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Monday, 12 July 2010

Vinayaka chavithi Vrathakalpamu-Pooja vidhaanam

Method of worship.....
A clay idol of Lord Ganesha,is brought and Prana Prathishta is done and worship is offered to Lord Ganesha, with 16 Upcharas or steps of worship as follows:
1.Aawaahanam
2.Aasanam
3.Paadyam
4.Arghyam
5.Aachamaneeyam
6.Snaanam
7.Vastram
8.Yagyopaveetam
9.Gandham
10.Akshatam
11.Pushpam
12.Dhoopam
13.Deepam
14.Naivedhyam
15.Tamboolam
16.Dakshinam and Aarte
Twenty-one "Modakas" (a favourite sweet of our ganesha) are needed in Ganesh Pooja.
Dakshina should also be offered to the Ganesh Murti. Katha (story) should be read.
At sunset, without looking at the moon, daan or charitable gifts must be given to the main Pandit as well as any other Pandits or Sadhus (holy men)that are present there.
vinayaka chavithi vrathakalpamu(ganesh katha)



















Sunday, 13 June 2010

Velagapandu (wood apple) !


Velagapandu is a favorite fruit to Lord Ganesha.



Velagapandu is also known as "Wood apple"..These are rounded,woody,rough shell containg a sour and sweet pulp.

Velagapandu has Great Medicinal Values.

Tuesday, 1 June 2010

Pooja Items -1: Pooja Patri

Sri Ganesha is easily pleased.
Just by offering Him a little durva grass , he is pleased to grant one’s heartfelt desires.


Ganesh Patri , is the numerous types of sacred leaves that are offered during Ganesha Chaturthi Pooja.The Leaves of 108 different types of plants are offered.

- In Ganesh pooja, 21 different types of leaves are offered :


1. Machi (macikkai)
2. Brihati (chitti mulaga)
3. Bilva (Maredu)
4. Durva Grass
5. Datura
6. Badari
7. Apa Marga
8. Tulsi
9. Choota (Mango leaves)
10. Karaveera
11. Vishnu Kranta
12. Daadimi (Pomegranate)
13. Devadaru
14. Maruvaka
15. Sidhuvara
16. Jaaji
17. Shami
18. Aswatham
19. Arjuna
20. Arka
21. Nimba (Neem)

The most commonly used leaves are that of Durva, Aghada, Tulsi, Bilva, Prajakta, Mogra and Madhumalati .

*Most of the Patris that are used in Ganesh pooja have medicinal properties.

- List of flowers and leaves that are offered while praying to Lord Ganesha:

Red Flowers : Any usual red color flower used in Hindu rituals.

Durva Grass : is an important offering to Ganesh. Especially in South India, you will find vendors selling garlands of Durva outside Ganesh Temples.

Milkweed flower:
Another important flower offered is the Milkweed flower(Jilledi).

Pomegranate leaves: and flowers are also offered in many places.

Sanku Pushpam:Another important flower and leaf offered.

Screw Pine :Leaves and flowers are also offered.

Tulsi leaves and flowers are not generally used in Ganesh Pooja. But it is used during Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Pooja.

pooja samagri (items) !


Ganesh puja is done using the items that are required especially for the festival. It is believed that each puja item has a significance. This is primarily because of the fact that in order to worship the deity in a traditional way, all the puja items are required. Therefore, nothing should be missed out from the list of puja items for ganesh chaturthi.

Buy all the pooja samagri (items), a cute clay idol of Lord Ganesha and a book narrating the story of the Lord ganesha and pooja vidhaanam , the significance of conducting this auspicious pooja.

We would wake up early in the morning ,First clean the house and take a bath and get prepared to decorate the Paalavalli (roof made with bamboo sticks to place over the idol) with fruits and flowers and place the clay idol of Lord Ganesha below it on a decorated stool(platform)


Ganesha under decorated "PALAVELLI"

And place our studying books before the idol, along with fruits and naivedyam as its believed that the Lord would help us do well in our studies and overcome all obstacles in life and bless us.Some of the very important puja items for ganesh chaturthi include a puja thali, bell, diyas (lamps)..next all rituals are performed.

puja items list:


- Lord Ganesha idol
- Turmeric powder
- Kum kum
- Camphor
- Agarbathi sticks
- Sandle Powder
- Rose water
- Akshitalu
- Betel leaves
- Betel Nuts
- Coconuts
- Deepam(lamp)
- Coins
- Cotton wicks (long vatis)

- Cotton vastra
- Naivedyams(prasadam)
- Ganesh patri (sacred leaves)
- Velagapandu or velagakaaya(Wood apple)
- Fruits
- Flowers
- A Story book of Lord Ganesha(pooja vidhanam)

Sunday, 30 May 2010

Modak !

During Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganapati is welcomed into millions of homes and is adorned and worshipped,For 10 days each year.

We lovingly prepare his favourite food, especially modaks which are steamed dumplings made of rice flour and filled with jaggery..



Ingredients:

Rice Flour
- 1 cup
Water - 1 cup
Ghee
A pinch of Salt

For filling:
shredded Coconut - 2 cup
Jaggery - 1 cup
Cardamom Powder - 1 tsp

Method-I:

For the filling:
- Heat a pan and put jaggery in it
- When jaggery starts melting, add 1 tsp Ghee and coconut to it
- Mix well and cook on medium heat for 5-6 mins
- Add cardamom powder
- Filling is ready, keep aside to cool

For the covering:
- Boil 1 cup water, add ghee to it
- Add rice flour to boiling water and stirring continuously
- Add salt, mix well and cook covered for 5 mins
- Remove from heat and knead well into a soft flour when its hot


Method-II:

- Divide the dough into small balls

- Roll each ball just like puris
- Place this on the mould and add some filling to it
- Bring together the ends in form of plates and form a tip and seal
- Repeat the procedure for rest of the modaks

- Put these modaks in a steamer/cooker


Undrallu !

The recipe that should Specially prepared on ganesh chaturthi.

Ganesha's Favorite recipe, he loves them..



Ingredients:


Rice Rawa - 1 cup
Jeera - 1 tsp
Chana dal (Senaga pappu) - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste

Method:

- Soak chana dal in water for atleast 10minutes.
- Heat about 1tsp of oil add jeera.
- Add 2 cup of water and bring to a boil.
- To it add salt, soaked chana dal and slowly add rawa. Stir continuously to make sure that there are no lumps.
- Cook until the mixture comes together and looks like upma.
- Let this mixture cool..
- Make small balls of the mixture and steam them for about 10 minutes in a pressure cooker.

kudumulu !

Kudumulu is a traditional recipe.

And also a very special sweet For my brother "ganesha".



Ingredients:

Rice flour-1 cup
water-1 cup
a pinch of salt.

For filling:
chana dal -1 cup
jaggery -1 cup
6 cardamom powder

Method:

- pressure cook chana dal to 3 whistles, till the chana dal is firmly soft.
- In a mixer, take the cooked dal and Add jaggery and grind to smooth, solid and it has to hold the shape.
- Take Rice flour to it add water , a pinch of salt to make dough.- divide the dough into small balls Make flat round puris and fill it with chana dal mixture - and fold into the round shape
- Steam these in a cooker.

senaga guggillu !

Senaga guggillu is nutritious and full of protein and fiber.

It is a Great snack item..



Ingredients:

Senagalu(black chickpeas)


seasoning (talimpu):

Mustard Seeds(aavalu) -1spoon
Black Gram(urad Dal) -1 spoon
Channa Dal -1/2 spoon
Cumin Seeds(jeera) 1 spoon
Red Chillies -4
Curry Leaves
Hing(inguva) - Small pinch
Oil / Ghee for frying -2 Spoons

Method:

-Soak the Whole brown senagalu overnight & Boil in cooker upto 3 whistles
-Add oil to the pan and add seasoning ingredients to it,when they splutters add cooked senagalu & salt
-stir it for 5 mnts..

pulihora !

Pulihora is an traditional andhra recipe.


Ingredients:


Tamarind paste -1 cup
White Rice - 2 cups
Red Chillies - 3
oil - 3 tbsp
Green chillies - 5
Curry leaves
Asafoetida - pinch
Mustard - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
groundnuts
1 tsp turmeric
Salt to Taste


Method:


- Heat oil in a pan on medium flame,add mustard seeds ,urad dal, chana dal, peanuts, whole red chilles and fry till light golden brown. Add ,asafoetida.
- Add green chillies, curry leaves, turmeric, tamarind pulp, salt and cook for 10 mins.
-When the mixture becomes thick, turn off the heat. Add rice and mix well. Adjust the seasoning and serve.

Daddojanam !

Daddojanam is a tasty traditional dish.

It is easy to make.



Ingredients:

cooked Rice -1 Cup
Curd ( yogurt) - 2 cups
Oil - 2 Tbsp
milk - 1/4 cup
green chilies - 3
chana dal - 1 tsp
urad dal - 1 tsp
mustard seeds -1 tsp
finely chopped ginger - 1 tsp.
salt to taste

chopped coriander leaves


Method:

-In a pan heat 2 tbsp of oil.
- Add mustard seeds ,chana and urad daal.
- After a minute, add in the ginger, coriander and green chilies.
wait for a minute and Add to the rice.
- to this add curd( yogurt) and milk.

gaarelu !

Minapa Gaarelu is the perfect festive recipe

&favourite of many people.



Ingredients:

Urad dal - 2 cups
Onions - 1
Greenchilies - 3
Coriander leaves
Curry leaves
Ginger - small piece
Salt to Taste
Oil for frying

Method:

- Soak urad dal for 5hrs.
- Grind urad dal with adding few drops of water.
- Cut the green chillies, ginger, onions, coriander leaves and curry leaves and add required salt in the batter, and mix it well.

-Heat oil in a pan and make the batter in the shape of vada and drop it in the oil and fry it till it turns golden brown on both the sides.

Payasam !

Payasam is a sweet ,tasty , yummy and tempting dish ..

which is called as Food of the Gods.



Ingredients:

Rice - 1 cup
Jaggery - 1/4 kg
Milk - 1/2 ltr
Cardamom powder
Cashews
Raisins
Ghee - 4 tblsp

Method:

-Wash and soak rice in water
-Take milk in a heavy bottomed vessel and let it boil and add the rice to it stirring continuously,
till it thickens and the rice gets cooked.
-Now add the jaggery and mix well till it dissolves.
-Finally add ghee, cardamom powder, fried cashews & raisins

Ganesh chaturthi Naivedyams !

We Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi along with some delicious and yummy food.
Our Ganesh Chaturthi Naivedyam section contains a variety of traditional Recipes. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Ganesha.



Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in many parts of India.

The festival is celebrated for an odd number of days. The idol is worshipped everyday as long as it is in the house, and different sweets are prepared in the morning and evening as prasadam.



ఓ బొజ్జ గణపయ్య నీ బంటు నేనయ్య ఉండ్రాళ్ల మీదికి దండు పంపు
కమ్మని నేయియును కడు ముద్దపప్పును బొజ్జవిరుగగ దినుచు పోరలుకొనుచు




Ganesha's favourite sweet is the modak, undrallu and kudumulu.
On Ganesh Chaturthi, people visit each other's homes, and serve a variety of things to their guests, ranging from Chickpea flour(kadle hittu) and fruit salad to chana guggillu(boiled black chickpeas). On the day of the visarjan, Ganesha is big goodbye with pulihora,curd rice..

Here are recipes of Ganesha Festival( naivedyam):

1.Modak

2.
undrallu

3.
kudumulu

4.
senaga guggillu

5.
pulihora

6.
Daddojanam

7. Gaarelu

8. Payasam

Saturday, 29 May 2010

Ganesh chaturthi festival !

Ganesh Chaturthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesha..



Date:

An annual festival honours Ganesha for ten days, starting on Ganesh Chaturthi, which typically falls in late August or early September. The festival culminates on the day of Ananta Chaturdashi, when images (murtis) of Ganesha are immersed in the most convenient body of water.


Celebration:

Two to three months prior to Ganesh Chaturthi, artistic clay models of Lord Ganesha are made for sale by specially skilled artisans. They are beautifully decorated & depict Lord Ganesh in various poses.



Rituals and traditions :

Ganesh Chaturthi starts with the installation of these Ganesh statues in colorfully decorated homes and special mandapas in every locality. The mandapas are erected by the people or a specific society or locality or group by collecting monetary contributions. The mandapas mandapas are decorated specially for the festival, either by using decorative items like flower garlands, lights, etc. or are theme based decorations, which depict religious themes or current events.


The priest, symbolically invokes life into the statue by chanting mantras. This ritual is the Pranapratishhtha. After this the ritual called as Shhodashopachara (16 ways of paying tribute) follows. Coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas, 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass and red flowers are offered. The statue is anointed with red unguent, typically made of kumkum & Sandalwood paste . Throughout the ceremony, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda, the Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and the Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted.

Special naivedhyam:

The main sweet dish during the festival is the modak. A modak is a dumpling made from rice flour/wheat flour with a stuffing of fresh or dry-grated coconut, jaggery, dry fruits and some other condiments. It is either steam-cooked or fried. Another popular sweet dish is the karanji which is similar to the modak in composition and taste but has a semicircular shape.



Special Laddu:

There is a belief that Lord Ganesh bestows his blessings on the person who manages to outbid everyone and acquires the laddu.The single laddu brought at such a huge cost weighs around 21 kg. The buyer distributes it to friends, neighbors and relatives.



Ganesh Visarjan:

For 10 days, from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesha is worshipped. On the 11th day, the statue is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, and fanfare to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of his devotees, this is the ritual known as Ganesh Visarjan.

At individual homes the Visarjan is also done on 3rd, 5th or 7th day as per the family tradition. All join in this final procession shouting "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Pudhachya Varshi Laukar ya" (O lord Ganesha, come again speedily next year). After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the statue to the river to immerse it.

Friday, 28 May 2010

Vehicle Of Ganesh !



The mouse( mooshika) is the vehicle of Ganesh..reflects how much importance a wise man gives to the smallest of life forms.

Ganesha is the first God. Riding on a mouse, one of nature's smallest creatures and having the head of an elephant, the biggest of all animals,

Denotes that Ganesha is the creator of all creatures.

The inner significance of the mouse :

The mouse has a keen sense of smell.

The mouse also symbolizes the darkness of night. The mouse can see well in the dark. As Vinayaka's vehicle the mouse signifies an object that leads man from darkness to light.

The Vinayaka-principle, thus, means that which removes all the bad qualities, practices and thoughts in men and inculcates good qualities, good conduct and good thoughts..

32 Forms of Ganesha !

1

ganesh01g_epsBala Ganapati

Bala Ganapati is "the Childlike" God of golden hue. In His hands He holds a banana, mango, sugar cane and jackfruit, all representing the earth's abundance and fertility. His trunk garners His favorite sweet, the modaka.






2

ganesh02g_eps Taruna Ganapati

Eight-armed, Taruna Ganapati, "the Youthful," holds a noose and goad, modaka, wood apple, rose apple, His broken tusk, a sprig of paddy and a sugar cane stalk. His brilliant red color reflects the blossoming of youth.







3

ganesh03g_epsBhakti Ganapati

Shining like the full moon during harvest season and garlanded with flowers, Bhakti Ganapati, dear to devotees, is indeed pleasant to look upon. He holds a banana, a mango, coconut and a bowl of sweet payasa pudding.






4

ganesh04g_epsVira Ganapati

The "Valiant Warrior," Vira Ganapati, assumes a commanding pose. His 16 arms bristle with weapons, symbols of mind powers: a goad, discus, bow, arrow, sword, shield, spear, mace, a battleaxe, a trident and more.







5

ganesh05g_epsShakti Ganapati

Four-armed and seated with one of His shaktis on His knee, Shakti Ganapati, "the Powerful," of orange-red hue, guards the householder. He holds a garland, noose and goad, and bestows blessings with the abhaya mudra.







6

ganesh06g_epsDvija Ganapati

Four-headed Dvija Ganapati, "the Twice-born," is moon-like in color. Holding a noose, a goad, an ola leaf scripture, a staff, water vessel and a his japa beads, He reminds one and all of the urgency for disciplined striving.







7

ganesh07g_epsSiddhi Ganapati

Golden-yellow Siddhi Ganapati, "the Accomplished," is the epitome of achievement and self-mastery. He sits comfortably holding a bouquet of flowers, an axe, mango, sugar cane and, in His trunk, a tasty sesame sweet.







8

ganesh08g_epsUcchhishta Ganapati

Ucchhishta Ganapati is "Lord of Blessed Offerings" and guardian of culture. Of blue complexion and six-armed, He sits with His Shakti, holding a vina, pomegranate, blue lotus flower, japa mala and a sprig of fresh paddy.







9

ganesh09g_epsVighna Ganapati

Vighna Ganapati, "Lord of Obstacles," is of brilliant gold hue and bedecked in jewels. His eight arms hold a noose and goad, tusk and modaka, conch and discus, a bouquet of flowers, sugar cane, flower arrow and an axe.







10

ganesh10g_epsKshipra Ganapati

Handsome, red-hued Kshipra Ganapati, "Quick-acting" giver of boons, displays His broken tusk, a noose, goad and a sprig of the kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling) tree. In His uplifted trunk He holds a tiny pot of precious jewels.







11

ganesh11g_epsHeramba Ganapati

Five-faced, white in color, Heramba Ganapati, "Protector of the Weak," rides a big lion. He extends the gestures of protection and blessing while holding a noose, japa beads, axe, hammer, tusk, garland, fruit and modaka.








12

ganesh12g_epsLakshmi Ganapati

Lakshmi Ganapati, pure white giver of success, sits flanked by Wisdom and Achievement. Gesturing varada mudra, He holds a green parrot, a pomegranate, sword, goad, noose, sprig of kalpavriksha and a water vessel.








13

ganesh13g_epsMaha Ganapati

Accompanied by one of His shaktis, "the Great," Maha Ganapati, is red-complexioned and three-eyed. He holds His tusk, a pomegranate, blue lily, sugar-cane bow, discus, noose, lotus, paddy sprig, mace and a pot of gems.







14

ganesh14g_epsVijaya Ganapati

Four-armed, of red hue and riding His resourceful mushika, Vijaya Ganapati is "the Victorious" bestower of success. His insignia are the broken tusk, elephant goad, a noose and a lucious golden mango, His favorite fruit.







15

ganesh15g_epsNritya Ganapati

The happy "Dancer," Nritya Ganapati, is four-armed and golden, with rings on His fingers, holding a tusk, goad, noose and modaka sweet. He prances under the kalpavriksha tree, epitomizing exuberant activity and joy.









16

ganesh16g_epsUrdhva Ganapati

Seated with one of His shaktis on His left knee, Urdhva Ganapati is "the Elevated" Lord of golden hue. In His six hands He holds a sprig of paddy, a lotus, the sugar cane bow, an arrow, His ivory tusk and a blue water lily.








17

ganesh17g_epsEkakshara Ganapati

Ekakshara, of "Single-Syllable" (gam), is three-eyed, of red complexion and attire. Crescent moon on His crown, He sits in lotus pose upon Mushika, offers the boon-giving gesture and holds a pomegranate, noose and goad.







18

ganesh18g_epsVarada Ganapati

Varada Ganapati, "the Boon-Giver with prominent third eye of wisdom, holds a dish of honey, the noose and goad and encloses a pot of jewels in His trunk. His shakti is at His side, and the crescent moon adorns His crown.








19

ganesh19g_epsTryakshara Ganapati

Tryakshara Ganapati, "the Lord of Three Letters" (A-U-M), is gold in color and has fly whisks in His big floppy ears. He carries the broken tusk, goad, noose and mango and is often seen grasping a sweet modaka in His trunk.






20

ganesh20g_epsKshipra Prasada Ganapati

Kshipra Prasada Ganapati, "the Quick Rewarder," presides from a kusha-grass throne. His big belly symbolizes the manifest universe. He holds a noose, goad, tusk, lotus, pomegranate and a twig of the wish-fulfilling tree.







21

ganesh21g_epsHaridra Ganapati

Haridra Ganapati, the golden one dressed in bright yellow vestments, sits calmly on a posh, regal throne. Along with His tusk and a modaka, He wields a noose to hold devotees close and a sharp goad to spur them onward.








22

ganesh22g_epsEkadanta Ganapati

Ekadanta, of "Single Tusk," is distinguished by His blue color and sizeable belly. The attributes of this murti are an axe for cutting the bonds of ignorance, prayer beads for japa, a laddu sweet and the broken right tusk.








23

ganesh23g_epsSrishti Ganapati

Riding on His docile and friendly mouse, Srishti Ganapati is the lord of happy "Manifestation." This active God, of red complexion, holds His noose a goad, a perfect mango, and His tusk, representing selfless sacrifice.







24

ganesh24g_epsUddanda Ganapati

Uddanda Ganapati is the bold "Enforcer of Dharma," the laws of being. His ten hands hold a pot of gems, a blue lily, sugar cane, a mace, lotus flower, sprig of paddy, a pomegranate, noose, garland and His broken tusk.







25

ganesh25g_epsRinamochana Ganapati

Rinamochana Ganapati is humanity's liberator from guilt and bondage. His figure of alabaster skin is apparelled in red silks. He bears a noose and a goad, His milk-white tusk and a favorite fruit, the rose apple.








26

ganesh26g_epsDhundhi Ganapati

Red-hued Dhundhi Ganapati, "the Sought After," holds a strand of rudraksha beads, His broken tusk, an axe and a small pot of precious gems thought to represent the treasury of awakenings He saves for all ardent devotees.








27

ganesh27g_epsDvimukha Ganapati

Dvimukha Ganapati, called Janus by the Romans, with two divergent faces, sees in all directions. His blue-green form is dressed in red silk. He wears a bejeweled crown and holds a noose, goad, His tusk and a pot of gems.








28

ganesh28g_epsTrimukha Ganapati

Trimukha Ganapati, the contemplative "three-faced" Lord of red hue, sits on a golden lotus, telling His beads, holding a noose, goad and vessel of nectar. He gestures protection with a right hand and blessings with a left.








29

ganesh29g_epsSinha Ganapati

Sinha Ganapati, white in color, rides a lion and displays another lion in one hand, symbolizing strength and fearlessness. He also holds a kalpavriksha sprig, the vina, a lotus blossom, flower bouquet and a pot of jewels.








30

ganesh30g_epsYoga Ganapati

Yoga Ganapati is absorbed in mantra japa, His knees strapped in meditative pose, hands holding a yoga staff, sugar cane stalk, a noose and prayer beads. His color is like the morning sun. Blue garments adorn His form.








31

ganesh31g_epsDurga Ganapati

Durga Ganapati, the "Invincible," waves the flag of victory over darkness. This splendid murti is of deep gold hue, dressed in red, holding a bow and arrow, noose and goad, prayer beads, broken tusk and a rose apple.









32ganesh32g_eps

Sankatahara Ganapati

Sankatahara Ganapati, "the Dispeller of Sorrow," is of sunlike hue, dressed in blue, and seated on a red lotus flower. He holds a bowl of pudding, a goad and a noose while gesturing the boon-granting varada mudra.