Vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭi samaprava |
Nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā ||
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the eagerly awaited festivals of the year. The ten-day long festival is replete with divinity, joy, hope and celebrations. The entire nation partakes in the festivity with great zeal and enthusiasm. Every home opens its door to celebrate the arrival of Ganpati, who is also known as Vighnaharta (the remover of obstacles). The sound of Ganpati Bappa Morya reverberates in the air and the aroma of modak and ladoos fill every home.
The ten-day long festival begins on the Shukla paksha Chaturthi tithi (fourth day of the bright fortnight) in the month of Bhadraba and ends on Ananta Chaturdashi.
Lord Ganesh is known to be the bestower of knowledge, wisdom, wealth, good fortune, success, peace, prosperity and liberation. He is the Buddhi Vidhata (the Lord of knowledge), Siddhi Vinayak (success giver), Muktidaya (bestower of eternal bliss), Vighnaraja (God of all obstacles) and Vighnaharta (remover of all obstacles).
His demeanour is adorable and yet different. He has an elephant head with one tusk, large ears, a big belly, and four hands. And his vehicle is a mouse or mooshak. Each of his body parts signifies or represents something.
• The Elephant head signifies wisdom and the ability to think and then act.
• Mooshak metaphorically represents darkness laden with desire and ignorance in every human being. And the Lord represents the light.
• Ganesha’s four hands, signifies Mind, Ego, Intellect and Conscience, with the Lord himself being the pure consciousness.
• The big belly represents abundance, acceptance and generosity.
And his one tusk signifies one -pointedness. It was with this one tusk that Lord Ganesh wrote the epic Mahabharata as it was narrated to him by sage Veda Vyasa.
Before the beginning of any karma (deed), be it loukika karma (material deed) or dharmika karma (spiritual deed), Lord Ganesh is always worshipped first. He is regarded to be ‘Agrapujya’, the one who blesses the deed by making it free from impediments. He is also the ‘Sarvamangalakarta’. There are legends behind why Lord Ganesh is worshipped first.
One popular legend goes that Ganesha was created from turmeric paste which Goddess Parvati applied to her body while bathing. On one such day after some time, she went to bathe instructing her child to guard the doorway of her chamber and not allow anyone to enter. Following her command, the little one did not even allow Lord Shiva to enter her chamber even after learning that he was the consort of Goddess Parvati. Angered by his act, Lord Shiva beheaded him. When Goddess Parvati came to know of this incident, she was devastated and threatened to destroy the entire creation. Lord Shiva then promised her to bring the child back to life. He instructed his ganas (followers) to bring the head of any living being which they saw first. An elephant head was brought and attached to the body of the boy. From that day onwards, he was named ‘Ganpati’ – the Lord of all ganas, the Lord of all Lords.
Another legend states that – a competition was held between Lord Karthikeya and Lord Ganesh to obtain a divine fruit (possessing supreme power and immortality) that was given by Sage Narada to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The condition put forth was that the first one to complete the journey around the world three times would get the fruit. On hearing this, Lord Karthikeya started his journey on his vehicle- Peacock but Lord Ganesh thought that his vehicle -mooshak is slower than that of his elder brother’s vehicle and the world for him was his parents, so instead of going on a journey he circumambulated around his parents thrice. Impressed with Lord Ganesh’s wit, his parents gave him the fruit and blessed him with divinity and stated that all the deeds in the universe will begin by invoking the name of Lord Ganesh.
In Odisha, Ganesh Chaturthi festival is also referred to as Ganesh Puja. This day holds immense significance and is celebrated with great enthusiasm, devotion and joy. Every home and street are decorated with floral garlands and colourful lights. Every year, temporary structures called ‘pandals’ are constructed in different localities, where Ganesh idols are placed and worshipped. These structures also in a way reflect the artistic and creative skills of Odia community.
The idol of Lord Ganesh is placed on a pedestal and the puja area is decorated with flowers, betel nuts and leaves and rice grains. A puja kalash (pot) filled with water topped with a coronet of mango leaves and coconut covered in a red cloth, is kept near the idol. The idol is enlivened by invoking the divine presence of the deity into it. This process is called ‘Pranapratistha’.
Devotees express their gratitude and love for the deity by performing several rituals and offering flowers, water, fruits, sweets like ladoo, modak and other favourite delicacies of the deity. They also chant prayers, sing hymns and devotional songs creating a spiritual ambiance. After the conclusion of the festival, immersion of the idols takes place known as ‘Visarjan’. The idols are carried through the streets in processions accompanied by singing, dancing and drumbeating. The devotees bid farewell to the deity with a promise that they will welcome him again the next year.
During the medieval period, the Ganapatya culture was prevalent in Odisha. It still exists in Srikshetra, also considered as Martya Baikuntha (heaven on earth), the abode of Lord Jagannath. Many paintings and sculptures of Lord Ganesh in different forms and moods are found in the inner and outer complex of the temple. The Bada Deula temple also has three temples of Lord Ganesh inside it.
BATA GANESH – It is located on the inner enclosure of the southern side of Jagannath temple, at the base of Kalpabata (wish-fulfilling banyan tree). The Kalpabata is present at the centre of Sankhakshetra, the most sacred place inside the Jagannath temple. Bata Ganesh is a four-feet high idol found seated on a plain pedestal with a calm posture. The idol has four hands – the two right hands are seen holding Rudraksh mala (rosary) and a broken tusk while the two left hands are seen carrying parshu (weapon) and ladoo (sweet). The vehicle of Lord Ganesh, the mouse is situated on a granite pedestal in front of him. It is one of the first idols that was worshipped after the construction of Jagannath temple. It is believed that the Bata Ganesh fulfils all the wishes like a Kalpataru.
NATYA GANESH – It is a south facing temple situated near Jalakrida Mandap. Natya Ganesh is a beautifully carved six-feet high and eight-armed idol. The idol is made of black granite and found on the double-petalled lotus pedestal in a dancing posture. The two upper hands of the deity hold a serpent while the other five hands are adorned with rosary, ladoo, broken tusk, parshu and nut, and he gives blessing with one hand. Many believe that the deity is performing a cosmic dance to eradicate evil from the universe, a dance of purity and deliverance.
KANCHI GANESH – It is situated in the inner complex of the western side of the temple. Kanchi Ganesh is five-feet high and a four-handed deity. The idol is made of black muguni stone. The deity is placed on a decorative pedestal in a sitting posture. The appearance of the deity is unique and rare. The trunk of the deity touches the shakti of a Devi who is seated on his left thigh. He is known by other names such as; Bhanda Ganesh, Uchchhista Ganesh, Kamada Ganesh and Tantrik Ganesh. This form signifies the energetic manifestation of Lord Ganesh.
There are several other stone sculptures and paintings of Lord Ganesh inside Jagannath temple. It is believed that the presence of Ganesh temples inside the Jagannath temple gives the devotees a hurdle-free experience in receiving the divine blessings of the Lord of the Universe.
Most probably, the shrines of Lord Ganesh inside the Jagannath temple were constructed during the medieval period. The existence of these shrines proves the prevalence of Ganapatya culture in Jagannath temple.
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is a reminder for individuals to keep the inherent goodness within them alive, and learn the importance of compassion and resilience in their lives.
May Lord Ganesha’s blessings be with everyone.
