Shri Ganesh Jayanti : A Spiritual celebration

1. Introduction 

Shri Ganesh Jayanti, the day on which the Ganesh frequencies reached earth for the first time, i.e. the day on which Shri Ganesh was born, is the fourth day (chaturthi) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Maagh. On this auspicious occasion, what can we do to derive maximum spiritual benefit from Shri Ganesh’s heightened presence on earth? This article is based on the divine knowledge received by a seeker (saadhikaa) doing spiritual practice under the guidance of His Holiness Dr. Athavale. It provides an idea of the types of spiritual practices (saadhanaa) that can be performed on this day and their relative importance. 

2. Basic spiritual celebration

On the auspicious occasion of Shri Ganesh Jayanti, the devotee or seeker (saadhak) should do 3 to 9 turns of a mala (108 stringed beads) while chanting Sree Ganesh’s Name (‘Om Gan Ganapataye namaha’)
In addition to this, a devotee should worship Shri Ganesh's idol or picture, ritualistically. From this one can derive the benefit of Sree Ganesh’s divine energy and divine consciousness that come to earth in higher amounts this day. Reciting Shri Ganesh Atharvashirsha (stotra, holy verses in praise of Shri Ganesh) adds to these benefits.

3. Relative importance of the types of celebration methods

 

No.	Spiritual benefit		Chanting (continual repeating /remembrance) of Shri Ganesh’s Name	Ritualistic worship and singing of hymns with lit lamp waving (aarati)	Reciting Atharvashirsha
1	Getting benefit from Sree Ganesh Principle (%)		20	10 to 15	7 to 10
2	Getting divine consciousness or chaitanya (%)		50	30	20
3	Getting divine energy (%)		40	20	10
4	Relative importance (%)	Spiritual emotion (bhaav)	70	100	30
		Pronunciation	30	0	70
5	Impact on the devotee		Awakening of the Sushumna (central) spiritual energy channel*, awakening of spiritual emotion, and chanting occurring at a higher level of speech (vaani)	Awakening of spiritual emotion, can easily absorb divine consciousness and divine energy and awakening of the Sushumna (central) and the Surya (right side) spiritual energy channels*	Gettting divine consciousness and divine energy,  removal of subtle black covering and awakening of the Surya (right side) spiritual energy channel*
6	Impact on different bodies of the embodied soul**	Physical body	10	2	All bodies get purified up to 15%. Vital energy body and mental body get purified up to 30%.
		Mental body	30	3
		Causal (intellect) body	20	1
		Supra-causal (ego) body	10	2
			All bodies get purified, resulting in overall increase in spiritual purity (saattvikta)	Increase in overall spiritual purity (saattvikta) of the bodies and increase in divine consciousness absorbing capacity of the bodies

 * The Kundalini is the inherent spiritual energy system in the body. It consists of 7 main centres or chakras, 3 main channels - the Sun (Surya or Right channel or Pingalaa naadi), Moon (Chandra or Left channel or Idaa naadi) and Central (Sushumnaa naadi) channels and innumerable ducts and ductules.  
** An average human being, also known as the embodied soul or Jiva

4. Best celebration of Shri Ganesh Jayanti

The devotee derives 100% spiritual benefit from the heightened Sree Ganesh Principle on earth on Sree Ganesh Jayanti day, by performing all of the above spiritual practices.

Sri Ganeshji Visarjan-Ananta Chaturdashi

1. The immersion of idol of Shri Ganeshji and its underlying spiritual science

As per the science, the Divinity generated in the idol consecrated on the day of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi lasts only for a day. That is why the idol should be immersed in water that very day or the next day, after performing ritualistic worship.
Before immersing Shri Ganesh idol the concluding ritualistic worship (uttarpuja) is performed. After performing this ritualistic worship, the idol is shifted slightly from its place. Uttarpuja means bidding farewell to Shri Ganeshji with due reverence.
Spritual experience in context to the provisions during the immersion of the idol of Shri Ganeshji: While going for the immersion of the Shri Ganesh idol, the rickshaw not starting, then realising about forgetting the provisions for the journey at home and the rickshaw starting immediately after bringing the provisions: In 2007, at 5 p.m. we left the house for going for the immersion of the Shri Ganesh idol in a rickshaw. But the rickshaw would not start. We made all efforts to start it, but it would not budge. It was then that my sister realised that we had forgotten to bring along the provisions for the journey made for Shri Ganeshji. She asked her husband to get the provisions. The rickshaw started immediately upon bringing them and we were able to go for the immersion of the idol. Shri Ganeshji Himself took care that our seva does not remain incomplete. The moment I realised this I expressed gratitude. - Mrs. Gouri Afale, Sanatan Ashram, Panvel, Maharashtra
Through the above spiritual experience, one can realise the importance of the provisions for the journey offered to Shri Ganeshji. The importance of performing the observances peculiar to the Family tradition (Kulachar) as per the science is evident here.
The decision of Mrs. Namrata to conduct an ideal procession and conforming to the same is inspiring for everyone.

1.1 Why 'donating the idol' is unscientific?

Nowadays many organisations make appeals to donate the idols of Shri Ganeshji putting forth reasons like water pollution, drought etc. These organisations take the idols as donation and later throw them in the stone mines. Is it appropriate to throw the idol of the Deity worshipped so ardently in such a way?
The various reasons why 'donating the idol' is unscientific:
Hence, one should not denigrate the seats of our reverence with our own hands and educate others too. This simple act will contribute to the mission of Dharma.

2. Science underlying immersion of Shri Ganesh idol in flowing water

Due to the ritualistic worship, the idol of Shri Ganeshji is charged with the Ganesh Principle. By immersing the idol in flowing water the Ganesh Principle in the idol also flows and spreads far and wide. With the evaporation of the water charged with the Ganesh Principle, the entire environment also becomes sattvik. In some places, the reservoirs do not have enough water for immersion of the Ganesh idol. At other places the source of water is not appropriate.

2.1 Methods of ‘immersion of idols’ in emergency situations

2.2 Proportion of active components in the idol of Shri Ganeshji at the time of immersion in flowing water

By immersing Shri Ganesh idol, a person gets 4% each of the Absolute Earth Principle and Absolute Water Principle and 2% of the Absolute Air Principle. By the ritualistic immersion of the idol, the Chaitanya and the vibrations of Ganesh Principle are emitted in higher proportion.
Spiritual benefits from the various sevas from the creation of the idol to its immersion in flowing water as mentioned by H.H. Parulekar Maharaj ji, a Saint from Sindhudurga district, Maharashtra:

3. The effects of breakage of an idol and its remedy

Events of ill-omen like a lamp being extinguished, breaking of the grinding stone, flowering of the cress tree, damage to an idol etc., are indicative of impending financial loss, serious illness or an untimely death in the family.
Remedy after breakage of an idol: The Scriptures have laid down some remedies. They depend on when the breakage of the idol takes place.