Lord Ganesha is referred to by many names such as Vighnaharta, Sukhkarta, Gajanana, Ganapati etc for various reasons.
After two years of restricted celebration, preparations are in full swing for the ten-day long auspicious Ganesha festival. This festival is celebrated with huge pomp and show by the people across India. However, it is mainly celebrated in Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, etc.
People welcome Ganpatti Bappa by installing Lord Ganesha idols in their homes on the first day of the festival. Devotees decorate and worship the elephant-headed God and then bid adieu to him by immersing the idols in water after three, five, or ten days. so let's try to unfold the story of how Lord Ganesha came into being what Ganesha symbolizes etc and ganesh chaturthi festival the significance of ganesh chaturthi.
Why we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?
Birth of Lord Ganesha mata Parvati appreciated Lord Shiva's bull Nandi as he was so devoted to the service of his master.
She knew that Nandi would do anything that shiva asked for and wanted someone similar who would be devoted to her one day she made an idol of a little boy with turmeric paste applied on her skin and infused life into him with her divine powers and from the sculpture emerged a young boy who went on to address her as his mother mata Parvati was delighted to have a son and she knew he would always be devoted to serving her.
Subsequently as she decided to take a bath she asked the little boy to guard the doors and not let anyone enter the house until she gave her consent the little boy agreed and stood right in front of the door and started guarding it a while later the little boy saw someone coming and it was none other than Lord Shiva.
However he only knew his mother and no one else therefore when lord shiva was about to step inside the house the little boy guarded the door and stopped him from entering lord shiva wondered who the little boy was and why he wasn't allowing him to visit his own abode lord shiva made several attempts to tell the little boy that he is husband and hence he must let him in but the little boy refused to listen to him
Subsequently they got into an argument which fled into a massive fight even the ganas devas and lord vishnu finally got involved into it and in a fit of rage lord shiva who did not know that the little boy is his son beheaded him with his trident threshold for a moment all stood still their gaze fixed on the valiant hero then the devas and the ganas became jubilant but shiva was troubled.
Meanwhile Parvati turned furious about learning about the death of her son she was so enraged by what had transpired that the other gods and goddesses appealed to Lord Shiva to calm her eventually lord shiva asked his gunners or followers to find the head of the creature that they would cite first as the ganas began their mission they came across an elephant that volunteered to give its head.
Subsequently the head of the elephant was fixed to the body of the little boy lord shiva along with lord brahma gave a new lease of life to him and hence he is also called as gajanana lord shiva declared him as the head of his ganas and thus lord ganesha came into being thus devi parvati was pacified and to please her lord shiva also granted a boon that ganesha would always be worshipped first.
Till date lord ganesha is server pratham
pujaniya meaning the one who is worshipped before any other deity he is the first recipient of a marriage invite or any other auspicious occasion devotees hail him as vignahartha meaning the one who removes obstacles and sukh karta meaning the giver of joy the little boy whom mata parvati had created had got a new lease of life from lord shiva and hence on this day devotees celebrate ganesh chaturthi to observe the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha.
Spiritual meaning of Lord Ganesha's birth the little voice that mata parvati had created from turmeric paste applied on her body represents attachment or a sense of belonging lord shiva is the aadhi yogi or the one who is detached to attain the ultimate truth and peace one must eliminate the source of sorrows and agonies the head generates countless thoughts which in turn creates a sense of attachment.
Therefore the beheading represents the elimination of the source of all troubles and the use of the threshold is also symbolic the trident has three pointed edges it represents a variety of things here it refers to the three inherent gonads satwa rajasthan thomas therefore the one who has the three gunas in a healthy proportion succeeds in overcoming mo or sorrow.
Subsequently an elephant's hand is attached which represents mindfulness and intellect for the unworst elephants have a highly developed brain and memory power hence the significance mindfulness is equal to wisdom.and thus the little boy who symbolized attachment attains enlightenment after.donning a new head.
Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all of you.
Muhurat and timings
The festival will begin on Ganesh Chaturthi which is falling on 31 August this time. However, the Ganesh Chaturthi tithi will fall between 30 and 31 August. The Tithi time will begin at 3:33 pm on 30 August and will last till 3:22 pm the next day. Anant Chaturdashi falling on 9 September will mark the end of the festival when devotees will immerse the Ganesha idol in water.
Avoid Moon Sighting on Ganesh Chaturthi
According to ancient beliefs, one should avoid moon sighting at night on Ganesh Chaturthi. Sighting the moon on this occasion creates Mithya Dosham or Mithya Kalank on any person.
According to the Hindu calendar, one should avoid moon sighting on 30 August from 3:33 pm to 8:40 pm and between 9:29 am to 9:10 pm on 31 August.