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Two-year-old sloth bear brothers Deemak and Kartick arrived at the San Diego Zoo on September 2, 2019 from Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, and they moved into their new exhibit at the top of Center Street on November 7. Deemak’s name means “termite” in Hindi; and Kartick was named for Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder of Wildlife SOS, an organization that works to protect sloth bears in their native habitats and rescue bears from abuse, injury, or death due to illegal wildlife trafficking. Read more: zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz/two-much-fun/
6 Month break from job many adventure lots of memory from Srinagar to kargil to leh to Madhya pradesh time to drive back to Delhi Via Bhopal , Sagar n Gwalior
Time to go back to delhi for the job, i start my journey but i don't know how many day it take to reach there.
Forest area of satpura driving back to delhi from where i started my 3 month long trip www.freakbikrz.com
6 Month break from job many adventure lots of memory from Srinagar to kargil to leh to Madhya pradesh time to drive back to Delhi Via Bhopal , Sagar n Gwalior
Time to go back to delhi for the job, i start my journey but i don't know how many day it take to reach there.
Two-year-old sloth bear brothers Deemak and Kartick arrived at the San Diego Zoo on September 2, 2019 from Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, and they moved into their new exhibit at the top of Center Street on November 7. Deemak’s name means “termite” in Hindi; and Kartick was named for Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder of Wildlife SOS, an organization that works to protect sloth bears in their native habitats and rescue bears from abuse, injury, or death due to illegal wildlife trafficking. Read more: zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz/two-much-fun/
Two-year-old sloth bear brothers Deemak and Kartick arrived at the San Diego Zoo on September 2, 2019 from Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, and they moved into their new exhibit at the top of Center Street on November 7. Deemak’s name means “termite” in Hindi; and Kartick was named for Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder of Wildlife SOS, an organization that works to protect sloth bears in their native habitats and rescue bears from abuse, injury, or death due to illegal wildlife trafficking. Read more: zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz/two-much-fun/
Two-year-old sloth bear brothers Deemak and Kartick arrived at the San Diego Zoo on September 2, 2019 from Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, and they moved into their new exhibit at the top of Center Street on November 7. Deemak’s name means “termite” in Hindi; and Kartick was named for Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder of Wildlife SOS, an organization that works to protect sloth bears in their native habitats and rescue bears from abuse, injury, or death due to illegal wildlife trafficking. Read more: zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz/two-much-fun/
Two-year-old sloth bear brothers Deemak and Kartick arrived at the San Diego Zoo on September 2, 2019 from Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, and they moved into their new exhibit at the top of Center Street on November 7. Deemak’s name means “termite” in Hindi; and Kartick was named for Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder of Wildlife SOS, an organization that works to protect sloth bears in their native habitats and rescue bears from abuse, injury, or death due to illegal wildlife trafficking. Read more: zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz/two-much-fun/
The Satyanarayan Puja is a Hindu (Devanāgarī: हिन्दु) religious observance.
The Satyanarayan Puja(prayer) is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth(Satya). This puja is conducted to ensure abundance in ones life. Many people carry out this puja immediately after or along with an auspicious occasion like a marriage or moving into a new house or any other success in life.
The Satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day. It is not a puja confined to any festivities. But Poornima (full moon day) or Sankranti are considered to be most auspicious day for this puja.
Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well.
- Wikipedia
The Satyanarayan Puja is a religious worship of the Hindu god Vishnu. Satya means “truth” and narayana means, “The highest being” so Satyanarayan means “The highest being who is an embodiment of Truth”.[1][2] Vrat or Puja means a religious vow, religious observance, or obligation. Hindus throughout [3] perform Sri Satyanarayan Vrat for the divine blessings of health, wealth, prosperity, opulence, education; relief from troubles and sickness. It can also be performed because of success in business or career growth; during social functions like marriages, house-warming ceremonies, naming of the children and so on.
This puja is first mentioned in Skanda Purana, Reva Kanda by Suta Puranik to the rishis in Naimisharanya. The details are part of the Katha (Story) that is usually read during the ritual[4]
A painting of Narayana (Viṣṇu) seated on lotus
Sri Satya Narayana puja is a very popular ritual in most parts of India including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra, Assam, and Goa[citation needed].
The ritual is usually performed on the Full moon day of every month, Ekadashi (11th day after full moon or new moon), Kārtika Pūrṇimā, Vaiśākhā Pūrṇimā, solar eclipse day or on Saṅkrānti except during Āṣāḍha Candra Masa[citation needed]. It is also performed on special occasions and during times of achievements, as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions could include marriage, graduation, start of a new job, purchase of a new home, to name a few. In addition, the performance of this most auspicious puja generally confers a child to couples trying to start a family[citation needed].
The Satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day for any reason. It is not a puja confined to any festivities, but Purnima (full moon day) is considered specifically auspicious for this puja. Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However, one can perform this puja in the morning as well[citation needed].
This puja is very simple, can be performed by anyone, and it does not require a priest to perform it. The original concept was instructions given by rishi Narada Munich while on tour of earth he noticed tremendous amounts of sufferings all around due to malnutrition. The diseases observed by him was due to vitamin, protein, difficiencies including multiple infections diseases. He went to lord Vishnu and described the situation and was told with instructions to perform Pooja and the other stories to be narrated. One of the key instruction was to invite as many friends, relatives and neighbors to attend the ceremony and to feed them and to offer as many types of fruits as possible and the sufferings will be eliminated, and this was due to being well fed and consumption of fruits. Later on brahmans add all other false benefits, artis and stutis. The performance of artis, stutis is only around 700 years old and these were mostly composed by sant Tulsidas. As far as getting rich, marriage etc it was implemented by greedy brahmans to enrich themselves. This practice in modern times is doing more harm then good to folks who have acess to rich food, one should refrain from serving any cooked food may be a wise decision would be to serve hygienic all prepared foods.
Preparation[edit]
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The previous night, think of Lord Sri Satyanarayana and mentally decide to perform puja the next day. Invite your relatives and friends. Tradition mandates to abstain from worldly pleasures.
On the puja day, early in the morning keeping the same thoughts of worshiping the Lord, take a head bath. If performing the evening, again take a head-bath. This should be done by both husband and wife. Wear a clean dress.
Observe Fast (if possible).
Keep all the things for puja ready, near the altar. The total duration of the puja - start to finish – will be around 3 hours.
Decorate the front door with mango leaves. The place near the altar is cleaned (with cow dung, where possible).
The Altar is placed in an East-West direction such that the devotees performing the puja will be seated facing east. It is decorated with floral designs, usually using rice flour and other colored powders. A new white cloth is spread on the Altar and layered with raw rice.
Peeta
A Kalash (small pot made of Silver, Copper, Brass, or even earthen) is placed in the middle of Altar. It may be filled half with water. A coconut is placed on top and wrapped with a cloth. Mango or betel leaves are placed between the coconut and the pot. This too is decorated with Chandan (Sandal paste) and kumkum.
A framed picture of Lord Satyanarayana is placed on the far side of the Altar. Flowers and garlands can be placed on this frame.
Place all the puja items near the Altar.
The devotees performing the puja will be seated facing the Altar.
Prasad[edit]
The food is cooked as normal, usually rice, dal and vegetables; avoiding any non-vegetarian (egg, meat, and fish dishes).
Make sure the kitchen is kept clean and devoid of impurities.
The main Prasad[5] [offering] (is also called as Sapatha or Sapaada Bhakshya[ಸಪಾದ ಭಕ್ಷ್ಯ]) is prepared with equal parts (usually one and one-forth parts) of sugar, Semolina, and Ghee. Popularly, it is cooked to blanch. Cardamoms, cashews, raisins, and/or bananas may be added while cooking or as garnishing. Some people avoid cooking and merely mix the ingredients together.
Various regional variations exist in the way it is cooked. It also has various names - Telugu Prasadam,[6] Marathi Sheera,[7] Bengali Sinni,[8] Punjabi Panjiri,[9] etc.
The main Prasad is offered together with daily food, various fruits, and Panchamrutam (uncooked mixture of Milk, Yogurt, Ghee, Honey, and Sugar).
Items needed for puja[edit]
The following is a list of items needed for the puja.[10][11][12][13]
Haldi (Turmeric powder)
Kumkum ( Red vermillion or Sindoor )
Navadhanya ( a mixture of nine herbs offered to navagraha ( nine planets ) )
Incense sticks
Camphor
Sandal paste
A photoframed picture of Lord Satyanarayana
A small idol (or coin) of Lord Satyanarayana
Akshat (rice grains mixed with turmeric powder).
Raw rice (about 1 kg)
Betel leaves (100)
Betel nuts (50)
Coins (40)
Dry Dates/ Almonds (50)
Coconuts (8)
Flowers and floral garlands
Two jars (Silver, Copper, Brass, or even earthen) – one for Kalash and another for the ritual
Two flat plates
A bell
A large pidha table (for use as Altar)
A large yellow cloth (to cover the Altar)pit is the favourite colour or satnarayan he wears pitambar or yellow clothes
A piece of red cloth (for the kalash)
A ghee lamp (with at least three wicks)
An oil lamp
Cotton wicks
Panchamrita (Uncooked mixture of milk, yogurt, honey, sugar, and ghee)
Good to have
Conch shell
One thousand Tulasi (Indian Basil) leaves.tulasi manjari(flower of tulasi)
Banana tree / leaves as a canopy.white tila two table spoons.white tila or white sesame seeds is favorite of Lord Satnarayan. Rose is his preferred flower.
Procedure[edit]
The following procedure is as prescribed by and performed in Andhra Pradesh.[14] Several regional and traditional variations occur as mentioned in the following section.
Sri Satyanarayana Puja at home
The devotee begins by purifying oneself (achamniyam) and sankalpam (a vow that the named devotee is performing the puja on such time and era, to attain such cause).
The puja starts with a prayer to Gaṇesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by the sixteen upacharas, chanting the names of Lord Gaṇesha and offering prasada (offering usually consisting of banana, coconut, modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or laddu) and the showering of flowers. Subsequently Varuna puja (kalash puja) is performed.
A uniqueness of this puja is the invoking of pancha lokapalaka, navagrahas along with their companion and co-companions, and the eight dikpalakas. This totals to 40 (5+9+(9*2)+8). Each God has a vedic symbol of a unique metal. Since these are difficult to obtain by the common means, and since the modern currency coins by minted with multiple metals, each Guest God is represented by a coin. They are placed on a betel leaf. The betel nut, akshit and dry dates are the offerings. Thus, the requirement of 40 coins, betel leaves and dry dates.
The main puja commences with the worship to Lord Satyanarayana. The idol (or coin) of Lord Satyanarayana is bathed and cleaned with panchamritam. After placing the deity in the correct position, 1008 names of Sri Satyanarayana are chanted.
This is followed by offering of Prasada and flowers (Mantra Pushpam).
Satya Nārāṇaya Pooja
Another requirement of the puja is that the story be heard among all those observing and partaking in the puja.[15]
The five-part story involves the origin of the puja, benefits of the puja, the potential mishaps that may occur with the forgetting performance of the puja, the magnitude of the Lord’s benevolence and the importance of the Prasad, and consequences of snubbing the ritual.[16]
The puja concludes with an Aarti, which consists of lighting camphor in the vicinity of an image of the Lord.
After the puja is over, participants and observers of the puja are required to partake the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord.
Regional and Traditional Variations[edit]
Many places the Varuna/ Kalash puja is done while invoking Ganesh at the start of the puja.
The number of Athitis (divine guests) invoked varies substantially. Thus, the number of coins and betel leaves count varies.
Sri Satyanarayana Swami Katha[edit]
An essential part of this puja is listening to the Sri Satyanarayana Swami Katha (narrative).[17]
The five-part story involves the origin of the puja, benefits of the puja, the potential mishaps that may occur with the forgetting performance of the puja, the magnitude of the Lord’s benevolence and the importance of the Prasad, and consequences of snubbing the ritual.[18]
Chapter 1 narrates the origins of the puja. Sri Satyanarayana Katha comes from the Skanda Puraṇa, Reva khaṇḍa.[19] Suta Maharṣhi is the one narrating this account to Saunaka Muni, in Naimiṣaraṇya to the ṛiṣhis who were performing a thousand year yajna for the benefit of humanity. The procedure itself was narrated my Sriman Narayana to Narada.
Chapter 2 narrates the benefits of the puja. A poor Brahmin was approached by Lord Himself in disguise and He advised him of the puja. Upon successful completion of the puja, the Brahmin could overcome his difficulties and enjoy eternal bliss. It also narrates about the good fortune of a woodcutter who witnesses the Brahmin performing the puja and continues to gain prosperity after performing the puja.
Chapter 3 narrates the mishaps that may occur for dishonoring the vow to perform the puja. A merchant, with an intention to establish family, vows to perform the puja upon having a child. He adjourns the vow to complete it during the child’s marriage. Upon forgetting the vow, the Lord puts the merchant in hardship. The merchant is falsely accused and imprisoned. His entire business is confiscated by the king. His household goes bankrupt. He is freed when his wife recollects the promise and performs the puja.
Chapter 4 narrates about the Lord’s benevolence and the importance of the Prasad. This is a continuation of the previous chapter. During an incident, the merchant puts off the Lord about his merchandise, thereby losing all its value. Realizing his folly, the merchant regrets his intemperance and seeks forgiveness. On hearing that the merchant reached the dockyard, his wife and daughter, who were performing the puja at that time, forget to take the Prasad. Angered with the disrespect, He makes the boats sink into the sea, only to be restored when they have the Prasad.
Chapter 5 narrates about the importance of the puja and not that of the devotees. A group of backwoodsmen was performing the puja. King discards and disregards the offerings, thereby invoking the wrath of Sri Satyanarayana. The king loses his kingdom, wealth, and family, only to be restored upon realizing his recklessness and seeking forgiveness to Sri Satyanarayana and accepting the offerings.
Social worker, literature scholar Dr. Dayaram Alok is a well known caste historian, poet and founder and president of All India Damodar Tailors Federation. He has donated hundreds of cement benches for the purpose of improving sitting facilities in temples of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. He was born on 11/8/1940.
On the occasion of completion of 84 years of Dr. Alok ji's life, his birthday was celebrated with great joy in Kanchan Ganga Garden Shamgarh (Madhya Pradesh) among family members and friends. The presence of eminent personalities of the city made the program unforgettable. Well known and renowned personalities of Shamgarh city include Mr. Narayan Bhai Gujarati, senior BJP leader, Mohan Lal Joshi, Gayatri spokesperson (stage management), Ramesh Rathore, Ashutosh Gayatri Shaktipeeth manager, Radheshyam Mahan Gaushala president, Dheeraj Kumar Sanghvi, Mandal BJP president, Jagdish Soni, former city council president Shamgarh, Kailash Chaudhary, former city council president, Mahesh Mandaliya, president Bharat Vikas Parishad, Balwant Singh Panwar, former Mandal president BJP, Raj Kumar Chhabra, assistant trustee Gayatri Shaktipeeth, Vishnu Kumar Rathore, journalist, Ghanshyam Mehta, Rajesh Kumar Rathore, notary, Ramsing Chauhan, Sarpanch, Vijay Bhargava, Dr. Hari Porwal Jan Aushadhi, Ghanshyam Goyal, Susner MLA representative, Vinod Kumar Chauhan, engineer Jhabua, Satyanarayan Chauhan, former tailors Nagda, Ms. Maya Rathore, Ram Gopal Dhanotiya, Badri Lal Soni, Sundar Lal Ratnawat added to the grandeur of the birthday program by their presence. In the colorful program, famous Karoke singers like Dilip Deshbhakt, Chandra Prakash Kothari, Arun Kumar Rathore, Dilip Srivastava enthralled the audience with relevant songs on the birthday.
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Geographical Location: Central Mumbai
“LALBAUGCHA RAJA (The Emperor of Lalbaug)” is name of the popular Ganesh Idol of “LALBAUGCHA RAJA SARVAJANIK GANESHOTSAV MANDAL”. The Mandal, formerly known as “SARVAJANIK GANESHOTSAV MANDAL LALBAUG” was founded in the year 1934, because of a vow (NAVAS) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence, the fishermen and vendors who used to sit in the open place vowed to Lord Ganesh for permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts & support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, Shri.Nakhawa Kokam Mama, Bhausaheb Shinde, Dr.U.A. Rao and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol on 12.09.1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman. Since that day onwards, this Lord Ganesh has become popular as it fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.
Due to the communal riots in 1946, orders were issued to change the route of this Ganesh Immersion Procession. But, the then office-bearers of the Mandal refused to change the route and, after 21 days, the procession was taken by the same route under the supervision of then Volunteers Pandurang alias Babu Sayle, M.S.Pawar and Dattaram Joshi. After independence, the agenda of the Mandal was modified and accordingly the Mandal decided to contribute in uplift of the Country. The Mandal donated its balance amount to the Kasturba Fund, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund in 1947 and to Bihar Flood Relief Fund in 1959. The social issues were also highlighted in the plots during Ganesh Festival.
During Silver Jubilee Year 1958, two different plots viz. “GEETA UPDESH” and “KALIYA MARDAN” were set for 5 days each. In this Silver Jubilee year, eminent speakers - like M.L.Patil-Hon’ble Minister of Bombay State, Hon’ble Ganapatrao Tapase, Hon’ble Govindrao Adik, Hon’ble Maloji Nimbalkar, Municipal Corporator Dr.Narvane, Govinrao Mahashbde-Dy.Editor Navakaal, Vasantrao Kate, Govardhandas Mapara of Kamgar Seva Sadan, Kakasaheb Tambe, - delivered speeches.
After 1958, the number of devotees of Lalbaugcha Raja increased substantially. Hence, in 1960, the entertainment programmes and speeches were discontinued. In the same year, “Navaratri Utsav” was started and the programmes were organized during Navaratri Festival. These transitions were carefully and neatly carried out by Chandrakant Khadye, Chunilal Rathod, Pranjivan Mehta and Shankar More. During this period, Late Shri. Shamraom V. Bodhe handed over the Hanuman Temple to the Mandal.
During 1948 to 1968, the Mandal started some new traditions like “Shri Satyanarayan Mahapooja”, “Pan-supari Samarambha (Get Together Function)”. The Get Together Function is the ceremony of felicitation by offering roll of betel leaf with betel nuts, known as Pan-Supari in Marathi. During this get together, eminent personalities of different fields, office bearers of various mandals and well-wishers are invited. This creates a friendly atmosphere for co-ordination & exchange of views for better performance of the festival and helps in improving relation among various mandals. In this manner, the mandal established a warm relationship with some mandals of Kumbharwada, Durgadevi Duncan Road, Kamathipura, Khetwadi, Navi Amrutwadi, etc. The participation of local mandals at night, was started to control heavy number of devotees.
During 1934 to 1968, Kunwarji J. Shah, Dr.V.B. Korgaonkar, H.B. Korgaonkar, Dr. U.A. Rao, Dr. Manju Madar, Ramchandra Tawate, B.D. Bandekar, Raghunath Khamkar, Pranjeevan Mehta, Rambali Halwai, Ram Jadhav were mainly responsible for development of the Mandal. The amount accumulated from the Mandal activities was mainly used for development of the nation. Mandal did its bit by contributing to the National Fund during floods at Bihar in 1959 and during the wars in 1962 &1965.
In 1969, new generation came up with wide view under the leadership of Late Shri Vasantrao Bhosale. Space requirement arose due to great extent of workload of the Mandal. In 1970, renovation of the Hanuman Temple was proposed. Accordingly, the renovation work was commenced in 1971 and completed in 1973, along with a new office for the Mandal. In 1975, Idol of Amba Mata (Goddess Amba) was established in the temple and the religious duties of Navratri festival were carried out in the temple, thereafter.
Since 1976, a part of the balance amount of the Mandal was deposited as “SHIKSHAN IMARAT NIDHI”.
During the Golden Jubilee Year in 1983, an exhibition was arranged in which plots of last 49 years were displayed. This exhibition was an attraction for the devotees. In the get together function of this Golden Jubilee Year, the ex-office bearers were felicitated with momentous.
During the decade 1984 to 1993, the Mandal carried out many other constructive social works. In 1990, the Mandal contributed Rs.15,000/- towards “Konkan Flood Relief Fund”, established by the Express Group for the flood affected people of Jambhulpada, based in Konkan, Maharashtra.
It is the first mandal who contributed Rs.1 Lac to the “Army Central Welfare Fund”, in 1999 for the families of the soldiers who scarified their lives to uphold the dignity of the Nation at Kargil and the same was handed over to then Governor of Maharashtra State, Dr. P.C. Alexander.
During this computer age, Mandal launched its website www.lalbaugcharaja.com in 2000. Hon’ble member of the Mandal Shri Bharat Bhujbal conceived with the idea and took efforts to fulfill it. The information related to the festival, the social activities of the Mandal and photo gallery of Lalbaugcha Raja is available on the website. This is very useful for the devotees located in various parts of world.
VISARJAN TARAFA: Traditionally the Ganesh idols are immersed in water during its VISARJAN. Hence in order to immerse the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, Mandal always takes proper precautions so that the visarjan takes place in a manner the Raja deserves. Accordingly, after consulting some experts & experienced persons, Mandal has purchased a TARAFA (Iron Raft) which makes it possible to dissolve the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja in deep sea water, conveniently. The TARAFA is prepared by M/s. A.V. Engineering.
The small plant ploughed by old, wise members of the Mandal has been converted into a large tree. Now it is looked after by the new generation members by their dedicated work. This will definitely continue forever, with blessings of Lalbaugcha Raja.
In the year 2009, Mandal expecting around 10mn people to visit This "Great Raja".
Population: Prominently Marathi speaking with a smattering of Gujarati and North Indian.
Lalbaugcha Raja for fulfilling the Wishes(Navashacha).It was started by Koli women(Fisher woman of Lalbaug).
Love Message : You are precious to Bhagwan . . ... and to me! :)
True Love to God: A beautiful shot at the time of Satyanarayan Puja (i.e. gratitude to the Lord Vishnu)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Satyanarayana Vrata is a Hindu religious observance. It is a ritual performed by devotees on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason. It finds first mention in Skanda Purana[citation needed].
The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Full Moon (Purnima) day of every month or any day you wish to do it. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord Vishnu. In addition, it is said that a devotional performance of this puja will bear children to couples trying to start a family.
Sri Satyanarayana Vratam, a very popular puja in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in India. Almost all Hindus, throughout Andhra Pradesh, have strong faith, belief, and devotion towards Srimannarayana, an incarnation of Vishnu. There is a very ancient famous temple for Sri Satyanarayana Swamy at Annavaram, East Godavari dt, Andhra Pradesh (near Visakhapatnam ), India. This vratam is performed daily in Annavaram. Large numbers of devotees, many with families, visit the temple, offer prayers, perform this Vrata there, right in the temple. This place is one of the very important pilgrimages.
This puja has a special significance for the Chitpavan community of Maharashtra. In West Bengal, people perform this puja before house warming ceremony.
[edit]Procedure
The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha's favorite foods - modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or laddu) and the showering of flower petals.
Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha's - the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Angaaraka/Chevaai (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru aka Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (the head of the Demon snake), and Ketu (the tail of the Demon snake).
The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu. First "panchamritam" is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satyanarayana are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals.
Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the puja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the forgetting performance of the puja.
The prayer concludes with an Aarti, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the puja are required to ingest in the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord......
[edit]Puja (Prayer) Vidhi (performing method)
The Satyanarayan Puja is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth.
Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja.
[edit]Materials needed for the Satyanaranaran Rituals
Satyanarayana Puja preparation
'Sinni': A special type of food offering, which is prepared by mixing unboiled milk, flour, sugar, smashed bananas, and other flavours like cinnamon etc., or optional garnishing like groundnuts, cashews, cherries, crushed coconuts/fruits etc.
Kumkum powder, turmeric powder, rangoli
Incense sticks, camphor.
Thirty betel leaves, thirty betel nuts, two coconuts.
Five almonds,
Flowers to offer
One thousand tulsi leaves; banana tree as a canopy [1]
One square shaped wooden platform
Two copper jars, two plates.
One shawl
A mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghee to make the panchamrita, Sandal paste.
Akshat (rice grains) with turmeric powder.
Attar, Indian perfume.
Two flower garlands, conch shell, bell, a cloth, a ghee lamp and an oil lamp.
1 kg of raw rice
1 kg of sajjige as prasadam
6 numbers of coconuts after completing each katha.
Satyanaranaran Rituals
The Satyanarayana Puja is a Hindu religious observance. It is a ritual performed by Hindus before/on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason. The Satyanarayana Puja is unique in that it does not require a Brahmin to perform.
The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Pournami day of every month (full moon day), ekadasi (11th day after full moon or new moon), kartheeka paurnami, vaisakha paurnami, solar eclipse day or on Sankranti except during Ashada masam. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions include marriage, graduation, new job, and the purchase of a new home to name a few. In addition, it is said that a devotional performance of this puja will bear children to couples trying to start a family. Summary of the puja process:
The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha’s favorite foods – modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or lhadu) and the showering of flower petals.
Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha’s – the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Angaaraka/Chevaai (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru aka Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (the head of the Demon snake), and Ketu (the tail of the Demon snake).
The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu. First “panchamritam” is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satyanarayana are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals.
Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the pooja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the careless performance of the puja.
The prayer concludes with an Aarti, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the pooja are required to ingest in the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord.
It is told that Satyanarayan Katha is in REVA volume of Skanda Purana. But this volume is devoted to pilgrimages on the valley of river REVA. In Satyanarayana there is no Reva river. In original Skanda Purana there is nothing like Satyanarayana. Recent Skanda Puranas added it with clear note of its new addition in Skanda. Puja vidhanam:
The Satyanarayan Puja is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth. This puja is conducted to ensure abundance in ones life. Many people carry out this puja immediately after or along with an auspicious occasion like a marriage or moving into a new house or any other success in life. It is believed the ceremony originated in Bengal as Satya Pir and was later adapted into Satyanarayan puja.
The Satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day. It is not a puja confined to any festivities. But Poornima (full moon day) or Sankranti are considered to be most auspicious day for this puja.
Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja. Materials required for puja:
‘Sinni’(Sheera): A special type of food offering, which is prepared by mixing unboiled milk, semolina flour, sugar, smashed bananas, and other flavours like cinnamon etc., or optional garnishing like groundnuts, cashews, cherries, crushed coconuts/fruits etc.
Kumkum powder, turmeric powder, rangoli
Incense sticks, camphor.
Thirty betel leaves, thirty betel nuts, two coconuts.
Five almonds,
Flowers to offer
One thousand tulsi leaves; banana tree as a canopy[2]
A square shaped low wooden stool
Two copper jars, two plates.
A shawl
A mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghee to make the panchamrita, Sandal paste.
Akshat (rice grains with kumkum powder.
Attar (Indian perfume).
Two flower garlands, conch shell, bell, a cloth, a ghee lamp and an oil lamp.
To prepare Prasadam:
You need to prepare halwa with sugar and suji by using at least 5 measures of rava.
Fruits
Panchamrutam (made by mixing 1cup milk, 1tbsp curd, 1tsp ghee, 1 sliced banana, 2tsp honey
Other suggestions for items needed for puja:
Coconuts
Flowers
Betel leaves
Prasadam (wheat flour)
New blouse piece
Brass/silver vessel (chembu) for kalasam
Panakam
Vadapappu
Fruits
Agarbatti
Deepams
Sri Satyanarana Swami Katha:
Shri Satyanarayana katha (narrative) comes from the Skandha purana, Reva kaanda. Suta Maharshi narrated these stories, in Neimishaaranya to the Rishis who were performing a 1,000 year yagna for the benefit of mankind lead by Shounakji.
For those who observe the fast religiously and regularly, there are some great lessons to be learned from the ‘katha’ (narration)
This is shown by characters who ignored their promise to perform the puja after their wish had been fulfilled. They suffered as a result. Therefore one is to deduce that one must stick to the promise given to the Lord in exchange of the desire fulfilled by His Grace. One is not to ignore or/and forget the Lord’s Grace. Prasad is symbolic of God’s Grace which Kalavati ignored as she learned of her husband’s safe return.
One can understand her eagerness in wanting to be re-united with her beloved, but one must understand that if one forgets to be thankful for gifts received from the Lord, one would have to go through another test until one remembers to remember.
When the rich merchant is asked what the boat contains, he untruthfully replies ‘Only dry leaves’ and the Mendicant says ‘So be it’ The above incident tells us that the spoken word has power. What you speak, manifests. Hence one must not speak an untruth. Especially an inauspicious untruth.
In the last story one learns that no one is higher or lower in status in the eyes of the Lord. Hence one must accord respect to whoever it may be, who is taking the name of God. Katha details: Story 1:
Suta Maharshi narrated the stories. Once upon a time while travelling the three worlds, Narada Maharshi reached Bhoolokam (Earth) and saw the human beings immense suffering. He then went to the abode of Lord Sri Satyanarayana Swami (the benevolent form of Lord Vishnu), who alone can relieve the mankind from the sufferings. There he met the Lord Vishnu with four arms each with Shankha, Chakra, Gadha & Padma, wearing Tulsi Mala (garland) in his neck. Narada Maharshi then asked the lord for a panacea for the miseries of the world. Lord Sri Satyanarayana told Narada Maharshi that there is a fast and puja which can be performed by anyone to overcome these obstacles. The Lord said, “Anyone who performs Shri Satyanarayan Swami’s Vratham & Puja in the right way they will get all the pleasures on earth & will reach their goal”. The fast would result in the fulfillment of his desires and also liberation from the cycle of birth and death into attaining moksha (salvation). Whosoever performs Shri Satyanarayana Swami’s Katha with a Brahmin and with his family with full rites/rituals, they will be relieved off their sufferings and sorrows. They will be bestowed with wealth & wisdom, they will be blessed with children and they will get overall victory & increased devotion.
For this prayer, one requires ripe bananas, ghee, milk & choori (made with wheat flour, ghee & sugar). After the prayers, all present must have the prasadam & then take their meals together, & then sing, praise, & chant mantras of Shri Satyanarayana Swami. By doing this, their wishes will be fulfilled. This vratham in kaliyugam gives boon (reward) very quickly.
This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana Swami is over. All chant together (say) Shri Satyanarayana ki jai. Story 2:
Lord Satyanarayana then narrated to Narada Maharshi how and who performed the puja first. In a place named Sunder Kashipur, there used to live a very innocent Brahmin. In hunger & thirst he used to roam begging for his daily bread. When the Lord saw the Brahmin in sorrow and begging daily, he disguised himself as an old Brahmin & asked him, “On Brahmana, why are you so sad. Please tell me all about your difficulties. Is there any way I could help you?”. The Brahmin replied, “I am a poor Brahmin & I roam daily for bread. Do you know if there is any way to come out of all this sorrow?”. Then the Lord in the guise of a Brahmin said “Lord Satyanarayana grants all the wishes of all the people if his puja and fast is performed diligently. If you pray to him & keep his fast you will overcome all your sorrow and get moksha”. After telling him all the details of the prayer and the fast, Lord disappeared. The poor Brahmin could not sleep that night. He kept thinking of the fast and the prayer which the Lord had asked him to do. In the morning, he woke up with the thought that somehow he must perform the puja and so thinking went out for his biksha (alms). On that day the Brahmin got a lot of money. He used to buy all the necessary things for the prayer. He called his family and performed Lord Satyanarayana’s prayer. By doing so, the Brahmin overcame all his sorrows & became rich. From then onwards, he performed the prayers every month without fail. Thus whoever performs Lord Satyanarayana Swami’s puja, they will be relieved from all sorrows.
The Lord then narrated another story. The same Brahmin now a rich person performed the prayer every month without fail with his family. Once a Brahmin was in between his prayer when a wood-cutter passed by. After keeping the bundle of wood outside the Brahmin’s house, he went in to quench his thirst. The thirsty wood-cutter saw the Brahmin performing the Satyanarayana Vratham. He bowed down to the Brahmin & asked him, “Oh Brahmana, what are you doing, please tell me.” The Brahmin replied, “I am performing the vratham of Lord Satyanarayana Swami. One who accomplishes this will overcome all obstacles and their wishes will be granted. They will attain wealth and wisdom. I have acquired my wealth also in the same way.” After hearing about the prayer and drinking the water, the wood-cutter felt happy. He ate the prasadam from the puja and left for his house.
Thinking of Lord Satyanarayana in his mind, he said “Whatever money I make from selling wood today, I will use it to perform the Satyanaraya Swami vratham.” So thinking, he loaded the bundle of wood onto his head and left for his home. Along the way home he went roaming in Sunder Nagar selling the wood. On that day, he got four times more money than what he made usually out of the wood sale. Feeling happy, he went and bought all the necessary things for the prayers (i.e. ripe bananas, sugar, ghee, wheat flour, etc.). On reaching his house and after cleaning himself, he called his family and did the prayer with due respect. He became rich and acquired all the pleasures of life. At the end of his life he went to heaven.
This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana Swami is over. All chant together (say) Shri Satyanarayana ki jai. Story 3:
This story consists of a childless merchant and his adventures. There was a wise king named Ulkamuk. He had a pious and beautiful wife. He would go to the temple daily and would give charity to the Brahmins. One day near the banks of river Madhushala, where they were performing Lord Shri Satyanarayana’s vratham, a wealthy merchant was passing by. He anchored his boat, went to the king and asked him, “Oh King, please let me know the details about the vratham you are performing with such devotion”. The king replied that he was performing the Lord Satyanarayana Swami’s vratham. He said that one who performs this vratham will gain worldy pleasures and attain salvation. The merchant with much eager asked him the details stating that, “Oh King, I would like to know the details as I am childless and would like to perform this vratham”. The king gladly gave the entire details about the vratham and its vidhanam.
After acquiring the entire details of the vratham, the merchant and his wife decided to perform the fast if they get a child. Sometime later his wife Lilavati became pregnant and she delivered a girl who they called Kalavati. The merchant’s wife Lilavati reminded him about his promise to keep the fast and perform the vratham. The merchant postponed it saying that he would do so when the daughter is ready to be married. The merchant told his wife that during the time of Kalawati’s wedding it would be easy to the fast for at the moment he was busy in his business. So saying he left for his business trip to various villages.
Kalawati grew up to be a beautiful girl. When the merchant saw his daughter was of marriageable age; he called the match-maker and requested him to search an ideal match for his daughter. Hearing the merchant’s request, the match-maker reached Kanchan Nagar. From there, he brought the proposal of a young handsome boy. Agreeing to the proposal and after speaking to the boy’s parents, Kalavati’s marriage was performed with much fanfare and religious ceremonies & rituals. All this while the merchant forgot about the promise to perform the Satyanarayana vratham and so the Lord decided to remind the merchant about his promise.
The merchant, after a few days, left for his business trip with his son-in-law by boat. They anchored their boat in a beautiful village, named Ratanpur ruled by King Chandraketu. One day, the thieves robbed the wealth of the king. After robbing they went and stayed at the same place where the merchant was staying. Seeing the guards following them, they left the entire loot near the merchant and then hid themselves. When the guards reached the merchant’s place, they saw all the king’s wealth beside the merchant and his son-in-law. Thinking them to be robbers, they arrested them and brought them before the king stating that they were responsible for the theft. The king, without giving any chance of explaining their case ordered both be confined to behind bars. Even their wealth was confiscated by the king.
While at the merchant’s house, the thieves robbed their entire wealth. This left his wife and daughter to beg for their daily bread. One day while begging for food, Kalawati reached a Brahmin’s house. At that time the Brahmin and his family were performing Lord Satyanarayana’s puja. After listening to the prayer and& taking the prasadam, she left for home. By the time she reached home it was already dark.
Leelawati was worried. She asked her daughter Kalawati, why it took her so much time to come home. Kalawati replied, “Oh Mother, today I was at a Brahmin’s house where they were performing Lord Satyanarayana’s vratham.” On hearing this, Leelawati recollected the long pending promise by her husband and narrated it to her daughter. She soon began the preparations for the Lord Satyanarayana vratham. She did the fast & prayer and asked the Lord for forgiveness. She prayed that her husband and her son-in-law return home safely.
Lord Satyanarayana was pleased with the prayer and the fast. One day, he told King Chandraketu in his dream, “Oh King, You must release the merchant and his son-in-law as they are not the robbers. Return their wealth and set them free. If you do not do so, your kingdom will be destroyed.” In the morning, the king called the people in his court and told them about the dream.
The people they agreed that the merchant and his son-in-law should be released by the king. The king asked the guards to bring the prisoners returned all their belongings and set them free. The king told them that due to their wrongdoings, they had to undergo this suffering, but now there was nothing to fear & they could go back home. They bowed down to the king & left for home.
This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana is over. All chant together (say) Shri Satyanarayana ki jai. Story 4:
The merchant prayed first and then gave some wealth to the Brahmin before starting his journey for home. When they went little further, Lord Satyanarayana wanted to test them. He disguised as an old man and went up to the merchant. The Lord asked, “What is in your boat, give me little from there.” The merchant in arrogance and pride, replied, “Oh Old man, we have nothing in our boat except hay and leaves.” On hearing such harsh words from the merchant, the Lord said, “Your words shall be true”. So saying, he went from there and sat on the bank of the river.
When the Lord went away, the boat started to rise higher in the water. The merchant was surprised at this. He went to check inside the boat. To his shock he saw that his boat which was filled with his wealth now contains only leaves and hay. Seeing this he fainted. When he came to his senses, he said “How could this happen?” His son-in-law meanwhile told him, “Do not cry over this. All has happened because you spoke harshly to the old man and lied to him. Still, nothing is lost. You could go back to him and ask him for his forgiveness. He may set everything right.”
The merchant, after hearing the words of his son-in-law went in search of the old man. He bowed down before him and with respect said, “Oh Lord, please forgive me for the words I have spoken.” So saying, he bowed down with tears of sorrow in his eyes. When the Lord, saw the merchant in his state of sorrow and crying for forgiveness, he said, “Oh foolish person, due to your deeds, you have seen all this sorrow & suffering.”
On hearing the merchant’s words filled with bhakti, the Lord was happy & he turned the boat full of wealth. When the merchant mounted his boat and saw it full with wealth again, he thanked the Lord & said, “With Lord Satyanarayana’s grace, my wish is fulfilled. When I reach home, I will do his prayer & fast”, so saying he left for his home.
When the merchant saw that his home-town Ratanpur is nearing, he sent a messenger in advance, to his house to inform his wife & daughter of his arrival. The messenger, on reaching the merchant’s house, bowed down to the merchant’s wife & gave them the most awaited news that the merchant & his son-in-law have reached Ratanpur.
Leelawati had just finished doing her Satyanarayana Puja meanwhile. She told her daughter to finish doing the prayer and then come & receive her husband & her father. Kalawati finished doing her quickly & without taking the prasadam left to meet her husband. The Lord got angry at her for this, and so he drowned her husband with the boat. When Kalawati did not see her husband; she was shocked and she fainted on the floor.
On seeing his daughter and the sudden disappearance of the boat, the merchant was shocked. He prayed to Lord Satyanarayana, asked him for his forgiveness and prayed to the Lord to take them out of this difficulty. The Lord said to the merchant, “Oh merchant, your daughter, in a hurry to meet her husband has left my prasadam. When she goes back and takes the prasadam with due respect only then she will see her husband.” On hearing this, Kalawati ran home, ate the prasadam offered respects to Lord Satyanarayana and came back to meet her husband. When the merchant saw this, he was very happy.
The merchant then performed Lord Satyanarayana’s vratham with his family every month from then onwards. They all gained the pleasures of life and after their death they got the ultimate gift of ‘Moksha’ (Salvation – Liberation from the cycle of life and death).
This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana is over. All chant together (say) Lord Satyanarayana ki jai. Story 5:
Suta Maharshi continuing his narrative, tells the Rishis, the story of a king called Angadwaja. Once, as King Angadwaja was returning from a hunting expedition, he stopped to rest under a tree for a while. Nearby a small group of cowherd boys were playing the game of doing puja. They offered their humble parsadam to the king, who out of pride left it untouched. Subsequently the king suffered great losses and realised that that was due to the contempt he had shown for those children’s puja. The king realising his mistake returned to the spot where he had met the cowherds, and with great faith performed the puja with them. The king regained all that he had lost.
Suta Maharshi now told the Rishis that the Lord Sri Satyanarayana Swami fast was very effective during Kaliyuga and that whoever read or heard this story would be rid of all sorrows and difficulties.
The names of the persons who kept Satyanarayana vratham took rebirth are as follows:
The Brahmin took birth as Sudama & in his entire life he served the Lord Krishna & attained moksha.
King Ulkamuk took birth as King Dashrath, and in that life he became the father of Lard Rama & attained eternity.
The merchant took birth as King Morad, who cut his son in half & offered to the Lord & got moksha.
King Angadwaja took birth as Kewat, who took Lord Rama across the river, served him & got moksha.
This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana is over. All chant together (say) Lord Satyanarayana ki jai. Aarti
Jai Lakshmi Ramana, Swami Jai Lashmi Ramana, Satyanarayan Swami, Jan Patak Harana, Jai Lakshmi Ramana
Ratan Ja Rat Singhasan, Adhbut Chabee Rajey Narada Kahat Niranjan, Ghanta dhun bhajey Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Praghat Bhaye Kali Karan, Dwaj Ko Daras Diya Budha Brahman Bankey, Kanchan Mahal Kiya Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Durbal Bhil Kathier, Jan Par Kripa Karey Chandra Choor Ik Raja, Jinaki Vipat Hare Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Vayesh Manorath Payo, Shradha Uj Dini So Fal Bhogyo Prabhji, Fer Ustati Kini Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Bhav Bhagti Ke Karan, Chhin Chhin Roop Dharya Sharda Dharan Kini, Tin Ka Karj Sarya Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Gwal Bal Sang Raja, Ban Mein Bhagti Karey Man Vanchit Fal Dino, Deen Dayal Harey Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Charhat Prasad Sawayo, Kadali Fal Mewa Doop Dheep Tulsi Se, Raje Sat Deva Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Shri Satya Narayan Ji Ki Aarti jo koi gaavey Kahat Shianand Swami Man Van Chit Fal Paavey Jai Lakshmi Ramana…………. Shri Vishnu Aarti
Om jai jagdish harey, Swami jai jagdish harey Bhagt jano ke sankat, shan mein door karey Om jai jagdish harey
Jo Dhiyavay phal pavay dukh binase man ka Swami dukh binase man ka Sukh Sampati ghar aavey kasht mitay tan ka Om jai jagdish harey
Mat Pita tum mere, sharan pau kisaki Swami sharan pau kisaki Tum bin aur na duja aash karoo jisaki Om jai jagdish harey
Tum pooran parmatma tum antaryami Swami tum antaryami Par Brahm parmeshwar tum sabke swami Om jai jagdish harey
Tum karuna ke sagar tum palan karta Swami tum palan karta Mae murakh kul kami kripa karo bharta Om jai jagdish harey
Tum ho ek agochar sabh ke pranpati Swami sabh ke pranpati Kisa bida milu gusai tumko mae kumati Om jai jagdish harey
Din Bandu dukh harta thakur tum mere Swami thakur tum mere Apne hath uthao, apnay charan lagao Dwar khada tere Om jai jagdish harey
Vishay vikar mitao pap haro deva Swami pap haro deva Sharda Bhakti Badao, Santan ki sewa Om jai jagdish harey
Om jai jagdish harey, Swami jai jagdish harey Bhagt jano ke sankat, shan mein door karey Om jai jagdish harey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Satyanarayana is a Hindu religious observance. It is a ritual performed by Hindus before/on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason. It finds first mention in skandha puran
The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Purnima day of every month (the day of the full moon) or a Sankranti. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions include marriage, graduation, new job, and the purchase of a new home to name a few. In addition, it is said that a devotional performance of this puja will bear children to couples trying to start a family.
ri Satyanarayana Vratam, Puja are very popular in Andhra Pradesh India. Almost all Hindus, throughout Andhra Pradesh, have strong faith, belief, and devotion towards Sriman Narayana, an incarnation of Vishnu. There is a very ancient, famous temple for Sri Satyanarayana Swamy at Annavaram, near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. This vratam is performed daily there. Daily, large numbers of devotees, many with families, visit the temple, offer prayers, perform this Vratam there, right in the temple. This place is one of the very important pilgrimages.
[edit]Procedure
A painting of Narayana (Vishnu) seated on lotus
The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha's favorite foods - modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or laddu) and the showering of flower petals.
Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha's - the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Angaaraka/Chevaai (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru aka Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (the head of the Demon snake), and Ketu (the tail of the Demon snake).
The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu. First "panchamritam" is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satyanarayana are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals.
Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the puja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the forgetting performance of the puja.
The prayer concludes with an Aarti, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the puja are required to ingest in the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord......
[edit]Puja (Prayer) Vidhi (performing method)
The Satyanarayan Puja is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth.
Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja.
[edit]Materials needed for the puja
Satyanarayana Puja preparation
'Sinni': A special type of food offering, which is prepared by mixing unboiled milk, flour, sugar, smashed bananas, and other flavours like cinnamon etc., or optional garnishing like groundnuts, cashews, cherries, crushed coconuts/fruits etc.
Kumkum powder, turmeric powder, rangoli
Incense sticks, camphor.
Thirty betel leaves, thirty betel nuts, two coconuts.
Five almonds,
Flowers to offer
One thousand tulsi leaves; banana tree as a canopy [1]
One square shaped wooden platform
Two copper jars, two plates.
One shawl
A mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghee to make the panchamrita, Sandal paste.
Akshat (rice grains) with turmeric powder.
Attar, Indian perfume.
Two flower garlands, conch shell, bell, a cloth, a ghee lamp and an oil lamp.
1 kg of raw rice
1 kg of sajjige as prasadam
6 numbers of coconuts after completing each katha.
The Satyanarayana Puja is a Hindu religious observance. It is a ritual performed by Hindus before/on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason. The Satyanarayana Puja is unique in that it does not require a Brahmin to perform.
The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Pournami day of every month (full moon day), ekadasi (11th day after full moon or new moon), kartheeka paurnami, vaisakha paurnami, solar eclipse day or on Sankranti except during Ashada masam. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions include marriage, graduation, new job, and the purchase of a new home to name a few. In addition, it is said that a devotional performance of this puja will bear children to couples trying to start a family. Summary of the puja process:
The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha’s favorite foods – modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or lhadu) and the showering of flower petals.
Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha’s – the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Angaaraka/Chevaai (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru aka Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (the head of the Demon snake), and Ketu (the tail of the Demon snake).
The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu. First “panchamritam” is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satyanarayana are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals.
Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the pooja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the careless performance of the puja.
The prayer concludes with an Aarti, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the pooja are required to ingest in the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord.
It is told that Satyanarayan Katha is in REVA volume of Skanda Purana. But this volume is devoted to pilgrimages on the valley of river REVA. In Satyanarayana there is no Reva river. In original Skanda Purana there is nothing like Satyanarayana. Recent Skanda Puranas added it with clear note of its new addition in Skanda. Puja vidhanam:
The Satyanarayan Puja is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth. This puja is conducted to ensure abundance in ones life. Many people carry out this puja immediately after or along with an auspicious occasion like a marriage or moving into a new house or any other success in life. It is believed the ceremony originated in Bengal as Satya Pir and was later adapted into Satyanarayan puja.
The Satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day. It is not a puja confined to any festivities. But Poornima (full moon day) or Sankranti are considered to be most auspicious day for this puja.
Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja. Materials required for puja:
‘Sinni’: A special type of food offering, which is prepared by mixing unboiled milk, flour, sugar, smashed bananas, and other flavours like cinnamon etc., or optional garnishing like groundnuts, cashews, cherries, crushed coconuts/fruits etc.
Kumkum powder, turmeric powder, rangoli
Incense sticks, camphor.
Thirty betel leaves, thirty betel nuts, two coconuts.
Five almonds,
Flowers to offer
One thousand tulsi leaves; banana tree as a canopy[2]
One square shaped wooden platform
Two copper jars, two plates.
One shawl
A mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghee to make the panchamrita, Sandal paste.
Akshat (rice grains) with kumkum powder.
Attar, Indian perfume.
Two flower garlands, conch shell, bell, a cloth, a ghee lamp and an oil lamp.
To prepare Prasadam:
You need to prepare halwa with sugar and suji by using atleast 5 measures of rava.
Fruits
Panchamrutam (made by mixing 1cup milk, 1tbsp curd, 1tsp ghee, 1 sliced banana, 2tsp honey
Other suggestions for items needed for puja:
Coconuts
Flowers
Betel leaves
Prasadam (wheat flour)
New blouse piece
Brass/silver vessel(chembu) for kalasam
Panakam
Vadapappu
Fruits
Agarbatti
Deepams
Sri Satyanarana Swami Katha:
Shri Satyanarayana katha (narrative) comes from the Skandha purana, Reva kaanda. Suta Maharshi narrated these stories, in Neimishaaranya to the Rishis who were performing a 1 ,000 year yagna for the benefit of mankind lead by Shounakji.
For those who observe the fast religiously and regularly, there are some great lessons to be learned from the ‘katha’ (narration)
This is shown by characters who ignored their promise to perform the puja after their wish had been fulfilled. They suffered as a result. Therefore one is to deduce that one must stick to the promise given to the Lord in exchange of the desire fulfilled by His Grace. One is not to ignore or/and forget the Lord’s Grace. Prasad is symbolic of God’s Grace which Kalavati ignored as she learned of her husband’s safe return.
One can understand her eagerness in wanting to be re-united with her beloved, but one must understand that if one forgets to be thankful for gifts received from the Lord, one would have to go through another test until one remembers to remember.
When the rich merchant is asked what the boat contains, he untruthfully replies ‘Only dry leaves’ and the Mendicant says ‘So be it’ The above incident tells us that the spoken word has power. What you speak, manifests. Hence one must not speak an untruth. Especially an inauspicious untruth.
In the last story one learns that no one is higher or lower in status in the eyes of the Lord. Hence one must accord respect to whoever it may be, who is taking the name of God. Katha details: Story 1:
Suta Maharshi narrated the stories. Once upon a time while travelling the three worlds, Narada Maharshi reached Bhoolokam (Earth) and saw the human beings immense suffering. He then went to the abode of Lord Sri Satyanarayana Swami (the benevolent form of Lord Vishnu), who alone can relieve the mankind from the sufferings. There he met the Lord Vishnu with four arms each with Shankha, Chakra, Gadha & Padma, wearing Tulsi Mala (garland) in his neck. Narada Maharshi then asked the lord for a panacea for the miseries of the world. Lord Sri Satyanarayana told Narada Maharshi that there is a fast and puja which can be performed by anyone to overcome these obstacles. The Lord said, “Anyone who performs Shri Satyanarayan Swami’s Vratham & Puja in the right way they will get all the pleasures on earth & will reach their goal”. The fast would result in the fulfillment of his desires and also liberation from the cycle of birth and death into attaining moksha (salvation). Whosoever performs Shri Satyanarayana Swami’s Katha with a Brahmin and with his family with full rites/rituals, they will be relieved off their sufferings and sorrows. They will be bestowed with wealth & wisdom, they will be blessed with children and they will get overall victory & increased devotion.
For this prayer, one requires ripe bananas, ghee, milk & choori (made with wheat flour, ghee & sugar). After the prayers, all present must have the prasadam & then take their meals together, & then sing, praise, & chant mantras of Shri Satyanarayana Swami. By doing this, their wishes will be fulfilled. This vratham in kaliyugam gives boon (reward) very quickly.
This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana Swami is over. All chant together (say) Shri Satyanarayana ki jai. Story 2:
Lord Satyanarayana then narrated to Narada Maharshi how and who performed the puja first. In a place named Sunder Kashipur, there used to live a very innocent brahmin. In hunger & thirst he used to roam begging for his daily bread. When the Lord saw the Brahmin in sorrow and begging daily, he disguised himself as an old Brahmin & asked him, “On Brahmana, why are you so sad. Please tell me all about your difficulties. Is there any way I could help you?”. The Brahmin replied, “I am a poor Brahmin & I roam daily for bread. Do you know if there is any way to come out of all this sorrow?”. Then the Lord in the guise of a brahmin said “Lord Satyanarayana grants all the wishes of all the people if his puja and fast is performed diligently. If you pray to him & keep his fast you will overcome all your sorrow and get moksha”. After telling him all the details of the prayer and the fast, Lord disappeared. The poor brahmin could not sleep that night. He kept thinking of the fast and the prayer which the Lord had asked him to do. In the morning, he woke up with the thought that somehow he must perform the puja and so thinking went out for his biksha (alms). On that day the Brahmin got a lot of money. He used to buy all the necessary things for the prayer. He called his family and performed Lord Satyanarayana’s prayer. By doing so, the Brahmin overcame all his sorrows & became rich. From then onwards, he performed the prayers every month without fail. Thus whoever performs Lord Satyanarayana Swami’s puja, they will be relieved from all sorrows.
The Lord then narrated another story. The same Brahmin now a rich person performed the prayer every month without fail with his family. Once a Brahmin was in between his prayer when a wood-cutter passed by. After keeping the bundle of wood outside the brahmin’s house, he went in to quench his thirst. The thirsty wood-cutter saw the brahmin performing the Satyanarayana Vratham. He bowed down to the Brahmin & asked him, “Oh Brahmana, what are you doing, please tell me.” The Brahmin replied, “I am performing the vratham of Lord Satyanarayana Swami. One who accomplishes this will overcome all obstacles and their wishes will be granted. They will attain wealth and wisdom. I have aquired my wealth also in the same way.” After hearing about the prayer and drinking the water, the wood-cutter felt happy. He ate the prasadam from the puja and left for his house.
Thinking of Lord Satyanarayana in his mind, he said “Whatever money I make from selling wood today, I will use it to perform the Satyanaraya Swami vratham.” So thinking, he loaded the bundle of wood onto his head and left for his home. Along the way home he went roaming in Sunder Nagar selling the wood. On that day, he got four times more money than what he made usually out of the wood sale. Feeling happy, he went and bought all the necessary things for the prayers (ie. ripe bananas, sugar, ghee, wheat flour, etc). On reaching his house and after cleaning himself, he called his family and did the prayer with due respect. He became rich and aquired all the pleasures of life. At the end of his life he went to heaven.
This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana Swami is over. All chant together (say) Shri Satyanarayana ki jai. Story 3:
This story consists of a childless merchant and his adventures. There was a wise king named Ulkamuk. He had a pious and beautiful wife. He would go to the temple daily and would give charity to the Brahmins. One day near the banks of river Madhushala, where they were performing Lord Shri Satyanarayana’s vratham, a wealthy merchant was passing by. He anchored his boat, went to the king and asked him, “Oh King, please let me know the details about the vratham you are performing with such devotion”. The king replied that he was performing the Lord Satyanarayana Swami’s vratham. He said that one who performs this vratham will gain worldy pleasures and attain salvation. The merchant with much eager asked him the details stating that, “Oh King, I would like to know the details as I am childless and would like to perform this vratham”. The king gladly gave the entire details about the vratham and its vidhanam.
After aquiring the entire details of the vratham, the merchant and his wife decided to perform the fast if they get a child. Sometime later his wife Lilavati became pregnant and she delivered a girl who they called Kalavati. The merchant’s wife Lilavati reminded him about his promise to keep the fast and perform the vratham. The merchant postponed it saying that he would do so when the daughter is ready to be married. The merchant told his wife that during the time of Kalawati’s wedding it would be easy to the fast for at the moment he was busy in his business. So saying he left for his business trip to various villages.
Kalawati grew up to be a beautiful girl. When the merchant saw his daughter was of marriageable age; he called the match-maker and requested him to search an ideal match for his daughter. Hearing the merchant’s request, the match-maker reached Kanchan Nagar. From there, he brought the proposal of a young handsome boy. Agreeing to the proposal and after speaking to the boy’s parents, Kalavati’s marriage was performed with much fanfare and religious ceremonies & rituals. All this while the merchant forgot about the promise to perform the Satyanarayana vratham and so the Lord decided to remind the merchant about his promise.
The merchant, after a few days, left for his business trip with his son-in-law by boat. They anchored their boat in a beautiful village, named Ratanpur ruled by King Chandraketu. One day, the thieves robbed the wealth of the king. After robbing they went and stayed at the same place where the merchant was staying. Seeing the guards following them, they left the entire loot near the merchant and then hid themselves. When the guards reached the merchant’s place, they saw all the king’s wealth beside the merchant and his son-in-law. Thinking them to be robbers, they arrested them and brought them before the king stating that they were responsible for the theft. The king, without giving any chance of explaining their case ordered both be confined to behind bars. Even their wealth was confiscated by the king.
While at the merchant’s house, the thieves robbed their entire wealth. This left his wife and daughter to beg for their daily bread. One day while begging for food, Kalawati reached a Brahmin’s house. At that time the brahmin and his family were performing Lord Satyanarayana’s puja. After listening to the prayer and& taking the prasadam, she left for home. By the time she reached home it was already dark.
Leelawati was worried. She asked her daughter Kalawati, why it took her so much time to come home. Kalawati replied, “Oh Mother, today I was at a Brahmin’s house where they were performing Lord Satyanarayana’s vratham.” On hearing this, Leelawati recollected the long pending promise by her husband and narrated it to her daughter. She soon began the preparations for the Lord Satyanarayana vratham. She did the fast & prayer and asked the Lord for forgiveness. She prayed that her husband and her son-in-law return home safely.
Lord Satyanarayana was pleased with the prayer and the fast. One day, he told King Chandraketu in his dream, “Oh King, You must release the merchant and his son-in-law as they are not the robbers. Return their wealth and set them free. If you do not do so, your kingdom will be destroyed.” In the morning, the king called the people in his court and told them about the dream.
The people they agreed that the merchant and his son-in-law should be released by the king. The king asked the guards to bring the prisoners returned all their belongings and set them free. The king told them that due to their wrong-doings, they had to undergo this suffering, but now there was nothing to fear & they could go back home. They bowed down to the king & left for home.
This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana is over. All chant together (say) Shri Satyanarayana ki jai. Story 4:
The merchant prayed first and then gave some wealth to the Brahmin before starting his journey for home. When they went little further, Lord Satyanarayana wanted to test them. He disguised as an old man and went up to the merchant. The Lord asked, “What is in your boat, give me little from there.” The merchant in arrogance and pride, replied, “Oh Old man, we have nothing in our boat except hay and leaves.” On hearing such harsh words from the merchant, the Lord said, “Your words shall be true”. So saying, he went from there and sat on the bank of the river.
When the Lord went away, the boat started to rise higher in the water. The merchant was surprised at this. He went to check inside the boat. To his shock he saw that his boat which was filled with his wealth now contains only leaves and hay. Seeing this he fainted. When he came to his senses, he said “How could this happen?” His son-in-law meanwhile told him, “Do not cry over this. All has happened because you spoke harshly to the old man and lied to him. Still, nothing is lost. You could go back to him and ask him for his forgiveness. He may set everything right.”
The merchant, after hearing the words of his son-in-law went in search of the old man. He bowed down before him and with respect said, “Oh Lord, please forgive me for the words I have spoken.” So saying, he bowed down with tears of sorrow in his eyes. When the Lord, saw the merchant in his state of sorrow and crying for forgiveness, he said, “Oh foolish person, due to your deeds, you have seen all this sorrow & suffering.”
On hearing the merchant’s words filled with bhakti, the Lord was happy & he turned the boat full of wealth. When the merchant mounted his boat and saw it full with wealth again, he thanked the Lord & said, “With Lord Satyanarayana’s grace, my wish is fulfilled. When I reach home, I will do his prayer & fast”, so saying he left for his home.
When the merchant saw that his home-town Ratanpur is nearing, he sent a messenger in advance, to his house to inform his wife & daughter of his arrival. The messenger, on reaching the merchant’s house, bowed down to the merchant’s wife & gave them the most awaited news that the merchant & his son-in-law have reached Ratanpur.
Leelawati had just finished doing her Satyanarayana Puja meanwhile. She told her daughter to finish doing the prayer and then come & receive her husband & her father. Kalawati finished doing her quickly & without taking the prasadam left to meet her husband. The Lord got angry at her for this, and so he drowned her husband with the boat. When Kalawati did not see her husband; she was shocked and she fainted on the floor.
On seeing his daughter and the sudden disappearance of the boat, the merchant was shocked. He prayed to Lord Satyanarayana, asked him for his forgiveness and prayed to the Lord to take them out of this difficulty. The Lord said to the merchant, “Oh merchant, your daughter, in a hurry to meet her husband has left my prasadam. When she goes back and takes the prasadam with due respect only then she will see her husband.” On hearing this, Kalawati ran home, ate the prasadam offered respects to Lord Satyanarayana and came back to meet her husband. When the merchant saw this, he was very happy.
The merchant then performed Lord Satyanarayana’s vratham with his family every month from then onwards. They all gained the pleasures of life and after their death they got the ultimate gift of ‘Moksha’ (Salvation – Liberation from the cycle of life and death).
This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana is over. All chant together (say) Lord Satyanarayana ki jai. Story 5:
Suta Maharshi continuing his narrative, tells the Rishis, the story of a king called Angadwaja. Once, as King Angadwaja was returning from a hunting expedition, he stopped to rest under a tree for a while. Nearby a small group of cowherd boys were playing the game of doing puja. They offered their humble parsadam to the king, who out of pride left it untouched. Subsequently the king suffered great losses and realised that that was due to the contempt he had shown for those children’s puja. The king realising his mistake returned to the spot where he had met the cowherds, and with great faith performed the puja with them. The king regained all that he had lost.
Suta Maharshi now told the Rishis that the Lord Sri Satyanarayana Swami fast was very effective during Kaliyuga and that whoever read or heard this story would be rid of all sorrows and difficulties.
The names of the persons who kept Satyanarayana vratham took re-birth are as follows:
The Brahmin took birth as Sudama & in his entire life he served the Lord Krishna & attained moksha.
King Ulkamuk took birth as King Dashrath, and in that life he became the father of Lard Rama & attained eternity.
The merchant took birth as King Morad, who cut his son in half & offered to the Lord & got moksha.
King Angadwaja took birth as Kewat, who took Lord Rama across the river, served him & got moksha.
This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana is over. All chant together (say) Lord Satyanarayana ki jai. Aarti
Jai Lakshmi Ramana, Swami Jai Lashmi Ramana, Satyanarayan Swami, Jan Patak Harana, Jai Lakshmi Ramana
Ratan Ja Rat Singhasan, Adhbut Chabee Rajey Narada Kahat Niranjan, Ghanta dhun bhajey Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Praghat Bhaye Kali Karan, Dwaj Ko Daras Diya Budha Brahman Bankey, Kanchan Mahal Kiya Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Durbal Bhil Kathier, Jan Par Kripa Karey Chandra Choor Ik Raja, Jinaki Vipat Hare Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Vayesh Manorath Payo, Shradha Uj Dini So Fal Bhogyo Prabhji, Fer Ustati Kini Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Bhav Bhagti Ke Karan, Chhin Chhin Roop Dharya Sharda Dharan Kini, Tin Ka Karj Sarya Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Gwal Bal Sang Raja, Ban Mein Bhagti Karey Man Vanchit Fal Dino, Deen Dayal Harey Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Charhat Prasad Sawayo, Kadali Fal Mewa Doop Dheep Tulsi Se, Raje Sat Deva Jai Lakshmi Ramana………….
Shri Satya Narayan Ji Ki Aarti jo koi gaavey Kahat Shianand Swami Man Van Chit Fal Paavey Jai Lakshmi Ramana…………. Shri Vishnu Aarti
Om jai jagdish harey, Swami jai jagdish harey Bhagt jano ke sankat, shan mein door karey Om jai jagdish harey
Jo Dhiyavay phal pavay dukh binase man ka Swami dukh binase man ka Sukh Sampati ghar aavey kasht mitay tan ka Om jai jagdish harey
Mat Pita tum mere, sharan pau kisaki Swami sharan pau kisaki Tum bin aur na duja aash karoo jisaki Om jai jagdish harey
Tum pooran parmatma tum antaryami Swami tum antaryami Par Brahm parmeshwar tum sabke swami Om jai jagdish harey
Tum karuna ke sagar tum palan karta Swami tum palan karta Mae murakh kul kami kripa karo bharta Om jai jagdish harey
Tum ho ek agochar sabh ke pranpati Swami sabh ke pranpati Kisa bida milu gusai tumko mae kumati Om jai jagdish harey
Din Bandu dukh harta thakur tum mere Swami thakur tum mere Apne hath uthao, apnay charan lagao Dwar khada tere Om jai jagdish harey
Vishay vikar mitao pap haro deva Swami pap haro deva Sharda Bhakti Badao, Santan ki sewa Om jai jagdish harey
Om jai jagdish harey, Swami jai jagdish harey Bhagt jano ke sankat, shan mein door karey Om jai jagdish harey
147,040 items / 1,125,111 views
There are a few house Ganpatis I shoot every year when I shoot the Ganpati pandals one of them is the Garuds the Pamaks and Farzans house ganpati.
I shoot this simply to show you the hospitality of the house that brings in Lord Ganeshs their faith their love and the sadness when the Lord leaves their house to go back to his own house in the sea.
So I blog and through my blogs take you time and again into a journey of life in a city called Amchi Mumbai.. a city that can make you or break you within seconds.
A city of hopes dreams and disillusionment.
I have blogged Bandra my immediate surroundings the lives the people the cats dogs goats .. the faceless fervor in the nooks crannies I have blogged filth garbage apathy and sometimes the eunuch soul of the people who stay here.
Nothing changes not the filth the garbage openly displayed for all and sundry.
And because a good photographer shoots good things of life as a photo blogger I shoot the underbelly of pain the beggars and misery and more pain.
I shoot crap I shoot shit I am known in colloquial undertones as the Rastachap Photographer of Bandra.
Roadside photographer as compared to street photographer.
With dark clouds looming in the horizon of my own life my blogging too is coming to the end of its shelf life.
And this is a fact, i now realize as my wife says you shoot the same things over and over again dont you get sick and tired.
Actually I shoot because I have a camera that is attuned to a poets soul, I shoot life as it shoots me.
I shoot simple ordinary mundane things things you dont shoot with a Mach 5.
But come what may I could never shoot cinematographic life with a mobile phone.
It just would not fit in on my mobile phone the first phone I have not changed since 4 years.
So I taught Marziya the importance of shooting pictures on my own Nikon D 80 , and as she has been away for over 3 weeks my life has lost its color and mirth.
Marziya will be 3 years old in Nov, and when I give Marziya my camera she will not take it without first pacing the long strap around her neck.
She knows how to hold the camera firmly in her hands as though she is holding the breath of her life , she learnt to feel the camera its contours the buttons as I would blindfold her and than ask her to shoot.. So she ended up teaching me photography.
About Satyanarayan puja from Wikipedia.
The Satyanarayan Puja is a Hindu religious observance. It is a ritual performed by Hindus before/on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason.It is believed the ceremony originated in Bengal as Satya Pir ritual performed by all communities (Hindu, Muslim and buddhists) and later in 1800s morphed into Satyanarayan puja.[1],[2],[3]
The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Purnima day of every month (the day of the full moon) or a Sankranti. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions include marriage, graduation, new job, and the purchase of a new home to name a few. In addition, it is said that a devotional performance of this puja will bear children to couples trying to start a family.
The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha's favorite foods - modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or ladu) and the showering of flower petals.
Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha's - the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Angaaraka/Chevaai (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru aka Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (the head of the Demon snake), and Ketu (the tail of the Demon snake).
The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu. First "panchamritam" is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satyanarayana are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals.
Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the pooja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the careless performance of the puja.
The prayer concludes with an Aarti, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the pooja are required to ingest in the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord.
It is told that Satyanarayan Katha is in REVA volume of Skanda Purana. But this volume is devoted to pilgrimages on the valley of river REVA. In Satyanarayana there is no Reva river. In original Skanda Purana there is nothing like Satyanarayana. Recent Skanda Puranas added it with clear note of its new addition in Skanda.
The Satyanarayan Puja is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth. This puja is conducted to ensure abundance in ones life. Many people carry out this puja immediately after or along with an auspicious occasion like a marriage or moving into a new house or any other success in life. It is believed the ceremony originated in Bengal as Satya Pir and was later adapted into Satyanarayan puja.
The Satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day. It is not a puja confined to any festivities. But Poornima (full moon day) or Sankranti are considered to be most auspicious day for this puja.
Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja.
* 'Sinni': A special type of food offering, which is prepared by mixing unboiled milk, flour, sugar, smashed bananas, and other flavours like cinnamon etc., or optional garnishing like groundnuts, cashews, cherries, crushed coconuts/fruits etc.
* Kumkum powder, turmeric powder, rangoli
* Incense sticks, camphor.
* Thirty betel leaves, thirty betel nuts, two coconuts.
* Five almonds,
* Flowers to offer
* One thousand tulsi leaves; banana tree as a canopy[2]
* One square shaped wooden platform
* Two copper jars, two plates.
* One shawl
* A mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghee to make the panchamrita, Sandal paste.
* Akshat (rice grains) with kumkum powder.
* Attar, Indian perfume.
* Two flower garlands, conch shell, bell, a cloth, a ghee lamp and an oil lamp.
Gow muthra(Cow Urine)
Each one prays to God according to his own light.
~Mohandas Gandhi
A shot from a Satyanarayan Puja at our house earlier today.
123,974 items / 866,645 views
I shot this a few nights back, and this kid was a genius he will make a great photographer , he kept saying cheese after each shot I took of him..
It was the event of Satyanarayan Puja at BMC Bandra West Ward office at St Martina Road..
About Satyanarayan Puja
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyanarayan_Puja
The Satyanarayan Puja is a Hindu (Devanāgarī: हिन्दु) religious observance. It is a ritual performed by Hindus before/on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason.It is believed the ceremony originated in Bengal as Satya Pir ritual performed by all communities (Hindu, Muslim and buddhists) and later in 1800s morphed into Satyanarayan puja.[1],[2],[3]
The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Purnima day of every month (the day of the full moon) or a Sankranti. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions include marriage, graduation, new job, and the purchase of a new home to name a few. In addition, it is said that a devotional performance of this puja will bear children to couples trying to start a family.
The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha's favorite foods - modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or ladu) and the showering of flower petals.
Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha's - the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Angaaraka/Chevaai (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru aka Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (the head of the Demon snake), and Ketu (the tail of the Demon snake).
The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu. First "panchamritam" is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satyanarayana are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals.
Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the pooja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the careless performance of the puja.
The prayer concludes with an Aarti, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the pooja are required to ingest in the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord.
It is told that Satyanarayan Katha is in REVA volume of Skanda Purana. But this volume is devoted to pilgrimages on the valley of river REVA. In Satyanarayana there is no Reva river. In original Skanda Purana there is nothing like Satyanarayana. Recent Skanda Puranas added it with clear note of its new addition in Skanda.
[edit] Pooja (Prayer) Vidhi (performing method)
The Satyanarayan Puja is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth. This puja is conducted to ensure abundance in ones life. Many people carry out this puja immediately after or along with an auspicious occasion like a marriage or moving into a new house or any other success in life. It is believed the ceremony originated in Bengal as Satya Pir and was later adapted into Satyanarayan puja.
The Satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day. It is not a puja confined to any festivities. But Poornima (full moon day) or Sankranti are considered to be most auspicious day for this puja.
Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja.
[edit] Materials needed for the puja
* Sinni': A special type of food offering, which is prepared by mixing unboiled milk, flour, sugar, smashed bananas, and other flavours like cinnamon etc., or optional garnishing like groundnuts, cashews, cherries, crushed coconuts/fruits etc.
* Kumkum powder, turmeric powder, rangoli
* Incense sticks, camphor.
* Thirty betel leaves, thirty betel nuts, two coconuts.
* Five almonds,
* Flowers to offer
* One thousand tulsi leaves; banana tree as a canopy[2]
* One square shaped wooden platform
* Two copper jars, two plates.
* One shawl
* A mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghee to make the panchamrita, Sandal paste.
* Akshat (rice grains) with kumkum powder.
* Attar, Indian perfume.
* Two flower garlands, conch shell, bell, a cloth, a ghee lamp and an oil lamp.
[edit] Shri Satyanarayan Katha
Shri Satyanarayan katha (narrative) comes from the Skandha purana, Reva kaanda. Suta Puraanikji narrated these stories, in Neimishaaranya to the Rishis who were performing a 1 ,000 year yajna for the benefit of mankind lead by Shounakji .
For those who observe the fast religiously and regularly, there are some great lessons to be learned from the 'katha' (narration)
This is shown by characters who ignored their promise to perform the puja after their wish had been fulfilled. They suffered as a result. Therefore one is to deduce that one must stick to the promise given to the Lord in exchange of the desire fulfilled by His Grace. One is not to ignore or/and forget the Lord's Grace. Prasad is symbolic of God's Grace which Kalavati ignored as she learned of her husband's safe return.
One can understand her eagerness in wanting to be re-united with her beloved, but one must understand that if one forgets to be thankful for gifts received from the Lord, one would have to go through another test until one remembers to remember.
When the rich merchant is asked what the boat contains, he untruthfully replies 'Only dry leaves' and the Mendicant says 'So be it' The above incident tells us that the spoken word has power. What you speak, manifests. Hence one must not speak an untruth. Especially an inauspicious untruth.
In the last story one learns that no one is higher or lower in status in the eyes of the Lord. Hence one must accord respect to whoever it may be, who is taking the name of God.
Once Naradji went to the Lord to ask Him for a panacea for the miseries of the world. Sri Satyanarayan told Naradji that there is a fast which can be performed by anyone. The fast would result in the fulfillment of his desires and also liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Sri Narayana told Naradji how a poor, old and ailing Brahmin as well as an impoverished woodcutter, had all their wishes fulfilled, became prosperous, and ultimately attained salvation by the correct and devotional performance of the Sri Satyanarayan fast and puja.
The second story consists of a childless merchant who asked a king the correct procedure of the Satyanarayan fast. After learning the same, the merchant and his wife decided to perform the fast if they get a child. Sometime later his wife Lilavati became pregnant and she delivered a girl who they called Kalavati. Lilavati reminded her husband about his promise to keep the fast, but the merchant postponed it saying that he would do so when the daughter is ready to be married. The merchant did not fulfill his promise when Lilavati, the daughter is wedded. The Lord decided to remind the merchant of his promise.
The merchant and his son-in-law went to a city called Ratnasara in connection with some business. There, a theft took place. As the thief was being chased by the concerned authority, the robber threw the booty where the two merchants were resting, and escaped. The merchant and the son-in-law were arrested. Meanwhile Lilavati and Kalavati also lost their belongings due to some thefts and were rendered beggars. While trying to get some food, Kalavati saw a Satyanarayan puja being performed and told her mother about it. Lilavati remembered that she had not performed the promised puja and hence she was facing all these difficulties. She decided to perform the fast and the Puja. The king was informed in a dream, that the merchants were innocent so he released them after compensating them with a lot of wealth.
The merchants decided to come home to their wives. The Lord decided to test them again and came in the guise of a mendicant and asked what kind of load they were carrying on their ship. The merchant mentioned that they had only dried leaves. The mendicant said: "So be it" When the merchant saw that there were only dried leaves aboard, he asked the pious man for forgiveness. The ever merciful Lord forgave them one more time.
As the ship approached the city, the merchant sent word to his wife and daughter about their arrival. Lilavati rushed to meet her husband while telling her daughter to complete the puja. Kalavati performed the puja, but in her haste to meet her husband she did not take the prasad. When she eagerly arrived to meet her husband, she could see neither the ship nor the inmates.
The merchant realised that all the obstacles that they were facing were because he had not kept his promise of performing the Satyanarayan puja. He decided to do it. As he was performing it, he got an insight that it was due to the neglect of Lilavati taking the prasad, that they were going through further difficulties.
Kalavati rushed back home and respectfully partook of the prasad. The family was then re-united and they lived a long, happy and prosperous life never forgetting to thank the Lord for all that they received. After their death they got the ultimate gift: 'Moksha' (Liberation from the cycle of life and death)
Suta continuing his narrative, tells the Rishis, the story of a king called Angadwaja. Once, as King Angadwaja was returning from a hunting expedition, he stopped to rest under a tree for a while. Nearby a small group of cowherd boys were playing the game of doing puja. They offered their humble parsad to the king, who out of pride left it untouched. Subsequently the king suffered great losses and realised that that was due to the contempt he had shown for those children's puja. The king returned to the spot where he had met the cowherds, and with great faith performed the puja with them. The king regained all that he had lost.
Suta now told the Rishis that the Satyanarayan fast was very effective during Kaliyuga and that whoever read or heard this story would be rid of all sorrows and difficulties.
Almost every shopkeeper, beggar shop vendor knows me at Lalbagh, thanks to Lalbagh Cha Raja who beckons me to his Court yea after year , this year I shot him extensively, all angles save from the stage..and I made just one trip after that I shot the Visarjan. I did not go for the auction as I had done last year..
Lalbagh Cha Raja may have many devotees , well wishers , but he has been over generous to the barefeet Muslim blogger of Mumbai..I have no words to describe these feelings..
The Mandal, formerly known as 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug' was founded in the year 1928,[1] because of a vow (Navas) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence, the fishermen and vendors who used to sit in the open place vowed to Lord Ganesh for permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts & support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, Shri.Nakhawa Kokam Mama, Bhausaheb Shinde, Dr.U.A. Rao and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol on 12.09.1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman. Since that day onwards, this Lord Ganesh has become popular as it fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.
Due to the communal riots in 1946, orders were issued to change the route of this Ganesh Immersion Procession. But, the then office-bearers of the Mandal refused to change the route and, after 21 days, the procession was taken by the same route under the supervision of then Volunteers Pandurang alias Babu Sayle, M.S.Pawar and Dattaram Joshi. After independence, the agenda of the Mandal was modified and accordingly the Mandal decided to contribute in uplift of the Country. The Mandal donated its balance amount to the Kasturba Fund, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund in 1947 and to Bihar Flood Relief Fund in 1959. The social issues were also highlighted in the plots during Ganesh Festival.
During Silver Jubilee Year 1958, two different plots viz. 'Geeta Upadesh' and 'Kaliya Mardan' were set for 5 days each. In this Silver Jubilee year, eminent speakers - like M.L.Patil-Hon’ble Minister of Bombay State, Hon’ble Ganapatrao Tapase, Hon’ble Govindrao Adik, Hon’ble Maloji Nimbalkar, Municipal Corporator Dr.Narvane, Govinrao Mahashbde-Dy.Editor Navakaal, Vasantrao Kate, Govardhandas Mapara of Kamgar Seva Sadan, Kakasaheb Tambe, - delivered speeches.
After 1958, the number of devotees of Lalbaugcha Raja increased substantially. Hence, in 1960, the entertainment programmes and speeches were discontinued. In the same year, 'Navaratri Utsav' was started and the programmes were organized during Navaratri Festival. These transitions were carefully and neatly carried out by Chandrakant Khadye, Chunilal Rathod, Pranjivan Mehta and Shankar More. During this period, Late Shri. Shamraom V. Bodhe handed over the Hanuman Temple to the Mandal.
During 1948 to 1968, the Mandal started some new traditions like 'Shri Satyanarayan Mahapooja', 'Pan-supari Samarambha (Get Together Function)'. The Get Together Function is the ceremony of felicitation by offering roll of betel leaf with betel nuts, known as Pan-Supari in Marathi. During this get together, eminent personalities of different fields, office bearers of various mandals and well-wishers are invited. This creates a friendly atmosphere for co-ordination & exchange of views for better performance of the festival and helps in improving relation among various mandals. In this manner, the mandal established a warm relationship with some mandals of Kumbharwada, Durgadevi Duncan Road, Kamathipura, Khetwadi, Navi Amrutwadi, etc. The participation of local mandals at night, was started to control heavy number of devotees.
During 1934 to 1968, Kunwarji J. Shah, Dr.V.B. Korgaonkar, H.B. Korgaonkar, Dr. U.A. Rao, Dr. Manju Madar, Ramchandra Tawate, B.D. Bandekar, Raghunath Khamkar, Pranjeevan Mehta, Rambali Halwai, Ram Jadhav were mainly responsible for development of the Mandal. The amount accumulated from the Mandal activities was mainly used for development of the nation. Mandal did its bit by contributing to the National Fund during floods at Bihar in 1959 and during the wars in 1962 &1965.
In 1969, new generation came up with wide view under the leadership of Late Shri Vasantrao Bhosale. Space requirement arose due to great extent of workload of the Mandal. In 1970, renovation of the Hanuman Temple was proposed. Accordingly, the renovation work was commenced in 1971 and completed in 1973, along with a new office for the Mandal. In 1975, Idol of Amba Mata (Goddess Amba) was established in the temple and the religious duties of Navratri festival were carried out in the temple, thereafter.
Since 1976, a part of the balance amount of the Mandal was deposited as 'Shikshan Imarat Nidhi'.
During the Golden Jubilee Year in 1983, an exhibition was arranged in which plots of last 49 years were displayed. This exhibition was an attraction for the devotees. In the get together function of this Golden Jubilee Year, the ex-office bearers were felicitated with momentous.
During the decade 1984 to 1993, the Mandal carried out many other constructive social works. In 1990, the Mandal contributed Rs.15,000/- towards 'Konkan Flood Relief Fund', established by the Express Group for the flood affected people of Jambhulpada, based in Konkan, Maharashtra.
It is the first mandal who contributed Rs.1 Lakh to the 'Army Central Welfare Fund', in 1999 for the families of the soldiers who scarified their lives to uphold the dignity of the Nation at Kargil and the same was handed over to then Governor of Maharashtra State, Dr. P.C. Alexander.
During this computer age, Mandal launched its website www.lalbaugcharaja.com in 2000. Hon’ble member of the Mandal Shri Bharat Bhujbal conceived with the idea and took efforts to fulfill it. The information related to the festival, the social activities of the Mandal and photo gallery of Lalbaugcha Raja is available on the website. This is very useful for the devotees located in various parts of world.
Visarjan Tarafa: Traditionally the Ganesh idols are immersed in water during its Visarjan. Hence in order to immerse the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, Mandal always takes proper precautions so that the visarjan takes place in a manner the Raja deserves. Accordingly, after consulting some experts & experienced persons, Mandal has purchased a Tarafa (Iron Raft) which makes it possible to dissolve the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja in deep sea water, conveniently. The Tarafa is prepared by M/s. A.V. Engineering.
The small plant ploughed by old, wise members of the Mandal has been converted into a large tree. Now it is looked after by the new generation members by their dedicated work. This will definitely continue forever, with blessings of Lalbaugcha Raja.
[edit] Present Day.
Population: Prominently Marathi speaking with a smattering of Gujarati and North Indian.
Lalbaugcha Raja for fulfilling the Wishes(Navashacha).It was started by Koli women(Fisher woman of Lalbaug).
184,980 items / 1,460,856 views
I am 20 pictures away from completing 185000 photo blogs at Flickr.com I could post 20 pictures and complete it instantly but I savoring the moment in humility of being a blogger in my mind the blogger only gives ..be it prose pictures or poetry.
Luckily bloggers have self moderation as their only tool , no editorial constrains.. we can post what we want , provided here at Flickr you need a Pro Account I have been lucky my 2 year Pro Membership was gifted to me by my patron now a family friend Dr Glenn Losack MD who loves India he calls Mother India as much as he loves his own country for him New York Manhattan and Mumbai Bhendi Bazar back lanes are synonymous with world peace.
And I hope and pray he makes it to Mumbai this year in the rains...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lalbaug is a prominent locality in Mumbai (Bombay), India. Lalbaug lies in the approximate centre of Mumbai, near Dadar and Parel, and has been a famous centre for get-together of Hindus during their festivals, especially Ganesh festival. there are prominent Ganeshotsav (Ganesh festival) organizations in and around Lalbaug, as well as many sculpture workshops. Before the Ganesh festivals, these workshops are flooded with various-sized statues of Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, which the people worship. Lalbaug also marks the centre of different mills in Mumbai that flourished during the British rule; The Kohinoor mill, the Finlay mill or the Morarjee mill, to name a few. At that time, most of the community worked in these mills, it was a major source of livelihood for a majority of them.
The following article is only about Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal. There is lot more in Lalbaug.
The Mandal, formerly known as 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug' was founded in the year 1928,[1] because of a vow (Navas) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence, the fishermen and vendors who used to sit in the open place vowed to Ganesha for permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts and support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, Shri. Nakhawa Kokam Mama, Bhausaheb Shinde, Dr. U. A. Rao and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol on 12 September 1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman. Since that day onwards, this Lord Ganesh has become popular as it fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.
Due to the communal riots in 1946, orders were issued to change the route of this Ganesh Immersion Procession. But, the then office-bearers of the Mandal refused to change the route and, after 21 days, the procession was taken by the same route under the supervision of then Volunteers Pandurang alias Babu Sayle, M. S. Pawar and Dattaram Joshi. After independence, the agenda of the Mandal was modified and accordingly the Mandal decided to contribute in uplift of the Country. The Mandal donated its balance amount to the Kasturba Fund, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund in 1947 and to Bihar Flood Relief Fund in 1959. The social issues were also highlighted in the plots during Ganesh Festival.
During Silver Jubilee Year 1958, two different plots viz. 'Geeta Upadesh' and 'Kaliya Mardan' were set for 5 days each. In this Silver Jubilee year, eminent speakers such as M. L. Patil, Honorable Minister of Bombay State, Honorable Ganapatrao Tapase, Honorable Govindrao Adik, Honorable Maloji Nimbalkar, Municipal Corporator Dr. Narvane, Govinrao Mahashbde, Dy. Editor Navakaal, Vasantrao Kate, Govardhandas Mapara of Kamgar Seva Sadan, Kakasaheb Tambe, delivered speeches.
After 1958, the number of devotees of Lalbaugcha Raja increased substantially. Hence, in 1960, the entertainment programmes and speeches were discontinued. In the same year, 'Navaratri Utsav' was started and the programmes were organized during Navaratri Festival. These transitions were carefully and neatly carried out by Chandrakant Khadye, Chunilal Rathod, Pranjivan Mehta and Shankar More. During this period, Late Shri. Shamraom V. Bodhe handed over the Hanuman Temple to the Mandal.
During 1948 to 1968, the Mandal started some new traditions like 'Shri Satyanarayan Mahapooja', 'Pan-supari Samarambha (Get Together Function)'. The Get Together Function is the ceremony of felicitation by offering roll of betel leaf with betel nuts, known as Pan-Supari in Marathi. During this get together, eminent personalities of different fields, office bearers of various mandals and well-wishers are invited. This creates a friendly atmosphere for co-ordination and exchange of views for better performance of the festival and helps in improving relation among various mandals. In this manner, the mandal established a warm relationship with some mandals of Kumbharwada, Durgadevi Duncan Road, Kamathipura, Khetwadi, Navi Amrutwadi, etc. The participation of local mandals at night, was started to control heavy number of devotees.
During 1934 to 1968, Kunwarji J. Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, H. B. Korgaonkar, Dr. U. A. Rao, Dr. Manju Madar, Ramchandra Tawate, B. D. Bandekar, Raghunath Khamkar, Pranjeevan Mehta, Rambali Halwai, Ram Jadhav were mainly responsible for development of the Mandal. The amount accumulated from the Mandal activities was mainly used for development of the nation. Mandal did its bit by contributing to the National Fund during floods at Bihar in 1959 and during the wars in 1962 and 1965.
In 1969, new generation came up with wide view under the leadership of Late Shri Vasantrao Bhosale. Space requirement arose due to great extent of workload of the Mandal. In 1970, renovation of the Hanuman Temple was proposed. Accordingly, the renovation work was commenced in 1971 and completed in 1973, along with a new office for the Mandal. In 1975, Idol of Amba Mata (Goddess Amba) was established in the temple and the religious duties of Navratri festival were carried out in the temple, thereafter.
Since 1976, a part of the balance amount of the Mandal was deposited as 'Shikshan Imarat Nidhi'.
It is the first mandal who contributed Rs.1 Lakh to the 'Army Central Welfare Fund', in 1999 for the families of the soldiers who scarified their lives to uphold the dignity of the Nation at Kargil and the same was handed over to then Governor of Maharashtra State, Dr. P.C. Alexander.
Visarjan Tarafa: Traditionally the Ganesh idols are immersed in water during its Visarjan. Hence in order to immerse the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, Mandal always takes proper precautions so that the visarjan takes place in a manner the Raja deserves. Accordingly, after consulting some experts and experienced persons, Mandal has purchased a Tarafa (Iron Raft), which makes it possible to dissolve the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja in deep sea water, conveniently. The Tarafa is prepared by M/s. A.V. Engineering.
[edit] Present day
89,890 items / 544,567 views
their home site
"LALBAUGCHA RAJA (The Emperor of Lalbaug)" is name of the popular Ganesh Idol of "LALBAUGCHA RAJA SARVAJANIK GANESHOTSAV MANDAL". The Mandal, formerly known as “SARVAJANIK GANESHOTSAV MANDAL, LALBAUG” was founded in the year 1934, at its existing place. With the consistent efforts & support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market.
The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak. Lokmanya Tilak introduced the idea of "Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav" for the awakening of people through this medium towards freedom struggle against the British Rule. Following the same, social issues were taken up along with religious duties, through this medium by the Mandal. During 1934 to 1947, series of speeches were arranged during this festival. National leader Shankarrao Deo, Labour Leader Bhai Dange, M. S. Mirajkar, Bhai Jagtap, Hindu Leader Anantrao Gadre, Bombay Congress Leaders like S.K. Patil, G.B. Mahashabde, Bhulabhai Desai were among the speakers who guided the people for social awareness.
During "Quit India" movement by Mahatma Gandhi, in 1942, the members of the Mandal viz. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V.B. Korgaonkar, Hatle etc. were arrested by the British due to the involvement of the Mandal in the freedom struggle. During these years, the Ganesh idol was shown in the get-ups of different freedom fighters. In 1946, it was depicted as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. In 1947, to celebrate Independence, the Ganesh idol was in Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's get-up riding a bullock-cart. In 1948, after assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the Ganesh idol was his look-alike.
VAKRATUNDA MAHAKAYA SURYAKOTI SAMAPRABHA |
NIRVIGHNAM KURU ME DEVA SARVAKARYESHU SARVADA ||
Due to the communal riots in 1946, orders were issued to change the route of this Ganesh Immersion Procession. But, the then office-bearers of the Mandal refused to change the route and, after 21 days, the procession was taken by the same route under the supervision of then Volunteers Pandurang alias Babu Sayle, M.S.Pawar and Dattaram Joshi.
After independence, the agenda of the Mandal was modified and accordingly the Mandal decided to contribute in uplift of the Country. The Mandal donated its balance amount to the Kasturba Fund, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund in 1947 and to Bihar Flood Relief Fund in 1959. The social issues were also highlighted in the plots during Ganesh Festival.
During Silver Jubilee Year 1958, two different plots viz. "GEETA UPDESH" and "KALIYA MARDAN" were set for 5 days each. In this Silver Jubilee year, eminent speakers - like M.L.Patil-Hon'ble Minister of Bombay State, Hon'ble Ganapatrao Tapase, Hon'ble Govindrao Adik, Hon'ble Maloji Nimbalkar, Municipal Corporator Dr.Narvane, Govinrao Mahashbde-Dy.Editor Navakaal, Vasantrao Kate, Govardhandas Mapara of Kamgar Seva Sadan, Kakasaheb Tambe, - delivered speeches.
After 1958, the number of devotees of Lalbaugcha Raja increased substantially. Hence, in 1960, the entertainment programmes and speeches were discontinued. In the same year, "Navaratri Utsav" was started and the programmes were organized during Navaratri Festival. These transitions were carefully and neatly carried out by Chandrakant Khadye, Chunilal Rathod, Pranjivan Mehta and Shankar More. During this period, Late Shri. Shamraom V. Bodhe handed over the Hanuman Temple to the Mandal.
VAKRATUNDA MAHAKAYA SURYAKOTI SAMAPRABHA |
NIRVIGHNAM KURU ME DEVA SARVAKARYESHU SARVADA ||
During 1948 to 1968, the Mandal started some new traditions like "Shri Satyanarayan Mahapooja", "Pan-supari Samarambha (Get Together Function)". The Get Together Function is the ceremony of felicitation by offering roll of betel leaf with betel nuts, known as Pan-Supari in Marathi. During this get together, eminent personalities of different fields, office bearers of various Mandals and well-wishers are invited. This creates a friendly atmosphere for co-ordination & exchange of views for better performance of the festival and helps in improving relation among various Mandals. In this manner, the Mandal established a warm relationship with some Mandals of Kumbharwada, Durgadevi Duncan Road, Kamathipura, Khetwadi, Navi Amrutwadi, etc. The participation of local Mandals at night, was started to control heavy number of devotees.
During 1934 to 1968, Kunwarji J. Shah, Dr.V.B. Korgaonkar, H.B. Korgaonkar, Dr. U.A. Rao, Dr. Manju Madar, Ramchandra Tawate, B.D. Bandekar, Raghunath Khamkar, Pranjeevan Mehta, Rambali Halwai, Ram Jadhav were mainly responsible for development of the Mandal. The amount accumulated from the Mandal activities was mainly used for development of the nation. Mandal did its bit by contributing to the National Fund during floods at Bihar in 1959 and during the wars in 1962 &1965.
In 1969, new generation came up with wide view under the leadership of Late Shri Vasantrao Bhosale. Space requirement arose due to great extent of workload of the Mandal. In 1970, renovation of the Hanuman Temple was proposed. Accordingly, the renovation work was commenced in 1971 and completed in 1973, along with a new office for the Mandal. In 1975, Idol of Amba Mata (Goddess Amba) was established in the temple and the religious duties of Navratri festival were carried out in the temple, thereafter.
During the Golden Jubilee Year in 1983, an exhibition was arranged in which plots of last 49 years were displayed. This exhibition was an attraction for the devotees. In the get together function of this Golden Jubilee Year, the ex-office bearers were felicitated with momentous. In the Platinum Jubilee Year 2008 also, the ex-office bearers of the Mandal were felicitated with momentous.
During the decade 1984 to 1993, the Mandal carried out many other constructive social activities. In 1990, the Mandal contributed Rs.15,000/- towards “Konkan Flood Relief Fund”, established by the Express Group for the flood affected people of Jambhulpada, based in Konkan, Maharashtra.
VAKRATUNDA MAHAKAYA SURYAKOTI SAMAPRABHA |
NIRVIGHNAM KURU ME DEVA SARVAKARYESHU SARVADA ||
It is the first Mandal who contributed Rs.1 Lac to the "Army Central Welfare Fund", in 1999 for the families of the soldiers who scarified their lives to uphold the dignity of the Nation at Kargil and the same was handed over to then Governor of Maharashtra State, Dr. P.C. Alexander.
During this computer age, Mandal launched its website www.lalbaugcharaja.com in 2000. Hon'ble member of the Mandal, Shri Bharat Bhujbal conceived with the idea and took efforts to fulfill it. The information related to the festival, the social activities of the Mandal and photo gallery of Lalbaugcha Raja is available on the website. This is very useful for the devotees located in various parts of world.
VISARJAN TARAFA:
Traditionally the Ganesh idols are immersed in water during its VISARJAN. Hence in order to immerse the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, Mandal always takes proper precautions so that the visarjan takes place in a manner, fit for the Raja. Accordingly, after consulting some experts & experienced persons, Mandal has constructed a TARAFA (Iron Raft) which makes it possible to dissolve the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja in deep sea water, conveniently.
Dr. Dayaram Alok is a personality who has dedicated his entire life selflessly to literature service, social service. He organized nine mass marriages for Darji community. In 1966,under the banner of Damodar Mahasangh thousands of Darji families participated in the installation ceremony of Lord Satyanarayan's statue at The Darji Temple in Dag.
GODDESS GAURI. Goddess Gauri is one of the manifestations of Goddess Parvati. Indeed she appears to be Parvathi herself on a retrospect time scale. The common epithets for Parvathi are Uma and Aparna. In the Ramayana the name Uma is synonym for Mother Parvathi. In the Harivamsa, she is Aparna meaning One who took to sustenance. These are also correlative to Sati. Mother Parvathi is Shakti or the Divine Mother, appearing in many forms such as Durga and Kali also. In describing Parvathi’s complexion, she is addressed as Gauri, the fair goddess or as the dark Kali. Could one say that Gauri was indeed Mother Parvathi in her teens and its corresponding emotions and feelings?
Notwithstanding, Goddess Gauri stands on her own as the divine energy of Mother Goddess. Gauri is auspicious and brilliant. She extends her protection to her bhaktas and is swift to punish evil doers. Mother Gauri enlightens the spiritual seeker and removes fear of rebirth by granting salvation. She is the symbol of growth and maturity. That also means she represents new life.
She is symbolic of fertility and motherhood and of the victory of good over evil. In her beauty and grace, She is considered as a perfect wife for Her husband, Lord Shiva. Mother clearly represents purity and austerity. Her mythology does not take her beyond being a Kanya Kumari or unmarried girl who set out to perform severe tapas or penance to marry Lord Siva.
MYTHOLOGY: Legends surrounding Goddess Gauri is most certainly linked to Parvathi’s complexion. Parvati first attempted to seduce Lord Siva. The Lord found her hardly attractive and does not entertain her. He reproached her. This taunt so incensed her that Parvati retreated into forest greens. Amidst nature, she performed a most severe course of austerities. But she was focussed to develop Her spiritual powers. This caught the attention of Lord Brahma. He decided to grant Her one wish. Parvati asked that Her dark skin be taken away, so that Shiva would love Her. Brahma took the darkness and created Goddess Kali with it. Brahma then bestowed that Parvati be shining with golden skin. From these circumstances, She became the Goddess Gauri. That was not enough to distract Siva. Brahma had to send Kama, Rati and Spring to draw the Lord's attention. Thereafter she re-manifests as Parvathi. Nothwithstanding, Hindus revere Gauri as a stand alone Goddess.
THEMES: Goddess Gauri’s themes are spring, protection, fertility, harvest, beauty, humor, youthfulness, wishes and equality. Her symbols are balsam, golden-colored items, milk, mirrors and lions. This fertile Hindu Goddess extends spring-like youth, beauty and tenderness into our lives. Gauri has a sympathetic ear for all human needs and wishes. She can also said to represent sexual restraint and the life giving aspect of Nature.
DEPICTION: In works of art, She is depicted as a fair maiden, attended by lions and bearing wild balsam and a mirror. She was born of a milky sea, and Her name translates as ‘golden one’, indicating a connection with the sun. She is usually depicted with light or golden skin. Because of Her golden color, She is associated with rice and grains, taking on the role of a fertility Goddess. Parvathi as Gauri is depicted wearing a green sari, bedecked in the sixteen love-charms and sitting demurely with Lord Siva. Her favourite offerings are rice based prasada. Bhkatas take the view that she blesses with a good rice crop.
GANESHA CHATHURTI: The deity of Goddess Gauri is also celebrated during Ganesha Chathurti. Both the deities are brought into the home together. This is often a fun affair with drumbeats, songs and music. Gauri’s arrival, usually after two days of Chathurti, to the homes is said to bring health, wealth, happiness and prosperity. The first day puja is the avahana, next day it is Satyanarayan puja and on the third day Gauri is immersed in water. Gouri finds her source in the Puranas. She is linked with Goddess Parvathi, Rajarajeswari and Lalitha Tripurasundari. Married women worship Goddess Gauri with kumkum for marital bliss or sowbhagyam. Unmarried girls pray for good husbands.
GAURI VRAT: This puja of austerity by unmarried women and young girls, is also known as Gauri Parvathi Vrat. In Tamil Vrat is Veratham. Based on Parvathi-Gauri-Siva mythology, unmarried females observe this vrat for divine blessings of obtaining an ideal husband like Lord Siva. The Vrat is observed for five days beginning on the Ekadashi day in the month of Ashada in the waxing phase of the moon. It ends on the day of Purnima. In some places corn shoots are grown in a small pot. The tender corn shoots emerging along with Lord Surya, the Sun God, are worshipped during the day..
Food vrat is observed during the whole day. The night menu would be food made from wheat flour, ghee and milk. Salt is prohibited. Fruits and fruit juices are consumed. At the end on Purnima, Gomata puja is performed. That is in reverence to Goddess Parvathi.
GOWRI HABBA. This is a celebration a day before Ganesh Chaturti. This festival is also known as Swarna Gowri Vratam. Swarna means gold which basically means worshipping along with Sivalinga. Gauri or Gowri Habba is attributed to the South and known as Hartalika Vrat in the North.
Goddess Gauri is worshipped as the wife of Lord Siva and Lord Ganesha’s mother. She is considered to be the incarnation of Adi Shakti Mahamaya bestowing courage and power. Gauri is brought into the homes like an unmarried girl and the following day events depict Lord Ganesha coming to receive and take her home to Kailasa. It is believed that Lord Siva sent Ganesha to bring the Mother home. It is common practice to make beautiful clay idols of Goddess Gauri and Lord Ganesha to be worshipped and thereafter immersed in a pond.
Gowri Puja is shradda or purity and dedication. Sometimes this is a group festival celebrated with friends and neighbours. The house is thoroughly cleaned. A temporary shrine is erected using banana stems and leaves. Alternatively a puja cabinet is used. The deity is either ready- made idols or the indigenous method to make an idol of Gauri. Her deity is decorated with garlands, mango leaves, turmeric, tulsi and sandalwood paste.
A sacred thread with sixteen knots called ‘Gauridaara’ is tied to their wrists. This is supposed to be with the blessings of Goddess Gauri. It is symbolical of Parvathi spending sixteen years in tapas to win Siva’s heart.
Pooja thala with puja items known as Baagina offering is a major part of the celebration. Usually five baaginas are prepared as part of the vratha. Each baagina contains a packet of arshina or turmeric, kumkum, black bangles, black beads which is used in the mangalsutra, a comb, a small mirror, coconut, blouse piece, dhaanya or cereals, wheat or rava and jiggery. Usually there are sixteen different items.
The main puja ceremony involves bathing the deity in milk, ghee, curd, honey and water. Aarti is performed followed by bhajans. The first baagina is traditionally offered to Goddess Gauri and the remaining is given to married women. According to the Puranas, Gauri Vratam bestows wealth and worldly well being to bhkatas who observe it. It is legendarily believed that the vrata is so powerful than even a dry tree will turn green after its observance.
It is to be always remembered that all rituals are man made. They facilitate prayers. Over time the rituals are added or subtracted. Rituals are also regional; some not having any vedic connection at all. These are customary ritual. In Hindu thoughts a simple prayer done in sincerity according to one’s means is sufficient. The core concept of Sanathana Dharma is Brahman and its realization and that should be the emphasis. Rituals may aid to a certain extent provided the woods are not missed for the trees.
Geographical Location: Central Mumbai
“LALBAUGCHA RAJA (The Emperor of Lalbaug)” is name of the popular Ganesh Idol of “LALBAUGCHA RAJA SARVAJANIK GANESHOTSAV MANDAL”. The Mandal, formerly known as “SARVAJANIK GANESHOTSAV MANDAL LALBAUG” was founded in the year 1934, because of a vow (NAVAS) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence, the fishermen and vendors who used to sit in the open place vowed to Lord Ganesh for permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts & support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, Shri.Nakhawa Kokam Mama, Bhausaheb Shinde, Dr.U.A. Rao and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol on 12.09.1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman. Since that day onwards, this Lord Ganesh has become popular as it fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.
Due to the communal riots in 1946, orders were issued to change the route of this Ganesh Immersion Procession. But, the then office-bearers of the Mandal refused to change the route and, after 21 days, the procession was taken by the same route under the supervision of then Volunteers Pandurang alias Babu Sayle, M.S.Pawar and Dattaram Joshi. After independence, the agenda of the Mandal was modified and accordingly the Mandal decided to contribute in uplift of the Country. The Mandal donated its balance amount to the Kasturba Fund, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund in 1947 and to Bihar Flood Relief Fund in 1959. The social issues were also highlighted in the plots during Ganesh Festival.
During Silver Jubilee Year 1958, two different plots viz. “GEETA UPDESH” and “KALIYA MARDAN” were set for 5 days each. In this Silver Jubilee year, eminent speakers - like M.L.Patil-Hon’ble Minister of Bombay State, Hon’ble Ganapatrao Tapase, Hon’ble Govindrao Adik, Hon’ble Maloji Nimbalkar, Municipal Corporator Dr.Narvane, Govinrao Mahashbde-Dy.Editor Navakaal, Vasantrao Kate, Govardhandas Mapara of Kamgar Seva Sadan, Kakasaheb Tambe, - delivered speeches.
After 1958, the number of devotees of Lalbaugcha Raja increased substantially. Hence, in 1960, the entertainment programmes and speeches were discontinued. In the same year, “Navaratri Utsav” was started and the programmes were organized during Navaratri Festival. These transitions were carefully and neatly carried out by Chandrakant Khadye, Chunilal Rathod, Pranjivan Mehta and Shankar More. During this period, Late Shri. Shamraom V. Bodhe handed over the Hanuman Temple to the Mandal.
During 1948 to 1968, the Mandal started some new traditions like “Shri Satyanarayan Mahapooja”, “Pan-supari Samarambha (Get Together Function)”. The Get Together Function is the ceremony of felicitation by offering roll of betel leaf with betel nuts, known as Pan-Supari in Marathi. During this get together, eminent personalities of different fields, office bearers of various mandals and well-wishers are invited. This creates a friendly atmosphere for co-ordination & exchange of views for better performance of the festival and helps in improving relation among various mandals. In this manner, the mandal established a warm relationship with some mandals of Kumbharwada, Durgadevi Duncan Road, Kamathipura, Khetwadi, Navi Amrutwadi, etc. The participation of local mandals at night, was started to control heavy number of devotees.
During 1934 to 1968, Kunwarji J. Shah, Dr.V.B. Korgaonkar, H.B. Korgaonkar, Dr. U.A. Rao, Dr. Manju Madar, Ramchandra Tawate, B.D. Bandekar, Raghunath Khamkar, Pranjeevan Mehta, Rambali Halwai, Ram Jadhav were mainly responsible for development of the Mandal. The amount accumulated from the Mandal activities was mainly used for development of the nation. Mandal did its bit by contributing to the National Fund during floods at Bihar in 1959 and during the wars in 1962 &1965.
In 1969, new generation came up with wide view under the leadership of Late Shri Vasantrao Bhosale. Space requirement arose due to great extent of workload of the Mandal. In 1970, renovation of the Hanuman Temple was proposed. Accordingly, the renovation work was commenced in 1971 and completed in 1973, along with a new office for the Mandal. In 1975, Idol of Amba Mata (Goddess Amba) was established in the temple and the religious duties of Navratri festival were carried out in the temple, thereafter.
Since 1976, a part of the balance amount of the Mandal was deposited as “SHIKSHAN IMARAT NIDHI”.
During the Golden Jubilee Year in 1983, an exhibition was arranged in which plots of last 49 years were displayed. This exhibition was an attraction for the devotees. In the get together function of this Golden Jubilee Year, the ex-office bearers were felicitated with momentous.
During the decade 1984 to 1993, the Mandal carried out many other constructive social works. In 1990, the Mandal contributed Rs.15,000/- towards “Konkan Flood Relief Fund”, established by the Express Group for the flood affected people of Jambhulpada, based in Konkan, Maharashtra.
It is the first mandal who contributed Rs.1 Lac to the “Army Central Welfare Fund”, in 1999 for the families of the soldiers who scarified their lives to uphold the dignity of the Nation at Kargil and the same was handed over to then Governor of Maharashtra State, Dr. P.C. Alexander.
During this computer age, Mandal launched its website www.lalbaugcharaja.com in 2000. Hon’ble member of the Mandal Shri Bharat Bhujbal conceived with the idea and took efforts to fulfill it. The information related to the festival, the social activities of the Mandal and photo gallery of Lalbaugcha Raja is available on the website. This is very useful for the devotees located in various parts of world.
VISARJAN TARAFA: Traditionally the Ganesh idols are immersed in water during its VISARJAN. Hence in order to immerse the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, Mandal always takes proper precautions so that the visarjan takes place in a manner the Raja deserves. Accordingly, after consulting some experts & experienced persons, Mandal has purchased a TARAFA (Iron Raft) which makes it possible to dissolve the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja in deep sea water, conveniently. The TARAFA is prepared by M/s. A.V. Engineering.
The small plant ploughed by old, wise members of the Mandal has been converted into a large tree. Now it is looked after by the new generation members by their dedicated work. This will definitely continue forever, with blessings of Lalbaugcha Raja.
In the year 2009, Mandal expecting around 10mn people to visit This "Great Raja".
Population: Prominently Marathi speaking with a smattering of Gujarati and North Indian.
Lalbaugcha Raja for fulfilling the Wishes(Navashacha).It was started by Koli women(Fisher woman of Lalbaug).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalbaug
242,675 items / 2,035,901 views
Lalbaug is a locality in Mumbai (Bombay), India. Lalbaug lies in the approximate centre of Mumbai, near Dadar and Parel, and has been a famous centre for reunions of Hindus during their festivals, especially the Ganesh festival. There are prominent Ganeshotsav organizations in and around Lalbaug, as well as many sculpture workshops. Prior to the Ganesh festivals, these workshops are flooded with various-sized statues of Ganesha, the elephant-headed God which the people worship. Lalbaug also marks the centre of different mills that flourished in Mumbai during British rule; The Kohinoor Mill, the Finlay Mill and the Morarjee Mill to name a few. At that time, most of the community worked in these mills and it was a major source of livelihood for a majority of them.
The Mandal, formerly known as 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug' was founded in 1934,[1] because of a vow (Navas) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence, the fishermen and vendors who used to sit in the open place prayed to Ganesha for a permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts and support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, Shri. Nakhawa Kokam Mama, Bhausaheb Shinde, Dr. U. A. Rao and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol on 12 September 1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman and, since that day forward, the Lord Ganesh has become popular, as it fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.
Due to the communal riots in 1946, orders were issued to change the route of the Ganesh Immersion Procession. However, the then office-bearers of the Mandal refused to change the route and, after 21 days, the procession followed the same route under the supervision of then Volunteers Pandurang alias Babu Sayle, M. S. Pawar and Dattaram Joshi. After independence, the agenda of the Mandal was modified, and accordingly, the Mandal decided to contribute to the uplift of the country. The Mandal donated its available assets to the Kasturba Fund, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund in 1947 and to Bihar Flood Relief Fund in 1959. The social issues were also highlighted in the plots during Ganesh Festival.
During Silver Jubilee Year in 1958, two different plots viz. 'Geeta Upadesh' and 'Kaliya Mardan' were set for 5 days each. In this Silver Jubilee year, eminent speakers such as M. L. Patil, Honorable Minister of Bombay State, Honorable Ganapatrao Tapase, Honorable Govindrao Adik, Honorable Maloji Nimbalkar, Municipal Corporator Dr. Narvane, Govinrao Mahashbde, Dy. Editor Navakaal, Vasantrao Kate, Govardhandas Mapara of Kamgar Seva Sadan, Kakasaheb Tambe, delivered speeches.
After 1958, the number of devotees of Lalbaugcha Raja increased substantially. Hence, in 1960, the entertainment programmes and speeches were discontinued. In the same year, 'Navaratri Utsav' was started and the programmes were organized during Navaratri Festival. These transitions were carefully and neatly carried out by Chandrakant Khadye, Chunilal Rathod, Pranjivan Mehta and Shankar More. During this period, Late Shri. Shamraom V. Bodhe handed over the Hanuman Temple to the Mandal.
During 1948 to 1968, the Mandal started some new traditions like 'Shri Satyanarayan Mahapooja', 'Pan-supari Samarambha (Get Together Function)'. The Get Together Function is the ceremony of felicitation by offering roll of betel leaf with betel nuts, known as Pan-Supari in Marathi. During this get together, eminent personalities of different fields, office bearers of various mandals and well-wishers are invited. This creates a friendly atmosphere for co-ordination and exchange of views for better performance of the festival and helps in improving relation among various mandals. In this manner, the mandal established a warm relationship with some mandals of Kumbharwada, Durgadevi Duncan Road, Kamathipura, Khetwadi, Navi Amrutwadi, etc. The participation of local mandals at night, was started to control heavy number of devotees.
During 1934 to 1968, Kunwarji J. Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, H. B. Korgaonkar, Dr. U. A. Rao, Dr. Manju Madar, Ramchandra Tawate, B. D. Bandekar, Raghunath Khamkar, Pranjeevan Mehta, Rambali Halwai, Ram Jadhav were mainly responsible for development of the Mandal. The amount accumulated from the Mandal activities was mainly used for development of the nation. Mandal did its bit by contributing to the National Fund during floods at Bihar in 1959 and during the wars in 1962 and 1965.
In 1969, new generation came up with wide view under the leadership of Late Shri Vasantrao Bhosale. Space requirement arose due to great extent of workload of the Mandal. In 1970, renovation of the Hanuman Temple was proposed. Accordingly, the renovation work was commenced in 1971 and completed in 1973, along with a new office for the Mandal. In 1975, Idol of Amba Mata (Goddess Amba) was established in the temple and the religious duties of Navratri festival were carried out in the temple, thereafter.
Since 1976, a part of the balance amount of the Mandal was deposited as 'Shikshan Imarat Nidhi'.
It is the first mandal who contributed Rs.1 Lakh to the 'Army Central Welfare Fund', in 1999 for the families of the soldiers who scarified their lives to uphold the dignity of the Nation at Kargil and the same was handed over to then Governor of Maharashtra State, Dr. P.C. Alexander.
Visarjan Tarafa: Traditionally the Ganesh idols are immersed in water during its Visarjan. Hence in order to immerse the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, Mandal always takes proper precautions so that the visarjan takes place in a manner the Raja deserves. Accordingly, after consulting some experts and experienced persons, Mandal has purchased a Tarafa (Iron Raft), which makes it possible to dissolve the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja in deep sea water, conveniently. The Tarafa is prepared by M/s. A.V. Engineering. In 2010/11 the tarafas were imported from Australia
[edit]Present day
In 2009, the Mandal expected around 10 million people to visit This 'Great Raja'.
fom wikipedia ..
These are the pictures of the members of our Association and their children around 2003, painstakingly put together from a number u of pictures by one of our members, Mr Goutam Mukherjee. He managed to get most of the active members, save for a few.
Top row: L to R: Mrs Suniti Banerjee, Mrs Sephali De, Dr Biswanath Mukherjee, Mrs Janette Mukherjee, Mr Sankar Chatterjee, mrs Amita Chatterjee, Dr Sanu Kainikara, Mrs Manju Kainikara
Second row: L to R Mr Binayak Ray, Mrs Panna Ray, Mr Partha Bhattacharya, Mrs Soma Bhattacharya, Mr Ajit Banerjee, Mrs Chandana Banerjee, Mrs papiya Bhattacharya, Dr Milan Bhattacharya
Third Row: L to R : Mr Gautam Biswas, Mrs Ruplekha Biswas, Mr Siddhartha De, Mrs Chandana De, Mr Rana Ganguly, Dr Debjani Ganguly, Dr Prabir Dey, Mrs Swati Dey
Fourth Row L to R : Mr Gautam Mukherjee, Mrs Mukherjee, Mr Sandeep Das, Mrs Nilanjana Das, Mr soumitra Sarkar, Mrs Rupali Sarkar, Mr Satyanarayan Barik, Mrs Barnali Barik
Fifth Row : Mr Tapan Biswas, Mrs Anamika Biswas, Mr Debesh Haldar, Dr Nipa Haldar, Mr Hari Iyengar, Mrs Madhumita Iyengar, Dr Tapas Chatterjee, Dr Mrs Chatterjee
Sixth Row : Mr Swaroop Chatterjee, Mr Shamik Banerjee, Miss Geetanjali Ganguly, Master Ritwik Ganguly, Master Anil Banerjee
Seventh Row: L to R Master Sayan De, Master Vivek Bhattacharya, Miss Rai Iyengar, Miss Vishnupriya De, Master Betu Makherjee, Miss Anjana Banerjee, Master Chhotu Mukherjee, Miss Iyengar
Welcome home...
OUR NEW HOME BEING ANOINTED.......
praying for the realization of that 'Infinity' - Ananth Kshamta - Infinite potential......in each one of us
blessed to have spaces for Intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, cultural ...explorations. Studios for performing and fine arts too have come up. Mallika and Svwara engage with themselves (games, sports - Basketball, Tennis, skating, swinging... at the backyard stokes their kinesthetic intelligence, while the front yard with plants, birds and bees stokes their nature intelligence...)..
home got blessed with a few of the yagnas amidst the chanting of various hymns. The home reverberates with vedas and classical music through the day from our performing arts 'kalamandalam'. A wonderful way of keeping the energies flowing...All the celestial performers that our nation has produced perform here every day!
We invite one and all to grace our Ananth, our Kalamandalam ! our HOME of heARTS !
Burrabazar, Kolkata
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History -
Sutanuti haat
Before the British came the most powerful families in the region were Sett and Bysacks, the merchants of yarn and cloth market at Sutanuti. With the arrival of the British these families flourished with renewed vigour. Janardan Sett was a trading agent of the British. Shobharam Bysack (1690–1773) became a millionaire by supplying textiles to British East India Company. One of the earliest names floating around is that of Mukundaram Sett, who lived in the earlier part of sixteenth century and moved from Satgaon to Gobindapur. Sutanuti haat has been traced back to 1738 by Orme. In the siege of 1756, troops of Siraj ud-Daulah set fire to the market and took possession of Jorabagan and Kumortuli, neighbourhoods further north where the merchants lived.
Bazar Kolkata
In between Sutanuti haat made way for Bazar Kolkata, some time in the 18th century. The market was spread over nearly 500 bighas and the residential area covered another 400 bighas. Apart from the Seths and Basaks, there were the gold merchants Mullicks and other men of their calibre. Their affluence and pomp are legends even in their days.There also were merchants of comparatively lesser affluence. As for example, the area around what is now Kalakar Street was known as Dhakapatty, as it was home to the Sahas, cloth merchants from Dhaka. The Sheths and Basaks had close links with such cloth producing centres as Dhaka, Murshidabad and Cossimbazar.
Economy -
Burrabazar expanded from a yarn and textile market into one of the largest wholesale markets in India. Burrabazar is divided into highly specialised sub-markets, according to the commodity it deals in – Dhotipatti, Fancypatti, Tulapatti, Chinipatti etc. Further subdivisions are katra, chowk or kothi. A popular saying goes, “Anything and everything is available at Burrabazar. Even the tiger's eye is available here if you pay the right price.” Each katra (market) is known for a particular item. There are approximately 25 katras in Burrabazar. At Raja Katra, which originally belonged to the Maharaja of Bardhaman, most of the shops deal in spices. At Manohar Das Katra it is mostly hardware and textile. Vikram Chand Market and Khangrapatti sell mostly electronic goods and artificial ornaments.
For Diwali, the festival of lights, it is transformed into a huge market for festive and religious ingredients. The number of makeshift stalls are around 800, spread around Kalakar Street and other areas. From idols to their dainty dresses, designer diyas (earthen lamps) to saffron-tinted laddus (round-shaped sweet meat), every conceivable article can be scooped from this gala bazaar, the city’s largest assortment of puja paraphernalia. The series of shops bang opposite the Jain temple, near Satyanarayan Park, flaunts ornately decked-up idols of Ganesha and Lakshmi — the brother-sister divinities symbolising wealth and prosperity.
Traffic -
Slow traffic movement, congested footpaths, accident-prone roads, police-politician-hoodlum nexus and administrative apathy have become the bane of Burrabazar. Traffic in the area, including the approach road to Howrah bridge, has been a long-standing problem for people passing through the area. Whole of footpath and even around 30% of Brabourne Road is clogged by hawkers who have permanent shops on both side of roads made of tarpaulins and bamboos reducing the already sparse motarable road in the area.Pedestrians are forced to walk on roads along with vehicles . While lorries, taxis, vans, and three-wheel goods carriers crowd the main roads, slow-moving vehicles like cycle-vans and carts clog the side-streets. It often takes more than half-an-hour to cross the two-km stretch.
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@Aarakshan - Film main Saif Ali Khan Kahin bhi Baba Saheb Ambedkar ke ird-gird nazar nahin ataa naa hi Bauddh Dharm ka jikra hai. Aarakshan ka naam le kar vyapaar karne waali film mein Baba Sahib Ambedkar ji kahan hai? Shayad unkaa to khyaal bhi Jha aur Amitab ko kisi bhoot ki tarah ataa hoga. Dalit ke haath mein Brhamani dhaga aur Satyanarayan ka prasaad. Waah Jha Wah, film bana chhor kar panditgiri par utar jaa.
@Aarakshan - Dalit character ka naam Deepak Kumar. Jha ko Ramesh Bhangi ya Soniya Chamaar jaisa surname nahin milaa? In Manuwadiyon ke darr se hi to Daliton ko samaj mein chhup kar rehnaa padtaa hai. Abey film mein bhi chhupaa diyaa. Baba Sahib ki image churaa kar Gandhi se milaa kar Amitabh mein milaa di aur Dalit ko uskaa chelaa banaa diya. Jha pakka jaatiwadi hai. Bichare Dalit ka film mein to maan rakhta.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyanarayan_Puja
The Satyanarayana is a Hindu religious observance. It is a ritual performed by Hindus before/on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason. It finds first mention in skandha puran
The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Purnima day of every month (the day of the full moon) or a Sankranti. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions include marriage, graduation, new job, and the purchase of a new home to name a few. In addition, it is said that a devotional performance of this puja will bear children to couples trying to start a family.
Sri Satyanarayana Vratam , Puja are very popular in ANDHRA PRADESH INDIA. Almost all Hindus, throughout Andhra Pradesh , have strong faith, belief , and devotion towards this great God, an incarnation of Lord Sriman NARAYANA. There is a very ancient, famous temple for Sri Satyanarayana Swamy at ANNAVARAM ,near VISAKHAPATNAM in ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA. This vratam is performed daily there. Daily, large numbers of devotees , many with families, visit the temple, offer prayers, perform this Vratam there , right in the temple. This place is one of the very important pilgrimages.
The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha's favorite foods - modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or laddu) and the showering of flower petals.
Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha's - the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Angaaraka/Chevaai (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru aka Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (the head of the Demon snake), and Ketu (the tail of the Demon snake).
The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu. First "panchamritam" is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satyanarayana are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals.
Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the puja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the forgetting performance of the puja.
The prayer concludes with an Aarti, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the puja are required to ingest in the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord......
[edit]Puja (Prayer) Vidhi (performing method)
The Satyanarayan Puja is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth.
Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja.
Materials needed for the puja
Satyanarayana Puja preparation
'Sinni': A special type of food offering, which is prepared by mixing unboiled milk, flour, sugar, smashed bananas, and other flavours like cinnamon etc., or optional garnishing like groundnuts, cashews, cherries, crushed coconuts/fruits etc.
Kumkum powder, turmeric powder, rangoli
Incense sticks, camphor.
Thirty betel leaves, thirty betel nuts, two coconuts.
Five almonds,
Flowers to offer
One thousand tulsi leaves; banana tree as a canopy [1]
One square shaped wooden platform
Two copper jars, two plates.
One shawl
A mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghee to make the panchamrita, Sandal paste.
Akshat (rice grains) with kumkum powder.
Attar, Indian perfume.
Two flower garlands, conch shell, bell, a cloth, a ghee lamp and an oil lamp.
1 kg of raw rice
1 kg of sajjige as prasadam
6 numbers of coconuts after completing each katha.
Shri Satyanarayan katha (narrative) comes from the Skanda Purana's Reva khanda. Suta Puranik narrated these stories, in Neimishaaranya to the Rishis who were performing a 1,000 year yajna for the benefit of mankind led by Shounakji.
For those who observe the fast religiously and regularly, there are some great lessons to be learned from the 'katha' (narration)
This is shown by characters who ignored their promise to perform the puja after their wish had been fulfilled. They suffered as a result. Therefore one is to deduce that one must stick to the promise given to the Lord in exchange of the desire fulfilled by His Grace. One is not to ignore or/and forget the Lord's Grace. Prasad is symbolic of God's Grace which Kalavati ignored as she learned of her husband's safe return.
One can understand her eagerness in wanting to be re-united with her beloved, but one must understand that if one forgets to be thankful for gifts received from the Lord, one would have to go through another test until one remembers to remember.
When the rich merchant is asked what the boat contains, he untruthfully replies 'Only dry leaves' and the Mendicant says 'So be it' The above incident tells us that the spoken word has power. What you speak, manifests. Hence one must not speak an untruth. Especially an inauspicious untruth.
In the last story one learns that no one is higher or lower in status in the eyes of the Lord. Hence one must accord respect to whoever it may be, who is taking the name of God.
Burrabazar, Kolkata
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History -
Sutanuti haat
Before the British came the most powerful families in the region were Sett and Bysacks, the merchants of yarn and cloth market at Sutanuti. With the arrival of the British these families flourished with renewed vigour. Janardan Sett was a trading agent of the British. Shobharam Bysack (1690–1773) became a millionaire by supplying textiles to British East India Company. One of the earliest names floating around is that of Mukundaram Sett, who lived in the earlier part of sixteenth century and moved from Satgaon to Gobindapur. Sutanuti haat has been traced back to 1738 by Orme. In the siege of 1756, troops of Siraj ud-Daulah set fire to the market and took possession of Jorabagan and Kumortuli, neighbourhoods further north where the merchants lived.
Bazar Kolkata
In between Sutanuti haat made way for Bazar Kolkata, some time in the 18th century. The market was spread over nearly 500 bighas and the residential area covered another 400 bighas. Apart from the Seths and Basaks, there were the gold merchants Mullicks and other men of their calibre. Their affluence and pomp are legends even in their days.There also were merchants of comparatively lesser affluence. As for example, the area around what is now Kalakar Street was known as Dhakapatty, as it was home to the Sahas, cloth merchants from Dhaka. The Sheths and Basaks had close links with such cloth producing centres as Dhaka, Murshidabad and Cossimbazar.
Economy -
Burrabazar expanded from a yarn and textile market into one of the largest wholesale markets in India. Burrabazar is divided into highly specialised sub-markets, according to the commodity it deals in – Dhotipatti, Fancypatti, Tulapatti, Chinipatti etc. Further subdivisions are katra, chowk or kothi. A popular saying goes, “Anything and everything is available at Burrabazar. Even the tiger's eye is available here if you pay the right price.” Each katra (market) is known for a particular item. There are approximately 25 katras in Burrabazar. At Raja Katra, which originally belonged to the Maharaja of Bardhaman, most of the shops deal in spices. At Manohar Das Katra it is mostly hardware and textile. Vikram Chand Market and Khangrapatti sell mostly electronic goods and artificial ornaments.
For Diwali, the festival of lights, it is transformed into a huge market for festive and religious ingredients. The number of makeshift stalls are around 800, spread around Kalakar Street and other areas. From idols to their dainty dresses, designer diyas (earthen lamps) to saffron-tinted laddus (round-shaped sweet meat), every conceivable article can be scooped from this gala bazaar, the city’s largest assortment of puja paraphernalia. The series of shops bang opposite the Jain temple, near Satyanarayan Park, flaunts ornately decked-up idols of Ganesha and Lakshmi — the brother-sister divinities symbolising wealth and prosperity.
Traffic -
Slow traffic movement, congested footpaths, accident-prone roads, police-politician-hoodlum nexus and administrative apathy have become the bane of Burrabazar. Traffic in the area, including the approach road to Howrah bridge, has been a long-standing problem for people passing through the area. Whole of footpath and even around 30% of Brabourne Road is clogged by hawkers who have permanent shops on both side of roads made of tarpaulins and bamboos reducing the already sparse motarable road in the area.Pedestrians are forced to walk on roads along with vehicles . While lorries, taxis, vans, and three-wheel goods carriers crowd the main roads, slow-moving vehicles like cycle-vans and carts clog the side-streets. It often takes more than half-an-hour to cross the two-km stretch.
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Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir and Cultural Centre Inc. is located at Ajax town comes under Durham region belongs to Southern Ontario province in Canada country (out of India). It is situated in the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area.
The temple is established since December 11, 2011.
Its Mission is to provide a spiritual, peaceful and educational environment, a proper understanding of an ancient scriptures and religious practices, to preserve and teach the Vedic way of life of Sanatan Dharma called Hinduism to children, youths and adults. An institution where people from all cultures and religions can learns about Hinduism.
Temple objectives are as follow:-
(1) To preach and advance the teachings of the Hindu faith and the religious tenets, doctrines, observances and culture associated with that faith.
(2) To establish, maintain and support a house of worship with services conducted in accordance with tenets and doctrines of the Hindu faith.
(3) To support and maintain missions and missionaries in order to propagate the Hindu faith.
(4) To establish and maintain a religious school of instruction for children, youths and adults.
Here, temple main deity Lord Hanuman is depicted as lifting Dronachal Parvat in left hand and holding his weapon mace (gada) in right hand flying towards Lanka to cure Lakshman who was seriously wounded by Amogh Shakti (spear) thrown by Ravan’s son Meghnad during Ram-Ravan war in Lanka.
बान लग्यो उर लछिमन के तब, प्रान तजे सुत रावन मारो I
लै गृह बैध सुषेन समेत, तबै गिरि द्रोन सु बीर उपारो II
आनि सजीवन हाथ दई तब, लछिमन के तुम प्रान उबारो I
को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि, संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो II
Beautiful idols of Shri Ram Parivar, Radha Krishna, Lord Shiva, Shilalaya with Nandi, Lord Ganesh, Sarswati Mata, Sherawali Maa Durga, Lakshmi Devi are there in the temple and worshipped equally by all devotees.
Famous Hindu festivals like Hanuman Jayanti, Ram Navami, Krishna Janmashtami, Maha Shivaratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Vasant Panchami, Holi, Diwali and others are celebrated with great enthusiasm by all devotees.
Weekly puja schedule is as under:-
Every Monday: Lord Shiva puja 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Every Tuesday & Saturday: Hanumanji puja 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Every Wednesday: Lord Ganesh/Lord Krishna puja 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Every Thursday: Lakshmi Devi puja 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Every Friday: Durga Maa puja 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Every Full Moon day: Satyanarayan Katha 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Mahavir Mandir, one of the leading Lord Hanuman Temples in India, is located at Patna city in the Indian state of Bihar. It is situated in the north of Patna Junction, main railway station of the city which is one of the busiest railway stations in India.
From the scrutiny of historical facts and traditions it appears that this temple was originally established by Swami Balanand, an ascetic of RAMANANDI-SADHU sect in around year 1730.
The main temple has got two idols of Hanumanji one for परित्राणाय साधूनाम् i.e. for the protection of good people and another for विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् i.e. for the elimination of the wicked persons.
Upon arriving Patna by train one happens to see the Mahavir Mandir. Just yards away from the northern entrance of the railway station, the famous Mahavir Hanumanji Mandir is situated and Lord Ganesha in association with Lord Buddha blesses the onlookers. Also, the holy words taken from Sundar Kand (Ramcharitmanas) written by Goswami Tulsidas, “Prabisi Nagar Keejai Sab Kaaja, Hriday Rakhi Koshalpur Raaja (प्रबिसि नगर कीजै सब काजा, हृदय राखि कोसलपुर राजा)”, are inscribed thereon as if God Mahavir hanuman himself is blessing people and welcoming them for their success.
Daily thousands of devotees throng the temple and get solace from the worship of Mahavir Hanumanji. It is a ‘manokamana’ mandir where devotees’ every wish is fulfilled and this is the reason for ever-increasing number of devotees in the temple.
Along with Mahavir Hanumanji, following idols are also worshiped here, shrine in temple premises :-
(1) Bhagwan Shri Ram and Devi Sita
(2) Bhagwan Shri Ram with Lakshman and Shabari
(3) Lord Shri Krishna and Arjun
(4) Lord Shiva Mandap on first floor
(5) Lord Shiva Family
(6) Lord Ganesh
(7) Bhagwan Satyanarayan
(8) Goddess Durga
(9) Goddess Saraswati
(10) Shri Shani Dev (Shaneshwar) Cave & Temple
(11) Lord Buddha
(12) Saint Ravidas Mandap
(13) Goswami Tulsidas Mandap
142,722 items / 1,104,131 views
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mandal, formerly known as 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug' was founded in the year 1928,[1] because of a vow (Navas) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence, the fishermen and vendors who used to sit in the open place vowed to Lord Ganesh for permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts & support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, Shri.Nakhawa Kokam Mama, Bhausaheb Shinde, Dr.U.A. Rao and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol on 12.09.1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman. Since that day onwards, this Lord Ganesh has become popular as it fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.
Due to the communal riots in 1946, orders were issued to change the route of this Ganesh Immersion Procession. But, the then office-bearers of the Mandal refused to change the route and, after 21 days, the procession was taken by the same route under the supervision of then Volunteers Pandurang alias Babu Sayle, M.S.Pawar and Dattaram Joshi. After independence, the agenda of the Mandal was modified and accordingly the Mandal decided to contribute in uplift of the Country. The Mandal donated its balance amount to the Kasturba Fund, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund in 1947 and to Bihar Flood Relief Fund in 1959. The social issues were also highlighted in the plots during Ganesh Festival.
During Silver Jubilee Year 1958, two different plots viz. 'Geeta Upadesh' and 'Kaliya Mardan' were set for 5 days each. In this Silver Jubilee year, eminent speakers - like M.L.Patil-Hon’ble Minister of Bombay State, Hon’ble Ganapatrao Tapase, Hon’ble Govindrao Adik, Hon’ble Maloji Nimbalkar, Municipal Corporator Dr.Narvane, Govinrao Mahashbde-Dy.Editor Navakaal, Vasantrao Kate, Govardhandas Mapara of Kamgar Seva Sadan, Kakasaheb Tambe, - delivered speeches.
After 1958, the number of devotees of Lalbaugcha Raja increased substantially. Hence, in 1960, the entertainment programmes and speeches were discontinued. In the same year, 'Navaratri Utsav' was started and the programmes were organized during Navaratri Festival. These transitions were carefully and neatly carried out by Chandrakant Khadye, Chunilal Rathod, Pranjivan Mehta and Shankar More. During this period, Late Shri. Shamraom V. Bodhe handed over the Hanuman Temple to the Mandal.
During 1948 to 1968, the Mandal started some new traditions like 'Shri Satyanarayan Mahapooja', 'Pan-supari Samarambha (Get Together Function)'. The Get Together Function is the ceremony of felicitation by offering roll of betel leaf with betel nuts, known as Pan-Supari in Marathi. During this get together, eminent personalities of different fields, office bearers of various mandals and well-wishers are invited. This creates a friendly atmosphere for co-ordination & exchange of views for better performance of the festival and helps in improving relation among various mandals. In this manner, the mandal established a warm relationship with some mandals of Kumbharwada, Durgadevi Duncan Road, Kamathipura, Khetwadi, Navi Amrutwadi, etc. The participation of local mandals at night, was started to control heavy number of devotees.
During 1934 to 1968, Kunwarji J. Shah, Dr.V.B. Korgaonkar, H.B. Korgaonkar, Dr. U.A. Rao, Dr. Manju Madar, Ramchandra Tawate, B.D. Bandekar, Raghunath Khamkar, Pranjeevan Mehta, Rambali Halwai, Ram Jadhav were mainly responsible for development of the Mandal. The amount accumulated from the Mandal activities was mainly used for development of the nation. Mandal did its bit by contributing to the National Fund during floods at Bihar in 1959 and during the wars in 1962 &1965.
In 1969, new generation came up with wide view under the leadership of Late Shri Vasantrao Bhosale. Space requirement arose due to great extent of workload of the Mandal. In 1970, renovation of the Hanuman Temple was proposed. Accordingly, the renovation work was commenced in 1971 and completed in 1973, along with a new office for the Mandal. In 1975, Idol of Amba Mata (Goddess Amba) was established in the temple and the religious duties of Navratri festival were carried out in the temple, thereafter.
Since 1976, a part of the balance amount of the Mandal was deposited as 'Shikshan Imarat Nidhi'.
It is the first mandal who contributed Rs.1 Lakh to the 'Army Central Welfare Fund', in 1999 for the families of the soldiers who scarified their lives to uphold the dignity of the Nation at Kargil and the same was handed over to then Governor of Maharashtra State, Dr. P.C. Alexander.
Visarjan Tarafa: Traditionally the Ganesh idols are immersed in water during its Visarjan. Hence in order to immerse the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, Mandal always takes proper precautions so that the visarjan takes place in a manner the Raja deserves. Accordingly, after consulting some experts & experienced persons, Mandal has purchased a Tarafa (Iron Raft) which makes it possible to dissolve the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja in deep sea water, conveniently. The Tarafa is prepared by M/s. A.V. Engineering.
[edit] Present day
In the year 2009, the Mandal excpected around 10 million people to visit This 'Great Raja'.