Message from Amma
How to Receive Sri Ganesha's Blessings
Children, when Sri Ganesha is worshipped with faith and devotion, especially on Ganesh Chaturthi, he removes the obstacles from our path and grants us so many spiritual boons. All our karma is destroyed, so that we can proceed smoothly on the spiritual path. There are many different forms of Sri Ganesha, and many ways to worship him. Each type of puja will give slightly different blessings.
For example, worshipping a silver Ganesha grants us long life. Worshipping a green jade (marakata) Ganesha fulfills our noble wishes and grants us a rich inner life, a divine intellect, wisdom and even moksha. When we worship a jade Ganesha, he takes care of our financial debts. Worshipping a crystal (sphatika) Ganesha is wonderful for enhancing harmony between the wife and husband. All disharmony is removed and one progresses smoothly on the path of peace, devotion, and good spiritual development. The following guidelines will help you to attune with Sri Ganesha and receive his powerful blessings.
Guidelines for Ganesh Chaturthi
The day before Ganesh Chaturthi, clean the area where you normally do your puja or meditation. On Ganesh Chaturthi (Sep. 15), wake up in the early hours of the morning, preferably before dawn, and take a head bath (shower and wash the hair). Put on new clothes, or at least clothes that have been freshly washed.
If you have a murti, or figurine, of Sri Ganesha, place it on a metal puja plate. If you don't have a puja plate, you can use a new, unused aluminum baking tray or a new, unused paper plate. If you only have a picture of Ganesha, you can put the plate in front of the picture, and make your offerings onto the plate. If you don't have any Ganesha image, but you have a Sri Chakra, you can offer your worship to the Sri Chakra itself.
Light a ghee lamp and offer two or three sticks of incense to Sri Ganesha. You can also offer some naivedyam, or food. Bananas, milk, jaggery, coconut, sugarcane, or sweet pongal can be offered. If you know it, you may sing Sri Ganesha Pratah Smaranam.
Worship with Sri Ganesha Ekakshara Mantra
A very simple puja is to chant the mantra “Om gam ganapataye namaha” 108 times while making offerings to your Ganesha murti. There are many different offerings you can use, like akshatas, fresh green grass blades, red sandalwood paste, red flower petals, or vibhuti. To make akshatas, take a cup of raw white rice grains and add a little turmeric or saffron. Mix with a few drops of water until the rice is stained a lovely golden color. If you use red sandalwood paste, you can keep it in a small puja vessel and pour a spoonful of the paste over Sri Ganesha with each mantra. If this is done, mountains of troubles, difficulties and dangers will simply melt away, and all noble desires will be fulfilled.
If Sri Ganesha is worshipped with vibhuti while chanting "Om gam ganapataye namaha," all the negative effects of the nine planets will be completely destroyed. Even the troubles caused by Saturn will be removed. Wearing that sacred ash on the forehead will eliminate all diseases and grant good health. If you offer vibhuti, it must be fresh vibhuti, not the blessed vibhuti that you have received.
If an emerald idol of Sri Ganesha is worshipped with auspicious green grass blades, this will ensure victory in all important activities and endeavors. New business endeavors will be successful, diseases can be cured, and all negativity will be destroyed. Not many will have the opportunity to worship an emerald Ganesha, but the emerald-green jade Ganesha is a good substitute for true emerald.
Worship with Sri Ganesha Ashtottara Sata Namavali
A slightly more difficult way to worship Sri Ganesha involves the chanting of his 108 most auspicious names, or "Sri Ganesha Ashtottara Sata Namavali." If Sri Ganesha's 108 Names are recited while offering red flowers, all the eight types of troubles and difficulties can be overcome. If the 108 names are chanted while offering red hibiscus flowers, povery is completely destroyed and wealth and prosperity will increase greatly.
Finally, Offer Harati to Sri Ganesha
At the conclusion of your puja, you can offer harati with five ghee flames, or a single ghee or camphor flame. The offered food and flowers or grass blades have now been tremendously blessed and energized by Sri Ganesha's divine vibrations. The food should be eaten by family, friends, or pets. Offered flowers or grass blades can be touched to one's eyes and sahasrara and then placed in a clean, pure place outdoors. This will give peace and healing to Mother Nature. Offered vibhuti or sandalwood paste can be saved and applied to the third eye daily.
It is said in the Vedas that "Paropakarartham idam sariram"--the real purpose for this body is to help others. By worshipping Sri Ganesha on this holy day, our bodies become like pure channels for the grace of Lord Ganesha to enter into and bless the entire world. Let us all worship Sri Ganesha this Ganesh Chaturthi and attain his most loving blessings!
Hari Om Tat Sat
Resources of for Learning or Practice
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May All Beings Be Happy
Om Shantih Shantih Shantihi
May the Whole World Be in Peace
