Happy Vinayaka Chaturthi to all our Members....................

Happy Vinayaka Chaturthi

About Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesha Chaturthi (गणेश चतुर्थी) is the Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the god Ganesha, the elephant-headed remover of obstacles and the god of beginnings and wisdom. The festival, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between 19 August and 20 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period).

The festival involves installing clay Idols of lord Ganesh in public pandals (temporary shrines), which are worshipped for ten days with different variety of herbal leaves, plants and immersed at the end of the festival in a water(lake) along with the Idol. After adding herbal and medicated plants and leaves(patri) in lakes, the water in the lake become Hygienic. This was in practice because, in early days people used to drink lake water, and to protect people with infections and viral diseases especially in this season, this tradition was introduced. Some Hindus also install the clay images of Ganesha in their homes. It is believed that Ganesha bestows his presence on earth for all his devotees during this festival. The festival is celebrated as a public event since the days of Shivaji (1630-1680).

While celebrated all over India, it is most elaborate in Maharashtra and other parts of Western and Southern India. Outside India, it is celebrated widely in Nepal and by Hindus in the United States  Canada, Mauritius, Singapore,Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Fiji, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guyana.

Ganapati Bappa Morya!!!!!!

Ganesha Festival Cards

Ganesha Symbolism

108 Names of Lord Ganesha

• Akhuratha: One whose chariot is pulled by a mouse
• Alampata: One who is forever eternal
• Amit: One who is incomparable
• Anantachidrupamayam: One who is the personification of the infinite consciousness
• Avaneesh: Master of the universe
• Avighna: The remover of obstacles
• Balaganapati: Beloved child
• Bhalchandra: One who is moon crested
• Bheema: One who is gigantic
• Bhupati: The lord of lords
• Bhuvanpati: The lord of the heaven
• Buddhinath: The God of wisdom
• Buddhipriya: One who bestows of knowledge and intellect
• Buddhividhata: The God of knowledge
• Chaturbhuj: The four-armed lord
• Devadeva: The lord of lords
• Devantakanashakarin: Destroyer of evils and demons
• Devavrata: One who accepts all penances
• Devendrashika: The protector of all gods
• Dharmik: One who is righteous and charitable
• Dhoomravarna: One whose skin is smoke-hued
• Durja: The invincible
• Dvaimatura: One who has two mothers
• Ekaakshara: One who is of a single syllable
• Ekadanta: Single-tusked
• Ekadrishta: Single-focused
• Eshanputra: The son of Shiva
• Gadadhara: One whose weapon is the mace
• Gajakarna: One who has elephantine-ears
• Gajanana: One who has an elephantine face
• Gajananeti: One who has the looks of an elephant
• Gajavakra: The trunk of an elephant
• Gajavaktra: One who has an elephantine mouth
• Ganadhakshya: The lord of lords
• Ganadhyakshina: Leader of all celestial bodies
• Ganapati: The lord of lords
• Gaurisuta: The son of Gauri
• Gunina: The lord of virtues
• Haridra: One who is golden-hued
• Heramba: Mother's beloved son
• Kapila: One who is yellowish-brown
• Kaveesha: The lord of poets
• Kirti: The lord of music
• Kripalu: Merciful lord
• Krishapingaksha: One who has yellowish-brown eyes
• Kshamakaram: The abode of forgiveness
• Kshipra: One who is easy to appease
• Lambakarna: One who has large ears
• Lambodara: One who has a big belly
• Mahabala: One who is enormously strong
• Mahaganapati: The Supreme Lord
• Maheshwaram: Lord of the universe
• Mangalamurti: The all auspicious Lord
• Manomay: The winner of hearts
• Mrityuanjaya: The conqueror of death
• Mundakarama: The abode of happiness
• Muktidaya: Bestower of eternal bliss
• Musikvahana: One who rides a mouse
• Nadapratithishta: One who appreciates music
• Namasthetu: Destroyer of evils and sins
• Nandana: Lord Shiva's son
• Nideeshwaram: Bestower of wealth
• Omkara: One who has the form of 'Om'
• Pitambara: One who has yellowish skin
• Pramoda: Lord of all abodes
• Prathameshwara: First among all Gods
• Purush: The omnipotent personality
• Rakta: One who is blood-hued
• Rudrapriya: One who is the beloved of Shiva
• Sarvadevatman: One who accepts all celestial offerings
• Sarvasiddhanta: Bestower of skills and knowledge
• Sarvatman: Protector of the universe
• Shambhavi: Son of Parvati
• Shashivarnam: One who has a moon-like complexion
• Shoorpakarna: One who is large-eared
• Shuban: The all auspicious Lord
• Shubhagunakanan One who is The Master of All Virtues
• Shweta: One who is as pure as the white
• Siddhidhata: Bestower of accomplishments and successes
• Siddhipriya: Giver of wishes and boons
• Siddhivinayaka: Bestower of success
• Skandapurvaja: Elder of Skanda or Kartikya
• Sumukha: One who has an auspicious face
• Sureshwaram: The lord of lords
• Swaroop: Lover of beauty
• Tarun: One who is ageless
• Uddanda: The nemesis of evils and vices
• Umaputra: The son of Goddess Uma
• Vakratunda: One with a curved trunk
• Varaganapati: Bestower of boons
• Varaprada: One who grants wishes
• Varadavinayaka: Bestower of success
• Veeraganapati: The vigorous lord
• Vidyavaridhi: The God of wisdom
• Vighnahara: Remover of obstacles
• Vignaharta: Destroyer of all obstacles
• Vighnaraja: Lord of all obstacles
• Vighnarajendra: Lord of all obstacles
• Vighnavinashanaya: Destroyer of all obstacles
• Vigneshwara: Lord of all obstacles
• Vikat: One who is huge
• Vinayaka: The Supreme Lord
• Vishwamukha: Master of the universe
• Vishwaraja: King of the world
• Yagnakaya: One who accepts sacrificial offerings
• Yashaskaram: The bestower of fame and fortune
• Yashvasin: The beloved and ever popular lord
• Yogadhipa: The lord of meditation

Jai Hanuman

Jai Ganesha

Lord Venkateshwara!

JAI HANUMAN

Krishna

Lord Krishna

Happy Independence Day!

Lord Ganesha

Vakratunda Mahakaaya
Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Mey Deva
Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvada 

Meaning:The Lord with the curved trunk and a mighty body, who has the luster of a million suns, I pray to thee Oh Lord, to remove the obstacles from all the actions I intend to perform.

Raksha Bandhan

 

Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters; the festival is also popularly used to celebrate any brother-sister like loving protective relationship between men and women who are relatives or biologically unrelated.It is called Rakhi Purnima, or simply Rakhi, in many parts of India.The festival is observed by Hindus, Jains, and many Sikhs. Raksha Bandhan is primarily observed in India, Mauritius and parts of Nepal. It is also celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs in parts of Pakistan and by some people of Indian origin around the world.

Raksha Bandhan is an ancient festival, and has many myths and historic legends linked to it. For example, the Rajput queens practised the custom of sending rakhi threads to neighbouring rulers as token of brotherhood. On Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie a rakhi (sacred thread) on her brother's wrist. This symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her.The festival falls on the full moon day (Shravan Poornima) of the Shravan month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar.

Myths and parables

The scriptures, epics and ancient fiction of Hinduism is peppered with stories of Rakhi and Raksha Bandhan. Some of these include:
Indra Dev

According to Hindu scripture Bhavishya Purana, in the war between Gods and demons, Indra - the deity of sky, rains and thunderbolts - was disgraced by the powerful demon King Bali. Indra’s wife Sachi consulted Vishnu, who gave her a bracelet made of cotton thread, calling it holy.Sachi tied the holy thread around Indra wrist, blessed with her prayers for his well being and success. Indra successfully defeated the evil and recovered Amaravati. This story inspired the protective power of holy thread. The story also suggests that the Raksha Bandhan thread in ancient India were amulets, used by women as prayers and to guard men going to war, and that these threads were not limited to sister-brother like relationships.
King Bali and Goddess Laxmi

According to this legend, credited to Hindu scriptures Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana, after Vishnu won the three worlds from the demon King Bali, he was asked by Bali that Vishnu live in his palace, a request Vishnu granted. Vishnu's wife, Goddess Lakshmi did not like the palace or his new found friendship with Bali, and preferred that her husband and she return to Vaikuntha. So she went to Bali, tied a Rakhi and made him a brother. Bali asked her what gift she desired. Lakshmi asked that Vishnu be freed from the request that he live in Bali's palace. Bali consented, as well accepted her as his sister.
Santoshi Ma

Ganesh had two sons, Shubh and Labh. On Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh's sister visited and tied a Rakhi on Ganesh's wrist. The two boys become frustrated that they have no sister to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with. They ask their father Ganesh for a sister, but to no avail. Finally, saint Narada appears who persuades Ganesh that a daughter will enrich him as well as his sons. Ganesh agreed, and created a daughter named Santoshi Ma by divine flames that emerged from Ganesh's wives, Rddhi (Amazing) and Siddhi (Perfection). Thereafter, Shubh Labh (literally "Holy Profit") had a sister named Santoshi Ma (literally "Goddess of Satisfaction"), who loved and protected each other.

Krishna and Draupadi

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in some Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities outside India. Above, Rakhi tied to a man's wrist in Mauritius.

In the epic Mahabharat, Draupadi tied a Rakhi to Krishna, while Kunti tied her Rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu, before the great war.

Yama and the Yamuna

According to another legend, Yama, the god of Death had not visited his sister Yamuna for 12 years. Yamuna, the goddess of Yamuna river, was sad and consulted Ganga, the goddess of Ganga river. Ganga reminded Yama of his sister, upon which Yama visits her. Yamuna was overjoyed to see her brother, and prepared a bounty of food for Yama. The god Yama was delighted, and asked Yamuna what she wanted for gift. She wished that he, her brother should return and see her again soon. Yama was moved by his sister's love, agreed and to be able to see her again, made river Yamuna immortal. This legend is the basis for a Raksha Bandhan-like festival called Bhai Duj in some parts of India, which also celebrates brother-sister love, but near Diwali.