Ganesh Chaturthi Pooja Part -1 simple method of sthapana and daily pooja

Significance of Ganesha  Chaturthi

Ganesha is the deity of Siddhi(success) Buddhi (intellect) and Riddhi (abundance). Every year Ganesha is worshiped on this day with great fervour on Ganesh Chaturthi.

The sixteenth Chapter of Vidyeshwara Samhita of the Shiva Purana expounds the ritual of creating and worshipping the earthen idol of Ganesha on the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada .  

It is said that Ganesha blesses devotees who undertake this Vrata, with fulfilment of his materialistic aspirations if worshipped on this day . 

Male and female devotees are equally allowed to worship this image.  The good effects of this Vrata are said to last for a whole year.

This pooja is a Kulachara (family tradition). One should not start it just on a whim. It has to be continued generation after generation every year. Or one can undertake this Vrata for a fixed number of years in the beginning itself.  

This pooja is fairly elaborate and one should either learn it from a knowledgeable person or invite a priest to perform it. There are online versions of the pooja on the net. Yet I am giving a procedure for a simple pooja which can be performed by a lay person.

You will require :

1. A clay or earthen idol of Ganesha.  

2. An Altar 

3. Water in metal containers 

4. Metal bowl metal spoon, one vessel to wash hands do achaman etc, one medium  vessel to offer water to the Lord etc., one Thali for Arati . Pooja bell. 

5. clean cloth and napkin for yourself 

 6. Sandal paste, haldi kumkum, grains of uncooked rice 

7.  Flowers and Doorva grass (red flowers are neccessary. Tulsi, bilva, shami leaves as per availability)

8. Incense sticks and match box. 

9. A stationary oil lamp and a small ghee lamp for Arati ,

11. Camphor. 

12. Food/ sweets offering as per tradition, 

13. Panchamrita (milk, curds, ghee, honey and sugar either separate or mixed together in small quantity). 

14. Fruits. 

15. Yadnyopavita -sacred thread (depends on availability). 

16 Vastra as per tradition ( handmade traditional vastras of cotton, or cotton cloth or silk cloth). 

17. Betelnut and betel leaf ( use a fresh set of one betel nut and two leaves each time.  Otherwise just do namaskar) 

18 an Asana for seating yourself. 

Procedure:

1. Light the stationary oil lamp and incense stick. 

2. Aachamana : This type of Aachamana is called shrotraachamana.  Take a little water on your right hand fingertips and chanting the following mantras, wet your eyes left one first and right one thereafter. Touch the right ear with your right thumb and wash your hand in the largish vessel meant for you. 

केशवाय नमः | keshavaaya Namah 

नारायणाय नमः | naraayanaaya Namah 

माधवाय नमः | maadhavaaya Namah

गोविन्दाय नमः | govindaaya Namah (wash your hand)

Again repeat the procedure once.

Then chant विष्णवे नमो विष्णवे नमो विष्णवे नमः| vishnave namo, vishnave namo, vishnave namah 

3. Sankalpa ( Dedication of the pooja)

Chant Following Mantras 

श्रीगणेशाय नमः | श्रीगुरुभ्यो नमः | श्रीकुलदेवतायै नमः |  

Take a few grains of uncooked rice in your right and with a spoonful of water. Then say
“ श्रीसिद्धिविनायक -प्रसाद-सिद्ध्यर्थं यथाशक्ति पूजनं तथा प्राण- प्रतिष्ठां च  *  करिष्ये”|

shree siddhivinayaka  prasaada siddhyartham yathaashakti poojanam tathaa praNa- pratishthaam cha  karishye.  

Meaning: I bow to Ganesha, the lineage of Gurus and my family deity. I will invoke Pranashakti in this idol and perform the worship of Siddhivinayaka for his blessings. 

Drop this in a separate metal plate or vessel meant for the Lord. 

*Do not say तथा प्राण- प्रतिष्ठां च   (tathaa praNa- pratishthaam cha ) for daily poojaa.   

 4. Removal of obstacles :

Chant the following. Pray to Ganesha and Gurudev for an obstacle free pooja.
 श्रीमहागणपतये नमः| निर्विघ्नं कुरु|  गुरुभ्यो नमः|

shree mahaganapataye namah. nirvighnam kuru. gurubhyo namah.

5. Asana vidhi 

Touch the earth and your prayer mat and chant 

ह्रीं आधार-शक्ति-कमलासनाय नमः |

Hreem aadhaar-shakti-kamalaasanaaya namah

6. Purification of material : 

While covering the the main water container with your right hand, imagine that water from sacred rivers is collected in it. Worship it with sandal paste and flowers. Chant the following

गंगादिसर्वतीर्थेभ्यो नमः आवाहयामि, पूजयामि | 

gangaadi-sarva-teerthebhyo-namah. aavaahayaami. poojayaami. 

Offer flowers with sandal paste to the pooja bell and lighted lamp. Offer Namaskaras to them and ring the Pooja bell.

Take a spoonful of water from the container and sprinkle over the pooja materials, the space created for Pooja and finally on one’s own body chanting  

नमो नारायणाय | “namo naaraayaNaaya”.

7. Prana Pratishtha(Do it only at the time of first poojaa. Do not do it everyday)

Touch the middle and index fingers of your right hand to the idols chest. Hold a small plate or a tiny bowl of milk in your left hand and hold it near the idols eyes.  and chant the following mantra

अस्यै प्राणा: प्रतिष्ठंतु अस्यै प्राणा: क्षरन्तु च। 
अस्यै देवत्वमचार्यै मामहेति च कश्चन।। 

पराप्राणशक्त्यै नमः| आवाहयामि| स्थापयामि| पूजयामि| 

asyai praaNaah pratishThantu, asyai praaNaah ksharantu cha

asyai devattwam-archaayai maam-aheti  cha kashchana

paraa-praaNa-shaktyai namah . aawaahayaami. sthaapayaami. poojayaami.  

Apply very little ghee to a doorva and touch it to the idols eyes. 

Hold a small plate or a tiny bowl of milk in your left hand and hold it near the idol’s eyes.  Keep the offering down. It will be required in the following pooja. 

Dip a flower in sandal paste and offer it to the idol.

Offer incense and small ghee lamp by waving them before the idol.
Make a square shape with water in front of the icon. Place the sweet which was earlier shown to the idol on the square. Sprinkle water with a Tulasi leaf or flower on this offering and put the leaf on the offering chanting नमो नारायणाय | “ namo naaraayaNaaya”.

Then chant following mantras touching the bowl or plate.

परा- प्राण- शक्त्यै नमः| नैवेद्यं समर्पयामि | paraa-praaNa-shaktyai namah. naivedyam samarpayaami.

प्राणाय नमः| अपानाय नमः| व्यानाय नमः| 

उदानाय नमः| समानाय नमः| ब्रह्मणे नमः| 

pranaaya namah. apaanaaya namah. vyaanaay namah. udaanaaya namah. samaanaaya namah. brahmaNe namah.

Offer four spoons of water in the water collection vessel meant for the Lord.

उत्तरापोषणम्, हस्त-मुखप्रक्षालनं, आचमनीयं समर्पयामि |

uttara-aaposhaNam, hasta-mukha-prakshaalanam, aachamaneeyam samarpayaami

This is like offering water after food for cleansing hand and mouth and for drinking.

Take water in your right palm and say the following.

अनेन पूजनेन परा-प्राण-शक्तिः प्रीयताम् |

anena poojanena paraa-praaNa-shaktih preeyataam | 

Drop water in the God's vessel. 

8. Dhyaanam ( Use for Ganesha’s daily pooja too.)

Now meditate on Ganesha with the following verse

एकदंतं शूर्पकर्णं गजवक्त्रं चतुर्भुजं|
पाशांकुशधरं देवं ध्यायेत् सिद्धिविनायकम् | 

Ekadantam shoorpakarnam gajavaktram chaturbhujam

paashaankushadharam devam dhyaayet siddhivinaayakam 

श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नमः ध्यायामि|  shree-siddhivinaayakaaya namah. dhyaayaami.

Meaning : I meditate on Lord Siddhivinayaka who has one tusk,  ears like winnowing baskets, head of an elephant, and four hands. He carries the noose and elephant goad. 

9. Avahanam : (skip this for daily pooja)

Take some rice grains in your right hand and offer them  on the icon of the God asking Him to attend the pooja and be stationed in the icon.

श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नमः |
आवाहयामि| स्थापयामि | 

shree-siddhivinaayakaaya namah..  avaahayaami.  sthaapayaami.

10. Asanam : (Use all the steps from here till the end for daily pooja also.)

With the following mantra offer rice grains at the Lords as a seat.

श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। आसनार्थे अक्षतान् समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . aasanaarthe akshataan samarpayami. 

11 Paadyam  : With the following Mantra, sprinkle a few drops of water with a small flower or a petal on the Lords feet for washing them.

श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। पादयो: पाद्यं समर्पयामि।। 
shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . paadayoho paadyam samarpayaami. 

12. Arghyam: Take a spoonful water. Put a small flower or petal in it with sandal paste. Now sprinkle a few drops of this water on the Lord for washing His hands. 

   
श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। अर्घ्यम् समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . arghyam samarpayaami. 

Drop the water in the collection vessel.

13.Achamana: Sprinkle a few drops of water on the Lord.

 श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। आचमनीयम् समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . aachamaneeyam samarpayaami.

14. Snaanam (bath) :  Sprinkle little water on the Lord.

 श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। स्नानम् समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . snaanam samarpayaami.

Panchamrita snaanam (optional) :  in a bowl, mix small quantity of milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar. Sprinkle a few drops of this mixture with a petal or doorva grass on the Lord's feet.
श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। पंचामृत स्नानम् समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinayakaaya namah . panchaamrita snaanam samarpayaami . 

The rest of the mixture can be given as teertham. 

Bathe the Lord again :
Sprinkle water 4 times. Chant the following

शुद्धोदक स्नानं , आचमनीयं च समर्पयामि|

shuddhodaka snaanam aachamaneeyan cha samarpayaami

  

15. Vastram (clothes):  

Two traditional vastras made from raw cotton should be offered. A Cotton or silk stole can also be offered. 

श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। वस्त्रम् समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . vastram samarpayaami 

16. Upaveetam : Put a sacred thread around the Lord's neck . It should rest on the left shoulder and go below the right hand.

श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। यज्ञोपवितम् समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . upaveetam samarpayaami.

17.Gandham (sandal paste): Dip a flower in sandal paste and offer it at the lords feet. Also offer Vermilion, turmeric powder, Kumkum, Abeer Ashtagandh etc इफ अवैलाब्ले.

 श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। चंदनम् समर्पयामि |परिमल-द्रव्याणि  समर्पयामि| 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . chandanam samarpayaami. parimala dravyaaNi samarpayaami.

18.Akshata: Offer raw rice grains

 श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। अक्षतान् समर्पयामि।।

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . akshataan samarpayaami.

Ornaments : Decorate the Lord with ornaments if available.

 
19.Patra-Pushpa-pooja:

 
श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। पत्र - पुष्पाणि समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . patra- pushpaaNi samarpayaami.

Offer various flowers, Doorva grass, Shami leaves, Bael leaves etc . Tulasi is offered to Ganesha only on Ganesh Chaturthi.

Consecration of the food offering.

Make a square shape with water in front of the icon. Place the  food offering  on the square.  Sprinkle water with a Tulasi leaf or flower on this offering and put the leaf on the offering chanting  गं गणपतये नमः | gam gaNapataye namah .

20. Dhoopam (incense):   Ring the ritual bell with left hand. Wave incense with the right hand clockwise.  

 श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। धूपम् समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . dhoopam samarpayaami.

21. Deepam (Ghee lamp with only one flame) 
 
श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। दीपम् समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . deepam samarpayaami.

22. Naivedyam (offering food):

श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नमः| नैवेद्यं समर्पयामि| 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . naivedyam samarpayaami.

Take water in your right hand and sprinkle it clockwise around the food offering. Place your left hand on your chest and touch the vessel of Naivedya with the right hand. Chant the following mantras.

प्राणाय नमः| अपानाय नमः| व्यानाय नमः| 

उदानाय नमः| समानाय नमः| ब्रह्मणे नमः|

  praNaaya namah. apaanaaya namah. vyaanaay namah. udaanaaya namah. samaanaaya namah. brahmaNe namah. 

Wash your right hand and offer one spoon of water in the water collection vessel meant for the Lord. 

Again offer the Naivedyam by touching the vessel and chanting the above six mantras. 

Wash your hand.

Offer four spoons of water in the water collection vessel meant for the Lord. 

उत्तरापोषणम्, हस्त-मुखप्रक्षालनं, आचमनीयं समर्पयामि |

uttara-aaposhanam, hasta-mukha-prakshaalanam, aachamaneeyam samarpayaami

This is offering of water after food for cleansing hand and mouth and for drinking.

23. Tambool (betel leaf) offering:

Put two betel leaves one above the other near the Lord. Place a betel nut on them with a coin. Now offer a spoonful of water on this Tamboola. 

Do not reuse same leaves and nuts. If it is not possible to procure them just offer a Namaskar chanting the same mantra given below.

श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। पूगीफल-तांबुलं दक्षिणां च समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinayakaaya namah . poogee-phal-taamboolam dakshiNaan cha Samarpayaami 

Offer fruits as per availability (optional)

फलानि समर्पयामि | phalaani samarpayaami 

Put a spoonful of water on the fruits. Do not offer fruits which are already offered  ritually earlier. 

24. Offering 21 doorvas :

Offer a Bunch of  21 Doorvaas,. Each doorvaa should have 3, 5 or 7 blades of grass. Chant the following Mantra .  Ten names of Ganesha are mentioned therein.

गणाधिप नमस्तेस्तु उमापुत्राघनाशन। 
एकदंतेभवक्त्रेति तथा मूषकवाहन।। 
विनायकेशपुत्रेति सर्वसिद्धिप्रदायक। 
कुमारगुरवे नित्यं पूजनीयं प्रयत्नत:।।

1.gaNaadhipa namaste-astu 2.umaaputra 3.aghanaashana ,

4.ekadanta -5.ibhavaktra- iti tathaa 6.mooshaka-vaahana.
7.Vinaayaka-8.eeshaputra-iti 9.sarvasiddhi-pradaayaka,

10.Kumaara-gurave nityam poojaneeyam prayatnatah .

25. Pradakshinaa (circumambulation) :  Turn around yourself clockwise in a full circle 3 times.

सिद्धीविनायाकाय नमः | प्रदाक्षिणाः समर्पयामि |

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . pradakshinaahaa samarpayaami 

26.  Namaskaara (Bowing down) :  Bow down before the lord joining your hands. 

सिद्धीविनायाकाय नमः | नमस्कारं समर्पयामि | 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . namskaaram samarpayaami.

27. Mantrapushpam ( offering consecrated flowers)

Take flowers in your hand and offer them after chanting the mantra.

विनायकेशपुत्र  त्वं गणराज सुरोत्तम। 
देहि मे सकलान् कामान् वंदे सिद्धिविनायक।। 

vinaayaka-eeshputra twam gaNaraaja surottama 

dehi me sakalaan kaamaan vande siddhivinayaka

श्रीसिद्धिविनायकाय नम:। मंत्रपुष्पम् समर्पयामि।। 

shree siddhivinaayakaaya namah . mantra pushpam samarpayaami. 

(Meaning : O Siddhivinayaka, I bow to You because,  You are without a superior, you are the son of Shiva, the leader of Ganas and excellent amongst the Gods. Grant me all my desires.) 

28. Prayer : Join your hands and chant 

यन्मयाचरितं  देव व्रतमेतत् सुदुर्लभम्। 
गणेश त्वं प्रसन्न: सन् सफलं कुरु सर्वदा।। 

विनायक गणेशान सर्वदेव नमस्कृत। 
पार्वतिप्रिय विघ्नेश मम विघ्नान् निवारय।। 

आवाहनं न जानामि न जानामि तवार्चनम्। 
पूजां चैव न जानामि क्षम्यतां परमेश्वर।। 

मंत्रहीनं क्रियाहीनं भक्तितहीनं सुरेश्वर। 
यत्पूजितं मया देव परिपूर्णम् तदस्तु मे।। 

अन्यथा शरणं नास्ति त्वमेव शरणं मम। 
तस्मात् कारुण्य भावेन रक्ष रक्ष परमेश्वर।।

yan-mayaa-acharitan deva vratm-etat sudurlabham
ganesha twam prasannah san saphalan kuru sarvadaa ..1

vinaayaka ganeshaana sarvadeva namaskruta
paartvati priya vighnesh mama vighnaan nivaaraya..2

 avaahanam na jaanaami na janaami tavaarchanam
poojaan chaiva na jaanaami kshamyataam parameshwara..3

mantra -heenan kriyaa-heenam bhaktiheenam sureshwara
yat poojitam mayaa deva paripoorNan tadastu me .. 4

 anyathaa sharaNan-naasti twameva sharanam mama
tasmaat kaarunya  bhavena raksha raksha parameshwara...5

General meaning :  

Please be satisfied with this Vrata which I have undertaken and may my pooja be fruitful always. Remove all the hurdles in my progress.

I don't know how to invoke you, or worship you properly, so please forgive me. 

Even without proper mantras, rituals or devotion I have tried to worship you. Please accept this Pooja and grant me fulfillment. 

I have no other refuge than You, so please have compassion on me and protect me. 

29.  Concluding the pooja : 

Say the following : 

पूजन-सांगता-हेतवे विष्णु-स्मरणं करिष्ये| विष्णवे नमो विष्णवे नमो विष्णवे नमः|

Poojan sangataa hetave vishnu smaranam karishye 

vishnave namo, vishnave namo vishnave namah.  

Now take a spoonful of water in your right palm and say the following words

अनेन कृतेन पूजनेन श्रीसिद्धीविनायक: प्रीयताम् | 

anena kritena poojanena shree siddhivinayakah priyataam 

Drop the water in the Lord’s collection vessel. 

30. Perform Achamana as done at the beginning of the Pooja. 

 Take a little water on your right hand fingertips and chanting the following mantras, wet your eyes left one first and right one thereafter. Touch the right ear with your right thumb and wash your hand in the largish vessel meant for you. 

केशवाय नमः | Keshavaaya Namah 

नारायणाय नमः | Naraayanaaya Namah 

माधवाय नमः | Madhvaaya Namah

गोविन्दाय नमः | Govindaaya Namah (wash your hand)

Again repeat the procedure once.

Then chant विष्णवे नमो विष्णवे नमो विष्णवे नमः| vishnave namo, vishnave namo, vishnave namah 

Perform Arati as per tradition using lamp or camphor or both.

After the arati warm your hand over  the Arati flame for a second,  and touch it to you head. Wash your hand.

Thereafter distribute flowers to everyone in the house and ask them to offer them near the Lord's feet. Distribute Prasad.

31.  Give Dakshina (money) to any Brahmin or offer it to a religious institution or  for cause of student welfare.

Rituals to be performed after Sundown

Offer sandal paste, flowers, incense, ghee lamp and sweets or fruits  and then perform Aarati. Ask everyone to offer flowers to the Lord.

Daily pooja

Except for Pranapratishtha the entire poojaa will be the same. After sankalpa and purification of the pooja material, do Dhyanam as explained in step no. 8. Skip step number 9  and then follow the entire pooja from Step number 10 till the end.  

Prayers and Arati can be in any Language. You can also chant stotras if possible.