Worship of Ganesha-Why and How

Worship of Ganesha-Why and How   The name "Ganesha" is a combination of Sanskrit words, "Gana" and "Isha".

Gana means all existing beings in names and forms and Isha means Lord. Thus, Ganesha is the Lord of all existing beings. All Tantrik and spiritual worship in the Vedic tradition begins with the invocation of Ganesha. One of the most popular Hindu deities, he is propagated as the remover of obstacles at the beginning of every undertaking.

Ganesha is conceived as a short, pot bellied figure with four arms and the head of an elephant bearing a single tusk. In three of his hands he holds an "Ankush" (Hatchet), a "Pash" (Lasso) and sometimes a Comet. Sometimes the fourth hand is shown in a gesture of granting boons to the people who have invoked his blessings. His small eyes shine like jewels. He rides or is accompanied by a Rat, who was once a demon whom Ganesha subjugated and then accepted as his vehicle. This Demon symbolized vanity and impertinence. Thus Ganesha subjugates false vanity, pride, ego and impertinence.

Our rational mind may not accept this grotesque image of God. However acceptance of Ganesha as the divine force stills the rational mind and all its doubts, which is our greatest enemy. By the simple exercise of invoking Ganesha, by praying, and paying homage and surrendering to him, the rational mind is subdued and brought under control.

This is the reason Ganesha is worshipped as the great obstacle remover. Faith creates a powerful force, turning the ever flowing downward energy into upward flowing energy, and connecs us with the higher centers of consciousness in the universe existing within our own body.

Divine Ganesha is unshakeable. He provides firmness to all those who meditate upon him and invoke him at the beginning of all undertakings, worldly or spiritual. Thus with the worship of Ganesha, we are ready to receive the divine Grace through the planet whose mantra is engraved on the Yantra.

Description of of Ganesh "Puja"

The initial energizing procedure for the ritual worship uses the following objects.

An altar
An asana (seat) of the deity Ganesha and the Yantra inside the altar
An image of the deity Ganesha and the Yantra.
An asana (seat) for the worshipper.
A water pot made of copper for offering water.
A garland made of fresh flowers.
A bell.
Scents for offering to the deity.
Handspun cloth to cover the deity.
Jewelry for the deity.
Fresh Flowers.
Incense.
Sweet or any kind of offering as food including uncooked rice.
Sandalwood paste.
A mixture of Yogurt with honey and cream.

The initial energizing Puja performs what is called "Shodashopchar" or worship done by sixteen articles (opchar).

This is the description of the Puja

1. Swagat = Welcoming the deity by chanting mantra.
2. Asana = Offering the seat while uttering mantra.
3. Padya = Washing the feet of the deity while reciting mantra.
4. Arghya = Offering uncooked rice, flowers, sandal wood paste and Turmeric as roli with grass leaves.
5. Achman = Offering of water twice while reciting mantra.
6. Achman = Again offering of water twice while reciting mantra.
7. Madhupurak = The deity is offered a cup of Yogurt mixed with a tablespoon of honey and a spoonful of cream.
8. Snana = The deity is offered a bath.
9. Vasana = The deity is offered clothes.
10. Abharana = The deity is offered jewelry.
11. Gandha = The deity is offered sandal wood paste to anoint the body.
12. Pushpa = The offering of flowers is made.
13. Dhupa  = The offering of incense is made.
14. Deep = The offering of lamp is made.
15. Naivedya = The offering of the food is made.
16. Vandana = Prayer is offered.