Lord Ganesh-Home Immersion

 

Lord Ganesh-Home Immersion

 

“Ganesh Chaturthi” also known as “Vinayak Chaturthi” and “Ganeshotsav” is India festival commemorating the birth of the Lord Ganesh younger son of Lord Shiva. On this occasion many bring Lord Ganesh clay idols home for worship which continues for ten days and on eleventh day the idol is immersed in ponds, canals, lakes, rivers, sea etc. with a prayer to the Lord to return quickly next year. However, in case of idols brought home immersion takes place as per one’s own convenience sooner than the eleventh day and mostly at home in tub etc.

 

We also brought an idol of Lord Ganesh home; the shopkeeper gave to us fully wrapped in a Yellow Cotton cloth with sacred (Khamani) thread around it with all the reverence at his command as if he was parting with someone living. We had decided to keep the Lord at home for five days.

 

We prepared a high pedestal for installing the Lord with all the possible holy material we had at home like “Chunnis”,we received from various religious places, garlands of beads and other material, flowers artificial and real. Before being installed we performed “Pranpatrishtha” in our own humble way. We unwrapped the idol as gently as one is handling new born baby ensuring nothing goes wrong. He was given symbolic bath with water adding few drops of “Gangajal”, clothes to wear in the shape of cotton “Janeu”, and as make up a “Tilak” on his forehead, a garland of marigold and roses to be changed daily, a small bundle of “Dub” that is grass without knots as per the tradition and then placed on His “Gaddi”, a betel leaf was placed exactly under the idol. Eyes of the Lord were so crafted as if He was looking at us and telling something great, in fact eyes tell many stories that is what He was also doing. We all at home sung prayer to Him, keeping fruits, dry fruits, ladoos, modaks, water, a coconut, milk, betel leaf “Paan”, betel nut, a lighted holy flame symbol of life and nature made with pure ghee and cotton, lighted scented sticks “Agarbatis” and of course a Tulsi plant covered with a red cotton cloth. After the prayer Prasad was offered to the Lord and he was requested to take it, a small portion of the Prasad always offered to the holy flame. Small temple bell continued to ring till he was taking the offering and thereafter we enjoyed the Prasad. We tried to offer Him a different sweet every day with every meal. One day we cooked Kheer for him the most liked dish of His Father Lord Shiva the most powerful and the other day it was homemade creamless cake, since it was for Him its taste was supreme, bakery made cakes were no match with it.

 

Till the last day He was a living Lord for us and we lived in his company. We talked to Him as we do with our parents and elders, placed our problems and issues before Him and as with all seniors He listened attentively to be replied later. We sat near Him as much as it was possible. Whenever anybody was eating something it was offered to the Lord first, He was invited with a loud voice. He was never left alone, even at night somebody always slept in his room tried to sleep on the floor. There used to prayer before every meal, he was offered bed tea, breakfast, lunch, evening high tea and dinner of course. He is known as great foodie.

 

HIS presence had its own effect and charm, it brought peace, tranquillity, plenty, pleasure and prosperity with Him. That is the beauty of His visit, our home became lively and full of Life. Our home was full of positivity, laughter, temple like fragrance and atmosphere, no stress and tensions, above all as everything was happening in His presence so there was no question of worry. He is known as Lord of “Shubh Mahurat” that is Good & Pious start, a good start is half done that is the saying these days but Lord guided everybody to a good start millions of years ago to the start-ups the modern Govts boast so much, He is destroyer of all obstacles, harbinger of peace and prosperity.  A feeling that He was with us cannot be explained in words and that was supreme and a real gain for a human soul, in fact, He himself made his presence felt and on every turn he was guiding and advising us.

 

On the day of immersion our family prepared a big tub, cleaned it well, filled it with water, more water than the vertical height of the idol of Ganesh. Water was full to the brim, added with holy “Gangajal” “Gangeswater”, Tulsi leaves, milk, curd, honey and rose water, and some flower petals: the Lord was given bath, new clothes, new makeup, breakfast and we also had lunch with Him, we sang prayer in his honour with the request to come early the next year. His shoulder cloth was removed and kept at home as His remembrance. He was gently placed in the tub: as He was being placed in the tub, eyes of all of us were moist as He was one of us being separated with the passage of time, our culture and heritage too. Everything was silent for few minutes, no movements and no mobiles, as the clay was melting down, before we could come face to face with the reality. After few minutes water became greyish it was used for watering the plants and left over clay was put in flower pots and plants. Thus ended His visit to our home not a ritual but a reality.

Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh Deva,

Mata Teri Parvati Pitta Mahadeva