Satyanarayan Pooja

The Satyanarayan Puja is a Hindu religious observance. It is a ritual performed by Hindus before/on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason.

The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Purnima day of every month (the day of the full moon) or a Sankranti.

Satyanarayana vrat is the easiest and most inexpensive way of self-purification and self-surrender at the lotus feet of Hari. One who observes it with full devotion and faith is sure to attain his heart's desire.

The katha is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his manifestation as Lord Satyanarayan.

Ingredients for performing Katha or Pooja:

Panchamrit(Milk,Ghee,Curd,Honey and Sugar)

Kutti for prasad(Wheat Flour,Ghee and Sugar)

Coconut,Bananas or any other fruit

Flowers

Tulsi

Idols of Laxmi and Narayan

Diya

Dhoop,Agarbatti

Rice grains with KumKum powder

Method of Performing Katha:

The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha's favorite foods - modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or laddu) and the showering of flower petals.

Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha's - the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Angaaraka/Chevaai (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru aka Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (the head of the Demon snake), and Ketu (the tail of the Demon snake).

The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu. First "panchamritam" is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satyanarayana are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals.

Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the puja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the careless performance of the puja.

Navratri....Jai Mata Di..

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 The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped. The 10th day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.

Navaratri represents celebration of Goddess Durga, the manifestation of Deity in form of Shakti [Energy or Power]. The Navaratri festival or ‘Nine Nights festival’ becomes ‘ten days festival’ with the addition of the last day, Vijayadashami which is its culmination. On all these ten days, the various forms of Mother Mahisasura-mardini (Durga) are worshipped with fervor and devotion.

1.First Day: Kalasha Sthapana (Ghatasthapana) – Prathami Puja or Padyami Puja – Installation of earthen pot. Green color is used. The Goddess of first day in Navratri will be dressed in Green colored saree.

2.Second Day: Preethi Dwitiya (Preeti Vidiya) – Ashwin Shukla Dwitiya. Grey colour is used. The Goddess of second day in Navratri will be dressed in Grey coloured saree.

3.Third Day: S...t...hana Vriddhi Gauri Vrata – Ashwin Masa Shudda Tritiya (Aswayuja Shukla Thadiya) -Sindhoor Tritiya. Sowbhagya Teej. Pink colour is used. The Goddess of third day in Navratri will be dressed in Pink coloured saree.

4.Fourth Day: Bhouma Chaturthi – Ashwin Masa Shudda Chaturthi (Ashwayuja Shukla Chavithi). White colour is used. The Goddess of fourth day in Navratri will be dressed in White coloured saree. 

5.Fifth Day: Upang Lalitha Gauri Vrata (Sri Lalitha Panchami or Maha Panchami) – Ashwin Shudda Panchami. Red color is used. The Goddess of fifth day in Navratri will be dressed in Red coloured saree.

6.Sixth Day: Maha Sashti – Ashwin Shudda Sashti – Ashwin Shudda Sashti. Blue colour is used. The Goddess of sixth day in Navratri will be dressed in Blue coloured saree.

7.Seventh Day: Maha Saptami – Ashwin Shudda Saptami – Triratra Vrata Aarambha Utsava Puja (Trirathrotsavam). Yellow colour is used. The Goddess of seventh day in Navratri will be dressed in Yellow coloured saree.

                                                                  

 8.Eighth Day: Durga Ashtami (Maha Astami) – Ashwin Shudda Astami – Sri Maha Durga Puja – Goddess Saraswati Mata Puja. Violet color is used. The Goddess of eighth day in Navratri will be dressed in Violet colored saree. 

                                                  

9.Ninth Day: Maharnavami Puja (Maha Navami) – Suhasini Puja – Ayudha Puja – Kanya Puja or Kumari Puja – Ashwin Shudda Navami. Peacock Green color is used. The Goddess of ninth day in Navratri will be dressed in Peacock coloured saree.

10.Tenth Day: Vijaya Dashami (Dussera/ Dasara/ Dussehra)Mahishasura Vadha-Ashwin Shudda Dashami. Every year for Vijayadashami celebrations Red colour is used. The Goddess of tenth day in Navratri will be dressed in Red coloured saree.

Mother Mary

Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God".

Mary is the mother of Jesus of Nazareth in Christian and Islamic scriptures. Catholicism and some other Christian traditions honor her as a special saint, the "blessed virgin," who hears and acts upon prayers.

 Bible stories in the books of Matthew and Luke tell of the angel Gabriel, announcing to Mary that the Holy Spirit will "overshadow" her and she will bear a holy child while still a virgin.

Her fiancee, Joseph, decides at an angel's prompting not to break the engagement and marries the pregnant Mary

 

She gives birth to Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem. Mary follows Jesus during his adult ministry and is present at his crucifixion..

In Christianity, Jesus is called the Son of God, divine as well as human.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is a model of Love and Mercy, who intercedes with her Son Jesus for us, her children on earth.  

Mother Mary is an inspiration for today's Mother.

Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin. The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honor as Mother of God. From the Council of Ephesus in 431, which dogmatized this belief, to Vatican II and Pope John Paul II's Redemptoris Mater encyclical the Virgin Mary has come to be seen, not only as the Mother of God but also as the Mother of the Church.

As the mother of Jesus Christ, Mary has a central role in the life of the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic veneration of her as the Blessed Virgin Mary has grown over time both in importance and manifestation, not only in prayer but in art, poetry and music. Popes have encouraged this veneration but from time to time have also taken steps to reform it. Overall, there are significantly more titles, feasts and venerative Marian practices among Roman Catholics than any other Christians traditions.

The key role of the Virgin Mary in Roman Catholic beliefs, her veneration, and the growth of Roman Catholic Mariology have not only come about by official statements made in Rome but have often been driven from the ground up, by the Marian writings of the saints and from the masses of believers, and at times via reported Marian apparitions to young and simple children on remote hilltops, which have then influenced the higher levels of the Holy See via sensus fidei.

The Holy See continues to approve of Marian apparitions on remote mountains, the latest approval being as recent as May 2008. Some apparitions such as Fatima have given rise to Marian Movements and Societies with millions of members, and many other Marian societies exist around the world.

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Twelve Names of Shree Ganesh

Ganpati festival is being celebrated with full zest,so thought to share the names of Ganpati Bappa.
Lord Ganesh is respected with the first honour of worship, before undertaking any auspicious occasion, or celebration. 
For the successful completion of any auspicious undertaking, the Tweleve - names of Lord Ganesh are pronounced, and praised.

1. Sumukh :
One who has a beatutiful face.Whenever Lord Ganesh is worshipped at the beginning of any auspicious occassion his sacred and beautiful face is always the center of our attention.His small eyes signify the seriousness. Long nose suggests his wisdom and intellect, where as his long flat ears suggest his knowledge prowess of extreme nature. He listens to the events which are significant, so also carefully listens to the complaints and grievances of his devotees. Deergha Karna (Long ears) means this. He pronounces the integrated nature of Omkar...... i.e. Bramha Vishnu and Mahesh. All these dimensions together justify his name as Sumukh.


2. Ek Danta (Having One Tooth) :
There is a story behind this name, once, mother Parvati, Went for a bath, telling Gajanana to project the entrance, and not to allow way one inside, and should stop him if one wishes. Then Lord Parashuram arrived there and tried to enter Ganesh obstructed him. He strongly abused and disowned Parshuram who got severely hurt and thus retaliated by weapons. He attacked Ganesh first, and in the process, Ganesh lost one of his teeth. Therefore he became known as " Ek Danta " Even that broken tooth harshly disowned Parashuram and pressed him with an intention to kill. However the disciples of Shiva interfered and stopped Ganesh from doing so. There was havoc among the Gods, at the sight of Ganeshas broken teeth. To please him however, the Gods praised that broken teeth also. This is a historical story.
 
3. Kapil :
Is an adjective means of Grey colour; Smoky grey colour cow is called Kapila; The cow satisfies the needs of a man keeping him healthy by giving products like milk, curd, ghee etc. though she is gray in colour similarly lord Ganesh gives Ghee in the form of knowledge, curd in the form of wisdom and milk in the form of expression. He makes man healthy, destroys all his evils and clears off his worries. Therefore his name ;Kapil, fits in, in the sense it carries.

4. Gajakarna :
Is the forth name of lord Ganesh means God with ears of elephant. It is very well known with this name. He listens to everyone. The people with high degree of intellect and wisdom can only do great things; those with cheap hearing character always listen to trifle matters which do not achieve any benefits for mankind. This Ganesh Deity with long ears, as if, teaches the humanity not be a listener of cheap things, The ill wishers around may utter many good or bad words about us, listen to then but do not pronounce; not even once.

5. Lambodar (Big Belly) :
With large stomach portion. Shri Ganesh is remembered . Human beings are of two kinds. In the first category, people digest and store every good will thing within them. However, the people in second category cannot digest anything.

6. Vikat :
This is Ganesha's Sixth name. It means ferocious, dreadful. Ganesh has all his body of a human being, whereas, his face is of elephant.  Lord Ganesh stands firmly to defeat all the evils in the way. It is always said that one has to raise encounters in the same manner, as the opponents behave.

7. Vighna Nashak :
Lord Ganesh is a destroyer of all evils and Calamities.  We pray and worship with folded hands, that Ganesh, who is a son of Shiva, destroys the evils, and who also incarnates before his devotees in the posture of blessings given.Shri Ganesh removes fear from the minds. It is the only deity who holds control over all evils. Therefore he is known as Vighnesh.

8. Vinayak :
This is Lord Ganesha's Eighth name meaning thereby specific Nayak or Hero or leader or Swami. There will be no obstruction or stoppage in the work undertaken, when Lord Ganesh is satisfied with prayer and worshipped while performing the secured rites.
 
9. Dhumraketu :
Means Agni...... a flag like a smoke.  Smoke of Decision - suspicion. A smoke, which would give concrete shape to the ideas and fluttering in the atmosphere like a flag. Therefore Ganesh is known as Dhoomraketu and is appreciated.
 
10. Ganadhyaksha :
This is Shri Ganesha's Tenth name. A swami or a controller of such things, which can be counted.  (General People) Nar (Men), Asur (Demon) Nag (Snakes) Chaturveda (four vedas) four Purusharthas.......Ganesha is the swami of all these.

11. Balchandra :
This is Shri Ganesha's eleventh name. One who wears moon on his head. The moon has a relation with all creatures in this world. By holding the moon on the head, Shri Ganesh creates an atmosphere of pleasure and peace with his cool physique.

12. Gajanana :
This is the Twelth and last name. It means a God having the face of elephant. Half of his body is of a human being while face is like elephant. Small eyes like elephant conveys the meaning of critical eyesight, also suggesting that one should have generous outlook. It further signifies lord Ganesha's determination to protect the dignify and status of mankind forever. Long ears suggest that he is capable of listening everything. From the throat to his head, portion of Ganesha is like elphant, therefore is more prominent and attractive.

                   Ganpati Bappa Morya!! 

What Does Our Ganesha Signify

In Hinduism, Ganesha refers to the "lord of the hosts," also spelled as Ganesa and Ganesh, often also referred to as Ganapati) - and is one of the most well-known and venerated representations of God (Brahman). 

He is the first born son of Shiva and Parvati, and the husband of Bharati, Riddhi and Siddhi. He is also called Vinayaka in Marathi, Malayalam and Kannada, Vinayagar and Pillayar (in Tamil), and Vinayakudu in Telugu. 

'Ga' symbolizes Buddhi (intellect) and 'Na' symbolizes Vijnana (wisdom). Ganesha is thus considered the master of intellect and wisdom. 

He is depicted as a big-bellied, yellow or red god with four arms and the head of a one-tusked elephant, riding on, or attended to by, a mouse. He is frequently represented sitting down, with one leg raised in the air and bent over the other. Typically, his name is prefixed with the Hindu title of respect, 'Shree' or Sri.

He represents the perfect equilibrium between force and kindness and between power and beauty. He also symbolizes the discriminative capacities which provide the ability to perceive distinctions between truth and illusion, the real and the unreal. 

A description of all of the characteristics and attributes of Ganesha can be found in the Ganapati Upanishad (an Upanishad dedicated to Ganesha) of the rishi Atharva, in which Ganesha is identified with Brahman and Atman. 

According to the strict rules of Hindu iconography, Ganesha figures with only two hands are taboo. Hence, Ganesha figures are most commonly seen with four hands which signify their divinity. Some figures may be seen with six, some with eight, some with ten, some with twelve and some with fourteen hands, each hand carrying a symbol which differs from the symbols in other hands, there being about fifty-seven symbols in all, according to some scholars. 

The image of Ganesha is a composite one. Four animals i.e. man, elephant, the serpent and the mouse have contributed to the makeup of his figure. All of them individually and collectively have deep symbolic significance. 

Ganesha is a much beloved and frequently invoked divinity, since he is the Lord of Good Fortune who provides prosperity and fortune and also the Destroyer of Obstacles of a material or spiritual order. It is for this reason that his grace is invoked before the undertaking of any task (e.g. traveling, taking an examination, conducting a business affair, a job interview, performing a ceremony,) with such incantations as Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah (hail the name of Ganesha), or similar. It is also for this reason that, traditionally, all sessions of bhajan (devotional chanting) begin with an invocation of Ganesha, Lord of the "good beginnings" of chants. Throughout India and the Hindu culture, Lord Ganesha is the first idol placed into any new home or abode.

Ganesha is associated with the first chakra (energy wheel), which represents the instinct of conservation and survival, of procreation and material well-being.

 

BODILY ATTRIBUTES

Every element of the body of Ganesha has its own value and its own significance:

• The elephant head indicates fidelity, intelligence and discriminative power;
• The fact that he has a single tusk (the other being broken off) indicates Ganesha¹s ability to overcome all forms of dualism;
• The wide ears denote wisdom, ability to listen to people who seek help and to reflect on spiritual truths. They signify the importance of listening in order to assimilate ideas. Ears are used to gain knowledge. The large ears indicate that when God is known, all knowledge is known;
• the curved trunk indicates the intellectual potentialities which manifest themselves in the faculty of discrimination between real and unreal; on the forehead, the Trishula (weapon of Shiva, similar to Trident) is depicted, symbolising time (past, present and future) and Ganesha's mastery over it;
• Ganesha's pot belly contains infinite universes. It signifies the bounty of nature and equanimity, the ability of Ganesha to swallow the sorrows of the Universe and protect the world;
• the position of his legs (one resting on the ground and one raised) indicate the importance of living and participating in the material world as well as in the spiritual world, the ability to live in the world without being of the world.
• The four arms of Ganesha represent the four inner attributes of the subtle body, that is: mind (Manas), intellect (Buddhi), ego (Ahamkara), and conditioned conscience (Chitta). Lord Ganesha represents the pure consciousness - the Atman - which enables these four attributes to function in us;
• The hand waving an axe, is a symbol of the retrenchment of all desires, bearers of pain and suffering. With this axe Ganesha can both strike and repel obstacles. The axe is also to prod man to the path of righteousness and truth;
• The second hand holds a whip, symbol of the force that ties the devout person to the eternal beatitude of God. The whip conveys that worldly attachments and desires should be rid of;
• The third hand, turned towards the devotee, is in a pose of blessing, refuge and protection (abhaya);
• the fourth hand holds a lotus flower (padma), and it symbolizes the highest goal of human evolution, the sweetness of the realised inner self.  

Ganesha is also defined as Omkara or Aumkara, that is "having the form of Om (or Aum) (see the section The names of Ganesha). In fact, the shape of his body is a copy of the outline of the Devanagari letter which indicates the celebrated Bija Mantra. For this reason, Ganesha is considered the bodily incarnation of the entire Cosmos, He who is at the base of all of the phenomenal world (Vishvadhara, Jagadoddhara). Moreover, in the Tamil language, the sacred syllable is indicated precisely by a character which recalls the shape of the elephant's head of Ganesha.

The cult of Ganesha is widely diffused, even outside of India. His devotees are called Ganapatya. The ganapati festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion throughout India but in Mumbai, the financial capital of the Country, the festival assumes a special significance because of the scale at which it is performed.

 

Ganpati Bappa Mourya, may god bless all of us

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