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Reading Notes: Pattanaik's 99 Thoughts On Ganesha Part C

Part VI

  • Temples
    • Rock Fort
      • Dedicated to Ganesha and Shiva
      • Ganesha rooted to this spot because Vibhishana struck him on the head at this point
      • The British fortified the temple which gives it it's name
    • Ashtavinayak
      • Eight shrines
        • Moreshwar Temple at Morgaon
          • Ganesha mounted on a peacock killed demon Sindhu
        • Sidhivinayak of Siddhatek
        • Ballaeshwar of Pali
        • Varadavinayak of Mahad
        • Chintamani of Theur
        • Girijatmaj of Lenyadru
        • Vighnahar of Ozar
        • MahaGanesha of Ranjangaon
      • Pilgrimage to all these places and then back to the first
      • Trunk to left on all Ganesha's except one at Siddhatek
    • Puri Elephant
      • Houses Krishna, Subhadra, and Balbhadra
      • During the bathing ceremony, Snana-yatra, Krishna and Balbhadra are placed in elephant dress they become black and white elephants.
Part VII
  • Festivals
    • Autumn
      • Ganesha and Gauri are worshipped twice (In the Spring and Autumn)
      • Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated on the fourth day of the waxing moon
        • Ten days
      • After this is Pitr Paksha
        • Ancestors worshipped 
      • Then nine nights of Navaratri
      • And the five days of Diwali
      • Clay Ganesha bought into house worshiped and then immersed into water
    • Spring
      • Ganesha Jayanti celebrated on fourth day of the waxing moon
      • Considered Ganesha's birthday
      • Worshiping image of Ganesha then eventually immersed in water
    • Chaturthi
      • Fourth moon associated with Ganesha
      • Fourth day of the waxing moon is called Vinayakichaturthi
        • Worshiping Ganesha on this day brings success
      • Fourth day of the waning moon is known as Sankashtichaturthi
        • Averts disasters
    • Pancha Ganesha
      • Five day festival 
      • Replacement Christmas
      • Never heard of it
Part VIII
  • Rituals
    • Cyclical
      • Ganesha idols made with clay
      • Represented symbolically by lump of turmeric or red sandal paste on a betel leaf
      • Then ducked into water
      • Cyclical nature of life
      • Nothing in the universe is permanent
      • Everything is changing 
    • Two Gauris
      • Two Gauris bought into house
    • No moon
      • Devotees of Ganesha avoid looking at the moon on days that he is worshipped
    • Pillaiyar Suzhi
      • Ganesha circle drawn on paper before writing anything on it
    • Hibiscus Flowers
      • Looks like a "blood drenched womb"
      • Sacred to both Shakti and Ganesha
    • Blades of Grass
      • Purifies the ritual performer
      • Represents power of renewal and regeneration 
    • Vegetation
      • Ganesha embodies of the fruit of farming
    • Bija Mantra
      • Devottes chant "Om Gan Ganeshaya Namaha" 108 times
      • Supposed to still the mind, calm the breath, and lead towards a direct communication with Ganesha
    • Yantra
      • Ganesha's geometric form representation
        • An upward triangle
        • An upward and downward triangle crisscrossing
          • Six pointed star
        • A dot or bindu
    • Vishwaksena
      • Invoked at start of most Hindu rituals
      • Sometimes it is Vishwaksena instead of Ganesha
Part IX
  • Literature
    • Ganesha Purana
      • Tells how to express devotion towards Ganesha
      • Narrates the tales of Ganesha
    • Mudgala Purana
      • Describes eight incarnations of Ganesha
    • Ganesha Gita
      • Ganesha is the supreme being
    • Maha Ganesha Upanishad
      • Philosophical speculations
Rock Fort Temple

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