessed it. Krishna was greatly hurt by this accusation and in order to clear his name, he again went to the forest with some of his friends. He came across a spot where there were signs of a great fight and blood stains and pug marks of a lion leaving that place. He followed the pug marks and once again he saw signs of great struggle and blood stains but this time he could discern the foot prints of a great bear leaving that place. He followed these foot prints and reached a cave. When he entered the cave he saw a beautiful girl putting her kid brother to sleep singing a lullaby. When she saw Krishna she fell in love with him and she requested Krishna to go away from there. But Krishna with a mischievous smile took his conch Panchajanya and blew it with all his might. Jambavantha was rudely awaken from his sleep and there ensued a fierce battle between the two. It continued for eighteen days. In the meanwhile, Krishna's friends after waiting for 7 days got back to Dwaraka. They believed that the bear had killed Krishna. Even the last rites were performed for Krishna. On the 18th day, Jambavantha got tired and asked Krishna who he really was. Krishna revealed his earlier incaranation - that of Rama. Jambavantha fell at Lord Krishna's feet asking for forgiveness. He not only gave the Shamanthakamani to Krishna but also gave his daughter's hand in marriage to Lord Krishna.. He returned to Dwaraka with his bride and the gem. Satrajit felt ashamed for suspecting Krishna and he gave his daughter Satyabhama in marriage to Lord Krishna.
Recipes of some of the delicacies prepared on Vinayaka chauthi
How to prepare Modhakam:
Ingredients: For the outer covering:
Rice flour..................................1 cup
Water ...................................... 1 cup
(Or a little more if required)
A pinch of salt and a teaspoon of oil.
Bring the water to a boil, adding a pinch of salt and a tsp. oil. When the water starts boiling add the rice flour , mixing thoroughly while adding, so that no lumps are formed. Keep aside to cool, covering it with a wet cloth.
For the sweet stuffing:
Scraped coconut.....................1 cup
Powdered jaggery...................3/4thcup
Cardomum powder..................1/2 tsp
Mix all the ingredients and and cook on a low fire, till all the moisture is absorbed. Allow it to cool.
To assemble the Modhak: Knead the cooked flour well and form into small pebble sized balls. Applying oil on the palm, flatten each ball into a thin circle. This can be done using a roti presser also. Take half a teaspoon of the filling, place it in the middle of the circular wrap. Bring the edge together at the top and press so that the filling is sealed inside. Make all the modhaks in the same way and steam for 15 minutes.
Savoury Modhak:
Ingredients:
Urad dal...........................1/2 cup
2 or 3 green chillies cut into small pieces
curry leaves 2 sprigs chopped finely
coriander leaves chopped fine...1 tbsp
a pinch of hing
salt to taste and a tsp. of oil and a 1/2 tsp of mustard
Soak the dal in water for half an hour. After half an hour drain the water and grind the dal into a course paste. To this, add salt , coriander, green chillies, curry leaves
and hing. Steam this mixture for 20 minutes. Allow it to cool. Mash the mixture well to remove lumps and temper it with mustard spluttered in hot oil. Prepare the case in the same way as for the modhaks. Fill with a little of the mixture and fold instead of bringing the edge together at the top. Steam for 15 minutes.
Khus Khus(Ghasa ghasa) payasam or kheer:
Ingredients:
Ghasa Ghasa(Poppy seeds)................1 tbl sp.
Coconut scrapings .......................1/2 cup
Cashew nuts or almonds.................1/4 cup
Milk ..............................................1 cup
Jaggery..........................................1/4 cup
cardomum......................................2 or 3 pods
Rice................................................2 spoons
Roast the poppy seeds slightly in a kadai. Allow it to cool. Mix together the roasted poppy seeds, rice, cashew nuts or almonds and cardomum seeds and dry grind to a fine Powder. Add coconut scrapings and some water to this powder and grind to a smooth paste. Cook the paste on a low fire, adding some more water and jaggery. Before removing from the fire add the milk and bring into a boil. If desired, garnish with cashew nuts and raisins fried in ghee.
Visarjan: This is nothing but bidding farewell to Ganesha and Gowri. If Gowri festival is observed, visarjan is done on the 3rd, 5th, 7th or 9th day after Gowri puja, taking care that it is an auspicious day. If only Ganesh Puja is observed, the visarjan can be done on the same day or any other auspicious day, the last day being Chathurdashi--the 10th day. Normally, the idols are carried to a pond or river, and after performing puja they are immersed in the water. But, it can also be be done at home in a bucket of clean water. When the idols are completely dissolved, the water is poured near a tree or bush.
*************************************************************
posted by festrecipes @ 11:30 AM
0 comments
