Ganeshostav(Demigod Ganesha Festival)Is been Celebrated all over India every year,More in Maharashtra.
A idol of Ganesh is brought at home and it is been worshiped for 10 days.Later 'Visarjan' is done.(Visarjan mean submerging The Idol in sea,lake,river)
Ganesha Devotees Worship Lord Ganesh In full ecstasy.Thinking that Demigod Ganesha is the Supreme Lord!!!.
They worship him with a Particular Arti.But many many people dont Know that a Bhagvatam Shloka is Recited at the End of the Arti Followed by Mahamantra!!!!.
yes..
Srimad Bhagvatam(11.2.36):
käyena väcä manasendriyair vä
buddhyätmanä vänusåta-svabhävät
karoti yad yat sakalaà parasmai
näräyaëäyeti samarpayet tat
TRANSLATION
In accordance with the particular nature one has acquired in conditioned life, whatever one does with body, words, mind, senses, intelligence or purified consciousness one should offer to the Supreme, thinking, "This is for the pleasure of Lord Näräyaëa."
The Nectar Of Devotion,
Chapter Eight-Offenses to be Avoided
One should begin the worship of the demigod Gaëapati, who drives away all impediments in the execution of devotional service. In the Brahma-saàhitä it is stated that Gaëapati worships the lotus feet of Lord Nåsiàhadeva and in that way has become auspicious for the devotees in clearing out all impediments. Therefore, all devotees should worship Gaëapati.
But people Worship Ganesha(Ganpati) for material desires.
And when Demigod Ganesha(A Shudha Vaishnava) fullfill there Material desire,they make him Supreme Lord.But the fact is that Lord Krishna Sanction the wishes.
What Srila Prabhupada says about the Worship of Ganesh
http://connect.krishna.com/node/1429#comment-2835
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Aarati of the Supreme Lord
Hare Krishna. PAMHO
What you say may be true Prabhuji, about material desires and worship of Lord Ganesh. Some people also know that "sarva deva namaskara Keshavam prati gacchati" (Obeissances to all Devas reaches Keshava).
As for Ganeshotsav, some follow tradition that is passed down to them.
Some just join in the festival fun.
Some just love Lord Ganesh because He is so adorable.
I don't think Ganeshotsav is about material desires for everyone.
However, the ending aarati that you are refering to, is consciously sung as an Aarati of the Supreme Lord, don't you think ? It explicitly includes many of His names (Achyuta, Keshava, Rama, Krishna, Damodara, etc.).
On Ganesh Chaturthi, Lord Ganesh comes to earth, and is the Guest of Honor in homes, neighborhoods and towns. The other demigods and the Supreme Lord are also present, rejoicing, hence a series of Aaratis for them.
Starting with Lord Ganesh (always at the beginning)
followed by :
Durga, Shankar(Shiva),
then
Dattatreya, Vitthala , any other avataar/form
and in the end is this aarati of the Supreme which includes that Bhagvatam Verse.
To me its more of a prayer of surrender to the Supreme Lord :
********
I shall fall at Your Lotus Feet , praise Them, see Your form with my eyes,
I shall embrace You with love, worship You in bliss , and wave the lamp before You
while singing Your Holy Names
Tvam eva mAtA ca pitA Tvam eva
Tvam eva bandushca sakhA Tvam eva
Tvam eva vidya , dravinam Tvam eva
Tvam eva sarvam mama Deva Deva
You alone are the mother, You alone are the father
You alone are my brother/sister, You alone are my friend and Dearest
You alone are my knowledge and my wealth
You are everything to me, You are my God, O my Lord.
kayena vacha manas-endriyair vaa (SB 11..)
budhi atmanava prakriteh svabhavaat
karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai
narayanayeti samarpayami
I dedicate everything to that Supreme Lord Narayana, whatever I perform with my body, speech, mind, limbs, intellect or my inner self, either intentionally or unintentionally.
Achyutam, Keshavam, RAma, NArAyanam,
Krshna, DAmodaram, VAsudevam, Harim,
Shridharam, Madhavam, GopikAh-Vallabham,
JAnaki-NAyakam, Ramchandram bhaje
bhaje - I worship and serve
A-chyuta : the indestructible
Keshava : the one who killed demon Kesi
RAma : one who sports
Narayana : one who lies in the cosmic waters (nara)
Krshna : the all-attractive one
Damodara : one who was tied around the stomach by a rope (by mother Yashoda)
Vasudeva : the Lord who is omniscient and everywhere
Hari : one who takes away all misery and gives pleasure
Sri-dhara: shelter and maintainer of the Goddess of Fortune (Sri)
Madhava : the Master of all energies, Lord of Laxmi, Goddess of Fortune
Gopikah-Vallabh : Lord of the Gopikas
JAnaki-NAyaka : JAnaki's Lord (JAnaki = SitA )
Hare Krshna Hare Krshna Krshna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krshna Hare Krshna Krshna Krshna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare KRshna Hare Krshna Krshna KRshna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
......
.....
....
You don't but people do worship for material desires.....
Hari Bol
Playing cards,Disco music with Filmy songs,dance on those songs,Drinking-meat eating behind pandal and many things.
These is what people do after Arti.Rather than hearing and speaking about any Ganesha Katha.
A close relative of mine bring Ganesha since Lokmanya tilak started.I asked them the meaning of the last three shlokas.
They couldn't neither they told me the meaning of the Arti properly.
So people simply recite the arti without knowing the meaning of it.
And when they don't know the meaning,how would they come to know that we need to worship Ganesha to remove our Material obstacles in the path of Krishna Bhakti.
So they worship to have Child(only son),Lot of money,
Lot of progress in material education,Marriage etc......
And you must be knowing that during the Ganeshostav period people are Vegetarian and as soon Ganeshostav festival is over...
They all break down on chicken,mutton and all.Thinking that Ganesha is now gone,he wont know these.
So though Ganesh Worship should be in Goodness(For the pleasure of Narayana,to advance in krishna bhakti)People worship in Ignorance.
Achyutam, Keshavam, RAma, NArAyanam,
Krshna, DAmodaram, VAsudevam, Harim,
Shridharam, Madhavam, GopikAh-Vallabham,
JAnaki-NAyakam, Ramchandram bhaje
is by Adi Shankara-The Impersonalist.
Worshiping Ganesha is Very Important for us.
Because A devotee will Know and understand the problem of other devotees.
Demigod Ganesha is a Shudha Vaishnava.A devotee of Lord Narshimhadev(I know that its not new for you,you know all these things)So a Vaishnava Devotee will Always Worship him to make him/her advance in Krishna bhakti and to remove any Impediments in the Path of Krishna Consciousness.
Hare Krishna
Bheema Ekadashi
Ignorance. Mercy of Gurus needed.
Hare Krishna
You are right, it is sheer ignorance. It is very sad. My only point was that the aarati is not considered Ganesh Aarati, but that of Lord Narayana or Vishnu. That much people know.
Parents emphasize good behavior , positive attitude and love for everyone, but few impose much spirituality on their children, concerned with keeping them in line with current societial needs and trends. The children grow up not thinking much about God, more about their peers. What is the chance that they will lead their children in turn ?
About reciting without thinking or knowing - its all over the place. People also get married without knowing what the priest is reciting. Even those who are willing to learn may not know who to turn to.
Preaching is utterly necessary. Preaching does go on on small scales nowadays. But its upto the seekers to seek it out. Others look at it as : 'something for those others, not me'.
Organizations like ISKCON are doing something that's one of a kind. Effective preaching. Here even those who may not be seeking 'accidentally' get the mercy of the Gurus, Srila Prabhupad, and the Lord Himself. They will be handed a book out of the blue. They get to witness the joy of Harinam or Yatras. Getting their attention.
Haribol!!
Have a great Radhastami. Jai Sri Radhe Shyam.
Exactly!
Hare Krishna,
Yes you were right.
Mercy of Guru is needed.
A point from me:What the priest recite At Marriage,who knows?
Specialy Maharashtrian priest My god!!!
But atlest people should know what they recite.
Like in lecture when a Senior devotee is conducting,many times they Introduce us with Vaishnava Songs which might be new for us.But also teach us its meanings.Isn't it?
Once when i was child like about 14-15 years old.
I ask one Maharashtrian priest that did he know what he recite during marriage puja???I wana know the meaning.
Unfortunately i happen to speak on the mike!!!
The priest ask someone to take me away from him to my parents.hehheheh(So every one is Money conscious and not Knowledge providing conscious like ISKCON)
My colleagues finds me singing the Arunodaya song.
So they asked me'do you know what is the meaning of the song? ,atlest the language? or you simply sing anything?'
So i explained them the Meaning.In these way,i preached something in some way to some people.So its Important what i Recite or what we recite.There are people like me who Cross question!!!!
Bheema Ekadashi