.
 
ENSHRINING OF SHRI GANESHA
 
Courtesy and Copyright Jnana Prabodhini
 
Introduction
 
As all waters falling as rain from the sky ultimately reach the ocean, so does reverent obeisance made to all Gods ultimately reach Keshava- the One Supreme..
This small couplet beautifully explains the catholic spirit of Hinduism. Worship of any deity is itself the worship of the Ultimate. The worshipper is welcome to worship any idol if he is well aware of this spirit.
In Hinduism each deity stands for a specific attribute given to the Ultimate. Shri Ganesha is the symbol of omniscience. He is the God of Knowledge. Gana is a troupe. Ganesha is the leader of the troupe. He is considered to be a skillful organizer. He is supposed to annihilate all the obstacles in the way of success. He mobilizes large groups and gives them a well-directed program of destroying the evil forces.
 
There are many myths related to Shri Ganesha and also to other deities in Hindu religion. All ancient cultures including Chinese and Greek are rich with mythologies. We find them strange because we do not know how to interpret the symbolism in which they typically express themselves.
 
Shri Ganesha is a God with the head of an elephant. Elephant stands for wisdom and power. Its small eyes discern between the real and the unreal. Some believe that the symbol Om is reflected in the image of Shri Ganesha.
 
Atharvasheersha, the Vedic verses on Shri Ganesha, describe him as Eternity incarnate. Hence, worship of Lord Ganesha is not worshipping a particular deity but worshipping the Reality itself.
Lokamanya Tilak turned the individual Ganapati worship into a community festival and made it a means of awakening public opinion against the British rule. After independence, leaders of various social movements made use of this festival for informal education of the people.
 
Indians settled abroad also celebrate Ganesha festival on community level. This English version of the script for enshrining Shri Ganesha may be useful for them. There is no need for the priest. Any senior person, a gentleman or a woman, of good character can conduct it.
 
This booklet gives the manual of worship of Shri Ganesha, the rites to be performed before the immersion of the image, Atharvasheersha and Aarati of Shri Ganesha by Saint Ramdas. With reverence to Lord Ganesha.
 
Preparations for the Enshrinement of Shri Ganesha
 
 
1. A well decorated Shrine and Image of Shri Ganesha 9. Holy Conch, Holy bell
2. Wooden seats 10. Rice grains mixed with slight 'Kumkum'
3. Sandal-wood paste 11. Mixture of milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, sugar, warm water
4. Oil lamp 12. A small piece of good cloth as a seat cover
5. Incense 13. A small piece of fine cloth to be offered as a garment to Ganesha
6. Tanpura or Harmonium (if possible) 14. Thread (Yajnopaveet), Durva (a kind of grass) and flowers.
7. Water container (metal) 15. Naivedya - food offerings
8. Metal spoons, Metal glasses, Metal plates - 2 each 16. Betal nuts
Sitting Arrangement
• North
• Worshipper's
• Ganesha East
• Priest / Priestess
• Audience
 
ENSHRINING OF SHRI GANESHA
 
(All the members of the family / community squat on the floor in rows and columns in front of the shrine. The priest sits on the right side of the shrine. The representative / head of the family / community at whose hands the enshrining is to be done sits in front of the shrine.
The representative worshipper could be a lady or a gentleman. Any senior person of good character- a man or a woman - can work as a priest or a priestess. The oil lamp is kindled and incense is kept burning before the ritual starts.
Three minutes before the ceremony the Tanpura starts. Everybody is silently listening. Then the priest commences the prayer and the group follows singing after him.)