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The Procedure of Vinayaka Puja
Prior Preparations for Performing Vinayaka Puja
All devotees must rise early in the morning on the day of Ganesha puja. Clean the entire house and adorn the main door with a festoon or arcade of mango leaves. Decorate the house with flowers and mango leaves, among other items. All family members must take a head bath.
If you have a designated room for puja or any place you select for performing puja, it should also be decorated. In a suitable location for performing puja, place a wooden plank (or a footstool).
Adorn it with rice powder, vermilion, and turmeric. Lay a new cloth on the plank and evenly spread some white rice on the cloth. Then, place the idol of Ganesha in the centre of the seat.
Take a vessel made of gold/silver/copper / or clay and adorn it with vermilion and turmeric. Fill it with water, and place sacred yellow rice and flowers inside the vessel, along with a coconut decorated with cloth on top of the vessel. This is called “Kalasham“.
Next, make a small Ganesha idol with turmeric paste and position it near to the kalasam. Take another vessel and a spoon, and fill it with water. This will be used for performing “Aachamaneeyam”. Please keep a cloth handy to wipe your hands while performing the puja.
All devotees must wear kumkum on their foreheads, sit in a comfortable position facing east or north, and pray to Lord Ganesha with folded hands while reciting the following slokas.
Invocation
Om Shuklaambaradharam Vishnum Shashivarnam Chaturbhujam
Prasanna vadanam Dhyaayeth Sarva vighnopa shaantaye ||
Ayam muhurthastu muhurthoostu ||
Tadeva lagnam sudinam tadeva, Taaraabalam Chandrabalam tadeva |
Vidyaabalam daivabalam tadeva, Lakshmipate themghri yugamsmarami ||
Laabhasteshaam, Jayasteshaam Kutasteshaam Paraabhavah |
Yeshaa mindeevarashyaamo Hridayastho Janaaradanah ||
Aapadaamapahartaaram daataaram sarvasampadaam |
Lokabhiraamam Sriraamam bhooyo bhooyo namaamyaham ||
Sumukhaschaikadantascha, Kapilo Gajakarnakah
Lambodarascha, Vikato, Vighnaraajo Ganaadhipah
Dhumaketur Ganaadhyakshaha, Phaalachandro Gajaananah
Vakrathunda Shoorpakarno, Heramba Skandhapoorvajah
Ashtaavastau cha naamaani yah pateshcharnuyaadhapi
Vidyaarambhe, vivahecha, praveshe nirgametathaa
Sangraame, saravakaaryeshu, vighnasthasya na jaayathe
Abhipsitaartha sidhyartham poojito yassurairapi |
Sarvavighnachchide tasmai shri Ganaadhipataye namah
Aachamanam
After reciting the above slokas, the devotees must sip pure water with a spoon three times from the vessel reserved for this purpose and sip it while reciting the mantra, “Om Keshavaaya swaaha (one time), Om Naaraayanaaya swaaha (second time), Om Maadhavaaya swaaha (third time). Thereafter, clean the hands and lips while reciting “Hastam Prakshaalya.”
Take a spoon of water from the achamaneeya patra and keep it in the palm of the right hand and recite, “Om Govindaaya namah” and drop the water in another empty plate. This water should not be used for puja purposes. It should later be discarded.
Recite the following with folded hands
Om Govindaaya Namaha,
om Vishnave Namaha,
om Madhusoodanaaya Namaha,
om Trivikramaaya Namaha,
om Vaamanaaya Namaha,
om Sridharaaya Namaha,
om Hrusheekeshaaya Namaha,
om Padmanabhaaya Namaha,
om Damodaraaya Namaha,
om Sankarshanaaya Namaha,
om Vaasudevaaya Namaha,
om Pradyumnaaya Namaha,
om Aniruddhaaya Namaha,
om Purushottamaaya Namaha,
om Adhokshajaaya Namaha,
om Naarasimhaaya Namaha,
om Achyutaaya Namaha,
om Janardhanaaya Namaha,
om Upendraaya Namaha,
om Haraye Namaha,
om Sri Krishnaaya Namaha
and then recite Bhootho chaatanam.
Hold water in your right palm and sprinkle it around you while reciting the following mantra.
Uttistantu Bhoothapisaachaah ethe Bhoomibhaarakaah |
Ethesham aavirodhena Brahma karma samarabhe ||
Pranaayaamam
Place your right hand on your nose, position your middle and index fingers between your eyebrows, your thumb on your right nostril, and your ring and little fingers on your left nostril. Hold it gently.
Recite the following Gayatri mantra (3 times)
Om bhuh Om-bhuvah Om suvah Om mahah Om janah Om tapah Om satyam Om tatsa-vitur-varenyam Bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo-yonah prachodayat Om maapo-jyotirasomrutam bramha bhurba-vasuvarom
Then, deepaaraadhana should be done.
Sankalpam – Oath for the ritual
Om mama upaatta samasta-duritakshaya-dvaaraa, Sree Parameswaram udhisya, sreeparameswara preethyardham, shubhe-shobhane muhurte, adyabramhanah, dwitiya-paraardhe, shveta-varaaha kalpe, vaivasvata-manvantare, ashtaa vimshathi tame, kaliyuge, pradhama-paade, jamboodveepe, bharata- varshe, bharata-khande, meror dakshina digbhaage,
Sri Sailasya ——- pradese, (recite the direction of your place from the Srisailam) asmin varta-maane vyava-haarika chaandra-manena prabhavaadi shashti samvatsaraanaam madhye,
Sri Viswaavasu naama samvatsare, dakshinaayane, varsha rutou, Bhaadrapada maase, shukla pakshe, Chaturthyaam tidhou, soumya vaasare yuktaayaam, shubha nakshatre, shubha yoge, shubha- karane evanguna visheshena visishtaayaam, shubha- tidhou, Srimaan ——- (name) Gotraha ——- (Gotram) (name) namadeyah, Srimatah ——- (name) Gotrasya (Gotram) ——- (name) namadeyasya, (recite all the names and details of devotees sitting in the puja, including children).
Dharamapatni sametasya asmaakam saha kutumbaanaam kshema-sthairya, dhairya, vijaya, Abhaya aayurarogya, aishwarya abhivurdhyartham, darmaartha kaama, moksha chaturvidha phala purshaardh siddhyartham, ishta kaamaayartha phala sidhyartham, mano vaanchitha phala sidhyartham, samasta durithopa shaantyartham, samasta mangalaavyapyartham, varshe varshe prayukta Sri Varasiddi Vinaayaka Chaturdhi uddisya, Sri Varasiddi Vinaayaka Swami Devata preetyartham kalpokta prakarena yaavasshakti dhaanaavahanaadi shodasopachaara poojaam karishye.
Touch the water in the pancha patra with your right hand’s middle finger and say Aadou nirevighnena parisamaapyartham Sri Ganaadhipati poojaam karishye, tadanga Kalasha poojaam karishye!
Kalasha Pooja – Decorate Kalasham
Kalasam gandha-pushpa-akshatai rabhyarchya |
Thasyopari hasthamnidhaaya |
Pour water, some sacred yellow rice, and flowers into the kalasam, and apply sandalwood paste at three places around the kalasam. Next, place your right hand on the kalasham and chant the following mantra.
Kalashasya mukheh vishnuh, kanthe-rudra-samashritah
moole-tatrastito bramha-madhye maatru-ganah-stitah
Kukshoutu-saagaraa-ssarve sapta-dveepa-vasundhara rig-vedodha yajur-veda saama-vedo-hyadharvanaha
Angaischa-sahita-sarve kalashambu samashritah Aayaantu deva poojartham duritakshaya-kaarakah ||
Thereafter, rotate a betel leaf in a clockwise direction in the kalasha water and recite as –
Om Gangecha-Yamune Chaiva Godaavari Sarasvati |
Narmadaa Sindhu-Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim-Kuruh ||
Kalashodakena Poojaa Dravyaani Samprokshya,
Devamaatmaanancha samprokshya
Sprinkle water from the Kalasham on all the pooja material, God Ganesha and on all the devotees.
Turmeric Ganapati puja
Om Ganaanaam tvaam Ganapatigm havaa-mahe,
Kavimkaveenaa mupamashravastamam |
Jyeshta raajam bramhanaam bramhanaa spatah
Anashrunvannooti bhisseeda saadhanam ||
Sree Maha- Ganaadhi-pataye namah ||
Dyana avahanaadi shodasopachaara pujaam karishye.
Water should be touched with the middle finger
Dhyaanam
Om Shuklaambaradharam Vishnum Shashivarnam
Chaturbhujam Prasanna vadanam Dhyaayeth Sarva vighnopa shaantaye ||
Keep the flowers and sacred yellow rice at the feet of Turmeric Ganapati, reciting the following sloka. Never place/spray the flowers or sacred yellow rice on the head of Ganapati.
Om Sri Maha Ganapathim
Dhyayami dhyaanam samarpayami,
Om Sri Maha Ganapathim Aavaahayaami,
Om Sri Maha Ganapathim aasanam samarpayami.
Place flowers / sacred yellow rice at the feet of the God and pray with folded hands. Then show the water with uddarini (spoon) by dropping the water, recite this mantra – Paadayoh paadyam samarpayaami – show water to the Lord and keep it in a plate.
Hastayoh arghyam samarpayaami – show water to the Lord and keep it in a plate. Mukhe shuddhaachamaneeyam samarpayami – show water to the Turmeric Lord and keep it in a plate. Pray to the Lord with Sandal paste, Akshathaas, Turmeric, Vermilion, and flowers.
Light the incense stick and offer Jaggery of fruits to the Lord as Naivedyam, and then do shodashopachara puja. Yathaabhaagam Gudem Nivedhayaami | Sri Mahaganaadhi pathaye namah, supreeto, suprasanno, varado bhavatu | Sri Mahaa Ganadhipati prasadam shirasaa grihnaami || Take sacred yellow rice at the feet of the Lord and place it on the head of all devotees.
Now move the turmeric Ganapathi slightly to the east and pray reciting the sloka – Sri Maha Ganaadhi pathaye namaha yadhaa sthaanam pravesayaami shobhanaarthe kshemaaya punaraagamanaayacha. Water should touch the middle finger by reciting – Atha sri varasiddhi vinayaka poojaam karishye, thadanga praanaprathishtaapana karishyem
Puja to the main Ganapati (Pranaprathista)
Sprinkle panchaamruta (a mixture of five ingredients – milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar) on the main idol of Lord Ganesha and recite this mantra – Om, aam, hreem, krom, yam, rum, lam, vam, sham, Sham, sam, ham ityaadyena praanapratishtaapanam kritvaa, namaskritvaa.
Om Sri Varasiddhi Vinaayaka namah Om Swaamin! sarvajagannaadha! yaavat poojavasaanakam
Taavatvam preetibhaavena bimbesmin sannidhim kuru ||
Avaahito bhava, staapitho bhava, suprasanno bhava, stirapanam kuru, varadobhava, avakunthito bhava, praseeda, praseeda, praseeda.
Place flowers, sacred yellow rice at the feet of the Lord.
Shodashopachara Pooja
Bhava samchita papougha vidhvamsana vichakshanam |
Vignaandhakaara Bhaswantam Vignaraaja Maham Bhaje ||
Om Ekadantam shoorpakarnam gajavaktram chaturbhujam |
Paashankushadharam devam dhyayet Siddhivinayakam! ||
Uttamam Gananathasya vratam sampatkaram shubham |
Bhaktaabheeshtha pradam tasmat dhyaayettam Vighnanayakam ||
Dhyaayed Gajaananam devam, taptakanchana sannibham |
Chaturbhujam, mahaakaayam, sarvaabharana bhushitam ||
Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svamine namah dhyayaami ||
Place flowers at the feet of Lord Ganesha.
Aavaahanam (welcoming the god)
Om Atraagachcha jagadvandya sura raajarchiteshvara |
Anaatha naatha sarvajna Gauri Garbha samudbhava ||
Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svamine namah aavaahayaami ||
Place sacred yellow rice and flowers at the feet of the Lord.
Aasanam (seating him on the throne)
Mauktikaih pushyaragaischa naanaaratnair viraajitam |
Ratna simhaasanam chaaru prityartham pratigruhyatam ||
Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svamine namah aasanam samarpayaami ||
Place sacred yellow rice and flowers at the feet of the Lord.
Arghyam (offering water)
Gauriputra namastestu Shankara Priya nandana |
Grhaanaarghyam mayaa dattam, Gandha puspaaksha shatairyutam ||
Om Sri Siddhivinaayaka svaamine namah arghyam samarpayaami ||
Offer water to the Lord and drop it in the plate.
Paadyam (offering water to the Lord’s feet)
Gajavaktra namastestu sarvaabhista pradaayaka |
Bhaktyaa paadyam mayaa dattam gruhaana dviraajanana ||
Om Sri Siddhivinaayaka svaamine namah paadyam samarpayaami ||
Offer water to the Lord and sprinkle at the feet of the Lord.
Aachamaneeyam (offering water to the Lord to drink)
Anaathanaatha sarvajna girvana gana pujita |
Grhanaachamanam deva, tubhyam dattam mayaa prabho ||
Om Sri Siddhivinaayaka svaamine namah aachamaniyam samarpayaami ||
Offer water to the Lord and drop it in the place.
Madhuparkam (offering sacred clothes)
Dadhiksheera samaayuktam madhvajyena samanvitam |
Madhuparkam grhanedam gajavaktra namostute ||
Om Sri Siddhivinaayaka svaamine namah madhuparkam samarpayaami ||
Offer sacred cotton soaked in turmeric powder paste.
Panchamruta snaanam
(Abhishekam with cow milk, curd, ghee, sugar and honey)
Om Snanam panchamrtairdeva grihana Gananayaka |
Anaathanaatha sarvajna girvana ganapujita ||
Om Sri Siddhivinaayaka svaamine namah panchaamrta snaanam samarpayaami |
Sprinkle panchaamrtam with flowers on the Lord.
Suddhodaka snaanam (bath with pure water)
Om Gangaadi sarvatirthebhyaha ahrutai ramalairjalaih |
Snaanam kurushya bhagavaan Umaaputra namostute ||
Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svamine namah suddhodaka snaanam samarpayaami ||
Bath with Kalasam water with flowers on the Lord.
Vastram (clothes)
Om Rakta vastradvayam chaaru devayogyam cha mangalam |
Subhaprada grhana tvam Lambodara Haraatmaja ||
Om Sri Siddhivinaayaka svaamine namah vastrayugmam samarpayaami ||
Offer clothes or cotton mixed with turmeric or vermilion to the Lord.
Yajnopavitam (sacred thread)
Om Raajitam brahmasutram cha kaanchanam chottariyakam |
Grihana deva sarvajna bhaktaanaamista daayaka ||
Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svaamine namah yajnopavitam samarpayaami ||
Offer the sacred thread to the Lord.
Gandham (sandal wood paste)
Om Chandanaagaru karpura kasturi kumkumanvitam |
Vilepanam surasrestha prityartham pratigrhyataam ||
Om Sri Siddhivinaayaka svaamine namah Srigandhaam samarpayaami ||
Apply sandalwood paste to the Lord.
Akshataan (sacred yellow rice)
Om Akshataan dhavalaan divyaan saaliyaan tandulaan subhaan |
Grhana Paramaananda Sambhuputra namostute ||
Om Sri Siddhivinaayaka svaamine namah alankaranaartham akshataan samarpayaami ||
Place sacred yellow rice on the Ganesha.
Patra Pushpaani (offering leaves and flowers)
Om Sugandheeni cha pushpaani jaajikundamukhaani cha |
Ekavimsati patraani sangrhana namostute ||
Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svaamine namah patra pushpam poojayaami ||
Offer leaves and flowers to the Lord.
Athaangapuja (placing flowers on parts of the Lord’s body)
- Om Ganeshaaya namah – paadau poojayaami | (feet)
- Om Ekadantaaya namah – gulphau poojayaami | (heel)
- Om Surpakarnaaya namah – jaanuni poojayaami | (ears)
- Om Vighnaraajaaya namah – janghe poojayaami | (calf of the legs)
- Om Aakhuvaahanaaya namah – urum poojayaami | (thighs)
- Om Herambaaya namah – katim poojayaami | (hip)
- Om Lambodaraaya namah – udaram poojayaami | (stomach)
- Om Gananathaya namah – naabhim poojayaami | (navel)
- Om Ganesaaya namah – hrudayam poojayaami | (chest)
- Om Sthulakanthaaya namah – kantham poojayaami | (neck)
- Om Skandaagrajaaya namaha – skandhau poojayaami | (shoulders)
- Om Paashahastaaya namaha – hasthau poojayaami (hands)
- Om Gajavaktraaya namah – vaktram poojayaami | (face)
- Om Vighnahantre namah – netram poojayaami | (eyes)
- Om Soorpakarnaya namah – karnau poojayaami | (ears)
- Om Phaalachandraaya namah – lalaatam poojayaami | (forehead)
- Om Sarvesvaraaya namah – shirah poojayaami (head)
- Om Vighnaraajaaya namah – sarvangaani poojayaami | (all parts of the body)
Thereafter, pray to Lord Ganesh with sacred leaves, reciting the Lord’s holy names as –
Yekavimsati patrapuja (with different sacred leaves)
- Om Sumukhayanamah – maachipatram poojayaami (darbha)
- Om Ganadhipaaya namah – brhatipatram poojayaami (vaakudaaku)
- Om Umaputraya namah – bilvapatram poojayaamipoojayaami (maredu)
- Om Gajananaya namah – durvaayugmam poojayaamipoojayaami (garika)
- Om Harasoonavenamah – dattoorapatram poojayaamipoojayaami (ummetta)
- Om Lambodarayanamah – badaripatram poojayaamipoojayaami (regu)
- Om Guhagrajayanamah – apaamaargapatram poojayaamipoojayaami (uttareni)
- Om Gajakarnayanamah – tulasipatram poojayaamipoojayaami (Tulasi)
- Om Ekadantaaya namah – chootapatram poojayaamipoojayaami (amra)
- Om Vikataaya namah – karaveerapatram poojayaamipoojayaami (ganneru)
- Om Bhinnadantaaya namah – vishnukraantapatram poojayaamipoojayaami (Dintena)
- Om Vatavenamah – daadimipatram poojayaamipoojayaami (daanimma)
- Om Sarvesvaraayanamah – devadaarupatram poojayaamipoojayaami (devadaaru)
- Om Phaalachandraaya namah – maruvakapatram poojayaamipoojayaami (maruvam)
- Om Herambaayanamah – sindhuvaarapatram poojayaamipoojayaami (vaavilaaku)
- Om Surpakarnayanamah – jaajipatram poojayaamipoojayaami (jaaji)
- Om Suraagrajaayanamah – gandakipatram poojayaamipoojayaami (garika)
- Om Ibhavaktraayanamah – shamipatram poojayaamipoojayaami (jammi)
- Om Vinaayakaaya namah – asvatthapatram poojayaamipoojayaami (raavi)
- Om Surasevitaaya namah – arjunapatram poojayaamipoojayaami (maddi)
- Om Kapilaaya namah – arkapatram poojayaamipoojayaami (white jilledu)
- Om Sri Ganesvaraya namah – ekavimsati patraani poojayaamipoojayaami
After this, Lord Ganesha should be prayed to with flowers, reciting the 108 names of the Lord. Place one flower or Akshata at the feet of the Lord at each mantra.
Dhoopam (lighting incense stick)
Dasangam guggulopetam sugandhi sumanoharam |
Om Umaasuta namastubhyam grhaana varado bhava ||
Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svaamine namah dhoopamaaghraapayaami ||
Show the smoke from the lighted incense stick to the Lord.
Deepam (lamp)
Om Saajyam trivartisamyuktam vahninaa dyotitam maya ||
Grhana mangalam dipam Eeshaputra namostute ||
Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svamine namah deepam darshayaami ||
Show the lighted lamps to the Lord.
Naivedyam (offering sacred food)
Food preparations made, banana, other fruits, broken coconuts etc. should be kept ready in a plate and placed before the Lord.
Sugandhaan sukrtaamschaiva modakaan ghrta paachitaan |
Naivedyam gruhyataam deva chana mudgaih prakalpitaan ||
Bhaksyam bhojyam cha lehyam cha choshyam paaniyameva cha |
Idam gruhana naivedyam mayaa dattam Vinaayaka ||
Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svamine namah naivedyam samarpayaami
Sprinkle water on the sacred food items (Naivedyam) and offer to the Lord.
Tambulam (betel leaves)
Om Pugeephala samaayuktam naagavallidalairyutham |
Karpura churna samyuktam taambulam pratigrhyatam ||
Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svamine namah tambulam samarpayaami ||
Place the 3 betel leaves, 3 nuts, fruits, and coins before the Lord and do Namaskaram
Pushpam (flowers)
Offer flowers to the Lord, reciting this sloka
Om Sachhidaananda Vignesa pushkalaani dhananicha | Bhumyaamsthitaani pushpaani sweekurushwa Vinaayaka || Om Sri Siddhivinayaka Suvarnamantra pushpam samarpayaami ||
Neeraajanam (offering Harati with camphor)
Ghrtavarti sahasraischa karpurasakalaistathaa | Nirajanam maya dattam grhana varado bhava || Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svamine namah nirajanam samarpayaami |
Offer Harati to the Lord and thereafter put Harathi in the plate and then take it.
Mantrapushpam (sacred flowers)
We must take the flowers in our hands and, after reciting the following sloka, place the flowers at the feet of Lord Ganesha. Sumukhascha Ekadantascha, Kapilo Gajakarnakaha Lambodarascha, Vikato, Vighanarajo Ganaadhipaha Dhumaketuhu Ganaadhyaksho, Phaalachandro Gajaananaha Vakrathunda mahaakaaya, kotisurya samaprabha Avignam Kurume deva sarva karyeshu sarvadaa Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svamine namah mantrapushpam samarpayaami ||
Pradaksinam (circumambulation)
We must take flowers in our hands, stand up and circumambulate in a clockwise direction three times.
Yaani kaani cha papani janmaantara krtani cha | Taani taani pranasyanti pradaksinam pade pade ||
Papoham papakarmoham paapaatma paapasambhavah | Traahi maam kripayaa deva saranaagata vatsala ||
Anyathaa sharanam naasti tvameva saranam mama | Tasmaat kaarunya bhavena raksha raksha Ganaadhipa ||
Om Sri Siddhivinayaka svamine namah atmapradakshina namaskaaraan samarpayaami |
After Pradakshina, we should recite –
Kshamaa praarthana yasya smritya cha naamoktya tapah puja kriyaadishu | nyunam sampurnataam yaati sadyo vande gajaananam ||
mantraheenam kriyaheenam shakthiheenam mahaa probho | yatpujitam mayaa deva paripurnam tadastute ||
anaya dhyanaavaahanaadi shodashopachaara pujayaacha, Ashthottara naamaarchanayaacha, avasara, mahaanivedhana yaacha bhagavaan sarvaatmakah sarvam Sri siddhi vinaayakah swami suprito suprasanno varado bhavantu ||
Some Stories of Lord Ganesha
Before beginning the reading of the story, each person should receive flowers and yellow rice. Offer them to Lord Ganesha after completing the story.
Om Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwara Guru Saakshaat Para Brahma Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha
Om Shuklaambaradharam Vishnum Shashivarnam Chaturbhujam Prasanna vadanam Dhyaayeth Sarva vighnopa shaantaye
Om Saraswati Namasthubhyam Varade Kaamarupini Vidyaarambham Karishyaami Siddhir Bavathume Sadaa
Once upon a time, there was a king named Dharma Raja of the Chandra Vamsa dynasty. He lost his kingdom to his kinsmen due to misfortune. He left for the forest with his wife and brothers. He discovered that several rishis were meditating in the forest. He saluted each of them and approached Suta Maharishi, offering oblations to him. After seating himself with the permission of the Suta Maharishi, he narrated his story to him.
Oh! Great Rishi, we played the game of gambling with our brethren. They adopted malpractices in the game and defeated us. They occupied our kingdom and insulted our wife, Draupadi. They inflicted insults upon us. Fortunately, we could get your darshan and attain peace. Please bestow your kindness upon us and impart to us a great Vrata so that we may be able to regain our kingdom.
Suta Mahamuni then said, “Oh, Sons of Pandu Maharaja, please listen to a Vrata that is the pinnacle of all Vratas. I will narrate it to you. It provides prosperity, wealth, and comfort. It cleanses one from all sins. Generations will prosper. This Vrata was first narrated by Lord Shiva to his son Kumara Swamy.
Once Kumara Swamy saluted his father, Lord Shiva and requested him to narrate a vrata which, when performed, would provide wealth, children, a growing generation, and prosperity. Lord Shiva, pleased with the request, narrated the story to him. He said, “Dear Son, there is one Vrata, the best of all, called Vinayaka Vrata”. This should be performed with devotion on
Chaviti day during the bright moon (shukla paksha) fortnight of Bhadrapada month.
This Vrata has been performed in the past by many Devatas, rishis, and holy men. The Suta Maharishi then advised Dharma Raja to perform the Vinayaka Vrata and seek the blessings of the Lord to reclaim his lost kingdom and wealth. He further recounted that in the past, Queen Damayanti married King Nala, and Lord Krishna wedded Jambavati and obtained the Shamanthakamani by performing this Vrata. He then narrated the story of Lord Krishna.
Once upon a time, King Satrajittu prayed to Lord Surya, and with His blessings, he obtained a magnificent diamond known as ‘Shamanthakmani’. This diamond produces gold each day. One day, his brother Prasena asked him to lend the diamond so he could wear it. Prasena, wearing the diamond, visited Lord Krishna, who requested him to give him the diamond. Prasena declined and left him.
After some time, Prasena, still wearing the diamond, went hunting in the forest. A lion noticed the diamond, presuming it to be a piece of flesh, killed him and snatched it. A strong bear killed the lion and took away the diamond. He gave it to his daughter named Jambavati, as a plaything. The bear is none other than ‘Jambhavanta’ in his previous life.
Upon learning of his brother’s death, Satrajittu blamed Lord Krishna, asserting that Krishna killed his brother because he refused to give the diamond when asked. In reality, it was the Lion who killed Presana, but the blame fell on Lord Krishna. To escape this accusation, Lord Krishna ventured into the forest to find the diamond.
He discovered the footprints of Presana, accompanied by the Lion and Bear. He entered the cave of Jambhavanta, where he found Jambhavati playing with the diamond as though it were a ball. When Lord Krishna attempted to take the diamond from her, Jambhavanta intervened and blocked Krishna.
They fought over the diamond for twenty-eight days. Ultimately, Jambhavanta lost due to his lack of courage, realising that his opponent was none other than Lord Rama. He remembered that during Rama’s incarnation, when Rama invited Jambhavanta to seek a boon, Jambhavanta expressed the desire to fight him. Rama had said it would happen in a future incarnation. Jambhavati apologised to Lord Krishna for the misunderstanding.
Lord Krishna said to Jambhavanta, “I was blamed unnecessarily for stealing the diamond by Satrajittu. Please hand over the diamond to him so that he can return it to Satrajittu to cleanse the blame.” Jambhavanta happily handed over the diamond, along with his daughter as a gift. Later, Krishna married her.
Lord Krishna returned to his kingdom, Dwaraka, with the diamond and Jambhavati. He met Satrajittu and explained the entire saga of events at a public meeting. Satrajittu regretted his mistake and offered the diamond and his daughter, Satyabhama, to Lord Krishna. He accepted Satyabhama and married her and Jambavati on an auspicious day. He did not accept the diamond. Lord Krishna then explained why he had to receive this blame unduly.
One day, Lord Ganesha returned to Kailasha after accepting the sacred food offered by his devotees. Chandra laughed at his bulging belly. Parvati was angry with Chandra’s unwarranted ridicule. She cursed him that on Chaviti day, if anyone sees Chandra (the moon), they will be blamed by others for no reason.
Chandra repented for his actions and then pleaded with Parvati not to impose such a curse. She replied that anyone who prays to Lord Ganesha on that day will not suffer from the curse. However, on one Chaviti day, Lord Krishna mistakenly saw the image of Chandra in a milk pot while he was milking the cow. He then told the people that he could escape the blame levelled against him by Satrajittu after performing the Ganesha Vrata.
Vara Siddhi Vinayaka
Lord Krishna further stated that any person who performs Ganesha Vrata on this day and places the sacred yellow rice on their heads will not be subjected to such blame, even if they accidentally see Chandra on this day. Bhagiratha, while bringing Ganga onto the earth, Devatas, while churning the milk ocean for nectar, and Sambha to get relieved of his leprosy, performed Ganesha Vrata and benefited. Dharma Raja also performed Ganesha Vrata as per the directions of Suta Mahamuni. He got back his kingdom after winning the war against his enemies.
All the desires of the devotees will be fulfilled if one prays to Lord Ganesha. He is called “Vara Siddhi Vinayaka”. Children will get a good education and achieve success. Married couples will get progeny. Girls will get good bridegrooms, and married women prosper with their husbands.
